It was indeed Brian, so Nick wasn’t lying.
Darnell learned from Edwin that Brian was his childhood friend and had introduced him and his wife, Gloria, to work at Moonlight Lounge.
That night, it was Brian’s idea for Edwin to drug Darnell and Areli. Darnell cleverly avoided it, but Areli fell victim.
Edwin confessed that he and his wife had drugged people for Brian multiple times. Sometimes, it was to take advantage of drunk wealthy women and sometimes to set up clients with drugs to secure contracts.
In short, Edwin revealed all the dirty deeds Brian had made him do.
Edwin handed over a pack of Luxe Lofts to Darnell as compensation. There were nineteen cigarettes in the pack, a reward from Brian for his dirty work.
Darnell was satisfied with Edwin’s attitude. After recording his confession, he let him go. Though he despised Edwin’s actions, Darnell knew he was just a pawn. Taking Edwin down wouldn’t mean much. Watching Edwin’s retreating figure, Darnell pondered when he would meet Brian. He felt it necessary to get rid of Roberto’s lackeys to protect Areli from harm.
He took out a drag of Luxe Lofts cigarette, the one he hadn’t destroyed, and sniffed it. The scent of Fantasy Potion was still discernible.
He placed the cigarette back into the pack, making it a full set of twenty.
At that moment, Darnell’s phone rang.
Darnell lazily picked up his phone and put on his earphones. Areli’s cold voice came through.
“Darnell, why did you skip work yesterday? Get back here immediately or you’re fired.”
Hearing her stern voice, Darnell shivered. He quickly pocketed his phone and went back to change clothes. He couldn’t give her an excuse to fire him.
An hour and a half later, Darnell appeared at the office building. Just as he stepped out of the elevator on the eighteenth floor, he ran into Lillian.
Lillian was wearing a black chiffon skirt and a white cotton T-shirt. Her ample bosom moved gently under the thin fabric as she walked. Her round hips formed a graceful curve beneath her short skirt. Her long legs were bare, without stockings, and she wore a pair of black leather shoes. Her youthful charm and swaying hips made her irresistibly alluring.
Darnell’s smile bloomed instantly as he called out, “Miss Snow, how are you going?”
“Why are you back at work? Shouldn’t you be resting in the hospital? If it were me, I would take a day off.”
Lillian kicked at him playfully. “Shut up! Don’t mention that day again or I’ll kick you to death.”
Darnell didn’t dodge but grabbed her white ankle instead, giving it a squeeze with a cheeky grin. “Lillian, why do you always get physical when we meet? I consider hitting affection and scolding love. I’m happy you keep confessing your love for me like this in public.”
Feeling Darnell’s warm hand and teasing fingers, Lillian blushed deeply. “Let go of me, or I’ll scream harassment.”
“What’s going on here?”
A tall, handsome man with a buzz cut appeared then, glaring at Darnell holding Lillian’s foot. “Darnell, what are you doing? Do you know where you are?”
“Flirting with a female colleague in the workplace? Do you want me to send you to jail?”
The man shouted at Darnell while taking out his phone and looking sharply at Lillian. “Lillian, is he harassing you? Just say the word and I’ll call the police right now. I’ll testify for you even if it affects the company’s reputation. We can’t let scum like him get away.”
It was Brian!
Darnell recognized him immediately and his smile turned playful. What a small world indeed. Seeing Brian’s righteous demeanor and his attempts to woo Lillian made it clear he wanted her too. It made sense. With such a beautiful secretary around, how could he not?
Before Lillian could respond, Darnell chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “Mr. Towne, since when do you manage employee relationships too? As far as I know, the company doesn’t prohibit office romances. Aren’t you overstepping?”
Holding Lillian close, Darnell provocatively looked at Brian.
“What an outrageous man!”
Brian’s face darkened as he shouted, “Since when are Lillian and you in a romantic relationship? Are you trying to make excuses for your harassment?”
“Don’t be afraid, Lillian. I have your back.”
He looked expectantly at Lillian and continued, “Tell me if he’s harassing you.”
Lillian said ambiguously to smooth things over. “Mr. Towne, Darnell was just joking with me. He didn’t harass me.”
Brian’s face fell. “Lillian, don’t condone this behavior. The more lenient you are, the bolder he’ll get.”
Lillian bit her lip. “Mr. Towne, Darnell really didn’t harass me.”
“Exactly! How could I harass Lillian?” Darnell said with a smirk, “She’s kissed me before. She’s my…”
“Nonsense! Who kissed you?” Lillian glared at him. “Go to Miss Fanshaw’s office now. She asked to see you by eleven-thirty, or you’re fired.”
Darnell checked the time, It was 11:29. He dashed towards Areli’s office.
Brian watched him leave with a dark expression. How dare he flirt with the woman he fancied?
At the same time, Brian was upset by Lillian’s ambiguous attitude towards Darnell. “Lillian, you’re condoning crime.”
Just then, Darnell halted abruptly and sprinted back. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
He tore open the pack like it was brand new and offered one to Brian with an unusually polite demeanor. “Mr. Towne, I didn’t sleep well last night, so I apologize for my rudeness just now.”
“Come on, have a cigarette.”
This was the Luxe Lofts cigarette Edwin had used to drug Darnell.
Brian was momentarily stunned by Darnell’s sudden change in attitude but then regained his composure. After all, as an administrative supervisor backed by Roberto, how could a newcomer like Darnell dare offend him?
Lillian was also surprised since she knew Darnell as someone who never took insults lying down.
Darnell continued, smiling, “Mr. Towne, you’re always magnanimous. Please don’t hold it against me. Why get angry with a nobody like me?”
Brian initially wanted to slap away Darnell’s hand, but seeing Lillian nearby reminded him that he shouldn’t be petty in front of the woman he loved.
Thus, he took the cigarette without lighting it and said sarcastically, “Alright then. I won’t pursue this further for Lillian’s sake.”
“But remember, not everyone is as forgiving as I am.”
Brian took a deep whiff of the Luxe Lofts’ aroma. “Harass another female colleague again and you’ll lose more than just your job.”
Luxe Lofts cigarettes had an exceptionally pure taste. “How come he afford such expensive cigarettes?” Brian wondered.
Luxe Lofts cigarette cost $1, 500 per carton, a luxury even Brian rarely indulged in, except when rewarding Edwin for certain tasks.
However, Brian didn’t think much of it. He continued lecturing, “And stay away from Lillian, or I’ll cripple you myself.”
“Understood,” Darnell nodded obsequiously while stuffing the cigarette pack into Brian’s pocket. “Thank you for being forgiving, Mr. Towne. I’ll keep my distance.”
“Now scram!”
Brian puffed on the Luxe Lofts cigarette with a smirk face while Darnell ran off with a bright smile.