Chapter 2232

Hearing that, Cecilia propped her chin on one hand. “You’re not even taking a salary? Isn’t that a bad deal for you?”

Nathaniel replied, “Just keep me company tonight. That’s worth more than any paycheck.”

The comment instantly brought color to her cheeks. “Shameless,” she muttered.

He shrugged. “I only said stay with me tonight. What’s shameless about that, Ceci? Where did your mind go?”

Her blush deepened. She tossed a pen at him, and he caught it easily. “We’re basically an old married couple. Don’t overthink it.”

“You’re the one overthinking.”

Cecilia stopped arguing, lowered her head, and went back to her files.

At Jamieson, most of her work involved reviewing her team’s proposals and making final decisions.

The rest of her day was usually filled with client visits or meetings.

But with Nathaniel helping out, she suddenly had long stretches of free time and could wander around the office as she pleased.

She sighed. “Lucille and Madeline are still at XS. I’m stuck here at Jamieson alone with no one to talk to. It’s miserable.”

Nathaniel looked up. “So I’m nobody?”

“That’s different. You and I can’t talk about the same things. Shopping and gossiping with girlfriends is way more fun.”

Realizing how much his help had freed up her schedule, she figured she really could transfer Madeline and Lucille to Jamieson.

She dropped the idea into their group chat.

Lucille immediately jumped at it, but Madeline declined.

“Ceci, I’m doing fine here. I’m not moving.”

“All right.”

Cecilia didn’t push.

Then she asked, “Lucy, are you in?”

“Totally!” Lucille replied, adding an excited sticker.

Lucille had never been much of a workaholic. Ever since Charlotte followed Cecilia to Jamieson, leaving her and Madeline behind, every day had dragged.

Madeline, on the other hand, lived for work—surviving on takeout and deadlines.

Lucille hadn’t gone shopping in ages. Every time she asked, Madeline had the same answer: work.

Half exasperated, she texted, “Ceci, once I’m there, can we go shopping more often?”

“Of course. We’ll go after work,” Cecilia promised.

“Perfect. Love you!”

Lucille’s excitement practically jumped off the screen.

Nearby, Madeline shook her head. “You’ll spend your whole life punching a clock.”

“Nothing wrong with that. I’m not exactly broke,” Lucille shot back.

She couldn’t understand why Madeline—married to a powerful man—still worked so hard.

Her salary probably didn’t even match a single day of her husband’s company revenue.

Madeline let it slide. Everyone had different priorities.

Lately, Darren’s mother had been visiting more often—under the pretense of checking in, but really to pressure her into having another child.

The Faust family wanted a son to carry on the family name.

As Darren’s wife, Madeline hadn’t conceived again in years.

Their only child was little Amelia.

Madeline knew that without Amy, Mrs. Faust might have already forced her out.

These days, the older woman not only filled Amy’s head with nonsense but also kept insisting that Madeline should leave the Faust residence.

It was almost laughable. If Darren hadn’t stopped her, Madeline would have left on her own long ago.

Oblivious to that, Mrs. Faust kept pushing for a second child, even bragging about so-called miracle remedies guaranteed to produce a boy.

Madeline understood exactly where that confidence came from—her lack of support from the Foster family, and her own limited financial independence.

Once she secured the branch manager position, she would finally have enough authority to protect her daughter.