Chapter 2052
Alyssa snorted coldly, “Like I need her to pay for a mere meal! Go tell her to come straight to my house. I’ll cook her up a feast myself.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Quinton replied with a bow, taking Alyssa’s message to Giselle.
Giselle sensed that there was more to this invitation than just a meal. Surely, Alyssa had something important to discuss, right?
“Alright, I got it. I’ll come over right after work tomorrow evening,” she confirmed.
The next day.
Giselle had her agent reschedule all her appointments so she could get ready and head over to the Howard Mansion early after the day’s shoot.
Although Alyssa had offered to cook, it would not be proper to accept without showing some respect for an elder by arriving early. It would also allow her to demonstrate her virtue and understanding in Alyssa’s eyes.
Standing at the grand entrance of the Howard Mansion, Giselle touched up her makeup in the car and adjusted her dress before ringing the doorbell.
The Howard’s butler, unsurprised to see Giselle, politely welcomed her inside.
“Please, come in. Ma’am has been waiting for you,” he said.
With a radiant smile, Giselle replied, “Thank you. I appreciate you showing me in.”
As they walked through the lush garden, Giselle pulled out a bottle of high-end hand lotion from her bag and offered it to the butler. “You work so hard caring for Alyssa and Balfour. This is a foreign brand that was gifted to me. I’m keeping one for myself
because it’s quite nice; please, take the other.”
The saying goes: a favor given is a favor owed.
Giselle hoped to curry favor with the Howard family’s staff with this small token. Having an insider to feed her information about Balfour could be helpful.
However, the butler merely glanced at the hand lotion and pushed it away with a casual hand. “No need for that, Giselle. I’m a simple man, don’t use such things. You should keep it for yourself.”
Giselle’s attempt at flattery had been rebuffed, and she almost lost her composure.
Forget it!
She tucked the lotion back into her bag as though the exchange had never happened and followed the butler inside.
Just then, Alyssa descended the staircase, her smile gracious yet distant. “You’re early, Giselle. Is work not keeping you busy these days?”
“Ma’am, it’s been too long. You’re looking as radiant as ever!” Giselle beamed with practiced charm. “I felt bad about the idea of you cooking for me at your age. So, I pushed some work back to come early and lend a hand.”
Alyssa put on a feigned smile and said, “It’s rare for a star like you to take an old lady’s invitation so seriously. But you’ve come so early, and we, as your hosts, are a bit unprepared. It’s quite unsettling!”
“Ah… I…”
Giselle was taken aback, not expecting her attempt to show initiative could backfire.
Seeing Giselle at a loss for words, Alyssa did not press further. She took a seat on the sofa and watched Giselle coolly.
The awkwardness was palpable, and even Giselle’s typically impeccable smile faltered.
Once she felt Giselle had squirmed enough, Alyssa chuckled. “Look at you, all nervous. I’m just pulling your leg, dear. We’re happy to have you over early!”
