Chapter 26 The next morning, Xavier was up bright and early, lounging in the living room as he eagerly waited for Danielle. It was his first time taking her shopping, and heâd been so excited heâd barely slept.
"Just so you know," Xavier announced smugly to his brothers, "Iâm taking Danielle out today."
The others exchanged sharp glances, silently cursing his gloating.
"Mom, why isnât Danielle down yet?" Xavier asked, practically bouncing in his seat.
Vivian shot him a look of mild irritation. "For heavenâs sake, Xavier, youâve asked a hundred times already. Be quiet for a minute, okay?"
Before she could say more, Danielle came down the stairs, her presence instantly lighting up the room.
"Danielle! Did you sleep well? No rush-take all the time you need," Xavier said, his tone enthusiastic as he stood to greet her.
"Good morning, everyone," Danielle said, her smile warm and cheerful.
Howard and Vivian beamed at their daughter, admiring her cute outfit. "Come have some breakfast first, sweetheart," they said in unison.
Meanwhile, Audrey had been upstairs, spending extra time primping herself. When she finally walked into the living room and saw everyone gathered around Danielle, happily eating, she felt a pang of jealousy.
"Good morning, everyone," Audrey said with a big, practiced smile.
Vivian glanced up. "Audrey, youâre up early. Come join us for breakfast," she said gently.
Audrey sat down, playing coy. "I wanted to eat with all of you."
As the meal went on, she turned to Joseph, her tone casual but calculated. "Joseph, since Iâm on summer break and bored at home, can I intern at the company?"
Joseph frowned slightly, surprised. "Why the sudden interest in working?"
Howard and Vivian exchanged glances, equally puzzled. Audrey wasnât the type to show much interest in hard work.
"Audrey, if youâre bored, why not take a trip with your friends?" Vivian suggested. "Working at the company can be exhausting. I donât want you overdoing it."
Audrey pouted a little, her voice softening. "Mom, I know you care about me, but itâs our family business. I just want to learn a little, and Joseph wonât let me work too hard, right?" She batted her lashes at him.
Howard rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Some work experience wouldnât hurt."
Sensing her parentsâ approval, Audrey turned to Joseph with a sweet smile. "I promise I wonât cause any trouble. Please let me try."
Joseph shrugged. "Alright, report to the CEOâs office tomorrow."
Audrey lit up, clapping her hands. "Thank you, Joseph! Mom, Dad, Iâll work hard and do my best to help the company!"
Danielle glanced at Audrey, keeping her expression neutral. Just yesterday, Audrey had tried to put a hit on her, and now, she was suddenly eager to intern at the family business. It was interesting.
Meanwhile, Xavier kept sneaking glances at Danielle. Sheâd finished her breakfast, and he was practically vibrating with anticipation. Still, he didnât want to seem pushy.
Danielle caught his barely-contained excitement and couldnât help but smile. "Iâm ready now," she said gently.
Xavierâs face lit up like a kid in a candy store. "Great! Shall we?" Austin, still bitter, warned, "Xavier, youâre going to get mobbed at the mall. Everyone knows your face."
But Xavier wasnât about to let anyone rain on his parade. He grabbed Danielleâs hand and started heading for the door. "Donât worry. Iâve got it all figured out," he said.
Instead of taking the family chauffeur, they headed to the garage and chose a sleek Bugatti.
As soon as Xavier buckled his seatbelt, Danielle hit the gas. The car shot out of the estate like a rocket, leaving a trail of blurred scenery in its wake.
Xavier clutched his seatbelt tightly, his knuckles white. He had never imagined that sweet, delicate Danielle could drive like this.
"Uh... Danielle, weâre not really in a rush," he said, his voice a little shaky as he tried not to sound panicked.
"I know," Danielle replied, her tone calm and unbothered. Xavier thought she could easily be a professional race car driver. He swallowed hard, his pulse racing as fast as the car. Little did he know that this was considered slow for Danielle. Heâd find out soon enough what her real top speed looked like.
Anyone who knew Danielle well would tell people two things: never hand her alcohol, and never let her drive.
She had no tolerance for alcohol-one glass was enough to get her tipsy-but she never backed down from a drinking challenge. If friends encouraged her, sheâd keep going, even when she could barely sit upright. And once drunk, she was completely unpredictable.
As for cars, her driving skills were phenomenal, but her speed was terrifying. Riding in a car with Danielle behind the wheel was like being on a rollercoaster-one you couldnât get off.
At Soufieldâs largest mall, a sleek Bugatti came to a dramatic stop with a stylish drift, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. The security guards at the entrance stared, momentarily stunned.
One guard quickly approached the car. As the doors opened, a man stepped out, his face hidden by a hat and mask, followed by a woman whose beauty seemed almost otherworldly. The guard couldnât help but gawk.
Danielle noticed the lingering stares, but before she could react, Xavier, still recovering from the dizzying ride, snapped, "What are you staring at?"
The guards snapped out of it and stammered apologies. "Sorry! We didnât mean to stare."
Xavier, protective as ever, pulled Danielle close. "Come on, Danielle. Letâs head in. Anything you want, itâs on me," he declared grandly.
As they entered the mall, heads turned everywhere they went. Even with Xavierâs face mostly hidden, his tall, striking figure caught attention. And Danielleâs beauty was impossible to ignore.
They wandered leisurely until they reached a luxury boutique. The moment they stepped inside, a salesperson approached, her eyes lighting up as she took in their expensive outfits.
"Welcome! These are some of our latest arrivals," she said warmly. She gestured to a rack of clothing and added, "This dress, for example, is a limited- edition piece designed by Celia Clark herself. Itâs truly one of a kind."
Danielle raised an eyebrow. She was familiar with Celiaâs work. The designer had been making waves in the fashion world ever since winning a major competition last year. But to Danielle, her designs felt unremarkable, lacking in real creativity.
Sensing Danielleâs lack of interest, the salesperson quickly pivoted, showing off other options.
Xavier, meanwhile, spotted a sleek white dress on display. His eyes lit up. "Danielle, this one is perfect for you," he said, holding it up and looking at her like an excited puppy.
Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David)
ï¤Chapter 25 Danielle couldnât help but smile at his enthusiasm. Taking the dress, she headed to the fitting room.