Chapter 256
Just then, the camera closed in on a contestant, his muscles well-defined.
She remarked casually, “Nice physique.” Eric’s jaw clenched.
She was admiring other men? And openly praising their bodies? Normally, he might have destroyed the television right there. But he restrained himself.
Acting out would only frighten Hadley.
Instead, he swiftly turned to her, took her face in his hands, and made her look at him. “Stop watching this.”
Blinking in bewilderment, Hadley shifted her head away, breaking free from his hold.
Eric released her gently and then motioned toward the table. “Come, eat.”
“What?”
Confused, she looked down.
“Vanilla panna cotta.”
A small, almost fawning smile played on his lips. Unbeknownst to even himself, Eric Flynn, the usually unapproachable heir, appeared unusually keen to make her happy.
Hadley almost laughed at this.
“I got this for you. Have some,” he added.
Even after Eric had gone, Hadley remained bewildered. He had traveled all this distance… just to deliver a treat to her?
With the break of dawn the next day, Hadley set out.
In the last two days, she had reached out to several clubs, hoping to secure an audition for a new gig. Despite her skilled background, each meeting inexplicably concluded without an offer.
This morning, she was on her way to another venue. Though she had already sent a video of her dancing, the club insisted on seeing her perform live—videos, after all, could be altered.
“Hadley Pearson, right?”
“Yes,” she replied, her voice tinged with anxiety.
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡: 𝙜ⱥ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘴⫽𝙘𝙤𝙢
Unexpectedly, the manager looked over her resume and said flatly, “I’m sorry, but you don’t seem to meet our requirements.”
He handed back her resume, dismissing her before she even had a chance to dance.
Not again! Hadley’s brow creased with confusion. “Can you explain what I’m missing?”
She was confident in her qualifications, both in her appearance and professional skills.
The manager responded with a noncommittal smile, “I’m sorry, but that will be all for now.”
With no further explanation forthcoming, Hadley reluctantly left the room.
Back at the Flynn Group CEO’s office, Eric’s phone began to ring. Engaged in a meeting, Eric left his phone behind, so Linda, after a moment’s pause, decided to answer for him.
“Hello?”
On the other end was the club manager who had just dismissed Hadley. Assuming it was Eric who picked up the call, the manager said obediently, “Mr. Flynn, I wanted to let you know that Hadley stopped by. I followed your instructions and denied her application. Just wanted to confirm directly with you.”
Linda’s eyebrow arched in surprise. “What instructions from Eric are you referring to? Why reject Hadley?”