Chapter 494
Balfour paused slightly, looked towards the source of the voice, and sure enough, Ellinor was weaving her way through the crowd, casually strolling up to him. “Mr. Howard, did you need something?”
York Maves, Patricia, and Haillie all looked surprised
What was going on? How come Ellinor was coming in from outside?
Balfour looked at her seriously. “Where have you been?”
Ellinor replied calmly. “Nowhere in particular, I was waiting for you downstairs. I saw a bunch of people running up here, so I thought something had happened and came up to check it out. And lo and behold, you’re here looking for me! Mr. Howard, why are you looking for me here?”
Balfour struggled to find a response.
How was he supposed to respond to that?
Say that he thought she was fooling around with another guy?
Haillie, looking incredulous, stepped forward to call her out, “Ellinor, quit playing innocent. I saw you go into this room with York Mayes! You must’ve snuck out and are now pretending to just be coming in!”
Ellinor looked at Haillie, her expression as if she had no clue what she was talking about, “What? Who’s York Mayes”
Haillie’s eyes, beautifully made up, went wide, ‘You’re still playing dumb!”
Ellinor frowned as a touch of helplessness and grievance flickered in her eyes, “Haillie, we have no grudges against each other. Why do you always try to sully my reputation? Is it because you’re bitter because you’re not Mr. Howard’s date today?”
At this, she turned back to Balfour, Mr. Howard, don’t have me accompany you for non work-related events next time. It seems to make your admirers see me as an enemy and cause unnecessary trouble for both of us.”
Haillie’s face immediately turned sour, and she hastily explained, “Balfour, don’t listen to her nonsense. I’m not like that! I really did see Ellinor go into this room with York Mayes!
Balfour looked at the incessantly noisy Haillie with a hint of annoyance in his eyes.
He was well aware of her feelings for him, but because she was Patricia’s good friend, he’d always been lenient with her.
She had caused him no small amount of trouble over the years.
This incident was likely due to her jealousy.
Ellinor looked around at everyone, ‘Can I ask who Mr. York Mayes is?”
York Mayes looked a bit confused and awkwardly stood up, “Um, that’s me.”
Ellinor smiled at him, ‘Hello, I don’t know you Do you know me?
York Mayes was taken aback. He knew he couldn’t admit to nearly hitting on Balfour’s secretary now. He quickly shook his head, “No, I don’t think we’ve met!”
Right, we haven’t met Ellinor turned back to Haillie, “Haillie, see? Mr. York Mayes and I clearly don’t know each other?
York Mayes quickly chimed in, gaining come confidence, ‘Exactly! We don’t know each other at all! Balfour, I just had a bit to drink and was tired. I wanted to take a bath and rest here. I had just started filling the tub when you guys knocked on the door, I’m totally confused”
Balfour felt somewhat guilty towards Ellinor, but he was anything but polite to the scoundrel York Mayes, “This is not a place for you to take a bath and rest. Get dressed and go home. Do whatever you want there!”
York Mayes laughed awkwardly. “Balfour, we’re family What’s the big deal if I take a bath here? Don’t be so harsh!”
Balfour gave a cold smile, “Do you want to leave on your own, or should I have someone escort you home?”
…I’ll leave on my own! Right away!” York Mayes, realizing that Balfour was about to have him kicked out, was immediately frightened. Not wanting to cause more trouble, he quickly buttoned up his clothes, picked up his coat from the floor, and hurriedly left.
With the show over, the crowd at the door gradually dispersed
