Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 1219

"Are you two seriously still talking business?" Iris was dying to know what they were up to. She was so curious she could barely sit still, but she kept her smile on, trying to act casual. "You guys work harder than anyone I know."

She turned to Walter, teasing him, "Walter, we made a deal, remember? If you ever strike it rich, don’t forget about us. Why are you sneaking off to hustle behind our backs?"

Everyone remembered how, back at dinner, Iris had brought up Audrey and Walter’s business deal. The others jumped in, half joking, half fishing for info. "Yeah, Walter, if you’ve got a good project, let us in on it."

Walter wasn’t the type to mix business with pleasure. Even with friends he’d known for years, he kept things professional. "It’s not business, it’s personal," he said, his voice calm. "You guys go have fun. Audrey and I have plans tonight. I already promised her before I came out."

Harden, who was closest to Walter, immediately caught on and backed him up. "Alright, we get it. We won’t disturb you. You two go do your thing."

Walter didn’t bother correcting him. He just nodded and said, "I’ll treat everyone to dinner next time."

"Yeah, yeah, hurry up and go," Harden laughed. "If you stay any longer, I’ll get jealous."

Iris watched them chatting and laughing, feeling her chest tighten with frustration. She hated being left out, especially when Walter was so close to another woman. Audrey obviously liked him. If she let them leave together, in the middle of the night, who knew what Audrey might try? Just thinking about it hurt.

So Iris tried again, searching for an excuse to stick around. "Where are you two headed? Since we're all leaving anyway, why don’t we give you a ride?" She put on her most thoughtful voice. "Walter, you probably had drinks with your client tonight, right? You shouldn’t be driving."

Walter shook his head. "No need. We’ve got a driver. You don’t have to worry about us. Let’s just say goodbye here."

With that, no one else could really insist.

Walter and Audrey left together, and as soon as their car disappeared, Iris felt like something heavy was crushing her chest. If Walter wasn’t going out, she didn’t feel like tagging along with everyone else either.

Before she could get in her own car, Iris turned to the group. "Sorry, my leg is acting up. I walked too much today. You guys go ahead without me, I’ll head home."

Audrey glanced at the shoe cabinet and saw he was telling the truth. There was just that one pair. She felt oddly pleased. "That’s fine, I don’t mind."

She slipped them on without hesitation. They were a little big, but she grinned. "They’re cute. I bet your mom picked them out herself. You should get a guest pair for next time, though. I don’t want to steal your mom’s favorite. Or I can bring my own if that’s easier."

Her voice was playful, and Walter couldn’t help but laugh. "No need to bring your own. I’ll have the housekeeper pick some out."

"Okay, I’ll leave it to you. I like purple, blue, or yellow. Maybe something with a cartoon on it. I’m not picky, though." She listed everything out, even as she claimed she wasn’t picky at all.

Walter just smiled. "Alright, I’ll let the housekeeper know."

They headed inside together. Walter poured her a glass of warm water and handed it over. "The Christmas tree we ordered is over there," he said, pointing. "It hasn’t even been unboxed yet."