Chapter 10
Finally, they finished the dinner, and Latrina was stuffed. She’d even polished off several more glasses of that Château Lafite Rothschild.
They came to the underground parking lot when Eduardo insisted on driving her home, but Latrina refused.
“Don’t bother. I have a business trip tomorrow, and I’ve got another appointment later. Remember! I like things to be clean. Don’t dirty my car!”
Those words “don’t dirty my car” hung in the air, sharp and deliberate. It was also a quiet jab that stung deeper in her heart.
Latrina bit back harsher words.
She’d had a few drinks, but her head was clear enough to remember why she was here.
Eduardo complied, taking her car keys and sliding into the driver’s seat.
“Trina! I love you!”
Eduardo leaned out the car window, his voice earnest.
Latrina almost believed him. She pressed her lips into a faint smile, saying nothing.
Latrin
Love was cheap. Anyone could say it easily.
She couldn’t deny there’d been love in the years before. But that was gone with the wind.
As he drove her car out of sight, her vision blurred. The tears she’d been holding back finally spilled over.
Latrina sobbed quietly, tears falling like an unstoppable flood.
“Bitch! Bastard!” she ground out between gritted teeth in a muffled voice.
She felt as if someone were slowly slicing her heart open with a knife, blood seeping bit by bit, gnawing away at her from the inside out. Leaning against the wall, she couldn’t stem the flow, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She didn’t know how long she had cried. Eventually, it felt like she’d wrung herself dry.
Gathering her composure, she reached back to smooth her hair, then turned, only to find Gerhart standing by the elevator, watching her. She averted her gaze instantly and wiped away her tears with shaky hands, desperate to hide them. Gerhart stumbled toward her, his eyes hazy, as if he might topple over at any second.“Latrina?” He squinted half–shut, drunk and unsteady, but even through the blur of his rimless Latrina turned her face away, but he lowered his head, openly fixing his gaze on her tear–streaked
was you,” he mumbled, nearly tripping over his own feet.
“I knew it
Latrina shot out a hand to steady him.“Mr. Crowley…” Her voice, raw from crying, trembled as she spoke.
She sighed inwardly, “What kind of bad luck was this?
glasses, he still looked cool and noble.
“My boyfriend cheated on me, making my best friend pregnant, and now I’m tangled up with “I can hardly hold on!”
eyes.
my boss. It’s
all
too much.
“You cried?” Gerhart’s words slurred, half his weight resting on Latrina as he swayed, “No. Just got sand in my eyes.” Latrina didn’t bother with niceties.“Mr. Crowley, where’s your car? Give me the keys.”
She propped him against the wall, then patted down his jacket pockets.
But it was empty. She hesitated, not daring to reach into his pants pockets, afraid of “I didn’t drive.”
He tilted his head, his gaze lingering on Latrina’s red–rimmed eyes and pink nose.
overstepping.
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Latrina bit back a groan.“Drunk off wine from a fancy restaurant? With that lousy tolerance. You close deals by sleeping your way through,
< Chapter 10
huh?”
She muttered under her breath while calling Kelvin.
“Kelvin, where are you? Your boss is wasted.”
“Madam, it’s past hours! I’m off work.”
“Cut the crap. Do you think I don’t know that? I’m off too. But you’re his assistant. Are you going do your job? If not, I’ll just leave him here.” Today was Latrina’s heartbroken day, with no one to vent her grievance to. But now, she was: stuck cleaning up this mess. All she wanted was to run far away, but he kept crossing her path.
“Where are you?”
“Tastebud Delights, parking lot.”
Silence hung on the line for a moment before Kelvin said, “Put Mr. Crowley on.
Latrina sighed, turning to Gerhart behind her.
“Your assistant’s or
on the phone! Tell him to come get you, now!”
$ ཤིང 1:|:
a
Latrina grabbed his wrist and pressed the phone into his hand, urging him to hold on.
Gerhart shook his foggy head, squinted at the screen, then brought it to his ear, wandering a step away
to talk.
Latrina used the lull to dash at her tear–streaked face with the back of her hand, smoothing down her messy “Yeah,” Gerhart grunted into the phone.
“Mr. Crowley, you’re at Tastebud Delights, right?” Kelvin double–checked.
“Yeah.”
“You don’t need me, then?”
Having worked with Gerhart long enough, Kelvin knew him well. Two glasses of red wine couldn’t possibly get him drunk. He must be faking it. Gerhart inwardly acknowledged Kelvin’s quick wit.
“Yeah.”
“I could get sick tonight, but tomorrow’s a paid day off, right?”
Kelvin had always been a pro at reading his boss’s mind and making use of it!
“Yeah.”
“Long live Mr. Crowley! Enjoy the rest of your night! I’m shutting my phone off!* “Yeah.”
Men really did speak the same language.
Gerhart ended the call with a single ‘Yeah.”
On the other end, Kelvin was grinning.
Gerhart stumbled back to Latrina, half–asleep, slinging an arm over her shoulder.
Latrina Ainched, nearly dodging, but caught him just in time, afraid he’d topple over.“Hey! Did you call him over?”
She snatched his phone, tried redialing, but Kelvin’s phone was already powered off.
Damn!
She had no choice but to prop him up and head to the ground floor to hail a taxi.
In the back seat, Gerhart’s head lolled onto her shoulder.
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Latrina tilted her face, catching a whiff of his shampoo. It smelled pleasant.
“Going out drinking without a bodyguard? Don’t you know a pretty face like yours could fetch a pretty penny in a brothel?” she teased, pinching
his cheek..
It was surprisingly smooth. She couldn’t resist touching it again, snickering softly.
The taxi driver glanced in the rearview mirror, smirking.
Luckily, she remembered the way to his apartment, and by the time they stumbled in, it was already eleven.
They’d barely reached his door when the bodyguard stationed there hurried over to assist,
“Fuck off!” Gerhart’s voice was sharp, cutting off the bodyguard mid–step.
“Are you an idiot? Do I look like I can carry you?”
The bodyguard gaped, frozen.
Latrina, sweating through her clothes, all but dumped him onto the living room so
sofa.
She turned to leave, but he snatched her wrist, yanking her back. She stumbled, falling into his arms, and he held
“Ah!”
His chest was as firm and warm as that night. It was solid, searing, sending a jolt through her.
“Don’t go,” Gerhart murmured.
Latrina slapped his cheek before she could think.
She scrambled up, horrified.
Latrina was startled by her own reaction, but still worried that she might hurt him, so she caressed his face gently.“Sorry… I’m so sorry…
He went still, his eyes softening. They were warm, almost tender as he looked up at her, then he leaned back against the sofa, watching her. The maid, who’d appeared to help, froze in her tracks.
Latrina stood up, straightening her clothes, and turned to the maid.
“If he can’t remember tomorrow
“Okay…”
don’t tell him I hit him. Just say he fell.”
The maid nodded faintly. She recognized this woman as the one who’d stayed with Gerhart that night. She didn’t dare disobey.
Latrina glanced at Gerhart once more, then turned and left the apartment.
Less than two minutes later, Gerhart sat up straight, smoothing his clothes, and picked up the hangover cure the maid had set out on the table. He exhaled sharply, touching his stinging cheek, his gaze following the direction Latrina had gone.
The maid stood by and pressed her lips tight to hide a smile. She didn’t dare laugh aloud.
She never thought a man as powerful as Gerhart would pull such a stunt or that a woman would be bold enough to turn him down. It was quite a sight!
Back at her apartment, Latrina tore off the dress Eduardo had touched, tossing it straight into the trash before rushing to the bathroom for a
shower.
< Chapter 11
Chapter 11
The next day, she started her vacation.
Latrina slept until twelve.
She didn’t
get up to wash
up,
but checked her car’s location first instead. Sure enough, the car was taken for maintenance.
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Her schedule today was simple. She would only please her.
She slipped on high heels that she rarely wore, along with a sexy, tight dress. The outfit made her perfect figure look even more flawless. She was good–looking, with a delicate face and flawless skin. Her blonde hair lent her an air of nobility.
She stood before the full–length mirror, studying herself.
At 5 feet 5 inches, she was almost as high as Eduardo with her heels on.
So she’d naturally given up wearing heels, afraid of making Eduardo look shorter beside her. Now, though, it didn’t matter. She could wear whatever she wanted.
She couldn’t help laughing at herself. She’d been slow to realize one thing: she couldn’t be herself around Eduardo.
After getting herself ready, she grabbed her bag, but spotted Gerhart’s jacket on the sofa.
She forgot to return it again.
After a moment’s hesitation, she slung it casually over her wrist and headed out.
She got her nails done, had her straight blonde hair styled into waves, put on nice makeup at the salon, and went on a shopping spree. Finally, she visited a custom clothing store. That was an aged private tailor shop. Usually, one had to make reservations. This time, she wondered if she’d be kept waiting for months, even half a year.
“Hello, I’d like to order a shirt.” Latrina handed the jacket in her hand to the clerk.
“Hello, miss. What can I do for you?” The young clerk greeted her warmly.
“This was my boyfriend’s suit, but I don’t know his shirt size. Could you make a shirt to match it?” Latrina stated her request.
She tore two of his shirts, so she had to return him at least one shirt.
But he liked black so much. She’d order a white one instead.
She didn’t want to be in his debt.
The clerk took the suit jacket, examining it carefully. Her eyes lingered on the label: “G.C.”
Hesitant to jump to conclusions, she spoke gently to Latrina, “I’ll need to check with the tailor. Could you wait here a moment? I’ll be right back.” “Sure, thank you.” Latrina sat on a nearby couch, waiting patiently.
The derk took the garment to the back of the store, handing it to a grey–bearded old man. She explained the situation, flipping the jacket to show the label.
The old man, Richard Crowley, glanced at Latrina through the partition, adjusting his glasses.
“She said it’s for her boyfriend? Are you sure?” He sounded surprised.
“Yes, Sir Crowley,” the clerk replied with a faint smirk,
Tell her to come in. Richard glanced at Latrína, who was looking around.
The derk said something to Latrina, who followed her gesture and saw a grey–bearded man looking her way.
She nodded in acknowledgment, picked up her bag, and walked toward the yard in her high heels.
She crossed the yard, followed a quiet path, and stepped inside with a graceful stride.
Her figure was perfectly proportioned, with a ideal waist–to–hip ratio.
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