Chapter 66 Fifteen years ago, I met a girl
Hank's POV
Last night with Nicole was the worst night of my life. After dragging her out of Gio’s house to my car, she pretended to be obedient.
“Where should I take you?” I asked. She stared at me and replied, “I don’t have a home, so I guess I’m yours now.”
She had undressed herself when I turned to look at her in the passenger seat. Only her bra and panties were on.
After averting my gaze, I decided to check her into a hotel before getting her an apartment, but I didn’t inform her before pulling over at the hotel.
“What are you doing?” she seethed. I remained calm, assuring myself that I was doing this for my best friend.
“What does it look like I’m doing? Dress up and get out. I already made reservations, so show them your ID card."
I pulled out a cigar after saying those words. There were questions I wanted to ask Molly after Roger went to sleep, but Gio arrived before I had the chance, and the moment Molly saw him, it was as if I never existed.
Those two were clearly still in love and could deny it for as long as they wanted. However, they would never be able to fool me. Molly was too naive. Compared to both Octavia and Nicole, she wasn’t tough at all, and I wondered why Gio wouldn’t train her.
In this world, innocence doesn’t pay. The tougher, the better, which was why I was still single. Bringing a woman into my life would lead her to her death.
The moment they realize they can’t have me, anyone close to me would be the target.
“I won’t go if you don’t carry me in,” Nicole insisted. I smiled and turned to face her. She was indeed attractive, but her behavior was a turn-off for me.
“If you think undressing in my car will get you into my bed, then you are mistaken. I have high standards.”
I lit a cigar and puffed in her face, catching a glimpse of her embarrassed look. Was she trying to buy my sympathy, or was she beginning to open up?
“You don’t know anything about me. How would you feel if a woman you loved all your life fell in love with someone else?"
Fifteen years ago, I met a girl. She lived next door and was so pretty, just like Molly. Her innocence made her believe that the world only contained good people.
We became good friends, and whenever I thought about marriage, she was the only one on my mind. But that was before I got into this business.
Now, I know she wouldn’t be the best for me, but that girl was also named Molly. When Gio told me about her after losing touch, memories of that little girl flooded my mind.
She would shower me with flowers from their garden and ice cream her parents bought for her. My own parents made marriage unattractive and hardly had time for me, so when they died, I didn’t feel like I lost anything but Molly.
"Your story isn’t unique. It happens all the time, so stop being difficult and get dressed."
Instead of following my request, she leaned in, her small breasts pressing against my shoulder.
"Ever heard of one-night stands?"
A yawn escaped me. I was bored and never liked it when a woman threw herself at me. It made me feel like she had a disease she wanted to spread.
Talking wasn’t my thing because my job required a lot of thinking, and Nicole was just too dull for me. No wonder Gio never liked her. One thing we had in common was being the ones to do the chasing.
Without another word, I unlocked the door and stepped out of the car. "Have a nice night, Nicole, and don’t bother returning the car."
The shocked look in her eyes was satisfying, and it was too late for her to chase after me as it took time for her to put her clothes back on.
I must have escaped her, but it took me forty minutes to run back to my mansion since my phone battery was dead and I couldn’t order for an uber.
Taxis were not allowed in these areas and I left my wallet in the car too. After a cold shower, I went straight to bed from exhaustion, reminding myself never to get involved with a woman like Nicole again.
"She did that?" Gio questioned with an incredulous look after I finished narrating everything to him.
"You don’t think I would lie about something like that, do you?"
I didn’t expect Gio to take things personally once the truth sank in, and without a word, he picked up the intercom.
“Nicole, come to my office now."
"You should have let me leave first," I implored, but he shook his head. "No, you stay. I know her better than you. Do you think someone like her would just want to give herself to you?"
Gio looked so upset that it confused me until I understood the meaning of his words. "You mean she would have used me to get coded information about you?"
Gio nodded as the door pushed open, and Nicole walked in. As soon as I turned to face her, she quickly clutched her stomach.
"Don, my stomach hurts. I need to use the restroom."