Love’s New Bloom By Simone Hastings - Season 2 Episode 7

For a second, Erin didn’t understand what Roman was implying. Looking pained, she asked, “What do you mean, Mr. Blair?” Although she was intentionally putting all of her attention on Roman, she was so nervous that his hands were sweating profusely. Even if Chandler sat quietly, to her, his presence was still the most prominent one.

Though she was trying so desperately to ignore him, her treacherous heart still thundered because Chandler was right there. “Miss Lane, do you really not understand what I’m saying? Wasn’t Mr. Frost here your previous boss? You were his woman

too…

Erin immediately cut Roman off. “Mr. Blair, please don’t say that. I’ve already resigned.” And she wasn’t Chandler’s woman anymore, either.

Chandler’s cold gaze bore into Erin. Finally, he could no longer stay in this place and suddenly got up. “Roman, we’re leaving now.”

He held his arm out in a gentlemanly manner, offering it to the beautiful woman to the side, who quickly came over to put her hand in the crook of it. The two were a startlingly well–matched couple.

Roman said, “I won’t be seeing you out, then.”

Once they left, Roman looked back at Erin. He suddenly started clapping, a trace of admiration in his eyes.

Erin stared at him in confusion.

“Miss Lane, I can tell you with surety that you’ve passed your probation.” Roman then walked to sit on the couch.

Erin asked, “I’m sorry, Mr. Blair, I really don’t understand what you’re saying…”

Roman chuckled lowly. “Why don’t you come over and take a seat? I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

Erin went and sat down an appropriate distance away.

”

Roman continued, “I admire you for being able to keep your private and professional lives separate even in the face of your former employer and lover. I need an assistant who’s professional, even if you don’t have experience. You can take some time to slowly get familiar with the work.”

Now, Roman was crystal clear. Slightly miffed, Erin said, “It seems that you already know about my history with Chandler, Mr. Blair.”

“That’s right.”

Confused, Erin asked, “If you know, why are you still hiring me, Mr. Blair?”

Roman laughed lightly. “Miss Lane, I said I need an assistant who can keep her private and professional lives separate. Naturally, I’m the same kind of person. I don’t care about your previous relationship with Chandler, whatever it may be. All I care about is that you’ll do your job well.”

Erin recalled the woman who had just left. Softly, she asked, “Mr. Blair, may I ask who that woman with Chandler was? What’s her relationship with Chandler? You said that I’ll be seeing them often from now on, so…

Roman gave a mysterious smile. “I thought you already knew who she is, Miss Lane.”

His words sent Erin’s heart dropping to her stomach. Was that woman Chandler’s fiancée?

Although waves of pain were rending her heart, Erin forced herself to smile. “Mr. Blair, I’d also like to ask when I can start work.”

Even if Erin was doing her best to seem cheerful, Roman noticed the pain in her eyes. If she loved Chandler so much, why had she chosen to leave?

Roman had never been interested in the private matters of others, but he felt nosy for the first time. His gaze dulled as he asked, “Before I tell you about work hours, there’s one last thing I’d like to ask I hope you’ll answer me truthfully, Miss Lane.”

To get this job, to prove her professionalism, and to assure Roman that he hadn’t misjudged her, Erin responded calmly, ” Please go ahead, Mr. Blair.”

“I want to know what your true relationship with the rock star, Matthew Burgess, is. The photos exposed on the Internet don’t seem to be simple composite ones…

There was no disgust or judgment in Roman’s eyes, only a deep and unfathomable depth.

Recalling those photos online, Erin felt completely helpless. The angle of the shots was very careful. Though there was no exposed skin, she was enveloped in Matthew’s embrace as they slept. There was ample room for the imagination.

Initially, Erin wanted Chandler to keep believing in the lie of what she’d done, but she never thought that there would be photos of her sleeping with Matthew splashed online.

When she found out about it, Erin had called Matthew, and Matthew had said he’d get someone to handle the matter.

The issue had too huge of an impact on her life. Her mother had called last night and talked to her for a whole hour, saying that her whole family back home knew of it. To prevent them from thinking that Erin had cheated, Cherry could only tell them about her divorce. She had even shown proof of lan’s infidelity to prove it to their relatives. In the end, all that got them was said relatives‘ snide commentary..

They said that the youngsters these days were all too careless, viewing marriage as nothing but a game. They also said that Erin had changed after moving to the big city.

“Miss Lane?”

Roman’s voice broke Erin out of her reverie. Somehow, his one question had incited lots of thoughts within her.

Erin sighed. “Would you believe me if I told you I’m only friends with Matthew and that we’ve never had any untoward relations, Mr. Blair?”

Her mildly self–deprecating tone made Roman feel somewhat pained. He said solemnly, “I would.”

Erin’s eyes stung. “Why would you?”

Roman chuckled lowly. Confidently, he said, “Because of my intuition and life experiences.”

Although this was her first time meeting Roman, his character made him even more reliable in her eyes.

Before she left, Roman told Erin of her expected work hours. She would be officially starting the job in two days, whereupon she would have to go with him to the set–in for filming.

After Erin left, Roman picked up his phone from where it sat hidden on the couch. The screen showed a call currently in progress, with the other person on the line being Chandler.

“How’s that? Did you hear everything? Is this the answer you wanted?” There was a trace of amusement in Roman’s voice.

“I’m driving, so I’m hanging up,” Chandler said truthfully.

Roman huffed. “So unreasonable.”

In the car, Alana Wood spoke up with a smile from the passenger seat. “See, even Roman believes it. I think Erin wasn’t lying either! Are you happy now? She didn’t betray you! My bet is that Matthew got someone to take those photos. Look at the angle of those shots. They look like the whole thing was staged.”

Her words inspired no joy in Chandler at all. He said coldly, “That idiotic woman! How could she get scared off just because my father mentioned an engagement party out of nowhere? How’s she supposed to do anything if she has no courage at all?”

Alana felt that this was unfair. “Chandler, you’re expecting too much. Not only did you keep her as your secret lover, but you also neglected to tell her anything. If it were me, I’d have left you immediately as well! Besides, your darling father must not have said anything nicely either. After all, Erin grew up in a typical middle–class family. She isn’t like us, getting used to being schemed against from a young age.”

Her words managed to relieve the tension in Chandler’s heart, but he was still mad at Erin.

“That fool. If she doesn’t come crawling back to me, I don’t expect I’ll ever forgive her!”

Alana looked at Chandler and smiled. “Hey, your woman will surely have lots of people chasing after her. An independent woman like her is super attractive to men. Don’t let being handsome get to your head. She might very well not come back at all and get stolen away by some ill–intentioned man!”