Seeing Bailee’s appearance made Darnell’s breathing become heavy, and his mouth instinctively opened to say something, but nothing came out.
His mouth felt dry, and he just wanted to take a few bites of an apple to quench his thirst.
“Mr. Halford, you’ve helped me so much and even saved me several times. I have no way to repay you.”
Bailee bit her lip, summoning her courage. “I want to give myself to you.”
Her words carried a hint of self-mockery. “After all, I’ll have to give myself to a man sooner or later, so it might as well be you.”
Darnell coughed. “Bailee, don’t say that. I help you not because I want something from you, but because I genuinely want you to be happy.”
Bailee wrapped her arms around Darnell’s neck. “I know you have no ulterior motives, which is why I feel even more guilty and grateful, especially after what happened today.”
“You could have reported me and sent me to jail, but instead, you believed in me and came to my rescue, even wanting to turn my parents into a better person.”
“If I don’t repay you, I will always feel guilty.”
Bailee exhaled softly, her apple-scented breath becoming even more intense. Darnell couldn’t help but swallow his saliva. He had eaten many apples before but had never tasted an apple-scented woman.
The apple was peeled and smooth.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a clingy woman, and I won’t tell anyone else about this.”
Bailee slightly parted her red lips. “Not even Shayla and Casey will know. It will only be our secret.”
She looked into his eyes intently, her beauty intoxicating.
At this point, if Darnell still didn’t understand Bailee’s intentions, he would truly be an idiot.
Bailee slowly approached him, shyly seeking refuge in Darnell’s embrace. She whispered, “Mr. Halford, do what you want to me…”
Their bodies pressed against each other, both feeling the intense desire emanating from the other.
Darnell felt his body tense up.
Although he enjoyed joking and flirting with the three women normally, he wasn’t accustomed to Bailee’s way of repaying him.
Darnell held the woman’s waist and whispered, “Bailee, this is not right… really not right…”
But Bailee was determined. “Mr. Halford, don’t you want me? Do you want to see other men with me?”
As her words fell, Darnell’s blood boiled. The moment Bailee looked up at him, he forcefully kissed her red lips.
Bailee was momentarily startled but then closed her beautiful eyes and tightly pressed her body against Darnell’s.
“Mmm!”
Once the defense line was breached, Darnell’s movements quickened. His fingers glided over Bailee’s back like playing a piano.
Although Bailee had made up her mind to give herself to him, this was still her first time. Her body trembled slightly as her temperature rose rapidly.
The scent became even more intense.
Just as his hand was about to make further moves, they heard the sound of the doorknob turning from outside.
“Click!”
The sound was like a thunderclap that startled the two in the midst of their passionate kiss.
Bailee stopped in an awkward position and Darnell got up from her. They hurriedly put on their clothes and shoes.
Darnell rushed to the living room and retrieved his phone from the coffee table.
Shayla’s voice came through the door. “Huh? Is the door locked? Bailee should be home by now.”
Casey spoke softly, “Yeah, Mr. Halford sent me a text, saying he took Bailee home. They should be home by now.”
Shayla laughed cheerfully, “Let’s not worry about it for now. Let’s go inside and cook some food while we wait for them to come back.”
Although separated by a door, Darnell and Bailee could hear every word Shayla and Casey said clearly. At this moment, both of their expressions were unpleasant.
Bailee didn’t want Shayla and Casey to know about what happened today because she didn’t want to cause trouble for Darnell.
She also knew that her two friends had feelings for Darnell. She didn’t want to upset them.
Although Darnell didn’t care much about it, he also didn’t want Bailee to face any gossip. He quickly got dressed.
With an anxious expression on her face, Bailee pulled Darnell and pointed at the large wardrobe in the bedroom. She whispered softly, “Mr. Halford, hide in there for now.”
Darnell nodded gently and swiftly hid himself in the wardrobe next to the curtains.
“Huh? Bailee’s handbag is here at home.”
At this moment, Shayla and Casey had already entered the living room, chattering like magpies.
Suddenly, Shayla noticed a handbag on top of the shoe cabinet along with a pair of high heels. “Her high heels are here too. Bailee should be at home.”
Casey pointed at the coffee table. “There’s a cup of tea on it, and it’s still steaming hot. Mr. Halford must have come too.”
However, Shayla and Casey didn’t see Bailee or Darnell anywhere in the house. The place was eerily quiet, which left the two women puzzled.
Almost instinctively, their eyes turned toward the closed door of Bailee’s bedroom.
“Are they… you know?”
The two women exchanged a glance, silently agreeing on the unspoken thought. Just as they were about to move closer to investigate, the door suddenly opened. Bailee stepped out, drying her hair with a towel.
“Shayla, Casey, what are you doing back? Don’t you have work this afternoon?” Bailee asked, her tone casual. “I was just about to have lunch and head back to the office.”
Her sudden appearance caught Shayla and Casey off guard.
“We came back to check on you,” Shayla said, her eyes bright. “Mr. Halford said you seemed upset, so he told us to come keep you company. By the way, where is Mr. Halford?”
“I’m fine now,” Bailee replied, lowering her head with a faint smile. “Mr. Halford already helped me sort things out. I’m feeling much better, and Mr. Halford is reinstated to his position, It’s cause for celebration. Why don’t I treat you both to lunch?”
She added, “Mr. Halford dropped me off earlier, and I went straight to shower. He probably went back already.”
“Isn’t this his car key?” Casey picked up a set of keys from the couch. “Did he leave without his car?”
The two women exchanged another look, their smiles growing mischievous. “Bailee, are you sure Mr. Halford left?”
Bailee stiffened slightly, scrambling for an excuse. “He’s not here, so he must have gone back. Where else would he be?” She pretended to think for a moment. “Maybe he went to buy something? He mentioned he was starving this morning and hadn’t eaten.”
“Really? But I remember we have plenty of snacks at home,” Shayla teased, her eyes darting to Bailee’s legs. “Bailee, your underwear is on inside out.”
“Did you and Mr. Halford have sex?”
“It has to be! Why else would your underwear be inside out?”
As Bailee instinctively touched her pajamas, Shayla and Casey burst into the bedroom, laughing and shouting, “We’re catching you in the act! Mr. Halford, come out!”
Before Bailee could stop them, the two women ransacked the room, checking every possible hiding spot. Finally, they zeroed in on the last place someone could hide-the wardrobe.
With a loud bang, they yanked the wardrobe open, only to find it empty.
All three women froze. Where could he be?
Meanwhile, Darnell was scaling the side of the building like a stealthy serpent. He had slipped out through the window and was now making his way down the wall, careful not to draw attention.
The area was dimly lit, and he moved slowly along the drainpipe, taking about five minutes to reach the ground without being noticed.
As he neared the bottom, a lush sycamore tree came into view, its tender leaves swaying gently in the breeze. The surroundings were quiet and peaceful.
Just as Darnell was about to land on the ground, a sharp sword silently rose from behind the tree.
Emerging from the shadows was Toby Ramsey, his face twisted into a sly, confident grin.