Chapter 3 Three knocks sounded on the door . " Come in . " Latrina opened the door with a nervous heart . Gerhart was working at his computer . Unlike this morning , he'd taken off his suit , wearing a black shirt with two buttons undone , his tie tossed aside on the desk . Through the open collar , she could just make out the hickey she'd left on his neck the night before ... He sat sideways in his office chair , exuding a lazy , almost rebellious air beneath a veneer of politeness . Latrina stepped in slowly , and Kelvin closed the door casually behind her . The soft click , to her , felt deafening . " Mr. Crowley , you asked for me ? " she said . Yeah . " Gerhart glanced up at her , standing by the door , then returned his focus to the screen . Silence hung in the air . Each passing minute stretched like an hour . Abruptly , he stood up and walked toward her . It was true that he fit the ideal boyfriend mold in the eyes of countless women . He had sharp features , a chiseled face , a high nose bridge , thin , rose - tinted lips , and striking eyes . Even Latrina couldn't help but steal a second glance . As she stood beside him , the top of her head barely reached his chin . Latrina couldn't deny that he had a perfect figure . Last night in the bathroom , her wandering hands had memorized every contour of his well - defined abs ... What a sin ! Her mind had wandered back to those embarrassing moments from last night . " Is there something you need , Mr. Crowley ? " On the surface , she looked calm , her words clear and patient , but internally , she was panicked and anxious . " Sit , " he said , turning to settle onto the sofa . Latrina walked over and sat down roughly 6.5 feet away from him . " Come here , " he said , patting the spot beside him . Latrina hesitated for a moment , then stood up and moved closer . Gerhart stared at her , lost in thought . Latrina clasped her hands nervously in her lap . " Does it still hurt ? " he asked . Latrina froze , then shook her head , wondering , " Is this man really going to rehash what happened ? " " Any thoughts ? " he pressed . Latrina glanced at him , her eyes catching on his perfect collarbone and the faint hickeys on his neck ... " Sorry , Mr. Crowley . I drank too much last night . I never would've acted so wild with you if I'd been sober ... " " No need to apologize , " he cut her off , sitting up straight . He leaned back against the couch , his gaze fixed on her flawless profile . " Last night , I made the first move , " he drawled . " You were drunk and kissed me , but after that , everything was my doing . " 1310 WebNovel Read the comic version of th 1.44 Open > < Chapter 3 " Stop ... " She was already mortified enough . Did he have to make her relive it to her face ? She then said , " We're both adults . What's done is done . Let's just pretend it never happened . " " Are you treating me like a gigolo ? " Gerhart's tone turned icy , his gaze sharp as if he were about to dissect Latrina . " You're misunderstanding , " Latrina said , her ears burning . Menu She thought , " What was he playing at ? Trying to start an improper relationship ? He didn't seem the type this morning , with that gentlemanly act ! This is completely out of character ! " " How about trying to be Mrs. Crowley ? " " Huh ? " Latrina stared at him , wondering if she'd misheard ! Their eyes locked , neither looking away . She couldn't fathom what was going through his mind . " didn't use a condom last night . If you get pregnant , we'll have the baby . If not , I'll still take responsibility , " he said , his voice casual , as if discussing the weather . Latrina fell silent , more rational now than ever Gerhart came from a well - bred , strictly raised family . He was likely conservative at heart . That would explain why , at twenty - eight , he has remained single and unmarried all this time . What had happened was done , but in his heart , he could never cross that moral line . Latrina didn't dare to reach for someone so far above her . She knew her own family background all too well . She was the illegitimate child of her mother and a businessman . No one even knew who her father really was . She'd grown up enduring gossip and slander . To entangle herself with someone as untainted as Gerhart would only drag him down . Besides , the pain Eduardo had inflicted still lingered . She couldn't just open her heart to someone new so quickly . " Sorry , Mr , Crowley , but I don't have any other intentions . I took the contraceptive early this morning , so you don't need to worry . I don't want to be Mrs. Crowley . If you feel you wronged me last night , well , as the person involved , I'm not pressing it . Let's call it even . Let's never bring this up again . " Gerhart's eyes darkened . Behind his rimless glasses , his eyes looked bottomless , unreadable . Latrina blurted out the words in one breath , then turned to leave the CEO's office . " Wait . " He rose slowly , and for a moment , he was genuinely stunned by her words . As a Denver's renowned tycoon , countless women had flocked to his side . Yet this was the first time he'd encountered one who could turn him down . Latrina let out a long breath , turned back , and met Gerhart's gaze . " Is there anything else , Mr. Crowley ? " " Add me on WhatsApp " He spoke calmly , holding out his phone to show the QR code . Latrina hesitated . " Paris Fashion Week is coming next month . The company plans to send you and Mr. Manning over , " he continued . " If you'd rather not go , though , just pretend I never mentioned it . " " And , " he added , " no rush on that earlier question . Take your time to think it over " She thought , " Hmph . A typical businessman ! 1310 WebNovel 1.41 Open > < Chapter 3 " With just a few words , he's maneuvered me right where he wanted . " Not everyone got a shot at Paris Fashion Week . I should seize this chance . " I won't lose anything , anyway . " Latrina pulled out her phone and scanned the code , adding him on WhatsApp . As for that last question ? She'd just let it drop . 193 Menu Back at her desk , the ever - gossipy Monique sidled over . " How was it ? Is the CEO's office super fancy ? " To be honest , Latrina hadn't really taken it in . She'd been too caught up in Gerhart's sharp , unrelenting questions the whole time . " Some things are better experienced than described , " she said , pressing her lips into a playful smile and winking . " Next time , I'll put in a good word for you so you can see it for yourself . " J was terrified ! I thought you'd get carried out like the others , " Monique admitted , glancing up from her computer . " Ms. Glover ! " Laurence's excited voice cut through the office . He bounded over , his over - the - top grin drawing everyone's attention . " Mr. Manning , " Latrina greeted , standing up quickly . Ever since last night , when Gerhart had looked down at her , gripping her chin and asking , " Do you like it ? " , she'd grown uneasy with a superior's air . " The upper management just sent out the memo . Paris Fashion Week spots ! You and I are both on the list ! " he announced . " I know , " Latrina replied , her tone calm . She wasn't the least bit surprised . After all , the company was full of long - serving veterans . For someone like her , only a year into the job , this opportunity would surely make her the target of plenty of whispers . Gerhart had probably reserved this spot for her to make up for last night's mistake . As soon as the news broke , the entire department erupted in chatter . Some were delighted , some annoyed , while the newer hires buzzed with renewed motivation . But the long - serving employees grumbled about unfairness . They'd toiled here for years , some never even making it to local fashion weeks , let alone international ones . Latrina just ignored them , focusing on her work . She received a message from Eduardo , " Trina , free tonight ? Let's catch a movie . " Latrina's lips tightened . She thought , " Shame on Eduardo , coaxing his mistress while still fawning over his girlfriend . " " Sure ! " She screenshotted the message , planning to post it to her Instagram with a caption : " Five years , always so romantic . " She set the post to be visible only to Sonya . Sure enough , Sonya's message arrived moments later , restless as ever , " Babe , I'm going to see a movie with friends tonight too ! What movie are you watching ? What time ? " Hmph . Latrina thought , " Wonderful performance . Why don't you sign up for the Best Actress Award ? " She ignored the message and locked her screen . WebNovel