Chapter 62: In action
Saturday, 8 am, at a golf club
Aveline lifted her head, soaking in the morning sun. Sporting a classic white pleated skirt and fitted tee, adding elegance with a gold watch and a navy cap. The ivory sweater draped over her shoulders kept her warm in the breeze.
"Ms. Laurent." Her caddie alerted her.
Tightening her white gloves, she picked up her club and stepped into position. One clean swing sent the ball flying in a high arc, drawing applause from the nearby onlooker.
She turned, feigning surprise at the sight of Lawrence Ashford. Passing her club to the caddie, she offered a polite greeting, "Mr. Ashford, Good morning."
Lawrence smiled like he had just won a jackpot. "Aveline..." He paused. "May I call you that? You’re like a daughter to me."
Aveline returned the smile, soft and practiced. "Of course. We are a family now." It had taken her ten days to be so at ease while lying.
He noticed the change. She wasn’t the docile woman hiding behind Damien anymore. She was calm and composed, and he failed to read through her politeness. "That was a great shot. Are you here with your father?" He looked around as if expecting to spot Henry.
Aveline maintained her politeness with a mask of a courteous smile. "No, Mr. Ashford. Damien was supposed to join me, but he had an urgent meeting with a new consultant." She didn’t even know where Damien was.
Lawrence’s expression shifted immediately at her response. A new consultant? Since when? Hiring at that level required board consent, and he had a vote.
She noticed his unfiltered reaction, but she didn’t show it. "Are you joining your friends, Mr. Ashford? Or... would you like to join me?"