The moment Summer exited the dining room, she ran up the stairs and back to her room like a possessed woman. Closing the door behind her, she leaned her back on the door and slapped her chest. It was no wonder “Douglas” enjoyed teasing her; teasing and running away seemed fun.
When she finally calmed down, she locked the door and went into the bathroom to take a shower. She did not really want to do anything with “Douglas”, not even if he was Leonardo.
…
“Douglas” did not come during the night.
It was Saturday the next day, and Summer was thinking of Douglas Jr.; she could not send him breakfast, so a food delivery order was the only option. She wondered if he had dinner last night. The kid was overzealous. Had he been her son, she would have snapped his leg. Then again, looking from another angle, the kid had guts.
As she settled the food delivery order, she sneaked out of the door like a thief. Tiptoeing to the second-floor landing by the handrail, she poked her head around, trying to look for “Douglas” in the living room. After she finally confirmed that he was not there, she breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to turn around, “Douglas’s” faint voice came from behind.
“Why the heck are you sneaking around?”
Summer almost jumped out of her skin. She took a couple of steps back involuntarily. The handrail was against her back, so she was stuck.
“Douglas” had just woken up. He probably had no plans to go out today because he was wearing his loungewear. The clothes were soft and loose, making him look less intimidating and more elegant-when he did not talk.
He took a step forward, and they were now less than five centimeters apart.
“What have you done to make you look so sheepish?”
At that distance, Summer could almost feel his body temperature. She pursed her lips and subconsciously grabbed the handrail behind her as if she was trying to find a sense of security. When she looked up again, there was no hint of nervousness on her face. Instead, an enchanting smile radiated from her beautiful cat eyes.
“Don’t you know best what I’ve done that’s made me so sheepish?”
Her voice was soft. As she spoke, she reached and ran her hand lightly across his chest like the paw of a cat minus the claws. It was as if each stroke of her hand would send a sense of pleasure throughout his body.
Leonardo’s face gradually turned grave. He caught Summer’s hand, and his voice was cold. “Not long ago, you were still faithful to Leonardo; now you’re trying to seduce me. Women like you are fickle!”
Summer could not pull her hand back just yet. She was now playing a woman who was seducing “Douglas”. Although she was not used to getting her hand held by a man, she looked at him with her amorous eyes.
“There’s nothing fickle about that. Women in their right minds would have made the same choice as I have.” She paused, then stood on her toes to speak into his ear. “I think men are more fickle than women. Haven’t you been flirting with me all this while? Now I’m offering myself as a tribute, and you tell me I’m fickle? Aren’t men like you scum?” She had long wanted to berate him, and now, she never felt so good.
Not that he did not know she was vilifying him, but something puzzled him; this woman had been behaving weirdly for the past two days. She seemed to be seducing him on purpose. He could even sense her nervousness when he was physically close to her. Could it be that she wanted him to help Jarrett Group? He immediately dismissed the possibility. Summer had given up on the Jarrett Family since Karen’s kidnapping incident.
Seeing that “Douglas” was speechless and only staring at her with a serious expression, Summer wanted to call it off. Just as she was about to pull her hand back, “Douglas” spoke.
“I think you have no idea what’offering yourself as a tribute’ really means. Go to the Golden Cauldron tonight and you’ll see for yourself the real deal.”
After that, he kissed her hand and wore a meaningful faint smile. Since the woman wanted it, he would up the ante.
Summer was rooted to the spot. That was not the outcome she had imagined. He was angry just a while ago, so how did he suddenly appear to have a change of heart? She could not make out what the man was thinking; he was keeping his cards close to his chest. She even regretted her actions. She could have very well screwed up big time.
…
“Douglas” did not stay home for too long. He went out soon after, and with her alone, it was pointless to cook at home. She journeyed out to buy some food ingredients and headed to her rented house.
When she arrived, Douglas Jr. was lying on the couch as always, playing his favorite games. Snack wrappers were all over the table, and he looked like an addicted gamer through and through. Holding a bin in her hand, she patiently cleaned up the garbage. Once she finished, she stood in front of him with her arms akimbo.
“I thought you were penniless? Where did you get the money to buy all this junk food?”
“I bought them earlier when I first got here. I spent all my money on them.” After he spoke, he let out a sigh. “My mom has never allowed me to touch junk food and video games. Now I have to eat as much as I can!”
The kid was a rebel. Summer placed the groceries on the countertop, picking out the veggies.
“What did you have for dinner last night?”
“Beef noodles.” As if he thought of something, he added, “At the noodle stall you first brought me to yesterday.”
“Where did you get the money?”
“On credit, of course. Don’t forget to pay the boss when you leave.” He said it as if it was a matter of fact.
“Have you become buddies with the stall owner or what? Why did he allow you to do that?” He never ceased to make her wonder.
“It’s nothing. He even invited me to go to his stall this afternoon.”
She had no idea what he had said to the stall owner, but one thing was certain, the Moos came from good stock; both the adult “Douglas” and Douglas Jr. were handsome. However, the kid’s good looks were highly deceptive, and he was using it to his advantage. Did he not have a blatant sense of entitlement when he left her to foot the bill on his behalf?
“Douglas, I’m in no obligation to pick up the tab for you.”
“Aren’t you my girlfriend now? I use your money now, and when I get my prize money from the e-sports tournament, I’ll let you have it.” Every sentence he uttered was not without talk of video games.
“I told you I’m married!” Summer was almost half-smiling and half-crying.
Douglas Jr. stood up and stretched. “You will divorce your husband because I’m handsome.” He took a mirror and looked at himself. “You’re handsome.”
Summer was utterly at a loss for words.