Chapter 27
As he spoke, the doorbell rang, interrupting the moment. Lennox gave Serena’s shoulder a gentle pat, urging her with a nod, “Go answer the door.”
With a slight bite of her lip, Serena limped toward the entrance, her heart racing When she opened the door, Vanessa stood there, a look of surprise crossing her face at the sight of Serena. Lennox had always been a man of leisure, never once bringing a woman into his home
Vanessa’s gaze swept over Serena, her smile widening as a hint of intrigue flickered in her eyes. “Um.. Miss Zeller, please come in,” Serena stammered, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. There was no doubt that Vanessa would misinterpret the situation
Vanessa waved her hand dismissively. “I won’t come in.” Instead, she handed over a paper bag, saying. “This is something Mr. Savill asked me to buy. Please pass it to him” Without waiting for Serena’s response, she turned and left, leaving Serena momentarily dumbfounded.
Shaking off her surprise, Serena stepped back into the living room, clutching the bag. She approached Lennox and handed it to him, her voice a bit shaky. “Miss Zeller asked me to give this to you.”
Lennox didn’t reach for the bag. Instead, he cast a cool glance at her and said, “It’s a gift for you.”
Serena blinked in confusion, her heart quickening. She opened the bag to reveal a sleek smartphone nestled inside. Startled, she quickly set the bag down on the coffee table, the weight of Lennox’s icy gaze pressing down on her. She shook her head vehemently. “No, no, I can’t accept this.”
Accepting his gift would complicate everything between them.
Lennox stood up, towering over her, his expression unyielding. “Miss Stone, please don’t misunderstand. This phone is not a personal gift, it is for work purposes. It contains Lyle’s contact information. He will reach out to you soon.”
Of course, his number was also stored in the device.
Frustration bubbled within Serena as she bit her lip.
What a jerk!
He seemed so certain she wouldn’t dare breach their contract. A surge of anger coursed through her, making her want to hurl the phone at Lennox’s face and shout that she wouldn’t serve him anymore. But as thoughts of the exorbitant penalty for contract termination flooded her mind, her courage deflated like a punctured balloon.
Even if she sold herself piece by piece, she wouldn’t come close to one hundred million. She had never seen so much money in her life, not even if she combined her existence with several lifetimes.
So, with a heavy heart, she compromised once again, her resolve crumbling under the weight of reality.
In the kitchen, Serena chopped meat with fervor, envisioning Lennox’s face as she pounded the knife down.
After accepting the phone, she wanted to leave. However, Lennox shamelessly insisted that she cook for him.
How despicable!
He expected her, an injured woman, to prepare dinner while he lounged on the couch, engrossed in the
television
How Infuriating!
To make matters worse, Lennox’s fridge contained only a bit of bacon and a bunch of carrots, along with Some flour. And he brazenly requested a quiche.
Chapter 27%
Quiche
Time–consuming and labor–intensive.
Yet, what choice did she have? She was under his roof, and she didn’t want to feel indebted after accepting his phone. With a heavy heart, she found herself laboring in the kitchen, preparing the quiche filling.
Gripping the knife tightly, she hacked away at the ingredients, the chopping board echoing with each strike. The commotion, however, didn’t seem to bother the man in the living room. When she glanced at him, sprawled on the couch with his head resting lazily on his hand, her cheeks flushed with anger.
She muttered under her breath, “You big jerk, just wait! If I ever get the chance, I’ll chop you meat!”
into minced
In the living room, Lennox wasn’t as relaxed as he seemed. His gaze frequently drifted toward the petite figure in the kitchen, where the aroma of cooking filled the air. He rarely ventured into the culinary realm himself; his kitchen was more decorative than functional, with only the occasional housekeeper preparing meals for him.
The open layout allowed him to observe her every movement, and he found himself captivated. Serena, clad in her apron, wore a flurry of emotions on her face–it was evident she was cursing him in her mind.
Leaning against the couch, he couldn’t suppress a smirk. He couldn’t quite explain why, but he found a certain delight in watching Serena grapple with her desire to resist him yet feeling unable to act on it.
As she worked, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and golden sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the delicate curve of her neck. Each chop of the knife caused her ponytail to bounce lightly, occasionally brushing against her skin. The striking contrast of her dark hair against her porcelain complexion was mesmerizing.
The vivid juxtaposition made him squint, igniting memories of a night filled with intoxicating pleasure. Just the thought of it sent a wave of heat coursing through his body.
D*mn it!”
With a curse, Lennox shot up from the couch and hurried to the bathroom, desperately needing a cold shower to cool his simmering thoughts.
Serena, now a whiz in the kitchen, swiftly completed the quiche, After baking it to a golden perfection, she carefully placed it on a plate. However, when she carried the dish into the living room, she was met with an unexpected sight–the room was empty.
Where could he have gone?
Setting
the plate down on the coffee table, she limped toward the bedroom door, which stood ajar. The Sound of running water echoed from within, drawing her curiosity.
As her eyes darted to the bag resting on the couch, arplan began to take shape in her mind. She seized her purse, grabbing the phone she had been given. Since terminating the contract was off the table, she would have to await Lyle’s call.
If not now, when?
Crouching low, she crept toward the entrance, shedding her heels to minimize any noise. Her injured ankle protested slightly, so she decided to go barefoot, clutching her shoes in one hand as she quietly opened the front door and slipped outside.
