Chapter 624
Whatever. I’ll just let fate take the wheel.
My ticket to the United Kingdom was already booked, and the company had sorted out all my accommodation over there. They handed me a stack of books—all in Englysian. Good thing I hadn’t been slacking; whenever I hit something I didn’t get, I just searched it up on my laptop.
“Ms. Murphy, over here!” A sweet voice called out, waving enthusiastically at me.
I spotted Elaine Rowe—she was about my age, rocking a shoulder-length bob and radiating a bright, bubbly vibe.
“Hi, Ms. Rowe. I remember seeing you at the company conference,” I greeted her with a smile.
“Of course, I remember! With a gorgeous boss like you, Ms. Murphy, who could ever forget?” Elaine teased playfully.
I blushed at her compliment. “Thanks in advance for looking out for me during the trip.”
“Ms. Murphy, I studied in the UK before, so if you need any help, just ask,” Elaine chimed in.
I blinked in surprise, suddenly getting this weird feeling—like Jared had deliberately arranged for Elaine to tag along, just so I’d have a built-in guide.
‘Am I just reading too much into this?’ I wondered to myself.
“Ms. Murphy, mind if I gossip a little? Are you and Mr. Holcomb getting back together?” Elaine asked, grinning mischievously.
I shook my head. “No way, that’s not happening.”
“But everyone’s talking about it! They say Mr. Holcomb’s been turning down all the flirting just to get back with his ex-wife. Isn’t that true?” Elaine leaned in, giving me a nosy look.
I gave a dry laugh. “Rumors are just rumors, so don’t buy into it.”
Elaine just went, “Oh,” and let it go.
With Elaine by my side, the whole journey was anything but dull—her bright, cheerful personality kept things lively and interesting.
When we landed in the UK, the company had a car waiting for us at the airport. Elaine and I headed straight to an apartment that was just a short ride from campus.
At the apartment, I was cramming to improve my spoken Englysian, with Elaine as my conversation partner. She was incredibly patient, always helping me fix my mistakes.
As evening settled in, Elaine gave me a secretive smile. “Ms. Murphy, how about we go out and relax a little?”
Chapter 625
I glanced at the clock. “I’ve got class tomorrow, so better not go out tonight.”
“Ms. Murphy, work isn’t everything—there’s a whole world of fun out there. Don’t you want to check it out?” Elaine was definitely the type who lived life to the fullest.
I asked, curious, “Where are we going? Just the two of us?”
Elaine blushed, looking a bit embarrassed. “I was thinking of inviting my ex-boyfriend. Don’t get the wrong idea—he’s single now, and he’s from the UK.”
I blinked in surprise. “If you’ve already got company, go have fun. I’ll just stay in and read for a bit.”
“Ms. Murphy, don’t worry. We’ll be back by ten—we won’t stay out too late,” Elaine said, leaning in and nudging my arm like a playful kitten. “Come on, just go out and have a little fun. I promise I won’t tell Mr. Holcomb anything. Our little adventure will be our secret.”
I squinted at her, suspicion creeping in. “Spill it—did Jared send you here to keep tabs on me?”
Elaine jerked upright, looking startled, then melted back against me with a sheepish grin. “Alright, you got me. Mr. Holcomb did give me instructions to watch out for you. But he also said, as long as it’s safe, I should help you soak up some local vibes and let you see what the UK has to offer. He even mentioned you haven’t really traveled much before, so he wants you to get a taste of something new.”
Her words struck a chord in me.
In my previous life, I was like a bird huddled in a cage—the door was always open, but I never found the courage to fly out.
“Alright, I’ll go with you,” I said, feeling like something inside me had finally opened up. Before I knew it, I found myself agreeing to her.