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Chapter_93
Elaine slid into the backseat of the car, a sly chuckle escaping her lips as she leaned back against the plush leather seat. Whitney had tried to outmaneuver her, but she had made the wrong move.
Not that it was entirely a mistake – had Whitney agreed to those two female suppliers, Elaine could have easily set her up for a fall later on. But right now, Elaine’s victory lay in Whitney’s refusal. The diamond suppliers in Banyan City were scarce; only those two were run by women, while the rest were all men, and Elaine had long had them wrapped around her finger.
Her phone rang, and she answered with a lazy smile.
“Elaine,” a voice on the other end reported, “Whitney called a quick meeting the moment she got back to the office. She’s brought in a college buddy, one of those fancy jewel material traders.”
Elaine’s laughter was soft and dark. A young college friend, huh? She could easily imagine the trouble Whitney was getting into now, especially with Ludwik involved.
As dusk settled over the city and the skyline glowed with neon, a sleek Bentley stood out in front of Skye Gem Ltd.
Right on time, Whitney emerged from the building, a faint blush tinting her cheeks as her gaze landed on the luxury car. She thought to herself, Is this a date?
Felix, ever the dutiful chauffeur, promptly opened the door for her.
The Bentley glided away, leaving Simon standing on the company steps. His gaze darkened as he watched the taillights disappear, catching a brief glimpse of the masked man inside. That was a limited edition Bentley, and Whitney had claimed the masked man was her savior that night…
Could the enigmatic, powerful Ludwik be the one behind that mask?
Simon clenched his fists, jealousy gnawing at him, as helplessness washed over him.
Inside the car, Whitney found the man beside her, frowning at some documents. She pouted—was she not more interesting than paperwork?
Nonchalantly, she slipped off her coat.
The man beside her gave a dry chuckle. “Can you not try to seduce me while I’m working?”
Her? Seduce? She hadn’t even done anything!
Whitney felt a bit wronged. The man glanced at her with amused eyes and cleared his throat before speaking again. “Don’t you know you’re still quite the sight?”
“Alright, I’ll forgive his smooth-talking ways. Men and their silver tongues,” Whitney thought, her face flushing. “You don’t have to look at me.”
“My peripheral vision just can’t help but catch you,” he quipped, smirking.
Whitney felt a sweet warmth stir inside her. “Okay, then I’ll try not to distract you.”
Speechless, the man put away his documents, his handsome face turning serious. He was already seduced, and with a mature gesture, he beckoned, “Come here.”
She moved closer, her elegant outfit – a trench coat, a chic sweater, pencil pants, and ballet flats showcasing her delicate feet – only adding to the atmosphere.
Whitney gazed at him, too. As usual, he was dressed in a sharp suit, his tall, imposing figure exuding authority. His pristine white shirt, topped with a beige waistcoat, complemented her own coat. Together, they looked the part of an elite couple.
Her lips were full, tinted with warmth, and as she reached his side, he murmured in a deep voice, “Let me hold you.”
She settled onto his strong lap, feeling a comforting security in his embrace.
Ludwik’s gaze lingered on her oval face, naturally beautiful, with no hint of artificiality. One look from her could captivate any man. His warm hand gently lifted her chin as he spoke in a husky tone, “Kiss me.”
Whitney’s hands clenched his shirt, her heart racing. She glanced at Felix, who might as well have been invisible.
She quickly pecked his chiseled cheek.
“Why do you smell so good?” Ludwik asked, his grip tightening around her slender waist, his breath tickling her neck. “I used to think you had to be close to a woman to know if she smells nice. Now that I’m close, it’s almost unbearable.”
“Stop talking nonsense,” Whitney scolded, her ears burning.
“Are you carrying this fragrance around the office, luring men?” His brow furrowed slightly, a trace of displeasure creeping into his voice.
Whitney was speechless. “Mr. L, are you really that petty?”
“I’m not petty where it counts,” he retorted with a sly grin, then turned serious again. “I don’t like the idea of you working and attracting all sorts of attention.”
Whitney’s neck flushed, realizing he was likely still bothered by her working with Simon. She wrapped her arms around his, sweetly coaxing, “I have my career, and besides, you’re the man I like. We’re dating, aren’t we? What’s there to worry about? My heart is all… yours.”
Her voice softened as she mimicked his tone from the night before, and Ludwik’s expression softened in response.
Men really did need to be coaxed, Whitney thought to herself with a silent sigh, shaking his sturdy arm. “Where are we going for dinner?”
Felix was about to speak, “Madam, Sir has reserved the entire top-tier Russian restaurant in Banyan City for the evening…”
But before he could finish, Whitney pointed to a twinkling eatery across the street and said, “Ah, I want that spicy food! L, can we go there, please?”
Ludwik and Felix were both taken aback.
Glancing at the red tent by the roadside, dust swirling around, Ludwik’s handsome face turned as cold as ice. Whitney saw his displeased expression. Although, as a socialite, she rarely indulged in street food, the craving was simply irresistible. Occasionally, she and Tiana would sneak out for a treat.
“Please?” She begged, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“I won’t go! And I won’t allow my child to eat junk,” Ludwik declared.
“But it’s your child who wants it. I’ve been having morning sickness for days, and you don’t even care,” Whitney complained, convinced her cravings were a result of pregnancy. As he remained unmoved, she blinked back tears, looking pitifully hurt. “You don’t love me anymore, and you don’t love our baby.”
Exasperated by the noise, Ludwik stepped out of the car with a frosty demeanor. Dating was troublesome, and dating someone younger was even more so – especially when they required constant pampering.
He strode out, his tall figure cutting an imposing figure on the sidewalk.
Whitney cheered up, crossing the street. She didn’t choose the roadside stall, fearing his wrath, but instead opted for a cleaner-looking restaurant.
Standing on the curb, Ludwik was a mature and striking presence, attracting the attention of passersby. He glanced up at the sign that read, “Destiny Barbecue.”
A smirk tugged at his lips as he teased her, “Even for a simple meal with me, you chose to come to Destiny Barbecue. Women and their whims.”
Whitney was speechless.
She felt he might be overthinking it. “L, it’s just the name of the place. Haven’t you dined out before? Look around, there’s Romance Inn, Cupid’s Kebab House… There are plenty like that.”
Ludwik’s handsome face stiffened. “Of course, I know! We could swing by the Romance Inn later.”
She decided to drop the subject.
They entered the cramped restaurant, and Ludwik looked around with clear distaste. He showed no interest in sitting until Whitney tugged him toward a window booth.
She meticulously wiped down the table and chair for him before speaking. Her voice laced with exasperation, she said, “For your girlfriend’s sake, you can put up with it, right?”
The term ‘girlfriend’ made Ludwik glance at her with a suggestive look, causing Whitney’s cheeks to tint with color. She quickly turned to Felix. “Felix, take a seat.”
Just as Felix was about to sit down gingerly, he caught Ludwik’s murderous gaze and sprang up like a jack-in-the-box.
“He doesn’t like this kind of unhealthy food. Go next door and grab yourself a salad,” Ludwik said coldly, eager to get the meeting started without distractions.
Felix thought to himself, “I don’t particularly fancy a salad either.”
