But Diarmuid never opened his eyes, even though he was actually pushing his tongue up against hers now and was kissing her so hard that he was almost devouring her.
She felt her breath leaving her lungs.
Was he really awake…?
“I missed you, Abigail…” he murmured, almost unintelligibly.
But she clearly heard it.She froze.
He just said… He missed her?
A crystalline drop of tear slid and trickled off the corner of her eye, dripping on his cheek.
Diarmuid did not wake up-he was actually dreaming.
Abigail slowly got up.So, it was all just sleep-talking.
“But I’m happy to hear you say you miss me.”
She wiped the lipstick from his lips, pulled his blanket over him, and left the hotel room, gently closing the door behind her.
James was already waiting outside as she stepped out-watching the door, sticking to his post dutifully as always.
When he saw her, he quickly asked, “Did he fall asleep?”
Abigail nodded, but James also noticed that her lipstick was smudged all over.
He frowned-was she messing around with Diarmuid?He quickly reached for the door, but Abigail stopped him. “Mr. Althoff just fell asleep. You shouldn’t disturb him.”
James blinked. “What did you do to him?”
Abigail then remembered that her lipstick must have been smudged, and quickly feigned composure. “I was sweating. I’m going now.”
With that, she strode toward the elevator.
The walls inside were reflective enough for her to see her smeared lipstick and she wiped it off while putting on her face mask.
James was left standing outside Diarmuid’s door.
Should he go in to check?
Eventually, he gave up on the idea-if Diarmuid really was molested, he would have stormed out of his room.
He was an adult who could take care of himself, and James decided that he did not have to worry.
In fact, he felt a little insomniac now that Diarmuid had fallen asleep, and headed out to a bar to get a drink.
It was lively inside-the night was still young.
Men and women were hanging out together and getting frisky, and the air was rife with hormones.
James was sitting at the bar when the bartender suddenly came to him with a cocktail called Blue Tears. “Sir, a treat from the lady over there,”
James turned toward where the bartender was looking, and saw a charming lady dressed in a tank top and hotpants.
He nodded, accepting the gesture and chugging it.
The lady approached him then. “Hey, handsome.”
James asked for two more glasses, and pushed one to her. “This one’s for you.”
She smiled. “Want to have some fun?”
James suddenly chugged his drink and said, “Not interested.”
He then placed some notes on the bar counter and left.
The lady pursed her lips. “Didn’t take him for the serious type.”
Erin stepped out from a corner just then, saying, “I’m surprised he didn’t mess around too.”
Clapping the lady on the shoulder and then glancing at the bartender,” Thank you, both of you.”
With that, she left the bar.
Outside, James was shaking his head.
Why was he feeling so dizzy?
He had always been able to hold his liquor. Just two glasses would never leave him this drunk.
What was going on?
“Feeling dizzy?” A crisp voice spoke from behind, and James turned to find Erin standing there.
His face fell. “You were following me?”
Erin smiled charmingly even as she walked up to him.
“lam,” she admitted. “I spiked your drink, too.”
As she spoke, she wagged her finger as if drawing hieroglyphs in the air.
James was left at a loss for words.
“What… are you doing…?” He tried to shout, but his vision was blurring.
Erin simply moved closed enough to breathe into his ear.
“Advanced interrogation,” she said smugly, her warm breath sprinkling directly over his skin and leaving him shuddering.
“S-Stay away from me…” James blurted, and dropped to the floor.
Erin pursed her lips. “I would, but you’re unconscious now.”
Beckoning at her chauffeur, she said, “Get him in the car.”
James woke up with a muddled head and found himself in an unfamiliar room!
Where was he?!
As his head slowly clears, he saw his clothes left strewn on the bed beside him, and quickly turned to look down at himself!
James’s eyes widened, and his face soon contorted and flushed in anger.
“Erin Gooding! What do you think you’re doing?!’
Erin was sitting on a chair nearby, leisurely eating some Shine Muscat while glancing at him sideways. “What’s all the fuss for?
It’s just your clothes. You still have your underwear on, but don’t expect it to stay that way if you don’t cooperate.”
James was speechless.
What was she playing at?!
“Let me go right now!” he snapped.
Erin, however, was not afraid at all, and allowed him to fume as much as he wanted, even blinking her eyes innocently at him.
“You’re all tied up. I can leave you here to starve you to death, but you’re still ordering me around? Are you really sober?”
James could not say anything against that.
He did not want to admit it, but it was harsh reality.
As such, he restrained himself and flashed a fawning smile, “Erin, darling? Seeing that I’m a good friend of your brother, could you show your magnanimity and let me go?”
“Sure.” Erin somehow agreed to it easily.
James was naturally delighted. “Alright, then untie me, please?”
Erin walked up to his bed, but suddenly stopped at the edge, watching him as she asked, “Where was my mother buried?”
James paused for a moment, but said, “I don’t know.”
“Nope,” Erin doubted that. “You’re Diarmuid Althoff’s lapdog-there’s no way you wouldn’t know. And don’t think you can trick me either.”
James did not know what to say just then, and wondered how that little brat grew to be so smart.
“Ask your brother if you like, but I don’t know,” James insisted-he knew that he should not admit it even if he knew, or she would bother him to no end.
“In that case, I can’t help you.” Erin shrugged and clapped her hands.
The door then swung open, and three burly tattooed men entered.
They were all Minervans, and appeared thuggish too.
Despite sensing danger right then, James tried to stay calm as he asked,’ What are you doing, Erin?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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