At this moment, Caleb was naturally unable to answer Victoria’s call.
He had spent a lot of effort to arrange a meeting with Orlaith Taylor at the hotel.
The hotel room was meticulously decorated in advance. From the entrance to the terrace, the path was covered with pink champagne roses, filling the room with a pleasant floral scent.
On the spacious terrace, the white railing was draped with flowers. In the center of the terrace was a long table adorned with a vintage candelabrum. Under the flickering candlelight, an array of exquisite dishes looked especially appetizing.
Caleb very gentlemanly pulled out a chair for Orlaith to sit. However, she continued to be picky.
“Caleb, lighting candles in broad daylight? And why did you fill the room with so many flowers? It’s so tacky. The scent is overwhelming and gives me a headache.”
Caleb took a seat opposite her, his expression stiffening slightly at her words. His carefully arranged romantic floral display was dismissed as tacky.
“Orlaith, if you don’t like it, I’ll have it removed immediately,” Caleb said cautiously.
“Forget it, don’t bother. I’ll just go home after the meal,” Orlaith said, waving her hand with obvious impatience.
Caleb frowned slightly at her words. Leave? He had no intention of letting Orlaith go today; he had invited her to the hotel with the hope of getting her into his bed.
Unaware of Caleb’s intentions, Orlaith picked up her knife and fork, cutting into her steak and eating a few bites of foie gras and caviar.
“The caviar is quite good. Have the restaurant pack some for me,” Orlaith demanded nonchalantly.
Caleb smiled and nodded, replying, “The caviar is flown in fresh from Hokkaido. I remember your father likes it, so I’ve already had the restaurant pack two servings. This hotel’s wine collection is also impressive. I’ve set aside a bottle of 2005 Romanee-Conti for you to take home.”
Caleb finished speaking, picked up the decanter, and poured half a glass of red wine for Orlaith. “I’ve had them open a bottle of 1992 Lafite, a rare find. It just so happens to be from the year you were born. You’ve always had a keen palate for wine, give it a try.”
Orlaith, who had a fondness for expensive wines, took the crystal goblet and swirled it expertly before bringing it to her nose.
“Well, not bad. You did put some effort into this,” Orlaith said, taking a few sips.
Caleb smiled, feeling a slight sense of relief. Orlaith was the heiress of the leading fashion industry family, the Taylors, born into nobility. Very few things could impress her.
Despite his painstaking efforts to pursue her for so long, Orlaith’s attitude towards him remained indifferent.
If it weren’t for his family’s urgent need for a powerful marriage alliance, he wouldn’t bother catering to this spoiled princess.
“I’m glad you like it. For you, I’d go through fire and water just to see you smile,” Caleb said with a warm smile, speaking words of endearment.
But Orlaith, accustomed to being fawned over by the young men in high society, found such sugary words unoriginal and far from touching.
“Alright, men like you always say the most beautiful things when pursuing women. How much of it is sincere? If you really love me, jump off the terrace right now, and I’ll marry you immediately,” Orlaith said, looking down her nose at him.
Caleb, feeling both awkward and sweaty-palmed, knew that their room was on the twelfth floor of the hotel. If he jumped off the terrace, he would die instantly and could only marry her as a ghost.
Seeing his silence, Orlaith snorted disdainfully. She knew he wouldn’t have the guts. None of the men who trailed after her like puppies ever did.
Naturally, she also thought that men like Caleb were cowards. As the heiress of the Taylor family, the second-ranked among the four great families, she had never seen him as worthy of her attention.
She picked up the silk napkin from the table, wiped her mouth, and casually tossed it back onto the table before standing up. “Caleb, I’m done eating, and it’s time for me to go. Have the waiter bring over the packed caviar.”
Hearing that she was about to leave, Caleb quickly stood up and moved to her side, speaking gently, “Don’t be in such a hurry. The view here is quite nice. Stay with me a little longer; soon it’ll be dark, and the moon rising over the sea is a beautiful sight.”
“Watch it yourself; I don’t have the time for this,” Orlaith replied impatiently, turning to leave the terrace.
Caleb immediately followed her, intercepting her in the living room. He wrapped his arm around Orlaith’s waist and gently pulled her onto the sofa.
“Since you’re here, stay with me a while, Orlaith. You don’t know how much I’ve missed you,” Caleb said, his hands roaming inappropriately over Orlaith’s body.
Orlaith’s face turned bright red with anger as she glared at him. “Caleb, what do you think you’re doing? Get off me! I warn you, if you touch me again, I’ll chop off your hands.”
But Caleb, a seasoned playboy, was not deterred by the threats of a young woman. His hands brazenly caressed Orlaith’s face.
“My hands have many uses… would you really want to cut them off?” Caleb said, deftly unbuttoning Orlaith’s clothes and leaning in to kiss her.
Orlaith twisted her head, evading his kisses, and kicked and hit him with all her strength.
“Caleb, if you dare touch me, I swear I’ll make you regret it!” Orlaith cursed loudly.
However, Caleb was unfazed. He had encountered many women who pretended to resist but ended up submitting to him after a few forceful sessions.
“Who would marry you if I die?” Caleb said with a grin, “Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”
Orlaith’s eyes turned red with anger. Mustering her strength, she kicked Caleb hard between his legs, causing him to double over in pain. Seizing the opportunity, Orlaith pushed him away and kicked him a few more times for good measure.
“You worthless scum, take a good look at yourself!”
After shouting, Orlaith quickly ran towards the door. She was not without fear; if Caleb recovered and decided to use force, she would have no way to resist.
Breathing heavily, Orlaith reached the door and pulled it open, only to bump into two women-a young one and an older one-dressed quite elegantly.
Orlaith was about to ask them to move aside when the young woman, without a word, slapped her hard across the face.
Staggering from the blow, Orlaith nearly fell. She glared angrily at the two women standing in the doorway.
“Who are you? Are you crazy? How dare you hit me! Do you know who I am? !”
“Of course, we know who you are, you shameless vixen, seducing my brother-in-law. I’ll beat you to death!” Emily yelled, lunging at Orlaith to hit her again.
Charlotte and Emily had been lingering by the door, ready to barge in. When Orlaith opened the door and walked into them, they didn’t hold back.
Emily grabbed Orlaith’s hair and slapped her hard again, dazing her. If Caleb hadn’t intervened in time, her face would have been seriously injured.
“Emily, stop it,” Caleb said, striding over to the women and forcefully pushing Emily away, pulling Orlaith into his arms.
“Orlaith, are you okay?” Caleb asked with a pained expression.
Furious, Orlaith pushed him away and shouted, “Caleb, are you blind? Can’t you see my face is swollen from being slapped by this woman, and now, you still ask if I’m okay?”