Looking at Pheonix Lou very closely, Desmond Claude was inexplicably tempted to to her rosy lips, her flawless soft skin, and her sweet fragrance, which always made him comfortable, yet easily lost control of himself.
He instinctively wanted to taste those lips. At the same time, some voices interupted, got him back to his senses.
'Hey, did you hear the news about the chairman of Claude Corporation?' A random woman in her 30s from the opposite section talked to her friend as she pushed her trolley.
'Of course! It's such a shame, he is dating a nobody like her...' the other woman implied.
The woman with the trolley chuckled, 'She is a nobody, but most woman with a pretty face like her, nowadays, was so bold. Maybe she is good in bed.'
'Who knows? A man is a man after all...' the other one replied.
Their talks were not too loud, but Desmond Claude and Pheonix Lou were still able to hear it clearly.
Moving aside, Pheonix Lou calmed her thumping heart. Did they almost kiss? That was impossible, right? They don't harbour that kind of feelings. Moreover, the relationship was merely a deal.
Desmond Claude had been ignorant to people's random talk, yet somehow, he didn't like how they pictured Pheonix Lou, especially right in front of him, even though they didn't realize the people, they talked about, were there. He would have been dealt with them if they continued it.
It was strange that he got a little provoked over a tiny thing.
Desmond Claude nonchalantly said, 'You don't need to take their talks seriously.' He put the soy sauce, he got from the shelf earlier, to the trolley.
The unpleasant silence they experienced a while ago disappeared untraceable.
'I clearly understand.' Pheonix Lou really meant what she said. She didn't bothered to care about gossips, unless it was needed.
Finished up their groceries shopping, Desmond Claude insisted on bringing all the bought items by himself, leaving Pheonix Lou with nothing on her hands.
On the other hand, Pheonix Lou, who used to be the one brought things for him, felt strange. She touched her wounded arm and guessed that he probably concerned with her arm, so he decided to bring the stuffs.
When Pheonix Lou was putting away the things in her apartment, she asked Desmond Claude about what she got in her mind.
'What if during the contract, I have someone I like and I want to date him?'
Her question caught up his attention that he stood in front of her.
'Are you confessing to me?' His eyes straight into her but they are unfathomable.
Pheonix Lou was dumbfounded by his response. His shamelessness was beyond cured. Did he really think she was into him?
'No, I'm not!' She bluntly said. 'Sigh... just forget it!'
Desmond Claude smiled smugly as she walked away.
He answered an incoming call from Lawrence Smith. 'What's up?'
'Usual place?' Desmond Claude responded to Lawrence Smith's invitation to have a drink together. 'Okay. Got it.'
Desmond Claude sat on the humble dining chair. A cup of hot tea was served for him. Knowing who had just called, Pheonix Lou used it to chat with him.
'How long have you been friends with Mr. Smith?'
'Since junior high school, we accidentally met each other when we played hooky.'
'You played hooky? Really? That's unbelievable!'
Pheonix found it hard to believe. What shocked her even more was, Desmond Claude admitted he was a rebellious student with average scores. Who would have thought that kind of student would eventually be the CEO of a powerful corporation?
Their conversation lasted for a few minutes. Desmond Claude left after he drank up his tea.
Driving his car, Desmond Claud got his mind wandered a little. Due to the chat he had with Pheonix Lou, he reminisced his teenage life.
Desmond Claude was born with silver spoon in his mouth. Growing up in a prominent family as a sole heir, he was basically received the best education and care in all aspects.
The person who doted on Desmond Claude the most was his grandfather. Elder Claude had even planned to make him his successor since he was 8 years old for he had a rare talent and potential character, as Desmond's father had pursued another career path.
Entering his teen phase, when most of teenagers being rebellious and stuffs, the rich pampered young master had no reason not to use his wealth and status to try things out. When Desmond Claude was in junior high school, not only he played hooky, he fought and bullied the weak, slept during lesson, drank alcohol, and smoked. He was an extremely smart boy to begin with, but he seldom did his schoolworks or paid attention during the lessons. The school turned blind eyes in his behaviour, considering his family's huge donation and influence.
During the first year in high school, as his body got taller, his behaviour got worse. Although he was always cold and serious, he attracted a lot of girls. He began to play with different girls, went to the bar or club, as well as threw parties, apart from what he did in junior high school.
Desmond Claude quitted his bad behaviour when his grandfather had a health problem that led him to his grave. His mind was in mess, the grief-stricken Desmond Claude was forced to succeed the Claude Corporation, while he also had to finish his education completely. It was around that time, he met the girl with the pheonix pendant who lifted up his spirit and experienced love at the first sight.
It had been 10 years, time did flies. They didn't have another opportunity to meet once again in this lifetime. Thinking about it, his rationality begged him to forget her. Why his heart was difficult to cooperate?
——
Lawrence Smith and Desmond Claude were in the bar, where they usually drink together. They sat on the corner, far from people disruption.
Lawrence Smith lit up a cigarette, a puff of smoke blew out from his mouth.
Lawrence Smith let out his opinion while smoking. 'You know, bro, ever since those days in high school, I thought you turned into a gay, no offence. You were once a really bad boy... I can't even compared to you. Hahaha... I'm quite surprise to meet your girl at the charity dinner last time. I had a little doubt at first, but now your dating news are everywhere, you are having a girlfriend for real. When did you guys meet?'
Avoid his question, Desmond Claude casually replied, 'Mind your own business! Why don't you find yourself a girlfriend too?'
Lawrence Smith took a sip of his drink. 'All girls are the same for me, I have to marry what my family pick for me too in the end... why bother to tied myself to a girl before the due time?'
Desmond Claude swirled his drink, saying nothing.
Interested in Desmond's new relationship, Lawrence Smith teased. 'Now that you have her, have you retired from being a monk?'
Desmond Claude recalled some memories related to Pheonix Lou. The first time she fell asleep in his car, back when he didn't know she was a girl, the time he kissed to humiliate her, the time he took her first time, and this afternoon when he almost kissed her. Her sweet fragrance, her soft lips, her snow white skin, her face, her voice... especially, that day he mistook her, he vaguely remembered her soft cried, 'It hurts...'
As a normal healthy man in his prime, he undeniably reacted to her. Was his self control weakened because it had been so long since he wasn't with a woman, or because she resembled Margareth, or because Phoenix Lou had something he liked?
His face slightly blushing, but Desmond Claude kept his cool and took a sip. 'Why do you care about me being a monk?'
'Alas... She's so pretty, and I can tell she's different in a good way... it such a waste! If you are not interested, I...'
Lawrence Smith stopped himself from talking more as Desmond Claude threw him a warning glare.
The girl they were talking about was truthfully a temporary girlfriend of Desmond Claude, bound by a contract, which Lawrence Smith didn't know for sure. Whatever the circumstances was, Pheonix Lou had been in Desmond Claude responsibility, He simply didn't like what he had in his hands being touched by others.
Lawrence Smith chuckled, 'Don't worry, I'm just making fun of you!'
Desmond Claude drank up his drink and poured himself another glass.
The bar's lights was dimmed, only spotlights on the stage were bright to lure people's focus. Every night at the same time, the bar would be merried with a pole dance show. Everyone there was very excited as most of them are men.
Five young women with voluptuous body in a black bikini was dancing provocatively on the stage. They showed off their flexibilities and sexiness for a long time. Their actions made their viewers's imagination ran wild. In the end of the show, they even stripped their bikinis and threw them as they visited some table to flirt with the customers.
One of the pole dancer walked herself in black stilettos to the corner, visiting the two good looking young masters. Her face was not bad, her parfume could be smelled from 2 meters away, and her skin was smooth.
The girl stopped between Lawrence Smith and Desmond Claude. Her red lips formed a coquettish grin. Wearing nothing, she leaned herself to Desmond Claude as she wanted to kiss his cheek.
Desmond Claude let the girl seduced him at first, he wanted to confirmed his self control.
Unfortunately for her, Desmond Claude stood up and moved aside in the speed of light before her bare body and lips could touch him. His gazed turned colder and his dominant vibe could be felt.
The girl stunned, bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushed red as she was embarrassed for being rejected.
In spite of her sexy nude body, the cold man didn't feel any reactions in his lower abdoment nor his mind, he wasn't even tempted to the sight of girl at all. Instead, he was annoyed when she got close to him.
If it was the teenage Desmond Claude, he would enjoy her seductions without thinking twice. What cat would refuse a fish?
'It's weird!' he mumbled in his head. In fact, Pheonix Lou did nothing so far, yet, she made him lose control of himself when she was near him.
Analyzing the situation, the possibilities were narrowed into two, her resemblance or something about her.
The girl forced a smile to Desmond Claude and turned herself to kissed Lawrence Smith near his lips.
Lawrence Smith amorously grabbed her waist, sat her on his lap. She beamed for a while.
'Young master, have an enjoyable night!' The girl whispered in his ear, then excused herself from Lawrence Smith.
Desmond Claude, who had been watching his best friend and the girl, got back to his seat.
'You quitted playing with girls for years. Now, I can see you can't enjoy it, you really turned into a monk!' Lawrence Smith laughed at Desmond Claude.
'Nonsense! I just don't enjoy any random girls like you!'
Both of them continued with the bickering and the alcohol, while kept enjoying the vibe.
Pheonix's Apartment.
It was already 11.30 pm. Pheonix Lou still couldn't sleep, she made herself a glass of hot milk.
Ring! Ring! Ring! Her phone rang.
She checked the person name who called her at this hour, then picked up the phone.
'Assistant Tyson.'
'Sorry to bother, Miss Lou. I was called to ask you, whether you want to pick up CEO Claude. Regardless the deal, Miss Lou are recognized as CEO Claude's current girlfriend.'
It was predictable for Luke Tyson to understand her situation with his boss. For that same reason, Luke Tyson addressed her as Miss Lou and kept their distance, despite she previously was his close colleague.
'Didn't he drive by himself to meet Young Master Smith?' Pheonix confused. 'What happened?'
'CEO Claude and Young Master Smith were too drunk to drive home.'
Hearing what Luke Tyson said, Pheonix Lou was reminded by the night he forced himself on her.
Pheonix directly refused. 'Sorry, Assistant Tyson. I can't....'
'Alright.'
Luke Tyson didn't press on. He hung up the phone.