Chapter 131 Men Are the Most Faithful Animals
Charles couldn't figure this girl out. She clearly cared so much about the Gonzaga family, and now the matriarch herself was sending her a gift—and she didn't want it? Could she really be playing hard to get because she knew she was favored?
"Charles, I can't accept this. The gift is too expensive, but you can't measure someone's sincerity with material things anyway. How about this—you return the gift for me, and instead, spend some time with me. How does that sound?"
Charles paused. She was basically asking him out on a date in a roundabout way! He'd spent so long studying female psychology, yet he somehow hadn't seen through this little chipmunk standing in front of him. For some reason, he found himself nodding.
Zoey immediately jumped up excitedly. "You agreed!"
"Where do you want to go? Please don't say an amusement park. If that's what you're thinking, count me out."
"Charles, I'm not that childish. I'm kind of a scaredy-cat—I don't do thrill rides anyway. How about we go see a musical?"
"Which one?"
"Just come with me. I promise it won't wear you out," Zoey said mysteriously.
...
Amelia had sent Charles out first thing that morning to deliver the gift, and he still hadn't gotten back to her. She couldn't help calling him. "Charlie, where are you?"
Charles had just arrived at the concert hall in the city's arts center with Zoey. "Out."
"Did you deliver it? What did Zoey say?"
"She said she doesn't want the gift."
"She doesn't want it? Did we scare her? You need to explain to her that what happened that day wasn't directed at her. What she did was right—we're not upset with her."
"She didn't want the gift. Said it was too expensive and asked me to spend the day with her instead."
"...You brat, why didn't you say so earlier! Well then, go spend time with her. I'm hanging up now!"
After hanging up, pure joy filled Amelia's voice. Was her eternally stone-hearted Charles finally about to bloom?
...
The musical was 'Cats'. The performers spent the entire show embodying different types of felines, with incredibly rich choreography that left the audience wondering how anyone could dance that well while singing that steadily.
Charles had figured he'd doze off, but he actually stayed awake through the whole thing.
When they left, it was already dark outside.
Zoey rubbed her stomach. "Charles, I didn't eat breakfast this morning. I just sat through that whole musical on an empty stomach. Want to grab dinner with me? My treat."
Charles paused. He'd been about to refuse, but suddenly found himself curious—where would a girl like her take him to eat? Some predictable upscale restaurant? A smoky street-side barbecue joint? Some quirky little hole-in-the-wall?
Seeing that Charles hadn't refused, Zoey immediately took charge. She pointed to a restaurant up ahead with an artsy vibe. "Since we're here anyway, how about that place?"
That casual?
Zoey thought to herself: Of course I have to be casual. If I hesitate, he might bail. She bounced ahead.
Truth was, she hadn't even known what kind of food they served here. Only after they arrived did she realize it was Thai cuisine. Most of the dishes were tangy and spicy. She didn't mind either way, but she had no idea if Charles liked that kind of food.
"Charles, can you handle spicy food?"
"Whatever."
"Then I'll go ahead and order."
She pulled out her phone to order, then paid while she was at it. The food here was made to order, so the wait was kind of long. Plus they had the heat cranked up inside. Zoey was getting warm, so she slipped off her cardigan.
Underneath she wore a dress with a plunging neckline, studded with rhinestones that sparkled under the overhead lights, making even her skin seem to glow. Her cleavage hinted at the curves beneath.
Charles forced his gaze away.
Zoey noticed. She glanced down at herself, but remembering that Charles liked sexy women, she deliberately left the cardigan off. As long as she wasn't embarrassed, someone else would have to be. Besides, when you're trying to seduce a man, what's the point of covering up?
The food arrived—fried shrimp, pad thai—everything looked and smelled amazing. Charles kept his head down, focused on eating. Zoey found it amusing and couldn't help pulling out her phone to snap a photo of the two of them. Every time Charles looked up, she'd sit up straighter.
Charles didn't usually eat spicy food. Now, with all this heat and tang, he felt like his insides were on fire.
"Charles, what do you think of the food?"
After finishing their meal, the two headed outside. It was already nine at night.
Charles gave a slight nod. "Not bad."
It was cold outside, especially after dark, but Zoey just carried her cardigan, unwilling to put it on.
He couldn't help reminding her, "Put your jacket on."
"But I'm not cold," Zoey said. Right after she said it, she sneezed.
Charles felt a flash of irritation. He grabbed the cardigan from Zoey's hand and draped it over her shoulders, warning, "Don't catch a cold trying to seduce a man." He wrapped it around her a bit roughly.
As he was about to walk away, Zoey blocked his path. "So you know I'm trying to seduce you. Do you like it?"
"No." He stepped around her and kept walking.
She followed. "Then what do you like? The innocent type? Smaller chest?"
"You're too young. I don't go for little girls."
"You're lying. Men are the most consistent creatures—they always like them young."
Charles's car was parked at the curb. He pulled out his keys and hit the unlock button. "I'll drive you home."
But Zoey got to the car door first, blocking it with her body. "Charles, I like you. Yeah, you're almost thirty-eight, but I don't think you're old at all. I really like you—have ever since I first saw you last year. I mean it. This isn't some impulse. For the past year, you've been all I can think about. Anything I hear about you makes me happy. I set all my Facebook posts to only visible to you. I want to share everything with you!"
Zoey said it all in one breath. When she finished, she looked at Charles, panting slightly. Her heart felt like it might leap out of her chest.
Charles looked back at her. The little woman in front of him—no, little chipmunk—seemed to glow with some crystalline light, her stubbornness so enticing he wanted to devour her whole.
He reached up and cupped her chin. "You sure you want to be with me?"
Zoey bit her lip. "I'm sure!"
"Even if I don't like you back?"
Zoey didn't hesitate. "Liking someone is a one-person thing. As long as I like you, that's enough."
Charles's hand lingered on her face, kneading it like he might pet a cat. Part of him wanted to pull away and leave. But Zoey's scent was too intoxicating. She was too sweet, too full, too tempting not to taste.
Zoey watched the change in Charles's eyes. From initial indifference to smoldering heat—she could feel the fire inside him igniting.
She realized what was about to happen. Her body started trembling, but she knew she couldn't back down now. This was her only chance.
Before he could leave, she pushed up on her toes and kissed him.