I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away

Joy Chaucer was already dissatisfied with Meredith, but hearing her own mother compare her unfavorably to Meredith-claiming she was even less competent-added insult to injury.

“Mom, I’m your daughter. How can you side with a nobody? You found me when I was 15. What could I have done? I wanted to be good at everything, but nobody cared for me back then. My foster parents only cared about their son and never let me study properly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the joke who had to buy her diploma,” Joy Chaucer lamented, deliberately dredging up the past-a sore spot for Bianca. Whenever Joy mentioned it, Bianca’s guilt ensured she would acquiesce to her daughter’s wishes.

This time was no exception.

Seeing Joy so aggrieved, Bianca felt a pang of sorrow: “Joy, I’m sorry. I failed to take care of you, and to protect you. That’s why your childhood was so hard. In my eyes, you are the best. You’re my daughter, and I won’t let anyone speak ill of you behind your back.”

“Mom,” Joy sniffled, feigning a crying face as she hugged Bianca and cooed, “You’ve always been the best to me. I don’t blame you. I blame those who took me away, separating us for fifteen years.”

Even now, Bianca had not found the people who had taken her daughter – they had vanished without a trace for over twenty years. Since Joy had returned, Bianca chose not to pursue it, but to spend more time with her daughter.

Gently patting Joy’s back, Bianca smiled and said, “There, there. You’re all grown up, yet you still cry like when you were little. Go keep Mrs. Sterling company. You want to marry into the Sterling family, right? Start by winning Mrs. Sterling’s favor. In the Sterling family, Terrence Sterling listens to her above all else.”

At this, Joy’s heart leaped with joy: “Really? Then I’ll go to Mrs. Sterling. Mom, call Terrence Sterling to pick her up. Then I’ll get to see him.”

As someone who had been through it all, Bianca hoped her daughter would marry someone she truly loved. From the birthday party, it was clear that only Stella was keen on this marriage between the Chaucer and Sterling families; Terrence Sterling might not really agree.

Bianca was somewhat reluctant to have Joy join the Sterling family, fearing her daughter might get hurt. Yet, she couldn’t bear to refuse her daughter’s wishes.

Bianca called Terrence Sterling, but his secretary, Linda, answered. He was in a meeting.

Learning that Mrs. Sterling was at Falconer Holdings, Linda hurried to the meeting room and whispered to Terrence, “Mr. Sterling, your grandmother has gone to Falconer Holdings. Mrs. Chaucer called, asking you to pick her up.”

Previously, Terrence would have gone himself.

But this time, he simply said, “You go and bring Mrs. Sterling back to Ravenwood.”

Linda was puzzled. Meredith was at Falconer Holdings; picking up his grandmother would have given him a chance to see her.

Then it dawned on her. Terrence and Meredith wanted to keep their relationship a secrect for now. Hence, Terrence’s avoidance made sense.

In reality, Terrence’s refusal to go was because he knew Bianca’s call had an ulterior motive.

Mrs. Sterling had been insistent on meeting some Charlotte, and she was very concerned about the marriage arrangement between the Chaucer and Sterling families, which is why she visited Falconer Holdings-most likely to find Joy.

If Terrence went, the marriage talks would inevitably resurface, bringing unnecessary complications.

Knowing Bianca, Terrence guessed that the phone call, which should have been made to his mother first, was directed to him because Joy was surely there, possibly even orchestrating it.

After Linda left to pick up Mrs. Sterling and the meeting adjourned, Harvey Fieldmouse teased, “Boss, why didn’t you pick up your grandma? Don’t you want to see Miss Florrick?”

Harvey had overheard the conversation during the meeting.From NôvelDrama.Org.

Terrence replied, “Joy Chaucer is there. She probably had the call made. Going there would cause a fuss, and I have a girlfriend now. Meredith would get jealous. Women are sensitive; it’s tough to appease them once they’re upset.”

Though he claimed it was tough to appease them, his tone was fond, almost boastful about having a girlfriend.

Harvey realized, “Boss, you’re craftier than I thought. All this to avoid making Miss Florrick anxious? You’re truly a model boyfriend now. You’re taking romance to a whole new level!”