Chapter 106 Kissed Charles
"What kind of strategy?" Matilda asked.
Wentworth said nothing more. He couldn't betray his own brother like that.
Seeing his hesitation, Matilda guessed it probably wasn't exactly ethical. But for Zoey's sake, she had to push.
"Wentworth, you still haven't told me what the strategy is." She put on her most pitiful expression.
Wentworth shook his head reluctantly. "I can't say."
"No, you have to tell me." She leaned against him, wrapping her arms around him and acting coy.
Acting cute was getting easier with practice—do it enough times and it becomes second nature.
Wentworth still shook his head. "I'm afraid my brother will send his eight bodyguards after me."
"Liar. Your brother would never hurt you. He loves you more than anyone—why would he send people after you?"
She brought a bite of the food she'd just made up to his lips. "Want some?"
"Yeah."
"If you tell me the method, I'll feed you. Otherwise..." She put on a stern face. "I won't cook for you next time."
Wentworth looked at her with amusement. "Feed me one bite and let me see how it goes. If the experience is good enough, I'll consider telling you."
Matilda had been planning to feed him with utensils, but she suddenly changed her mind. She bit one end of the food herself, then offered him the other end.
Wentworth took it with his mouth, taking the opportunity to kiss her lips in the process. It was incredibly intimate.
"So this time... are you telling me or not?" She used her most coquettish voice.
Wentworth got goosebumps all over and immediately surrendered. "Fine, I'll tell you."
"What's the method?"
Wentworth whispered something in her ear.
After hearing it, Matilda sucked in a breath. That was pretty ruthless.
But for Zoey, there wasn't a better option. She needed to text her right away.
...
The investment conference had ended.
Though Zoey's eyes had followed Charles the entire time, he'd never once looked at her. She didn't mind though. Who says loving someone means they have to love you back? As long as she was happy.
She'd just been updating Matilda on her situation, and unexpectedly, Matilda had given her advice. Looking at her phone, Zoey found herself in a dilemma.
This seemed... not exactly honorable.
After wrestling with it for a while, she decided to try the tactic anyway. She wasn't really going to do anything bad—just threaten him a little. If he agreed, great. If not, whatever.
Charles was already being escorted out by his bodyguards, preparing to leave. Zoey quickly jogged after him.
"Charles!" she called from behind.
Charles naturally ignored her, and the bodyguards blocked her path.
Zoey shouted at him, "Charles, if you don't talk to me, I'm going to tell everyone about those two!"
Charles paused. He turned to look at Zoey. His gaze was somewhat intimidating.
Zoey faltered for a moment, but quickly gathered her courage. "Charles, I mean what I say!"
To her surprise, Charles turned around completely. He walked right up to her, his powerful presence making her instinctively step back until she hit the wall with nowhere left to go.
Charles asked two words: "You dare?"
Her head immediately shook like a rattle drum. She didn't dare. She'd never actually do it.
But that's what Matilda had said in the text—to be ruthless and try this method.
Charles looked at the young woman in front of him. Her lips were painted bright red, like drops of blood. Because of fear, her chest rose and fell dramatically, creating a magnificent sight.
He didn't know what possessed him, but suddenly his arm was braced against the wall by her ear, lifting her chin. Then his mouth moved toward hers.
Zoey's heart nearly leapt out of her chest. Was he going to kiss her?
He really did like sexy women after all! See, changing her outfit had worked—he'd taken the bait.
But she was terrified in that moment and instinctively turned her head away.
By the time she turned back, ready to boldly kiss him, he'd already straightened up.
Why'd he stop? Wasn't he going to kiss her?
Fine. If he wasn't going to do it, she would.
Zoey stood on her tiptoes and planted a firm kiss on his cheek. After the kiss, while he was still stunned, she bolted like a rabbit.
Charles stood there dumbfounded.
He hadn't been trying to kiss her—he'd been trying to scare her. When she'd turned her head away, he thought she was frightened, so he'd straightened up, planning to say something threatening. If she kept bothering him, he'd have her thrown out or something like that.
Who knew he'd end up being taken advantage of instead?
The spot on his face where she'd kissed him felt warm, like something had been stamped there. He wiped at it and his hand came away with red lipstick.
He glared at his bodyguards. "Why didn't you stop her?"
The bodyguards looked confused. Hadn't he been the one who initiated it? He'd cornered the girl against the wall and moved in for a kiss himself. He just didn't follow through, so the girl kissed him back. That's all.
Seeing their bewildered expressions, Charles realized his own actions had caused the misunderstanding. Whatever. Why argue with the bodyguards? Even he hadn't known how to react—how could they have known what to do?
He left the venue and got in his car.
For some reason, his mind kept flashing back to that deep cleavage, that magnificent rise and fall.
He shook his head. Forget about it. Wait—what had that girl said earlier? If he didn't acknowledge her, she'd tell on them?
How had the girl even thought of that? Someone must have coached her. Was it Matilda or Wentworth?
Charles pulled out his phone and re-added Zoey as a contact.
...
Matilda and Wentworth had finished eating. Matilda felt completely stuffed—like her belly had expanded a whole size.
She used to wonder why some of her colleagues gained weight after getting married. Now she understood. Constantly thinking about making elaborate meals—how could you not gain weight?
"Want to go for a walk?" Wentworth suggested.
She declined. "Not really."
There wasn't much to see in town—just two streets. Going out meant everyone would stare at them together, which felt awkward.
"Come on, let's go look at the stars."
"But didn't your tent blow away?"
"I bought a new one."
She was still hesitating when Wentworth pulled her toward the door.
"Wait, let me use the bathroom first."
...
Tonight there were no clouds, just a sky full of stars. Being out in the wilderness made the view absolutely breathtaking.
Matilda had said she didn't want to come, but now that she was here, she felt more content than she had in ages.
Wentworth also led her through boxing and martial arts drills, checking if she remembered the moves. She hadn't forgotten them, but being out of practice, she was a bit rusty.
He patiently taught her various techniques. Remembering how she'd almost been dragged away by a bad guy once, Matilda practiced enthusiastically.
Under the starlight, they sparred back and forth—sometimes intense, sometimes laughing—having a wonderful time.
Occasionally a meteor streaked across the sky, trailing a long tail. The beauty was almost unreal.
...
At the little restaurant, Ethan sat in the courtyard listening to sounds from outside.
Earlier he'd been able to hear laughter from the clinic, but after the jeep drove away, there was nothing. She'd gone out with him again. Who knew what they were doing?
Whatever it was, it was probably wonderful and sweet. Only he was left here alone, keeping himself company.
He felt utterly melancholy. Unable to help himself, he went out and got another beer and some snacks.
Might as well drink. Get drunk and sleep it off.