Desmond Claude was still sleeping on the armchair when the sun rose. Although his hair was a little messy nor his shirt was not tucked in, he still had the aristocratic vibe around him. He wasn't less handsome than his neat appearance.
Openning her bright double eyelid pheonix eyes, the girl on the bed, positioned herself to sit. She noticed an IV drip rubber tube was on her arm and her other arm had been treated well. Her gaze landed on the sleeping handsome man on the armchair.
'Did he look after me the whole night?'
For just a prisoner like her, he didn't need to be so kind, did he?
Pheonix Lou noticed her clothes had been changed, a smiled appeared, presuming her boss had asked the maids to do it. No wonder she could sleep comfortably.
The man woke up, walking in his lazy steps towards the bedroom door.
'CEO Claude, thank you.'
Desmond Claude stopped his stepped.
'Are you stupid?'
Pheonix Lou was dumbfounded. She let her mouth open, couldn't say anything. She believed she was thanking this jerk just a moment ago.
Desmond Claude made a turn to her bed. He folded his arms on his chest, his expression was dark.
'You were unwell and you still went for a fight, aren't you stupid, Pheonix Lou? Do you want to get killed?'
She was defending him last night! More importantly, she felt unwell because of him, deliberately treating her like a working machine mercilessly these past few days.
This Jerk....
He called her stupid, he triggered her to lost all her patience, and he even made her forget that she should be restrained in front of him since he was her boss.
'You are a narcissistic, ruthless, pretentious... mmmh!'
Before she could finish her words, her lips were sealed with his. She widened her eyes, hurriedly pushed him.
'What are you doing?!!'
Desmond Claude, didn't force himself considering she was sick. He let off a proud smile.
The girl reaction was far better than he had imagined. It was rare to to see her act naturally.
Pheonix Lou studied his smile. For a second, she couldn't comprehend his actual personality.
'You are my boss. Ensuring your safety was part of my job.'
'You sure have an interesting way to gain my attention...'
Clearing her throats, 'CEO Claude, I think you misunderstood me. I'm not interested in climbing your bed.'
Finally, the chance to explain herself arrived. Pheonix Lou was hoping that her life would be back to normal.
Desmond Claude looked at her determined eyes intently.
Judging from all her actions and dedication to her job the past few days, he brushed off his previous impression about her, she was probably not a bed climber. Nonetheless, it didn't change the fact that she had lied and got close to him.
'I'm flattered that you turned out to harbour a feelings for me.'
Pheonix Lou was speechless. Now, he thought she fell in love with him. What an imagination! She had just learnt that her boss was a shameless self absorbed man. Anyone wouldn't have guessed that the serious cold Desmond Claude had this silly side of his.
'I...' Pheonix Lou couldn't help to stop this misunderstanding.
Ignored, she was cut off.
'I was furious before. It doesn't change the fact you lied to me and the company, you still have to bear the consequence as my prisoner. Since you aren't a bed climber, I won't make things as hard as before.'
Knock! Knock!
Behind the door, a maid informed, 'The doctor is here to check on Miss Lu.'
Desmond Claude soon left her bedroom as he told her to take some days off.
Pheonix Lou let out a sigh. She didn't know if she had to be happy or sad that he thought this way.
The doctor had the IV drip removed as her fever had subsided. Even so, she needed plenty of rest.
'Miss Lou, you cannot let the wound contact with water for a week. Then, you need to apply the cream to prevent the scar.'
'Alright, Thank you, doctor.'
The doctor left afterwards.
In the master bedroom, Desmond Claude got off from the bathroom, he dried his hair, put on his suit, and tied his tie. He was getting ready for the office. He was wearing his watch when his phone rang.
'Any news?' Desmond Claude answered his phone.
The person who called was Detective Morgan. 'Mr. Claude, I have done my investigation in City N. There is a thing I made sure, when she moved from City Z to City N, they changed their identity. I sensed that for some reasons, her existence was covered in purpose. Someone with great influence must have deleted her records. So did her mother's. I...'
Desmond Claude voice turned emotional, 'Detective Morgan, for all these these years, is it the best you can do? It doesn't get us anywhere! I can't believe that you are the best in your field!'
'Actually, I got a picture of the girl when she was in high school, Mr. Claude. The picture was a bit blurry, though.'
Desmond anxiously downloaded the picture Detective Morgan sent.
Even though the picture was blurry, he could tell it was really that girl! She smiled brightly, showing off her white teeth. A slight part of a necklace was seen on her neck, although it wasn't prominent. There were some differences shown in her appearance as she grew up, she dyed her bob hair to chestnut colour, she looked a little slimmer as a high school student.
How will her appearance be like, that she was a young woman? Could he still recognize her?
'It's her! With this picture, it will be easier to find more information.' Desmond Claude confirmed firmly.
'It's good that she was the person you have been searching. The thing is, Mr. Claude, I got that picture in the mourning house.'
Desmond Claude pupil constricted.
'She was called Margareth, no family name. Her cause of death was heart disease.'
She had died! It's unbelievable! She was so young!
When he met her, she was definitely healthy. After 10 years, he finally found a definite clue about her but she had gone to another place so far away.
Desmond Claude clenched his fist, he closed his eyes, told Detective Morgan to discontinue his investigation before hung up.
There was no point to continue digging information about her, she no longer lived in this world. Desmond sat himself on a chair. His heart was in pain. No matter how great he had become, she could only watch him from above if she remembered him. His love for her had come to an end.
In the afternoon, Pheonix Lou got totally bored staying on the bed, she took a bath, and got busy with her phone.
In social media, her pictures during the Charity Dinner with Desmond Claude were everywhere. Billions of comments of pro and cons were flooding.
Pheonix mumbled in annoyance, 'What so special about that self absorbed jerk? A gentleman doesn't steal a girl's first kiss!'
She scrolled down her screen, she found another news. HL declared bankruptcy, the bald man and his people was arrested. The police found evidences of their illegal trading, unpaid debt, and fraud. Furthermore about what had happened in the club, it was written HL reckless attempt caused by emotional reaction. But further investigation would be done.
'What a stupid excuse... there must be more than emotional reaction. The man was intentionally aimed his knife to Desmond Claude.'
CEO Claude certainly had worked on it. If not, they won't declare bankruptcy so soon. Business world could be very frightening sometimes.
Pheonix Lou then texted Luke Tyson, asking if there were any task she could do.
'How's your injury? Just take your time to rest. You actually had done your portion. I can't text for long, the boss is not in a good mood today. He almost fired 5 directors.'
'Alright. Remind him to go to the event tonight. Bye.'
Desmond Claude was totally fine this morning. What had happened?
It was very late at night, Pheonix Lou heard the sound of the car. She went to open the entrance door.
Seeing her boss was heavily drunk for the first time, Pheonix Lou was astounded.
The top three button of his shirt was unbuttoned, revealing his muscular chest. His towering body stood unsteadily. Smell of alcohol emitted around him.
Luke Tyson helped the drunk man went into his bedroom, let him lying on the big bed.
Pheonix Lou swiftly caught up on them while bringing a soup. She put it on the table. Her wound was slightly tingling when she carried something, but she wouldn't make herself useless over a little wound.
Pheonix Lou tapped on Luke's shoulder, 'Assistant Tyson, It's already very late. I'll help the boss.'
Luke Tyson smiled, 'Your wounds...'
'Don't worry!'
Luke Tyson didn't insist, he knew she was reliable. He was very tired anyway. He then nodded and left the villa.
Pheonix Lou pulled the blanket near him to cover his sleeping figure. Unknowingly, her waist was pulled to the bed. She fell hard on his embrace.
'C-CEO Claude!'
He opened his eyes, staring at her intently.
Pheonix Lou was like hypnotized by his gaze for a moment. His features were very perfect. Her heartbeat thump faster, her face felt hotter. She quickly tried to get off from his embrace.
'No! Don't go!' Desmond Claude tighten his grip on her. 'It's you! You're not dead!'
What? Who? Pheonix Lou was confused.
'CEO Claude, you are drunk! Please behave yourself!'
Desmond Claude swiftly pressed her delicate body under him, locked both of her wrists with his strong hands. He smiled to her. A warm smile that no one had ever seen. 'I love you! I should have told you a long time ago!'
Before she could react, he kissed her passionately.
Pheonix tried hard to free her arms until her wound bleed again, but it was no use.
'I'll never let you go ever again.... You are mine!'
His kiss continued, ignoring her struggles. Her sweet fragarance made him loose his conscious even more, he moved his lips to her neck and collarbones while holding both of her wrist above her head with one hand. His other hand slipped into her clothes, touching her velvety smooth skin.
'Desmond Claude! You're a beast! Let go of me!!' She shouted at him for some time. 'You lost your mind! You said you won't make it hard for me! Desmond Claude!!'
The drunk man didn't bother to listen to her. Her tears finally fell uncontrollably from the corner of her eyes. Their body entangled. One by one, the clothes was thrown to the floor.
——
Desmond Claude woke up from his slumber in the morning. His head was still a little bit dizzy from too much drinking during the event yesterday, he lost control of himself knowing the girl he loved had died.
When he put away the blanket, he was very surprised to see a pair of slender legs on the other side of his bed, added with blood spots on the bed sheet.
He vaguely recalled what he did last night, he thought he was dreaming. Had he done it with a virgin? He put on his bathrobe, walking slowly to the girl, who was still on the bed.
The girl woke up, her long hair covering some parts of her silky fair skin. His markings was left all over her body. Her right arm was bandaged, some bruised surrounded her small wrist.
'Pheonix Lou?!' Desmond Claude couldn't believe his eyes. 'I...'
With so much effort, she held her tears, flatly said, 'We are adults... it's no big deal...'
Desmond Claude gritted his teeth. He was at fault. How could he do this to her? Never in his life, he would forced himself without certain reasons, especially to a virgin. Even when he humiliated her by kissing her, he wouldn't go so far to the extent to really sleep with her. 'I was too drunk, I lost control, I mistook you for someone else. I'm sorry. I will take the responsibility.'
'CEO Claude, we don't have that kind of relationship. It was an accident, just let it go!'
She stormed out to her own room with a blanket covering her body. She slid down behind the door, crying herself out.