Even Chad was slightly taken aback by Cecilla’s bluntness. It seemed as though she was determined to rescue Ariel from her miserable situation immediately.
It was Ariel’s first time encountering someone with Cecilia’s temperament. And now, Cecilia had even dragged Samson into the conversation, despite his absence.
Cecilia studied Ariel for a moment, narrowed her eyes thoughtfully then grinned. “I think Mr. Larkin has terrible taste.”
“You’re absolutely right, Ms. Pryce,” Chad chimed in, fully agreeing.
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Terrible was putting it mildly. In Chad’s opinion, Jayson must have been blind to choose someone like Nancy over Ariel.
Ariel appreciated Cecilia taking the time to visit and congratulate her in person. Still, she had spoken to Samson recently and made her stance clear.
“I know–you need time to think it over. That’s fine,” Cecilia said with a warm smile. “Samson’s very particular when it comes to relationships. He may seem laid–back and carefree, but he’s actually quite stubborn. So take your time.”
She patted Ariel’s shoulder, her tone tactful and light, leaving Ariel no room to reject the idea outright.
“Ms. Pryce, you’re putting Ari in a tough spot,” Chad said, raising an eyebrow.
Cecilia crossed her arms and turned to him. “Mr. Larkin already has another woman. Someone as wonderful as Ms. Walker deserves her own happiness. She should distance herself from Mr. Larkin–or better yet, cut ties completely. I’m just trying to help her escape a miserable situation.”
Chad was impressed by Cecilia’s boldness and clarity of thought. Unfortunately, Ariel and Jayson were still bound by the terms of their agreement. There were many things they couldn’t reveal publicly.
Jayson’s behavior might be wrong, but for Ariel’s sake, Chad believed it was best to wait until the divorce was finalized before encouraging her to pursue someone new.
If Ariel were to start a relationship now while the public still believed she was married, it could damage her reputation, making her seem no better than Jayson.
Free–spirited women like Cecilia probably wouldn’t see that as a problem. They lived in the moment and followed their hearts.
“You seem to know very little about love, Mr. Hockney. Have you ever dated anyone?” Cecilia teased, studying Chad’s face.
Ariel let out a chuckle.
Chad was a workaholic. And like many men, he approached life with logic and reason. Women, on the other hand, often leaned into emotion when faced with similar situations.
He simply shrugged. Everyone was free to live by their own beliefs and principles.
Cecilia turned to Ariel. “I admire how strong and resilient you’ve been, even in an unhappy marriage. You’re smart, capable- and honestly, I think Samson made a great choice falling for you.
“I’d love to be friends. If you ever need help, let me know. I’m quite skilled at dealing with women like Nancy.”
Ariel remembered how assertive and outspoken Cecilia had been when they met at the military base. It gave her a clear picture of Cecilia’s approach to life.
“Thank you, Ms. Pryce,” she replied politely.
Cecilia’s eyes sparkled as she smiled. “Alright, I’ll let you get back to work. Let’s grab a meal sometime when you’re.”
She came and went like a gust of wind.
Chad watched her leave. “She really seems to like you. She’s so warn and friendly toward you.”
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Chooter 475
+15 BONUS
Not only did she treat Ariel like a long–time friend, but Cecilla also offered to help her
Ariel agreed, though she suspected Cecilia’s kindness was partly because of Samson. As his older sister, Cecilia likely wanted to
show care and consideration toward the woman her brother was
arested in.
Switching gears, Chad said, “I heard Mr. Warbrooke visited Veyo Solutions. It looks like he’s officially agreed to advise their
team.”
Chad couldn’t understand why Cedric, who had been retired for years, would suddenly decide to help Nancy.
Cedric was likely aware of the real situation between Ariel and Jayson. Even if Jayson had tried to persuade him, Chad couldn’t
think of a single good reason why Cedric would choose to get involved with Nancy.
