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 Latrina 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 . Latrin 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 Latrina turned her face away , but he lowered his head , openly fixing his gaze on her tear - streaked was you ," he mumbled , nearly tripping over his own feet . " I knew it Latrina shot out a hand to steady him . " Mr . Crowley ... " Her voice , raw from crying , trembled as she spoke . She sighed inwardly , " What kind of bad luck was this ? glasses , he still looked cool and noble . " My boyfriend cheated on me , making my best friend pregnant , and now I'm tangled up with " I can hardly hold on ! " eyes . my boss . It's all too much . " 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 " I didn't drive . " He tilted his head , his gaze lingering on Latrina's red - rimmed eyes and pink nose . overstepping . 12 WebNovel 4.5 % Menu Latrina bit back a groan . " Drunk off wine from a fancy restaurant ? With that lousy tolerance . You close deals by sleeping your way through , < Chapter 10 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 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 or on the phone ! Tell him to come get you , now ! " $ ཤིང 1 : | : a 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 lull to dash at her tear - streaked face with the back of her hand , smoothing down her messy " Yeah , " Gerhart grunted into the phone . " Mr. Crowley , you're at Tastebud Delights , right ? " Kelvin double - checked . " Yeah . " " You don't need me , then ? " 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 Ainched , 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 . 1312 < Chapter 10 Menu 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 . Latrina , sweating through her clothes , all but dumped him onto the living room so sofa . She turned to leave , but he snatched her wrist , yanking her back . She stumbled , falling into his arms , and he held " 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 " Okay ... " don't tell him I hit him . Just say he fell . " The maid nodded faintly . She recognized this woman as the one who'd stayed with Gerhart that night . She didn'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 the 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 enough 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 rushing to the bathroom for a shower . < Chapter 11 Chapter 11 The next day, she started her vacation . Latrina slept until twelve . She didn't get up to wash up , but checked her car's location first instead . Sure enough , the car was taken for maintenance . Menu Her schedule today was simple . She would only please her . She slipped on high heels that she rarely wore , along with a sexy , tight dress . The outfit made her perfect figure look even more flawless . She was good - looking , with a delicate face and flawless skin . Her blonde hair lent her an air of nobility . She stood before the full - length mirror , studying herself . At 5 feet 5 inches , she was almost as high as Eduardo with her heels on . So she'd naturally given up wearing heels , afraid of making Eduardo look shorter beside her . Now , though , it didn't matter . She could wear whatever she wanted . She couldn't help laughing at herself . She'd been slow to realize one thing : she couldn't be herself around Eduardo . After getting herself ready , she grabbed her bag , but spotted Gerhart's jacket on the sofa . She forgot to return it again . After a moment's hesitation , she slung it casually over her wrist and headed out . She got her nails done , had her straight blonde hair styled into waves , put on nice makeup at the salon , and went on a shopping spree . Finally , she visited a custom clothing store . That was an aged private tailor shop . Usually , one had to make reservations . This time , she wondered if she'd be kept waiting for months , even half a year . " Hello , I'd like to order a shirt . " Latrina handed the jacket in her hand to the clerk . " Hello , miss . What can I do for you ? " The young clerk greeted her warmly . " This was my boyfriend's suit , but I don't know his shirt size . Could you make a shirt to match it ? " Latrina stated her request . She tore two of his shirts , so she had to return him at least one shirt . But he liked black so much . She'd order a white one instead . She didn't want to be in his debt . The clerk took the suit jacket , examining it carefully . Her eyes lingered on the label : " G.C. " Hesitant to jump to conclusions , she spoke gently to Latrina , " I'll need to check with the tailor . Could you wait here a moment ? I'll be right back . " " Sure , thank you . " Latrina sat on a nearby couch , waiting patiently . The derk took the garment to the back of the store , handing it to a grey - bearded old man . She explained the situation , flipping the jacket to show the label . The old man , Richard Crowley , glanced at Latrina through the partition , adjusting his glasses . " She said it's for her boyfriend ? Are you sure ? " He sounded surprised . " Yes , Sir Crowley , " the clerk replied with a faint smirk , Tell her to come in . Richard glanced at Latrína , who was looking around . The derk said something to Latrina , who followed her gesture and saw a grey - bearded man looking her way . She nodded in acknowledgment , picked up her bag , and walked toward the yard in her high heels . She crossed the yard , followed a quiet path , and stepped inside with a graceful stride . Her figure was perfectly proportioned , with a ideal waist - to - hip ratio . 11317 WebNovel ODELL 50 %