PBUY Chapter 05

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"Miss McKay is incredibly stubborn."

Chester rubbed his forehead with a displeased expression.

He seemed particularly irritated by the fact that he had forgotten to take back the front door key he had given her.

"Either that or she's just plain dumb."

"……"

"Or maybe both, stubborn and dumb."

"That's not it, Mr. Coleman. I just…"

Nellie fidgeted with her fingers for a moment.

The words wouldn't come easily.

She had come to apologize, but seeing Chester's cold expression made all the confidence she had just moments ago completely vanish.

"Just? What is it?"

Nellie closed her eyes tightly and spoke the words she had practiced in her head.

"I just… wanted to sincerely apologize to you, Mr. Coleman. I should have been more careful. I'm really sorry. I promise I'll never touch your things again. Could you give me one more chance?"

"……"

"I don't know if you remember, but my father passed away when I was two…"

"You mentioned that before."

Chester tried to stop her. But Nellie pressed on with what she had prepared.

"My mother passed away the year after that. Thankfully, my grandmother took me in, but she died when I was seventeen."

If bringing up her sad family background could save her from being fired, Nellie would have said it a hundred times over. What pride was there to hold onto?

"Since then, I've been on my own. I worked as a caregiver for Mrs. Hudson, who had dementia, just to earn enough for living expenses. After she passed away, the only job I could find was waiting tables at a bar. That's why I came to the city."

"……"

As Chester continued to say nothing and simply stared at her, Nellie spoke in a more desperate tone.

"My boarding rent is due next month, 60 dils. If I lose this job, I'll have to start job hunting all over again, and I don't even know if I'll be able to pay my rent then…"

"That's enough."

"If I get kicked out of the boarding house, I'll have to return to my hometown, having experienced the harshness of city life firsthand. And the only job waiting for me there is at the bar again. I'll have to endure the leering eyes and harassment every night…"

"I said that's enough, Miss McKay."

"…Yes, Mr. Coleman."

Sigh…

Chester let out a sigh that made it clear how annoyed he was.

Even so, Nellie didn't give up hope, because the emotion she saw on his face wasn't just irritation.

There was a flicker of sympathy. Pity, even.

"…Alright. I accept your apology. And I also… apologize, Miss McKay. I went too far."

"Huh?"

Nellie blinked in surprise at Chester's apology.

"You're apologizing… to me, Mr. Coleman? But I'm the one who was in the wrong."

"I was irritated, that's true. But still… I shouldn't have said those things. I sincerely apologize."

The tight line of Chester's mouth made it clear, he wasn't saying this lightly or out of politeness.

Thank goodness I'm not getting fired.

That was her first thought.

A wave of relief washed over her, next month's rent was safe.

Nellie gently placed her hand over her chest and, in the most graceful tone she could manage, replied.

"Then I too, with a generous heart, will accept your apology, Mr. Coleman."

"Very well, Miss McKay. Let's leave the past behind us."

"And…"

Nellie quickly spoke up before he could change the subject.

"I have a suggestion."

"What is it?"

"While I'm working, please let George play downstairs. Keeping a dog confined to the second floor all the time is far too harsh. I'm sure George wants to enjoy the downstairs too."

"…I'm sorry, Miss McKay, but there are a few things I should clarify."

"What are they?"

"First of all, George is not a puppy. She's over eight years old, probably middle-aged in human years."

Nellie gasped.

"Oh my! I never would've guessed! She looks so young!"

"For the record, George originally belonged to my aunt's friend. I took her in when no one else would."

"I see… And?"

"Secondly, she likes being upstairs. I tried keeping her downstairs at first, but…"

Chester looked up toward the second floor, as if his gaze could reach George.

"She kept whining, as if being around me made her uncomfortable. George is an independent dog. Please respect her personal space."

"…I understand."

Nellie nodded thoughtfully at Chester's words.

Not all dogs enjoy constant company, some need their space.

Just like people, every dog has a different temperament. George, despite being mistaken for a puppy, might simply be a free-spirited, independent soul.

And at her age, she must have her own routines, her own preferred habits.

Forcing her into something different might actually do more harm than good.

"And I also apologize for not explaining all of this earlier. I didn't think it was necessary."

Nellie understood what he meant.

Chester had likely assumed she wouldn't last long anyway, he had probably been planning to send her back to her old life the moment she slipped up.

To him, such minor details weren't worth mentioning.

"Mm… I understand, Mr. Coleman."

"I think George only came downstairs that first day because she was curious about you, Miss McKay. She's not normally that social…"

Chester seemed a little uncertain as he trailed off.

"…Do you think George likes me?"

At her sincere question, Chester gave an equally honest reply.

"Perhaps. George has rather unusual tastes. She tends to like things most dogs don't."

"……"

"Maybe you happen to fit her preferences, Miss McKay."

"…Are you saying I'm strange?"

"Interpret it however you like, Miss McKay."

'Interpret however you like', wasn't that just a roundabout way of saying 'Yes, you're strange'?

Annoyed, Nellie grumbled under her breath.

"You've got a terrible personality, Mr. Coleman. Like a seven-year-old boy."

"You flatter me. That makes me twenty years younger. Thank you for the compliment."

"Ugh! Seriously!"

As Nellie snapped, Chester looked at her and smiled, clearly amused.

It looked like he hadn't smiled in a very long time. The way his lips curved was a little awkward, but his handsome face was as striking as ever.

With both of them having apologized, yesterday's conflict had reached its conclusion. In fact, they seemed a little closer than when they had first met.

"Well then, you haven't eaten yet today, have you?"

"No."

When he answered with an obvious lie, Nellie scoffed.

"I know you're lying, so just be quiet."

Nellie briskly began preparing breakfast.

"Please, have a seat. Today's menu is: buttered bread, biscuits, apples and pears, warm milk, freshly squeezed orange juice, and coffee. What would you like to drink?"

"Coffee, please."

After seating Chester, Nellie poured him a hot cup of coffee.

It was a peaceful breakfast, if not for the fact that there was noticeably more food in front of her.

"Why does it feel like I'm the one eating more, even though this breakfast was supposed to be for you, Mr. Coleman?"

"That can't be true."

Chester replied coolly while sipping his coffee. Nellie shot back.

"It is true! Just look! I clearly have more on my side."

Nellie pointed at the table.

In front of her sat a large piece of bread, various fruits, and a full glass of juice.

Meanwhile, Chester's plate had only a single slice of apple. And the coffee hardly counted as food.

"You're still growing. It's good for you to eat plenty."

Chester responded with an even tone.

Nellie snapped back, offended.

"With all due respect, Mr. Coleman, my growing years are long gone. What's left for me now is just aging."

Even at her sarcastic jab, Chester merely shrugged.

"My aunt said you're twenty years old, Miss McKay."

Chester scratched his brow, looking slightly embarrassed to be saying such things.

"When I was twenty, I could have eaten three times that amount. I grew more than four inches after that. So, it's too early to say for sure, Miss McKay."

"That's your story, not mine."

Nellie replied curtly, arms crossed.

"I've been living alone and earning my own way since I was seventeen. I'm not a kid, so don't treat me like one."

Chester lifted his coffee cup to hide the smile tugging at his lips.

"Is that so? To me, you still look like a child, Miss McKay."

"Mr. Coleman, you might want to stop right there, unless you want to be on the receiving end of a proper scolding."

Chester didn't reply, but it was obvious he was teasing her.

Even if he tried to hide behind his coffee, the smile at the corner of his mouth gave him away.

As much as Nellie wanted to demand he stop treating her like a child, it was true that she was younger than him…

And picking a fight with her employer would do her no good. She had no desire to endanger her position.

So instead of arguing, she tore off a large piece of bread and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing as she sipped her juice.

This bread is actually pretty good…