The door opened just as Miley was about to take a deep breath and knock. With an icy expression on his face, Dexter, tall and straight, stood at the door and glared coldly at Miley, causing her to stiffen in fear.
"What are you doing skulking around the study door?" he questioned coldly.
"Why did you...call me?" Miley looked away in panic. She had no idea why she was so easily intimidated by him and his piercing gaze.
Dexter had been watching the surveillance
video. For more than five minutes, the woman stood at the door in silence. She had no plans of knocking on the door at all.
"Join the NEXT group design team from tomorrow," Dexter announced.
"Why?" She glanced at the reserved man.
"When did you become so garrulous, Miley?" Dexter snapped before he banged the door.
Miley just stood in a baffled expression staring at the door.
It was pretty late. Miley was drawing something in her room when she heard a doorbell. She came out and looked toward the door, only to see Dexter staggering into the house reeking of alcohol.
She could tell he had a lot to drink as he practically rested his entire body weight on her when she helped him to the bedroom.
The scent of alcohol on him was so strong that she couldn't help but frown and ask, "Why did you have so much to drink today?"
"It was a social event," Dexter mumbled in his drunken stupor before pulling her hard on the arm.
She fell on top of him, and my heart raced as she gazed deep into his eyes.
After taking a moment to regain her composure, she quickly climbed off him and said, "You're too drunk. Take off your shirt and get some rest."
She paused when she noticed a faint lipstick stain on the collar.
She lay down on her bed, but she couldn't seem to fall asleep as a bunch of thoughts kept running through her mind.
------
Having taken a shower after sobering up, Dexter emerged from the bedroom dressed in a robe and was just in time for breakfast.
"I'll drive you to the office later," he said as he sat down at the table.
"No need. I'll take the subway." She instinctively demurred, not wanting to be cooped in the same car with him.
"Just do whatever you like!"
After saying that, he left with huge strides. While she breathed a sigh of relief, an inexplicable sense of disappointment enveloped her.
After joining the design department, Miley joined Sam for lunch.
Hopes Restaurant...
"Thank you."
Miley lowered her head and started cutting her steak.
When she was about to take a mouthful of the steak, Sam placed his plate in front of her. He had cut his steak nicely into even pieces!
"Just take mine. I've had it sliced up just for you." Sam smiled at her with a gleam of gentleness in his eyes.
"Thank you," she thanked him and started savouring the steak.
"Congratulations!" Sam lifted his glass of red wine to clink with hers.
"Thank you again" She lifted her glass of wine, clinked glasses with him, and gulped down.
But perhaps she was drinking too fast, she choked on the wine. Subsequently, she coughed non-stop till tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Miley, are you alright?" Sam asked her in great concern and handed her a tissue.
"N-Nothing… I think I drink too fast." She tried her best to stifle her cough and squeezed out a sentence.
With a sigh, Sam approached her and patted her back gently to soothe her cough. At that very moment, both of them were a loving couple.
After she had finally stopped coughing, she raised her head and smiled thankfully at him.
Right then, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure and froze. In a split second, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Dexter Lombard! Why on earth is he here?
"She is your sister-in-law, Sam. How intimate you are!" said Dexter through his teeth, looking at him and Miley with accusing eyes.
Miley was stunned for a moment.
"Sister-in-law?"
Sam glanced at Miley and replied slowly. "Yeah. Dexter is my cousin."
"No matter how friendly you are, She is your sister-in-law. The Lombard family and the Foster family must have taught you to respect the elders, haven't they?" Dexter's face was calm, but his eyes were cold.
Miley shook herself out of her daze when Dexter grabbed her hand.
"Hey!" Dexter had long legs and walked fast. Miley could only quicken her steps into a light job as he pulled her along.
She was thrown into the car as though she were a pet. She wanted to complain but quickly shut her mouth after seeing his expression.
"Miley, you also cannot talk to him so casually. You are his sister-in-law."
"But Sam is my friend!" Miley replied.
"That's why I am saying it." Dexter raised his voice slightly.
"I knew Sam before I even met you. Dexter, don't you think asking me not to meet my friend is too much?"
"Just shut up! Miley. You are so naive." Dexter said in displeasure.
Miley swallowed her displease bitterly and decided to let it go.