Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
The man snapped back, “Two thousand dollars, after taxes.”
Blake laughed, amused by how quickly the man responded. “Per day? That’s not too bad.”
The man’s cheeks flushed.
His two thousand dollars was actually his monthly wage, but he was too embarrassed to correct Blake.
Alicia glanced at his name badge and said coldly, “I had assumed you were in a higher position, considering how capable you were of screening clients for your boss.”
The man’s irritation was clear. “What are you implying?”
Alicia was about to respond, but suddenly, a commanding voice came from behind her. “Exactly what she said. Is that so hard to understand?”
Startled, Alicia turned around.
It was Caden.
He stood there in a black shirt, his presence imposing. As he spoke, he had already approached from behind, his tall figure casting a shadow over her. The man recognized Caden immediately and froze, taken aback.
Seeing Caden stand up for Alicia, the man quickly realized his mistake. His voice trembled as he addressed him. “Mr. Ward…”
Caden’s response was cold and detached. “You recognize me? Am I qualified to touch this screen?”
The man visibly shook, clearly rattled.
“Mr. Ward, I didn’t realize she was your…”
“My what? Did she say anything about me before coming in?” Caden interrupted, his tone sharp.
The room was filled with influential figures. Alicia had earned her place among them purely on her own merits.
As the tension escalated, the man looked like he might break into tears. Thankfully, the event organizer stepped in at that moment.
“Mr. Ward! Mr. Ward…” The organizer hurried over, trying to defuse the situation. “I apologize for the poor service. Please don’t be upset. We’ve been understaffed recently, and this person was mistakenly hired. He will be let go immediately!”
Caden’s attention shifted to the high-end screen on display.
He turned to Alicia and asked, “Do you like it?”
Understanding his intentions, Alicia responded without hesitation, “No. Don’t buy it.”
Caden then turned to the organizer. “Is it for sale?”
The organizer’s face stiffened. “There’s no need to buy it. It’s a gift for you, Mr. Ward. We’ll have it delivered to your headquarters in Warrington.”
Alicia was taken aback.
As the capitalistic giant at the top of the pyramid, Caden’s actions were no different from those of a self-serving rogue.
Caden scribbled an address for the organizer. “Send it here. It’s for my pet to watch cartoons.” He handed over the address to his apartment.
Alicia was left speechless once again.
Caden was acting unreasonably.
Yet, in this situation, Alicia couldn’t afford to lose her composure.
Once they were outside, she lowered her voice and asked, “Why did you spend so much on that?”
Caden raised an eyebrow. “It’s my money, Ms. Bennett. There’s no need for you to be concerned.”
Alicia couldn’t come up with a retort.
He was right. Besides, he had bought it for his pet. His reasoning was flawless, leaving her no opportunity to argue.
An awkward silence followed.
Caden cast a glance at Blake, who stood on the other side. Blake’s expression carried some weight as well. Being outdone by Caden in such a manner seemed uncomfortable for him.
Caden’s actions that evening weren’t just about spending money. More significantly, he was using his status to assert dominance over everyone present.
Caden broke the silence. “Mr. Langstaff, aren’t you off work yet? It’s quite late.”
Blake replied, “You don’t need to worry about that, Mr. Ward. I’m accompanying Ms. Bennett on a business trip, both for work and to ensure her safety. I won’t leave until I’ve seen her safely to her hotel.”
“There’s no need,” Caden responded coolly. “She has other commitments later and won’t require your services.”
Blake didn’t respond, but instead, his gaze shifted toward Alicia. Alicia understood the reason for Caden’s presence. It was about the land for the gallery.
She suggested, “Mr. Langstaff, you should get some rest.”
Blake smiled, but his voice was kind. “Alright. And you should rest too, Ms. Bennett. Don’t push yourself too hard.” He exchanged a look with Caden.
Their gazes met-not quite with hostility, but certainly with tension.
Caden offered a cold smile. So, Blake had genuinely taken an interest in Alicia. But Blake needed to recognize his place.
Once Blake had left, Alicia spoke up. “Let’s head to the restaurant.”
She skipped the small talk and went straight to the point. Caden responded leisurely, “Blake is merely a relic restorer. Why did you bring him along?”
“There are certain places where his presence is truly necessary, and because he’s a man, it’s a safer option.”
“Have you even considered that he could be the real danger?”
Alicia subtly rolled her eyes. “He’s been here for a month without causing any problems, so how much of a threat could he possibly be?”
Caden had reserved a restaurant just across the street for them. As they stepped onto the crosswalk, Caden instinctively reached for Alicia’s hand, gently guiding her to his opposite side. The warmth of his hand sent an unexpected flutter through Alicia’s chest.
In a quiet voice, she murmured, “We’re just crossing the street; you don’t need to do that.”
Alicia had experienced grander gestures from Caden before, so small actions like this didn’t easily affect her. Without hesitation, Caden replied, “It’s always better to be safe than regret it later.”
Alicia made a soft attempt to free her hand, but it remained firmly in his grasp. His fingers naturally intertwined with hers.
Alicia let out a small protest. “Caden.”
He glanced down at her, a soft smile on his face. “I drove for an hour, flooring the gas to arrive twenty minutes early, just to see you sooner. Can’t this be my reward?” The dim night softened the edges of his expression, but his sincerity remained captivating.
Alicia found herself unable to hold his gaze for more than a moment. Refusing to let herself be charmed, she quickly changed the subject, asking, “How exactly did you figure out where the event was?”
“You forgot to turn off your location sharing,” Caden answered simply.
“Oh wow… uh, okay. So, I’m guessing you got quite the show,” she added, slightly embarrassed.
Caden chuckled. “Skipped the drama, just caught Blake being his usual awkward self.”
Alicia gave a soft sigh. “Well… alright.”
Alicia couldn’t quite figure out what all the fuss was about.
As soon as they entered the restaurant, Alicia mentioned that she needed to go to the restroom to wash her hands. With a serious look in his eyes, Caden asked, “Are you trying to say I’m dirty?”
Alicia hadn’t anticipated this misunderstanding, and she couldn’t help but let her lips twitch. “Isn’t it normal to wash your hands before eating? Are you not going to?”
“So, you’re saying you think I’m dirty?” he repeated, his tone mockingly serious.
Alicia didn’t fall for his attempt to sway her. “Yes.”
Caden studied her for a moment, but surprisingly, there was no trace of anger on his face.
“You wanted the truth, didn’t you?” Alicia added. “Are you satisfied now?”
Without waiting for a response, she headed straight to the restroom.
By the time she returned, Caden had already taken the liberty of ordering their food. He politely invited Alicia to select whatever she preferred.
A quick glance at the table showed that everything was to her liking.
“That’s enough for now,” Alicia said. She decided not to place any additional orders and simply added, “I’ll just eat whatever you ordered.”
Her thoughts were occupied with the upcoming gallery event, so she took the opportunity to ask Caden for some pertinent information.
She then proposed a possible course of action. “I’m managing the gallery now. Give me his business card, and I’ll talk to him.”
Caden replied, “I’ve already spoken with him. I just wanted to see you when I mentioned it.”
Alicia’s eyes narrowed slightly as she inquired, “Caden, you wouldn’t be plotting with him against me, would you?”
Caden lowered his voice and said, “You care so much about the gallery. Why would I jeopardize your interests?”
Alicia instinctively shot back, “Isn’t causing chaos exactly what you enjoy the most?”
Caden responded by echoing her words, “People can’t always stay in the same place.”
Alicia found herself at a loss for words. She couldn’t help but wonder where Caden had acquired such wisdom.
It was hard for her to grasp that Caden was actually articulating something so insightful.
What had started as a business discussion had gradually morphed into a casual meal, creating an atmosphere thick with tension.
As the food had yet to arrive, Caden continued to gaze at Alicia, his stare blatant and unwavering. Alicia, trying to distract herself, pulled out her phone, pretending to be engrossed in something important.