“Yep,” Drew didn’t even bat an eye as he lied, “Your forehead is bleeding. You need to undergo a proper check-up at least.”
Cristelle touched her forehead and let out a whimper. Drew was right. She didn’t even notice that she was bleeding.
“Cristelle, why is Diego also here?” Drew asked the question he knew Linford wanted to ask.
“Why would I know?” Cristelle was still pissed off, mentioning that man, “He’s probably a psycho.”
A psycho?
A faint smile showed up on Linford’s thin lips.
“You don’t want to see him?” Drew asked.
“I hope he can disappear. I don’t even know why he’s following me all the time,” Cristelle looked so sick and tired as she mentioned Diego’s name, “Every time he shows up, I’ll need to buy a new cell phone. That guy is a disaster.”
The smile on Linford’s lips stretched.
“I’ll buy you a new one,” He suddenly meddled in their conversation.
The whole space fell silent.
Linford instantly figured out how awkward that statement was. He focused on the road, hands grabbing tightly onto the steering wheel.
Drew was stifling a laugh.
“You don’t have to,” Cristelle cleared her throat, “I can buy it myself.”
Linford huffed coldly.
He thought, to her, he was just an ATM machine.
Linford forced Cristelle to do all sorts of check-ups in the hospital. It turned out she was fine. The doctor said she only needed some rest.
Cristelle frowned, “Fritzi just told me she couldn’t be here. I need to pick up the fabrics for the new trend. Or it’s gonna get too late.”
Linford’s voice was gentle, “It’s okay. I’ve asked Mrs. Weston to send Candace and Cody to Pop after school. Drew will be there tonight to take care of them.”
Drew suddenly frowned. Why should it be me? He wanted to voice out his question but choked back his words and remained silent.
When did he ever say he would go back tonight?
Linford shot him a threatening look.
Drew swallowed, “Ye-yeah. I’ll be back to take care of the babies. But, you guys…umm, just take your time together.”
“You’re going back?” Cristelle frowned, “I thought you still had business to handle.”
“Yeah. I’ve finished it. I actually got an appointment at home. Gotta go. Bye-bye! You two have fun.” With that, he ran away as if a monster had chased him.
Fucking brutal, Linford Bradley. He cursed his best friend in his mind. Once he was done with you, he would spit you out like a piece of gum. And that bastard said he was taking him out for a date; Drew felt being used. So what was he to Linford Bradley? A platonic booty call?
That brutal man has no mercy!
He didn’t even call him an Uber to send him back!
A message chimed in, interrupting his inward venting.
“Stay in Pop’s tonight. I think your plan will work out. Then, go get the contract signed tomorrow with Alfred. And don’t forget to find all the information about that taxi. Thanks for always being so supportive, man. I’ll thank you when it’s all done.”
A smile appeared on Drew’s face, “I’m forgiving you this time, asshole.”
The awkwardness in the car was denser when Drew was gone.
Cristelle thought for a while and suddenly said, “It was a coincidence that I ran into Diego. I didn’t know he was following me.”
For some reason, she thought it was necessary to explain. He was still the babies’ father. She didn’t want any misunderstandings between them.
“I know,” Linford calmly uttered, eyes focusing on the road as he handed her a box, “I just bought it. Just use this one first.”
Cristelle lowered her gaze.
It was the newest iPhone. She thought for a while and took it, knowing Linford would be pissed off if she didn’t take it, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Linford fought the urge to smile, “If you get caught up with that man again, don’t waste your time with him. Just call me. I’ll solve everything related to him.”
Cristelle suddenly blushed, “Okay.”
She would never call Linford. It would bring him too much trouble. But she knew he was already angry enough. This was not the right time to get on his nerves.
Soon, they arrived at the store Fritzi recommended. The store was quite ancient, with all sorts of high-end materials that any designer would ever need.
Linford brought Cristelle to the counter and had a couple of words with the owner. The owner just arranged for them a VIP stall.
Cristelle suddenly felt so lucky that Linford showed up today. Or she would waste at least three hours waiting in line.
Cristelle picked carefully among the samples but still couldn’t make up her mind.
And then, she looked at Linford, asking for help silently.
“What?” Linford frowned.
“Can you be my model?”
“This one got an excellent draping sensation. But it didn’t have much depth,” Linford put the white sample down, hovering into another one, “This one feels sharp. But it’s not comfy.”
Cristelle wrote down his opinions with a pen.
Linford got in a grey one, “This one generally feels alright, but it doesn’t have many eye-catching appearances. However, it would be my choice today if the fabric was black.”
Cristelle hummed a yes. She got a bit dizzy at the moment. It was mainly because Linford had been taking clothes on and off in front of her for hours. She couldn’t take her eyes away from his strong arms, firm chest, and the lines of his abs under that shirt.
She’d been struggling not to stare too eagerly.
But she also needed to make sure the fabrics were okay.
It was torture.
And Cristelle highly doubted that Linford did it on purpose. This man knew exactly how attractive he was. And he was showing it off in her face.
“I don’t even know which to choose. Thank you,” Cristelle laughed dryly. She ended up picking the last one, changing its color to black.
It was already dark when they finally picked out the most suitable fabric.
Cristelle cast a glance at the time. They’ve been late picking up the babies.
“Don’t worry. I’ve made a phone call. Candace and Cody are with Pop right now.”
Linford tried to help her relax. “When did you call?” Cristelle frowned. She didn’t even see it.