Early in the morning, Avril was up and about, pulling her small assistant to help her pick out an outfit. She wanted something that looked cute and lively. After trying on various styles, she finally settled on a sweet, Japanese-inspired sailor uniform.
Pairing it with white bubble socks and some round-toed leather shoes, she eagerly ran over to James's place, using her fingerprint to unlock the door.
She stood at the entrance to the master bedroom for a moment, checking her reflection to ensure everything was perfect. Gathering her courage, she gently knocked on the door and called out, "Uncle~ Wake up!"
After a long pause with no response, she tested, "I'm coming in!"
Still, there was silence.
Figuring he must be in a deep sleep, she didn't hesitate to open the bedroom door.
The room was spacious, over seventy square meters, complete with a walk-in closet, bathroom, and balcony.
In her excitement, she headed straight for the large bed in the center. The covers were slightly bunched to one side, leaving her uncertain if anyone was under them.
"Uncle, the morning sets the tone for the day; hurry up and wake up for breakfast!"
In an effort to ensure James saw her all dressed up as soon as he opened his eyes, she casually grabbed a corner of the blanket. "If you don't wake up, I'm going to pull the covers off!"
"You didn't sleep in the buff, did you?"
Her voice held a teasing lilt as she pulled the blanket back, revealing an empty bed.
She blinked in surprise.
Had he really vanished already?
Where did he go?
Searching around the apartment and finding no sign of him left her feeling unusually empty.
She tried calling, but no one answered.
Sitting on the couch with her phone in hand, Avril stared blankly into space.
Was it possible that this man had just disappeared?
Or maybe he had drained all his energy and returned to his home planet to recharge?
Just as she began to spiral into paranoid thoughts about how to summon him back, the door swung open, and James walked in.
Her face lit up with joy, and she leaped to her feet, calling out, "Uncle, you're baâ"
But her cheerful greeting faltered as she noticed a stunning blonde beauty following closely behind him, rendering her speechless.
The alluring foreign woman wore form-fitting athletic gear that accentuated her shapely figure, her flawless cheeks flushed and beads of sweat glistening on her forehead.
It was clear she had just finished working out.
Avril's mind raced as she wondered what kind of "exercise" they had been doing.
"Morning!"
James greeted her with a smile when he saw Avril in his house, glancing between the two girls.
"What are you doing here?" he asked Avril.
"Why can't I be here?" she shot back defiantly, her eyes narrowing on the blonde.
"Should I not be here?"
James detected the tone of jealousy in her voice and swiftly explained, "What kind of talk is that? This is Natasha; she's here to sign a property management delegation."
He had to help Natasha manage the penthouse since he couldn't accept her request to move out. Signing this agreement meant he could handle everything regarding buying, selling, renting, or even using the property, including keeping it empty or living in it himself.
To convince Natasha to accept, he had promised, "What I give away, I never take back. Consider it insurance. If you ever face difficulties later, this property can still be turned into cash."
Her gratitude had raised his favorability with her by ten points.
Now, James gestured towards Avril, introducing her to Natasha. "This is my sister; you can call her Avril."
Natasha observed the young girl closely.
Avril stood there cutely, her outfit accentuating her youthful charm. She wore her hair in a cute bow, complemented with a red necktie within her black-and-white uniform.
Her pleated skirt showed off her creamy legs, standing tall and graceful, like a delicate flower. Yet, there was a hint of hostility in the way she watched Natasha, suggesting some special feelings towards her boss.
Natasha responded with a warm smile, nodding, "Hello."
Avril walked over with an enthusiastic grin, "Hi! Wow, you can speak English! That's so impressive!"
"Only what's needed for work; I'm not very fluent," Natasha replied modestly.
"I think you're doing great! It's better than most Russians I've met."
"Is that so? Thank you for the compliment."
"No need to be polite! Come sit here, I'll get you a glass of water."
"Thank you."
Watching Avril act like a perfect hostess, James thought something felt off.
Yet, seeing them seemingly get along, he chose to remain silent.
He peeled off his damp workout clothes, revealing his toned torso, preparing to take a shower.
As if synchronized, the two women fell into silence.
Unlike Avril, who shyly averted her gaze, Natasha's eyes were much more direct, taking in the sight of James's physique.
His broad chest and defined abs showcased a sculpted form; he wasn't bulky, but every muscle was alluringly shaped.
Despite having seen his body before, Natasha found herself swallowing hard at the sight again.
During times of heartbreak, encountering an attractive opposite can spark a sense of longing within.
Natasha felt an urge to connect with him more intimately.
After all, she was leaving soon, and she didn't want to have regrets.
However, with another girl present, she felt a little too reserved, even though she appreciated her feelings towards James.
So, instead of acting on those thoughts, she simply gazed at him with some longing.
"How about it? Am I handsome or what?"
James, sensing their intense gazes, posed seductively, flexing his impressive physique.
Avril's eyes sparkled with adoration, a desire to touch him bubbling inside her. Yet, remembering her character as the cute and innocent girl today, she refrained, pretending to be shy. "You're so shameless, Uncle!"
James raised an eyebrow. "???"
Was this girl going off the rails?
Natasha remarked, "Aside from a few awkward poses where the muscle contractions aren't fully displayed, your body is absolutely perfect, boss."
James practically floated with pride at Natasha's compliment, his nose almost reaching the ceiling.
Avril, taken aback that the typically blunt Russian would shower him with such flattery, shot back defiantly, "Uncle, with a body like that, why don't you start a live stream for tips? I'd even donate!"
James replied in a disinterested tone, "Not interested."
With that, he tossed his clothes aside and strode toward the master bathroom.
Streaming to earn money didn't compare to flirting with a girl.
Avril currently had over three hundred million.
With just twenty-five more favorability points needed, putting in a little effort would soon get her there.
Wasn't that much easier than being coy on a stream?
He shut the bathroom door behind him as only Avril and Natasha remained in the living room.
After asking a few trivial questions, Avril's curiosity got the better of her. She decided to probe into Natasha's background.
"So, Natasha, how did you get to know Uncle?"
"I'm his personal trainer."
"Wow, no wonder Uncle has such a great body; all that work must be thanks to you!"
Natasha was more straightforward, replying honestly, "Actually, today is my first day on the job. I'm curious why he decided to get a personal trainer when he's already in great shape."
Hearing they had only met recently, Avril let out a small sigh of relief.
She mused internally: with a stunning figure and captivating presence like this, who else would he choose?
"Does Natasha have a crush on Uncle?"