Bartlett leaned in close to Ellinor, âIâve saved up enough dough for marriage; I just havenât found the right gal yet. I donât even know where to start looking. Ellinor, can you help me out?â
Ellinor twisted her lips in distaste. She was ready to tell him to back off when the driverâs door opened and Collin walked in. He cleared his throat, âAhem!â
Bartlett didnât seem phased, he just straightened up casually.
Collin asked thoughtfully, âMr. Rex, where are you headed?â
Bartlett answered straightforwardly, âI want to go where Ms. Mendoza is staying. You guys can just bring me along. If we live close, we can watch each otherâs backs if anything comes up.â
Collin clearly wasnât keen on the idea, âMr. Rex, Iâm sorry, but Ms. Mendoza is headed to the Howardâs Mountain Villa. It might not be convenient for you to tag along.â
Bartlett raised an eyebrow, âThe Howardâs Mountain Villa? Thatâs even better. I can just give Balfour a call!â
As he said this, he pulled out his phone, ready to dial Balfourâs number.
Ellinor, unable to stand it, snatched his phone and hung up the call before it went through. She asked irritably, âMr. Rex, what are you trying to do?â
Bartlett feigned innocence, âEllinor, weâre friends. Iâm glad to see a familiar face in this strange place. I just want to live close to you so we can watch out for each other. Thatâs not too much to ask, is it? Iâd be scared living alone up on the mountain. Canât you sympathize with a single guy like me?â
Ellinor clearly didnât believe he was scared, so she scoffed, âIf youâre so scared, whyâd you come alone? Even if I wasnât here, youâd still be living alone, wouldnât you?â
Bartlett frowned slightly, âYouâre right! I didnât think it through before I came. If you guys hadnât reminded me, I would have forgotten that the Howards had a vacation villa up here. I could give Balfour a call; he might even have time to vacation with me.â
Ellinor didnât want Bartlett to call Balfour. If Balfour knew she was here, he might come.
She didnât want Balfour to come. He v was still recovering from a foot injury from saving her last time.
There was no need for him to come up the mountain.
Ellinor thought for a moment, then handed the phone back to Bartlett, âDonât call Mr. Howard. Heâs injured and doesnât have the time to entertain you!â
Then she turned to Collin, âFine, let him come to the Howardâs Mountain Villa.â
Collin frowned but reluctantly agreed, âAlright, Ms. Mendoza.â
Bartlett grinned, âItâs been a while since I last visited that place; I think the last time was during our school daysâ¦â
Ellinor cut him off without hesitation, âMr. Rex, can you please shut up? Nobody wants to hear about your Bartlett shrugged and laughed, then finally quieted down.
Half an hour later, Collin drove them back to the Howardâs Mountain Villa.
childhood.â
Everyone there knew Bartlett as a friend of young Mr. Blanchet. After Bartlett explained his reason for coming, the villaâs butler courteously arranged for someone to prepare a guest room for him.
Ellinor didnât concern herself with Bartlettâs arrangements and went straight back to her own room.
S Collin dutifully followed her, waiting until they were alone to remind her, âItâs best if you donât get too close to Mr. Rex.â
Ellinor had never planned to get close to Bartlett, but she was curious, as she had been warned before not to get too close to him.