Mr. CEO's Young Mistress
Chapter 41: Sir Asked Me to Pick You Up

Glancing at the caller ID on the screen, Sharon paused for a moment before picking up. "Master Leonard..."

As soon as Melanie heard Sharon call out his name, she lifted her head to stare at Sharon, her bright eyes flashing with complex emotion. "Where are you?" The man asked in a deep voice.

Sharon looked at Melanie, who was watching her, and whispered, "I'm with Melanie."

"Where?" Leonard asked calmly.

"At the shopping mall in Star Square." Sharon answered honestly.

"Are you shopping for clothes?"

"Mm-hmm." Sharon hummed.

"Did you bring enough money?" He pressed on. "Tell me if it's not enough, I'll have Tim send you some."

"All right."

A moment of silence passed between them.

"Simon, shall we order a minestrone soup?" Alexandrina's sweet voice suddenly rang out.

There were few patrons in the restaurant, so everyone heard Alexandrina's voice loud and clear.

"Sharon, what do you think about minestrone soup?" Simon turned to Sharon and asked.

...

Sharon said nothing, and Melanie immediately felt that something was amiss.

Abruptly, a beep came from Sharon's phone as the other person hung up.

Sharon shuddered silently, her grip on the phone tightening.

Melanie pressed her lips together when she saw Sharon's pale face as she lowered the phone.

"Sharon? Sharon!"

"Oh! Yes?" Sharon jerked with a start, still in a daze. She frowned subconsciously and looked at Simon blankly.

"Are you all right?" Simon asked her worriedly, looking at her pale face.

Sharon shook her head. Her voice was raspy as she replied, "I'm fine. What did you say just now?"

Simon peered at her warily. "Are you really all right?"

"Yes." Sharon nodded.

Simon stared at her for a moment before saying, "I was asking if you wanted minestrone soup."

"Sure, I'm fine with anything." Sharon plastered a fake smile.

Simon frowned and thought, "Sharon has been acting weird since she answered the phone. She seems... uneasy."

Alexandrina spared Sharon a look, but said nothing. Instead, she called a waiter over and gave him their orders.

Melanie had been observing the changes in Sharon's expression and made a bold guess.

"Perhaps she knows about Leonard's feelings for her..."

However, it was still only a hunch.

Halfway through the meal, Sharon's cell phone rang again.

Melanie stopped eating and tilted her head to look at Sharon.

Simon and Alexandrina also paused to look at Sharon.

She looked at each of them and took her phone out of her bag.

She peeked at the screen for a few seconds before answering. "Nick."

This time, the call was from Nick, the driver.

Hearing Nick's name, Melanie let out a breath of relief and returned her attention to her food.

"Sir has asked me to pick you up." Nick stated.

"But I'm not finished eating..." Sharon trailed off gloomily.

Nick chuckled. "It's all right. Take your time. I'll be waiting for you at the car park in front of the mall. You can just come over once you're done."

Sharon's heart sank. She counted to ten before replying. "I've already made appointments to shop with my friends later, so you can head back first. I'll call you when I'm done." "Miss, my orders were to bring you back immediately." Nick responded.

"But, I've already promised them..."

"Miss, please don't make things difficult for me."

At that, Sharon swallowed whatever she had been about to say and hung up the phone.

...

Sharon glanced at the food in front of her, her appetite gone. She turned to Melanie and asked, "Are you full yet?"

Of course, she knew Melanie was not.

However, Melanie merely blinked and lowered her fork. She nodded firmly and said, "Yeah."

"Are you two on a diet?" Alexandrina looked at them and asked. "You've barely eaten anything."

Sharon did not reply. Instead, she turned to Simon and said, "Could you please excuse us? Something happened at my home so we'll be taking our leave."

"Is the food here not to your liking? You ate so little." Simon frowned slightly at Sharon.

"Not at all. The food's delicious. Maybe it's because I had a late breakfast, but I'm not very hungry right now. Well, you two can take your time. Now, if you'll excuse us." Sharon knew it was impolite to leave while others were still eating, but she was in no mood to stay any longer.

"Shar-"

Before Simon could say anything else, Sharon had pulled Melanie out of of the restaurant.

Simon stared after Sharon longingly as they descended the escalator. He only withdrew his eyes when she was completely out of sight.

His previous joy gone, disappointment was now clear on his face.

Alexandrina rolled her eyes silently and lowered her fork. She reached out to pat Simon's hand on the table.

Simon's lips were pursed as he turned to look at her.

"Is that the girl you like?" Alexandrina asked with a small smile.

Simon's face immediately turned beet red. He glanced at her shyly and gave a small nod.

Alexandrina's hands clenched into fists under the table, but she plastered on a fake smile. "Oh, well. I guess you're finally at the age to fall in love."

Alexandrina sounded like she was teasing him and nothing more.

Simon smiled bashfully and said, "If she becomes my girlfriend, I'll never let her go."

His eyes were gentle but firm.

Alexandrina's face stiffened, and she turned her face away.

As soon as Sharon and Melanie walked of the mall, Sharon turned to Melanie and apologized. "I'm sorry. It's my fault you didn't get to eat your fill." Melanie nodded, pretending to contemplate. "Hmm, you're not wrong about that. So, you better give me some compensation."

Sharon broke out into a small smile. "I'll treat you to a meal in the dining hall next week."

"That's it? Humph, I want Kobe beef and caviar!" Melanie huffed.

"I heard somewhere that snake meat is also a superfood. I don't mind treating you to some." Sharon smirked.

"Snake meat?" Melanie shuddered at the thought, rubbing her arms roughly.

"I'd rather eat in the dining hall!" Melanie humphed.

Sharon raised an eyebrow. "Now, I didn't force you to say that, all right?"

Melanie snorted. "Sharon Andre, you're the worst!"

"Why, thank you!" Sharon pretended to tip an invisible hat.

Melanie bit her tongue and passed her one of the shopping bags. "Oh, just leave already."

Sharon sobered immediately, and she reached out to take the bag. "What about you? What are your plans for later?"

"Well..." Melanie thought for a moment, then said, "I'm going to study in the local library, then I'll be working at night."

Sharon nodded. "What time is your part-time tonight?"

"My shift's from six to eleven, so it's five hours." Melanie replied.

"Eleven? Isn't that a little late?" Sharon asked, worried.

Melanie waved off her concerns. "It's fine. I'm used to it. The place I'm working in isn't that far either. It'll only take me thirty minutes by foot, so don't worry."

"You call a thirty-minute-walk not that far?" Sharon thought incredulously.

Melanie looked at Sharon's anxious expression and put on a casual shrug. "Oh, fine! I'll take a taxi home, all right?"

"Still, be careful." Sharon cautioned with a frown.

"I will," said Melanie.

Sharon looked at her and said, "Well then, see you."

Melanie waved her hand.

Sharon then walked towards the car park carrying her handbag and shopping bag.

When she turned around again, Melanie had already disappeared.

Sharon's eyebrows raised in surprise.

When Sharon reached the car park, she saw Nick standing beside a car, having a conversation with someone on his phone. When he saw her approaching, he hung up hurriedly and went over to open the car door to the back seats.

Sharon walked over and got into the car.

Nick dashed to the driver's seat and started the car.

He peeked at Sharon through the rearview mirror to see her sullen expression. Her bags were placed beside her as she looked out the window, her lips pressed together.

Nick read the atmosphere and remained silent as they drove on.

After driving for almost fifteen minutes, Sharon realized they were not taking the road back to Coral Pavilion.

She raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Nick. "Nick, did you take the wrong path? This is not the way back home."

Nick chuckled and said, "Sir told me to send you to him directly."

Sharon was surprised. "But isn't he working right now?"

"Yes, that's why we're heading to the company." Nick said with a nod.

"Why should I go there when he's busy?" Sharon frowned and mumbled unhappily.

Nick did a double take when he heard her.

"What's wrong with her today? Didn't she use to always beg Sir to bring her along during the holidays? What made her change her mind today?" he wondered.

Sharon had not been looking at Nick, so she didn't see the surprise on his face.

After another twenty minutes, the car stopped at the underground car park of the Lefebvre Group building.

Nick unfastened his seatbelt and got out. He trotted over to her side and opened the door. She did not even move when he said, "Miss, we're here."000