Yours, Until Needed
Chapter 68: Playmate

Chapter 68: Playmate

So much for asking about Mitchel’s well-being, I should’ve thought about mine.

It was hell, alright.

He wasn’t the only one subjected to the training. I was, too. This is why one should never whisper Aunt Cynthia’s name, or you’ll end up cursing yourself.

It was a grueling boot camp.

It’s not that I had to learn about the products or anything, but the organizational structure and the need to re-introduce myself to the different offices were hell for me.

What social battery? None of that shit. I had been dragged around like a rag who couldn’t complain. Because who delayed all this for years?

Me.

Thankfully, I have kept up with the company over the years, asking about development and updates even as a university student. So, the gap wasn’t as bad, and it could still be crammed into several days.

Rina, therefore, took pity on me and decided to deal with the remaining interviews with Mitchel while I suffered under my parents and Aunt Cynthia.

Speaking of interviews, we ended up hiring Alyssa, who almost cried when she got our call.

At least someone’s happy.

Initially, I was hell-bent on busying myself with everything I could think of so that I could hide away without feeling like I’d procrastinated.

But now I regret having lined up so much before that Summit even started.

Like meeting the Grahams and the little boy I saved. They had been trying to get in touch with me since the day I saved their heir, but I had been able to put it off until I bumped into Mrs. Graham.

So now I’ve been dragged into their estate by a really jovial madam.

"You have no idea how thankful we are for your help." She looked ready to burst into tears.

"Mrs. Graham, there’s no need to thank me. I just happened to be the closest one at the time."

"You say that, but how many people in that venue knew how to give first aid to a child? Joshua really could’ve died if not for that." Said the child’s father.

I looked over to the young boy who was playing alone and was glad he was fine.

And frankly, I felt better about knowing how he drowned through sheer negligence. Not that drowning was in any way good, but at least I don’t have to worry that someone’s out there trying to end him like in my case. Meaning he’s safe, provided they take better care of supervising him.

"Has he fully recovered now?" I asked, eyes softening at the thought of this child having a safer childhood.

"He has. We’re just hoping he won’t develop long-lasting trauma from the water." Mrs. Graham also glanced over at her son with worried eyes.

"I had a similar experience, almost drowning. But because I didn’t want to experience such a thing again, I ended up learning how to swim. Now I’ve even learned to enjoy deep diving."

But that was largely out of certainty that it would happen again. I’d be stupid not to prepare. So, I can’t really expect Joshua to have the same reaction.

I never feared the water because it was never the water’s fault that I drowned. It’s always been the fault of someone evil enough to push me in there.

"Hopefully, he’ll have a better experience with water-related activities," I added. Maybe that would help him once he’s ready.

They nodded at that before Mrs. Graham asked why I was out here alone. "You didn’t come with Mr. Sinclair today?"

I remembered to send Oliver a message when I realized there was no way out of this. I was just dragged here anyway. But at least they know, as this may affect their JG dealings after all.

"I was out on errands from my parents while Lucian’s been working on a few things." I smiled, wanting to assure them that this was just a coincidence.

"I see. Sorry, I got too excited and dragged you over like that." Mrs. Graham laughed awkwardly, probably realizing what she had just done.

Thankfully, I alerted security about you. Or they would’ve come at you for dragging me over like some kidnapper.

"No worries, ma’am! I also wanted to visit him, but I got hit by a sudden cold and didn’t want to infect anyone else." I scratched at my cheek unconsciously, embarrassed at how I got a cold from just that.

"That was because of us, too! Please let us make it up to you!" She pleaded.

I waved my hands in an attempt to stop her. "No, no, ma’am! I’d rather you don’t do that. I don’t want to put a price on someone’s life."

That’s true. I’d rather not get paid for this. I’ll just feel bad about it.

"But..."

"If anything, maybe I could introduce Joshua to Lily? I think they’re around the same age?"

It hasn’t been easy for Lily to find playmates after she’s lost confidence in her classmates. Aunt Serena worried that she’d have poor social skills because of it.

And it’s been difficult because most of her friends had children our age, not really those as young as Lily. Sure, some of them already had grandkids, but none of them could even walk.

So, maybe Joshua could be a playmate. I talked to him earlier, and the child seemed okay. And my heckles weren’t going up.

Yes, I’m wary of children because they could be even meaner than adults and could leave even worse scars.

"That’d be great! Having more friends would be better for our little Joshua, too!" She clasped her hands in agreement, looking glad about my counter-offer.

"I’ll have to ask Lily first, though. She’s already at that age where she could make her choices."

I would detest forcing a child to make connections. If they end up as friends, that’s great, but I’ll never force her to befriend someone like this for the family’s sake.

"Of course, of course. Kids are now more independent and vocal. But if they could be friends, then all the better!"

__

I left the Graham residence after agreeing to join them for a meal. Because if I didn’t at least give them that, someone might go crazy.

No one wants to leave such a thing ambiguous. It was really just a kind gesture on my part, a complete accident. But even if I scream that out, it would still look like a life-saving debt. So, I understand their panic about clearing it as soon as possible.

What if I hold it against them? My reputation hasn’t been the best after all.

I’m just glad that by the time I left, they already seemed less guarded and less high-strung, probably from realizing that I really wasn’t looking for a reward or was planning to hold it over their heads.

We didn’t talk about the bidding or anything that didn’t have anything to do with children and their activities. Just to be on the safe side. And I really had no desire to win a project in this way.

Maybe in the future, I’ll get to ask why they hired the Bernards, but that’s not something I should be concerned about right now.