Chapter 10
Manfred and the other guys let out a collective sigh of relief. They couldn’t take the blame if something went wrong while Laurel was here
“Enough already!” Laurel glanced at the hall bottle of wine left and, despite her buzz, forced a smile at Roderick.
“Then you’re coming out with me now,” she said, turning on her heel to leave. But her legs buckled beneath her, and she just fell forward.
Out of nowhere, a big hand grabbed her arm and yanked her up. She looked up and found herself lost in the depths of Roderick’s gaze.
“Walk properly,” he said, wrinkling his nose in annoyance. With that, he let go and strode toward the door, his long legs creating a quick pace.
Laurel smiled and stumbled as she hurried to catch up with him.
The three men watched the door close, exchanging puzzled looks. After a beat of silence, Austin finally spoke up, “What do you think Laurel wants with Roderick!”
Alf shook his head. “Not sure. I didn’t even know they knew each other. Think it has something to do with George
Manfred put his glass down. “What’s the point of guessing? Let’s just follow them and see what’s up”
The trio shared a knowing look and jumped up, heading out of the box after them..
Laurel followed Roderick out of the room and made her way to the small balcony at the end of the hallway. It was quieter and less crowded, which made it a good spot for a conversation.
Roderick shot a glance at Laurel’s slightly reddened cheeks and said in a cool voice, “So, what’s to talk?”
Laurel took a deep breath, trying to sound sober. “It’s the same as before.”
Roderick let out a dismissive snort, “You don’t have enough leverage to pull me in,” he said, hinting that there was no need to keep discussing it.
“I know.” Laurel replied. She fumbled with her cell phone, pulled up a picture, and handed it to Roderick. “Is this enough to sway you?”
When he saw the photo, Roderick’s icy demeanor shifted to something more serious. He stared at the image, his fists tensed at his sides, as if he was trying to hold back a wave of emotion.
After a pause, he asked quietly. “Where did you get this”
“I have my sources” Laurel tucked her phone away, squared her shoulders, and added, “So, is this enough leverage?”
ir usual coolness.
Roderick scrutinized her, a mix of emotions flitting through his eyes before they settled back to their
He stepped closer, leaning in a bit. “Ms. Lambert, everyone in Oslonia City knows I’m not a simple guy. You get that if we marry, it can’t just be a surface–level relationship
By the time he finished, Laurel was pressed against the wall. He leaned down, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. “So, you still want to marry me?” Laurel’s breath caught in her throat. She clearly felt the weight of his words. Not just a surface–level relationship–he meant something deeper. Roderick noticed the conflict in her gaze and smirked, a hint of challenge in his tone. “Guess you’re not so sure then-”
Before he could finish, Laurel surprised him by kissing him. The jolt of electricity shot through him, but it was over just as quickly as it began. She t
pulled back, her voice playful, “So, is this the real deal you’re talking a
about?”
A glint of surprise crossed Roderick’s eyes as he grabbed her waist, pulling her back in closer. “No, it’s more like this-
He pressed his lips down hard, radiating a strong, almost aggressive vibe. Laurel’s eyes widened in surprise.
Without thinking, she tried to shove him away, not wanting to feel her hands pinned against the wall. A strange, overpowering, manly scent surrounded her, making it hard to breathe.
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5:18 PM c c
Chapter 10
She struggled to hold her ground, but he pushed her back forcefully, making her lose her balance.
Laurel had just flirted with Roderick, all thanks to the alcohol buzzing in her head and a bit of spite in her mind.
Manfred wouldn’t have dared to give her a hard time without Roderick’s silent okay. Ultimately, it was Roderick who had poured the drinks down
her throat.
But she was caught off guard when Roderick turned things around, not holding back at all.
She never expected Roderick, who seemed so laid–back and lazy, would kiss her with such intensity and dominance–like he was trying to devour her whole. She felt a real pang of fear creeping in
Out of nowhere, someone at the end of the corridor whispered, “Don’t push! Im going to crash down-
Just as the last words left their mouth, there were three loud thumps, and three people tumbled down right at Roderick’s feet. He glanced over, and the playful glint in his eyes turned icy.
“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice cold.
“N–nothing! Just passing through, you guys carry on, really.” The three scrambled back to their feet and hurried away. As they turned the comer. Laurel could make out their mutterings.
“Austin‘ I told you not to push me. Look what you did!”
“Manfred, you’re just too weak. You can’t even take a little weight!”
“Will you shut up now! We had messed with Roderick like that! We’re going to be in trouble later”
With that little scene, the flirty vibe in the corridor vanished. Laurel pressed her back against the wall, her lips trembling slightly, giving away the emotions she tried hard to keep in check.
Roderick noticed her swollen lips and smirked playfully, “Scared? Didn’t seem like it a minute ago.
Laurel was momentarily speechless and just stared at him,
After a moment of
of silence, Roderick continued, “Tomorrow morning at nine, meet me at the city hall.” He paused for effect and added. “Oh, and bring your leverage”
With that, he released his grip on her waist and turned to leave.
But as he turned around, a slender, white hand gripped the edge of his coat. Roderick wrinkled his nose and shot a sideways glance at Laurel. “Have second thoughts?”
“No L
Laurel gasped, her legs feeling like jelly. Between the booze and the spinning room, she was struggling to stay upright.
Roderick raised an eyebrow, paused for a moment, then leaned down and scooped her up effortlessly.
Laurel was taken by surprise, feeling completely free of gravity, and instinctively clutched onto his collar.
With a smirk, he muttered, “Petulant”
Laurel, still a bit woozy, looked into his striking face and asked, “So, are we calling this a successful partnership!”
Suddenly, he moved even closer, their noses almost touching. “Ms. Lambert, it’s not too late to regret it,” he said, his voice low.
Taking a breath, she replied, “No regrets.”
Roderick’s eyes narrowed, a hint of something magnetic in his voice as he pressed on, “Once we get married, can you really fulfil your wifely duties without any regretst”
She locked yes with him, his dark gaze deep and intense, and assured him, “I can do that”
Her expression was calm, but her heart raced like crazy, thundering against her chest as if it wanted to break free. She shook her head, determined.
She had nothing to regret. If she didn’t take down George and the Lambert family, she would feel nothing but hate and regret for herself
