Livid Guardian's Endless Coddling

Chapter 417: No hopes

'Rose is asked out by Edgar Daves.' Ceon wanted to laugh at this. The man who had only a rich and richer friend circle, liking a simple secretary of Finn Stanley... Alright, Aria Cooper, doesn't make sense.

"Why did Aria send you a girl who is dating somebody else?" Of course, his main concern was setting up Finn with a pretty little girl. He was disappointed thinking Aria sent the girl who is engaged.

Finn's lips twitched hearing it. He went out of the study as he spoke, "He asked her out two days back right in front of me."

"What the fish!" Ceon uttered out.

Finn prepared coffee as he reminisced the incident in his mind.

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Due to Rose working as the secretary, Dustin took most of the work that might have the fieldwork, like recruiting somebody or checking on the audition or shooting process of any movie that needed attention. 

These work arrangements made Rose follow Finn every day for all the business meetings, client meet-ups, or the formal parties. That day, they had met a client and turndown having lunch with them so Finn took Rose to the rooftop restaurant where they coincidentally met Edgar Daves who was having lunch with his clients.

Finn and Edgar just nodded at each other before the former went to the table for him and Rose. She casually asked him, "President Stanley, isn't he Senior Edgar?"

Both took seats opposite to each other, Finn hummed in affirmation and surprise, "You know the seniors?"

Rose was prompt like every time, "Yes, not only me, everyone in school knows your batch. You, Senior Edgar, Senior Ceon, Senior Jaydon, Senior... I forgot another name."

"Zachary, Zachary Hyde... He is settled in country M." Finn completed the group that used to be together in the school.

Then both had just ordered food for themselves. It wasn't even ten minutes, a big bouquet appeared held by a waiter, "Miss. May, these flowers are for you sent by President Daves."

Rose's face turned awful hearing her surname. She had removed her surname five years back and hardly anybody remembers it. It was odd to hear that now.

Finn turned to Rose and uttered, "May?" He didn't know her full name because she never used anywhere and all her Identity cards had only a single name 'ROSE'. He never cared to dig about her as she is Aria's trusted, dotted employee.

Rose glanced at Finn but she shifted her gaze back to the waiter and turned down, "I am sorry, I can't accept it. Thank you."

Finn: "..."

Edgar Daves, a successful businessman who attracts many girls, and many die to get his attention. Yet the girl in front of him was turning down the bouquet sent by him without batting an eyelid. The waiter had no choice but to return to Edgar Daves's table to relay the status. 

Rose turned to Finn and confessed, "My birth name is Rosie May. I changed it to Rose a few years back."

Finn nodded and glanced towards Edgar who nodded at the waiter and stood up in elegance taking the bouquet. He turned to Rose who was ogling the tasty food on the table being served than the handsome men around her.

He mulled over if he should leave the table glancing at the man marching towards them but he didn't. Then he looked at Rose who was licking her lips before digging in.

Edgar walked up to them, faintly nodded at Finn as a greeting, and spoke, "I hope President Stanley doesn't mind me if I steal a few minutes from the lady."

Finn didn't show his emotions on face hearing the flirtatious, loving tone of him and glanced at Rose who paused with a fork near her lips with a spaghetti dangling down that was waiting for her to eat.

He knew nothing about the personal life of Edgar or Rose so he had to nod so he affirmed. Confused Rose blinked her eyes at Edgar without actually feeling amused but confused.

He was a businessman and she was a normal little employee, it didn't fit her thoughts how could President Daves have time to notice her.

Coming to looks, she has seen Alan, Finn, Isaac who rules the princely handsomeness title, not to mention Levi was brawny yet stunning, the chocolate boy Noah, fun and funky Rian, they get girls hovering on them. According to her, Edgar looked normal against them.

"Me?" Her sloppy doubtful tone flopped the amazing mood set by Edgar, which almost caused Finn to smile. 

Edgar still maintained his gentle look for her and extended his hand, "Don't tell me you forgot your senior?..."

Rose just blinked at him without understanding why President Daves was near her while she felt her nose itch unbearably. She knows him as her senior but how does it matter for him?

Edgar who got no response other than her round eyes blinking at him continued his line, "The beautiful roses for the pretty lady."

Rose bluntly asked, "Why?" "She grabbed the napkin quickly due to the strong smell, "I don't like roses. I... I... Achoo..." Rose sniffled behind napkin and completed her words covering her bright red nose, "I am allergic to artificial scents on the roses."

'Achoo'

Edgar: "..."

Finn pressed his lips tightly shut and looked away from them. Rose never failed to amuse him with her simplicity or dumbness. He found her dumb than innocent.

'Achoo'

Edgar took time to accept his lead was turned down by a lady so easily without a second look at him. His dumbfounded look was apparent on his face.

Rose whose eyes teared up by tears had to speak to stop shedding tears without control, "President Daves, please take that bouquet away. I don't have any medicine now."

Edgar reacted and pulled his bouquet away standing little away and helplessly told, "I am sorry, I didn't know that." But he had a confusion if roses had artificial scent on it.

Edgar then continued, "I recently got to know you changed your name to Rose so I couldn't find you for so many years..."

Finn was shocked and astonished why he didn't know Rose existed in the same school and Edgar was searching for her. He found little fishy but he knew it wasn't his place to be opinionated but he didn't know what to do either.

He stood up to give them space, "I will just come..." He turned to leave but was stopped by a little force so he turned around to see his shirt sleeves were held by Rose's hand who looked afraid.

Rose whispered to Finn when Edgar was standing right behind her, "He looks spooky."

Finn suddenly felt like a triangle between Edgar, rose and him yet he couldn't believe Rose felt Edgar weird when the world wanted to know more about him. He wiped his thought off and calmed her, "Don't worry, he won't do anything to you."

Rose tried to say something but bit her lip and nodded leaving his sleeves. Finn knew her hesitation and also noticed her disappointment but how could he be sitting there where Edgar was going all out and Rose kept turning to him in uncomfortableness. 

He walked away towards the restroom and returned after ten minutes when Rose dialed his number to call him back to have lunch. 

He didn't show interest in whatever happened between them hence he remained quiet but he had to speak looking at Rose's awful look and lost appetite, "What's wrong? Shall I take you to the doctor? Is your allergy to roses that serious?"

Rose shook her head, "I lied. I am fine..."

Finn: "..."

She lied, he couldn't believe it and she didn't seem like she lied, her face had turned red and she was on the brink of tears. Finn saw her fallen face so he asked again, "What did you lie?"

Rose stabbed the noodles as she responded, "It's that stupid man's perfume. I can't offend him so I had to be prepared for that lie."josei

Finn nodded, of course, he knew about Edgar's perfume choice, Edgar selects a strong smell which lasts long. His idea was to leave his trail wherever he goes but probably didn't expect how some have to lie. "Why are you sad then?"

Rose's face suddenly turned out of sorts and Finn thought she was going to cry, "President Cooper didn't answer my call."

Finn: "..."

He understood she had dialed Aria's number first to talk to her before dialing his number. He decided to be nosy so that she could relax and eat because they still had a long day ahead.

"Alia must be busy at work, I am sure, she will definitely call you back." He saw her nod and heard her hum pursuing her lips. Finn had an urge to pat her head and calm her but removed it.

"Now tell me what happened? Did Edgar trouble you? Why do you want Alia for?" Finn questioned her carefully without triggering her to cry. 'Such a cry baby.'

Rose didn't want to give her honest opinions about Finn's friend to Finn but seeing him worried about her, she chose to tell him since the duo friends didn't talk properly, "You shouldn't get vexed."

Finn nodded, offended? he thought he might laugh at her reasons.

Rose glanced at Edgar once and summarised, "President Daves asked me out on a date." 

Finn didn't take it seriously and thought it was pretty common as she was good-looking, "Oookay..."

Rose continued, "But he lied to me. it isn't difficult to find me at all from my real name to the current name. I turned him down but he is forcing me to give it another thought and answer him later by giving me his card."

Finn nodded again and asked, "That's it?"

Rose: "..."

She briefed for his opinion but not 'That's it?'. She had been around Finn for nearly a month now and she felt the need to return to Skyline because she didn't have any hopes for him and was scared to hurt herself.