Chapter 10
Finally, they finished the dinner, and Latrina was stuffed. She’d even polished off several more glasses of that Château Lafite Rothschild.
They came to the underground parking lot when Eduardo insisted on driving her home, but Latrína refused.
“Don’t bother. I have a business trip tomorrow, and I’ve got another appointment later. Remember! I like things to be clean. Don’t dirty my car!”
Those words “don’t dirty my car” hung in the air, sharp and deliberate. It was also a quiet jab that stung deeper
in her heart.
Latrina bit back harsher words.
She’d had a few drinks, but her head was clear enough to remember why she was here.
Eduardo complied, taking her car keys and sliding into the driver’s seat.
“Trina! I love you!”
Eduardo leaned out the car window, his voice earnest.
Latrina almost believed him. She pressed her lips into a faint smile, saying nothing.
Love was cheap. Anyone could say it easily.
She couldn’t deny there’d been love in the years before. But that was gone with the wind.
As he drove her car out of sight, her vision blurred. The tears she’d been holding back finally spilled over.
Latrina sobbed quietly, tears falling like an unstoppable flood.
“Bitch! Bastard!” she ground out between gritted teeth in a muffled voice.
She felt as if someone were slowly slicing her heart open with a knife, blood seeping bit by bit, gnawing away at
her from the inside out.
Leaning against the wall, she couldn’t stem the flow, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She didn’t know how long she had cried. Eventually, it felt like she’d wrung herself dry.
Gathering her composure, she reached back to smooth her hair, then turned, only to find Gerhart standing by the elevator, watching her.
She averted her gaze instantly and wiped away her tears with shaky hands, desperate to hide them.
Gerhart stumbled toward her, his eyes hazy, as if he might topple over at any second.“Latrina?”
He squinted half–shut, drunk and unsteady, but even through the blur of his rimless glasses, he still looked
cool and noble.
Latrina turned her face away, but he lowered his head, openly fixing his gaze on her tear–streaked eyes.
“I knew it … was you,” he mumbled, nearly tripping over his own feet.
Latrina shot out a hand to steady him.“Mr. Crowley…”
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Her voice, raw from crying, trembled as she spoke.
She sighed inwardly, “What kind of bad luck was this?
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“My boyfriend cheated on me, making my best friend pregnant, and now I’m tangled up with my boss. It’s all
too much.
“I can hardly hold on!”
“You cried?” Gerhart’s words slurred, half his weight resting on Latrina as he swayed.
“No. Just got sand in my eyes.” Latrina didn’t bother with niceties. “Mr. Crowley, where’s your car? Give me the keys.”
She propped him against the wall, then patted down his jacket pockets.
But it was empty. She hesitated, not daring to reach into his pants pockets, afraid of overstepping.
“I didn’t drive.”
He tilted his head, his gaze lingering on Latrina’s red–rimmed eyes and pink nose.
Latrina bit back a groan.“Drunk off wine from a fancy restaurant? With that lousy tolerance. You close deals by sleeping your way through, huh?”
She muttered under her breath while calling Kelvin.
“Kelvin, where are you? Your boss is wasted.”
“Madam, it’s past hours! I’m off work.”
“Cut the crap. Do you think I don’t know that? I’m off too. But you’re his assistant. Are you going to do your job? If not, I’ll just leave him here.”
Today was Latrina’s heartbroken day, with no one to vent her grievance to. But now, she was stuck cleaning up this mess. All she wanted was to run far away, but he kept crossing her path.
“Where are you?”
Tastebud Delights, parking lot.”
Silence hung on the line for a moment before Kelvin said, “Put Mr. Crowley on.”
Latrina sighed, turning to Gerhart behind her.
“Your assistant’s on the phone! Tell him to come get you, now!”
Latrina grabbed his wrist and pressed the phone into his hand, urging him to hold on.
Gerhart shook his foggy head, squinted at the screen, then brought it to his ear, wandering a step away to talk.
Latrina used the full to dash at her tear–streaked face with the back of her hand, smoothing down her messy hair.
“Yeah,” Gerhart grunted into the phone.
“Mr. Crowley, you’re at Tastebud Delights, right?” Kelvin double–checked.
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“Yeah.”
“You don’t need me, then?”
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Having worked with Gerhart long enough, Kelvin knew him well. Two glasses of red wine couldn’t possibly get him drunk. He must be faking it.
Gerhart inwardly acknowledged Kelvin’s quick wit.
“Yeah.”
“I could get sick tonight, but tomorrow’s a paid day off, right?”
Kelvin had always been a pro at reading his boss’s mind and making use of it!
“Yeah.”
“Long live Mr. Crowley! Enjoy the rest of your night! I’m shutting my phone off!”
Yeah.”
Men really did speak the same language.
Gerhart ended the call with a single “Yeah.”
On the other end, Kelvin was grinning.
Gerhart stumbled back to Latrina, half–asleep, slinging an arm over her shoulder.
Latrina flinched, nearly dodging, but caught him just in time, afraid he’d topple over.“Hey! Did you call him
over?”
She snatched his phone, tried redialing, but Kelvin’s phone was already powered off.
Damn!
She had no choice but to prop him up and head to the ground floor to hail a taxi.
In the back seat, Gerhart’s head lolled onto her shoulder.
Latrina tilted her face, catching a whiff of his shampoo. It smelled pleasant.
“Going out drinking without a bodyguard? Don’t you know a pretty face like yours could fetch a pretty penny in a brothel?” she teased, pinching his cheek.
It was surprisingly smooth. She couldn’t resist touching it again, snickering softly.
The taxi driver glanced in the rearview mirror, smirking.
Luckily, she remembered the way to his apartment, and by the time they stumbled in, it was already eleven.
They’d barely reached his door when the bodyguard stationed there hurried over to assist.
“Fuck off!” Gerhart’s voice was sharp, cutting off the bodyguard mid–step.
“Are you an idiot? Do I look like I can carry you?”
The bodyguard gaped, frozen.
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Latrina, sweating through her clothes, all but dumped him onto the living room sofa.
She turned to leave, but he snatched her wrist, yanking her back. She stumbled, falling into his arms, and he
held her fast.
“Ah!”
His chest was as firm and warm as that night. It was solid, searing, sending a jolt through her.
“Don’t go,” Gerhart murmured.
Latrina slapped his cheek before she could think.
She scrambled up, horrified.
Latrina was startled by her own reaction, but still worried that she might hurt him, so she caressed his face gently. “Sorry… I’m so sorry…”
He went still, his eyes softening. They were warm, almost tender as he looked up at her, then he leaned back against the sofa, watching her.
The maid, who’d appeared to help, froze in her tracks.
Latrina stood up, straightening her clothes, and turned to the maid.
If he can’t remember tomorrow … don’t tell him I hit him. Just say he fell.”
Okay…”
The maid nodded faintly. She recognized this woman as the one who’d stayed with Gerhart that night. She lidn’t dare disobey.
Latrina glanced at Gerhart once more, then turned and left the apartment.
Less than two minutes later, Gerhart sat up straight, smoothing his clothes, and picked up the hangover cure
he maid had set out on the table.
He exhaled sharply, touching his stinging cheek, his gaze following the direction Latrina had gone.
The maid stood by and pressed her lips tight to hide a smile. She didn’t dare laugh aloud.
She never thought a man as powerful as Gerhart would pull such a stunt or that a woman would be bold nough to turn him down. It was quite a sight!
Back at her apartment, Latrina tore off the dress Eduardo had touched, tossing it straight into the trash before
ushing to the bathroom for a shower.
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Chapter 11
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
