But the same night witnessed a quarrel in Duke's home. Belinda shut herself in the bedroom. She was grieved. For the first time in her life, she felt heart broken. She furrowed her brows and kept sighing from time to time. Although she had tried to suppress her fury, there was still a trace of it in her eyes.
"Belinda, please listen to my explanation. Will you? You have been locked in that room for a couple of hours now. Can you open the door please?" A hasty knock could be heard on the door. With it was Duke's voice that was filled with frustration.
A bitter smile broke across Belinda's face. What's the use of any explanation? Even if everything Duke explained was true, Rachel was already there, like a wedge between both of them. Rachel was like a bomb in Belinda's relationship with Duke. No matter how hard Belinda tried to avoid Rachel, she was doomed to face Rachel and there would always be a possibility of her losing Duke to Rachel.
"I really have no idea who recruited Rachel into the company. You know, I have entrusted the HR Department with the full authority to recruit. I never step in this matter." Duke leaned on the door frame in depression. He kept knocking the door time and again, although he was certain and fully aware that the stubborn woman inside would not open the door for him even if his fingers were broken from all the knocking. Duke felt regret now, and blamed himself for being careless in the process of recruitment. He should have himself conduct an interview with the person to be recruited. He had no idea who the person was before the contract was signed. Had Rachel not been there to deliver him the documents, he would not have known anything about it. But Rachel was really good at playing tricks. He never thought that she would be willing to give up her supremacy and work as a sales planner in his company.
Belinda felt heart-broken by Duke's words. She didn't care who had recruited Rachel into the company. But she did care that she saw her today. Moreover, she saw them in each other's arms. Duke once told her that he had broken up with Rachel and had nothing to do with her. But they still seemed to be on intimate terms.
Belinda became enraged at the very thought of Duke's intimate action toward Rachel. She remembered how Rachel smiled when she looked at her with a provocative attitude. How she wished to tear apart her ugly smiling face then and there!
"The scene you saw today, is just a misunderstanding. Rachel hurt her leg, so she tripped and fell on my body. I caught hold of her arms only for assistance. I did it subconsciously. You misunderstood what happened between me and Rachel today, Belinda. If you don't like Rachel working in the company, I will fire her tomorrow myself. Will you stop being angry with me?"
Duke closed his eyes to suppress his fury. He was an arrogant man and never felt the need to explain anything to a woman, especially for a simple misunderstanding. But Belinda was the only one who he was willing to explain with all the patience to rule out every misunderstanding between them.
Hmm! Hurt the leg? That was an excuse that only Duke could believe. But Belinda was not as naive as Duke. It was impossible for Rachel to deceive Belinda.
Although Belinda was fully aware of Rachel's disgusting tricks and intentions, she could not bear Duke's physical contact with another woman. After having seen such a scene with her own eyes, Belinda could no longer behave in a peaceful manner and ignore everything that happened today. Yes, Belinda was a jealous woman. She admitted it. Daisy might be the last one of those lovely women who were kind-hearted, tolerant and forgiving. Edward was lucky enough to have Daisy. But Duke was really unlucky to have Belinda. He had to bear the consequences everytime Belinda got angry.
"All right. I will talk to you when you are not mad at me. I will stay in the study. Let's have a talk when you calm down." While speaking, Duke stamped to make noise as though he was walking away.
Did he really walk away? Belinda stamped her feet in anger, and threw herself into the middle of the bed. She bit her lip to curb the impulsion to call Duke. Then she jumped from the bed all of a sudden, seized her briefcase, and ran toward the door. How stupid she was! She couldn't believe that she went home with Duke after having seen his intimacy with another woman. That's not really her style.
Belinda opened the door without hesitation. As soon as she opened the door Duke went crashing into the room. He fell straight on Belinda, and almost crashed her down onto the ground like a bakemeat. But Duke steadied his pace and held Belinda before she tripped.
"Why are you still here?" Belinda rolled her eyes at Duke. She patted her chest to pacify her heart that was throbbing violently. Duke's sudden appearance really scared her to death.
"This is my bedroom. Can you tell me where else I should go, Belinda?" Duke cast Belinda an arrogant glance. He still looked cold, but his tone was very gentle and had a touch of flirtation in it.
"So you can do as you wish. But can you move aside and let me go, please?" Belinda said in a cold tone, and looked into Duke's eyes with fury to challenge his gaze. She didn't want to show her weakness in front of him.
"Belinda, can you tell me why you are holding your briefcase? Where are you going?" Edward was gentle sometimes. But Duke was always cold and ruthless. Although he had restrained his bad temper in front of Belinda to a large extent, it didn't mean he had transformed for her completely. He still had temper issues. He was enraged now. His eyes were filled with wrath, and his face was as distorted as that of a demon. He stared at Belinda's arrogant face in fury.
"I'm going to my own home. Don't you think both of us must get a moment of our own to calm ourselves down?" Belinda stared into Duke's eyes without fear. She didn't want to concede in front of Duke.
"Belinda, you don't have faith in me, or you don't have faith in yourself? Or you have fallen in love with me crazily?" Duke's tone was as cold as ice. His cool behavior could drive coldness down along the spine of anybody and was powerful enough to make anyone tremble. But Belinda was an exception. She was a proud woman who would never yield in face of any challenge, especially the overbearing attitude of Duke.
"Ridiculous! How can you make me have faith in you? And why should I fall in love with you?" Belinda was unwilling to admit that she was fascinated by Duke, although that was a fact. In Belinda's opinion, no matter how she felt about Duke, he was not jer only choice. After all she hadn't felt the sweetness between them that lovers should feel.
If you don't love me, then why did you get mad at me? Whether you believe it or not, I knew nothing about Rachel's employment in the company until today. What happened today was just a misunderstanding, and you happened to be there when it all happened. You are smart Belinda. Our relationship should not be affected by other people. We have nothing to do with her now! A mocking smile emerged on Duke's lips. Rachel, don't let me know you planned all of this on purpose. Otherwise, you are doomed to have your consequences! Duke thought to himself.