Chapter 175 - 174: Learning Bad Things at This Age

Yvonne Lowell considered it for a moment, then decided to ignore the look of expectation in his eyes and shook her head.

"Not just yet. I need a few more days."

That damn girl Luna hadn’t come down the mountain for the past two days, and she still hadn’t gotten a look at Blondie. If she couldn’t see them on the surveillance footage, she would’ve thought Luna had eloped with Blondie, running off over mountains and valleys.

Tomorrow, she had to call the couple down for a check-up and have a little talk with Blondie while she was at it.

’If the talk doesn’t go well... Making Luna a widow is out of the question, but she’d at least have to beat that wild wolf into submission.’

’There were so many people at HQ; she couldn’t leave a security risk lingering.’

’Besides, she still had some things to arrange back at HQ.’

Leo Grant pressed his lips together. "Alright. I’ll head over first and wait for you. Just let me know beforehand."

A teasing smile played on Yvonne Lowell’s lips as she raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you were going to say that if I couldn’t go right away, you’d stay behind and wait for me."

"Can I? Then I’ll stay and wait for you!"

Leo Grant agreed without a second thought. He was more than willing to stay; it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.

He had just been thinking that she probably had other things to attend to and hadn’t dared to suggest it.

Yvonne Lowell’s expression was complicated. She had just been teasing; he didn’t have to agree so eagerly.

"President Grant, if this were ancient times, you’d be a doting, incompetent ruler, the kind who easily loses his kingdom."

"It’s not like there’s anything major happening at The Shadow Pavilion anyway. Just let those three head over first. The others aren’t exactly getting paid to do nothing."

There wasn’t a trace of guilt in Leo Grant’s eyes. His calm tone, however, held a hint of barely perceptible grievance.

"Besides, I have endless work every single day. What’s wrong with being a hands-off boss for once?"

Nolan Crawford’s lips twitched uncontrollably. ’Would you dare say that to William Lynch’s face?!’

’It’s true, no major, unsolvable disasters have struck, but how long has it been since Your Highness returned to The Shadow Pavilion HQ? Have you completely lost track?!’

’And what about Silas Lynch, working himself to the bone by Lake Valora? Or your own semi-retired father, who got dragged back into the grind? Are you really just going to leave them to fend for themselves?!’

Leo Grant: ’I’ve been a model employee for five straight years without a single day off. What’s wrong with taking a vacation to be in a relationship?’

Right now, Yvonne Lowell just wanted to turn back time five minutes and give her younger, reckless, didn’t-know-what’s-good-for-her self a good, hard slap.

’This stupid mouth of mine! Serves you right for running your mouth!’

Yvonne Lowell rolled her eyes at him. "Alright, I was just teasing. You go handle your business. Otherwise, the glares from those three are going to slice me into a thousand pieces."

Nolan Crawford, Ian Lynch, and Warren Lynch: ...?!

’We’re just watching you two be all lovey-dovey! This private room isn’t outside the law, you know. Spreading false rumors is illegal!’

Leo Grant glanced up at the three stooges. If looks could kill, they’d probably have died a thousand times over by now.

Nolan Crawford’s hackles rose. "What’re you lookin’ at!? We didn’t do anything!"

"Oh, I know," Leo Grant said, giving him a cold glare. "I’ve just never seen an idiot up close before, so I was curious and took a longer look."

Yvonne Lowell’s lips twitched. ’And here I thought he was going to say, ’So what if I am?’’

She reached out and patted his head. "Since you have to go, you must have important business to attend to. I’ve told you before, don’t let me get in the way of your work."

"Fine."

Leo Grant agreed reluctantly, his gaze still hostile as he looked at the three deadweights across the table.

Yvonne Lowell glanced at her phone. That kid, Carefree, said he’d probably be out very late and wouldn’t be coming back to the auction house at all.

’Tsk, tsk. I should probably light a candle for that rich kid from the Caldwell family.’

She glanced at Leo Grant. "It’s getting late, we should call it a night. Are you guys staying at a hotel, or...?"

A flicker passed through Leo Grant’s eyes, and his grip on her hand tightened slightly.

"I have a property on Continent N, but it’s pretty far from here—over a two-hour drive. It’s getting a little late, and I’m worried it might not be safe to drive on the roads."

Yvonne Lowell pretended not to understand his hint and raised an eyebrow.

"Don’t worry, it’s relatively safe on Continent N at night. If you’re really that scared, I can have someone escort you back."

’So funny. "Not safe because it’s late," my ass. If I weren’t here, were they planning on sleeping on the streets?’

’Does he think I’m blind? And every single one of them is packing heat. Playing the damsel in distress for me? Who could possibly get the better of them?’

Leo Grant subtly scooted closer to her. He looked down at her small hand in his palm and murmured,

"But what if? My mom always said that a boy has to know how to protect himself when he’s away from home. But I’m in a strange place all by myself, how am I supposed to do that?"

Nolan Crawford was so shocked his jaw dropped wide enough to fit a goose egg. ’I never knew you were this kind of person, Brother Grant!!’

’So old and still learning bad habits! You’ve already graduated to inviting yourself into her house and climbing into her bed?!’

’All his previous slick moves were child’s play compared to this!!’

When Yvonne Lowell didn’t answer for a long moment, Leo Grant started to panic. Just as he was about to raise his head to gauge her reaction and think of a way to save the situation, he heard her say abruptly,

"Well, why don’t you stay at my place? I have plenty of spare rooms."

"Okay!"

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Leo Grant looked up excitedly, only to see Yvonne Lowell watching him with a smirk.

’Great. I walked right into that one.’

"...kay?" Leo Grant swallowed. "Er... Bonnie, I meant, ’is that okay?’ Would that be okay? Heh heh..."

"What? You don’t want to? I own a hotel nearby. How about I have my people hold a few rooms for you instead?"

As she spoke, Yvonne Lowell started to pick up her phone to make the call.

Leo Grant quickly pressed her hand down. "I want to! I do! Only an idiot would choose a hotel over a mansion, right?"

Yvonne Lowell rolled her eyes at him, then looked across the table. "Warren Lynch, go get your car and bring it to the side entrance. It’ll save me from having to circle back."

"Yes, Miss Lowell." Warren Lynch took a step, then stopped and looked back at Yvonne Lowell in embarrassment. "Miss Lowell, um... where’s the side entrance?"

"Colin, you go with him. You can drive their car."

"Yes, Master." Colin led Warren Lynch out.

"Let’s go." Yvonne Lowell patted Leogryph on the head and stood up.

’She had originally planned to let Moonshadow and Falcon remain myths for a while longer. It was always fun to listen to people sing their praises.’

’But since the timing was so perfect, why pick a date when you can just do it now? Time for the gods to descend to the mortal realm. (Not really.)’

The thought that Nolan Crawford’s entire worldview and belief system might collapse in a few moments made Yvonne Lowell give him a look of faint pity.

’He can keep praising me in the future, but he can forget about switching sides. Moonshadow doesn’t recruit idiots.’

Nolan Crawford felt baffled and a little creeped out by her gaze. He had the distinct feeling that something very unpleasant was waiting for him.

Shaking the jumbled thoughts from his head, he hurried to catch up with the "family of three" up ahead.