Love was the most twisted form of torture in this world after all. It could topple kings and gods and humble the arrogant. But when Gregory heard Louie’s admonishment, he locked his phone and said coldly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Give me a break.” Louie clicked his tongue. “You don’t have to put up a strong front when you’re with friends.” Gregory took the glass of water and sipped it, glaring at Louie. “If you’re so tough, why did you get all flustered and hide in the washroom when you saw that lawyer?”
Louie froze.
“Oh, and when you left the washroom, your
eyes were red and-“Gregory continued the jibe.
“Bullshit! Sand got into my eyes, that’s all! I had to wash it out, didn’t I? Who said I was crying?” Louie snapped defensively, bristling.
“Nobody said you were crying. I certainly didn’t.” Gregory eyed Louie with faint amusement. “Why are you so quick to explain yourself?”
Louie’s face darkened. He snatched the glass from Gregory and gulped the rest of the water before setting the empty glass down on the table.
“Okay! Fine! You win! Happy now? Go to sleep already! Don’t wake me up if you’re dying of thirst in the middle of the night because I won’t bother!”
With that, Louie stormed out of the room without so much as a backward glance and slammed the door in his wake. He was pissed; that much was clear.
Gregory quirked a brow. “My, my, did my words find their mark?”
Louie headed for the hotel terrace to get some air. He couldn’t resist calling Adrian to air his grievances.
“You’d better get your butt here on the earliest flight the moment you finish sorting out your business back home! I can’t stay with that jerk alone anymore!
“He keeps getting on my nerves, and I can’t even punch him! I’m so damn frustrated with him!”
He sipped water from a paper cup as he ranted to keep his throat from drying out.
Adrian let out an exasperated chuckle on the other end of the line. “Okay, I got it. Gosh, you don’t know when to stop talking. You’re nagging like an—”
“Like an old hag who won’t shut up. How annoying.” The unfiltered comment came from behind Louie. He froze and turned, only to see the last person he wanted to run into.
Giselle wore a tight–fitting, strappy black dress that accentuated her alabaster skin tone. Her long, wavy brown hair cascaded past her shoulders.
Asymmetrical gemstone earrings hung from her earlobes. She wrapped up the entire look with a pair of limited–edition Yves Saint Laurent heels, adding a touch of expensive elegance to her overall appeal.
She looked like an ethereal, untouchable moon goddess.
However, the thin cigarette dangling between her pretty, red lips shattered her otherwise perfect and pure’image, though the roll–up had yet to be lit.
“Say, old hag, you don’t happen to have a light, do you?” Giselle drawled lightheartedly, her alluring eyes settling on Louie.
“No,” Louie answered stiffly, then spun on his heels to leave.
Chapter 473
+25 BONUS
He stopped in his tracks when he heard the click of a lighter. He turned to look back at Giselle. The flame danced in the darkness of the night, and the white tip of the cigarette turned red as it caught fire.
Giselle took a drag of the cigarette and slowly exhaled a smoke ring. The night breeze carried the smoke to Louie, who choked and frowned. “This is a public space. You aren’t allowed to smoke here.”
“Is that right?” Giselle held the cigarette between slender fingers, seemingly unbothered. “I don’t see a ‘no smoking‘ sign anywhere.”
“I thought you quit smoking. Why did you pick it back up?” Louie asked tersely.
“I indulge in a cigarette or two when I’m stressed.” Giselle shrugged, as if she couldn’t care less.
But Louie noted the way her fingers trembled and demanded, “Did you even bother following up with your treatments in the last two years?”
Upon hearing this, Giselle paused, then took another drag. As she breathed out the smoke, she drawled, “It’s none of your business. You’re just a neurologist, not my attending physician.”
“Giselle, I may not be your attending physician, but you should at least follow your doctor’s orders!” Out of professional responsibility, Louie added for good measure, “If the opposing counsel so much as catches on to your condition, you may end up losing the entire case-
“1
“Are you concerned about me?” Giselle countered meaningfully.
