"If you have already stolen it, what's the point of asking me that question now?"
Shui Xian scratched the chin, "Well, I can give it up if you want me to."
Raelle held his gaze, "Do you think that will make me happy?"
He shook his head honestly, "I'm certain you won't like me doing that."
"Then don't bother," said Raelle. She suddenly recalled something, "And what did you just say earlier? You're pursuing me? When did that happen?"
"The other day didn't ask for your permission?" retorted Shui Xian. "I've started pursuing you since then."
"Don't people pursue each other to reach the point of dating? But we are already married."
"And who made the rule that we can't date after marriage? I can definitely pursue my wife. In fact, I can do it rightfully!" announced Shui Xian in a firm tone. "Besides, are you forgetting? Our relationship already took the wrong order. So, what's the harm if we fill in the steps we missed out on before getting married?"
"Just do whatever you want," said Raelle.
"I certainly plan on doing that," he replied.
Meanwhile, Cloe had really made everyone drunk around her. Her alcohol capability beat down these old foxes. And these men thought she was an easy target! Did they not know that she was Raelle Xiang's assistant? She even had to take shots during lunch breaks to deal with her boss!
This little wine couldn't possibly be stronger than vodka.
However, she was not feeling happy about this victory. After all, she lost what she came here for. What was the point of going to so much trouble when in the end, she was bound to lose? She really felt bitter about it inside.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe came to Raelle and slumped down on a chair grumbling, "I can't stand these gatherings."
Raelle sipped on the glass of lemon water, "Then you can sit down."
Cloe stared at her boss, "Chief, I'm not trying to be funny here."
"I can certainly tell," replied Raelle.
"I really mean it! I can't stand you either!"
"I don't mind you kneeling."
Cloe choked on her words when she heard that. "Chief, I'm willing to kneel before you. Just stop giving me surprises. I am not even able to digest anymore."
"What surprises did I give you?" questioned Raelle.
"Isn't it obvious?" retorted Cloe in a slightly raised voice. "An anti-social person like you had been socializing today. You hate physical touch from strangers and yet you willing shook Master Xian's hand. Earlier I heard people say you're not that difficult to talk to, I almost died on the spot."
"You seem quite alive and healthy to me."
"I said almost died!" exclaimed Cloe but in a way that only these two could hear it. She shook her head, "Before you give me any more surprises, let's leave."
Raelle had nothing to say to that since she also thought it's been too long. She had spent more time at this place than it was necessary. Now, she really wanted to go home. She raised her hand and held Shui Xian's arm causing a stir in the crowd when she told him, "Mr. Shui, I'd be leaving now."
She had just stepped out of the hall when her phone rang and she looked at the message from Shui Xian, 'Mrs. Shui, how can you leave without me?'
Raelle turned off the screen and didn't respond. She just pushed Cloe inside the car and asked the driver to start driving.
Cloe held her forehead, "Can you drop me off at a bar along the way?"
"Aren't you done?" asked Raelle. "How much did you drink already?"
"Chief," called out Cloe and turned her head to face Raelle. "I did all that drinking to achieve a purpose but I failed. Someone already snagged the project before me. So, now I'm gonna drink because of the loss I faced."
"As they say, a drunkard can find excuses to keep drinking," said Raelle in a small voice. "You certainly gave me the live example."
They hadn't even driven out for five minutes when their car suddenly stopped. The driver tried to start the car but it didn't work. He alighted to check the condition. Cloe also came down from the car to get some fresh air. She checked up on the driver and came to inform Raelle, "It seems the car is out of order. It can't be fixed here."
Raelle had rolled down the window as she tapped her fingers on the door, "Oh."
"I think I should call for another car for you," said Cloe and tried to find her phone in her handbag.
All of a sudden, a car horn startled her. She looked up and when Shui Xian rolled down his car window, Cloe was left gaping at him. However, Shui Xian only gave her a nod and turned to look at his wife. "It seems President Raelle needs some help."
"And you're gonna help, Master Xian?" asked Raelle.
Shui Xian hurriedly came down the car and opened her car door for her, and even offered her a hand saying, "I'd be an idiot if I left a gorgeous lady to fend for herself in this dark night. So, please... Come with me, I'll take you home."
He chose his words really wisely. He was indeed gonna take her home and not drop her off at home. After all, he was going to the same home with her.
Raelle didn't bother hesitating as she held his hand and got off, she instructed the driver to take care of the car before sitting down in Shui Xian's car. Cloe was still zoning out when Raelle called out to her, "Get in already."
Cloe jolted awake. It just so happens that tonight Ma Jin was the one driving Shui Xian's car. And that's why Shui Xian and Raelle were sitting in the backseat which left Cloe with the option to sit in the passenger seat. And when she did get inside, she looked at Ma Jin to say hello and found the same level of shock as she was going through right now.
After all, it was Ma Jin's first time seeing his Master Xian being so polite towards the fairer sex. And when did Master Xian become so helpful? Wasn't it the first time these two were meeting? Then what was up with this familiar and natural air around them?
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmCloe looked at the road ahead which looked bleak right now for some reason.
"Miss Cloe, do you need some water?" asked Shui Xian. "It seems you drank a lot earlier."
Before Cloe could open her mouth to reply, Raelle said, "It's alright. It was just a warm-up for her. She is just about to head to the bar to start the real fun."
'Why are you exposing me like this?' wondered Cloe to herself but didn't say it out loud.
Shui Xian laced his fingers with Raelle's and even placed their connected hands on his thigh as he tried to make small talk with Cloe, "I think I should apologize to you. I heard you were really interested in the energy project in the northern lines."
"Well, I couldn't snatch a project from Master Xian that just proves that I have yet to learn a lot," said Cloe. But it seemed like she was lamenting to herself along with willing herself to work harder.
Shui Xian leaned over to Raelle's side and whispered in her ear, "She isn't drunk even after all that alcohol?"
"She is sober for now," answered Raelle. "Her reaction speed is delayed. She'll feel drunk hours after drinking."
"Interesting..." muttered Shui Xian to himself. He really found it interesting actually. He and Yanjun went out to drink a lot of times together. But he was still impressed by Cloe's drinking skills.
Cloe had long dropped the idea of hitting the bar tonight. She gave the directions of her home since everyone else had decided to drop her off first. She couldn't help looking at the back seat through the rearview mirror. But it was dark and she couldn't see everything clearly. However, she could see that both Raelle and Shui Xian seemed to be looking out the window.
But what she couldn't see was their hands that seemed to have glued together in the veil of darkness. However, she was trying to analyze what happened today and found Raelle's behavior strange.
She had spent years with Raelle and only one man could make her boss act like this. As a light flashed through her mind, her eyes widened as she looked at Shui Xian's face through the mirror intently.
'Master Xian? Cheif's husband? No, no! That can't be possible. How can that happen? But how else would I explain the fact that Raelle Xiang actually accepted a life from a stranger?!'
While she was howling in her mind with conflicted thoughts, Raelle's voice rang in the silent car, "Don't look at what isn't yours."
Just that one sentence confirmed Cloe's thoughts and she instantly lowered her eyes. Even if someone gave her tiger lungs, she still would refuse to look twice at Shui Xian from now on.