Chapter 9 This Clothing is Better Not Worn
The private room was thick with smoke.
It was a typical guys' night out: cigarettes, booze, and women. Tonight, they had two out of three.
The restaurant manager knocked on the door and walked over to William, speaking softly, "Mr. Brown, this is a bottle of our finest wine, courtesy of Ms. Smith."
"And Ms. Smith wanted me to remind you to take it easy on the drinking."
As soon as the manager finished speaking, everyone in the room, except Chase, looked shocked.
"So it's true! Everyone in Emerald City knows about Mr. Brown and Ms. Smith now."
William's fingers tensed slightly on his knee. Thalia was at it again.
Facing the teasing and Chase's probing gaze, William chose to pick up his wine glass to hide his reaction.
Half an hour later, the room cleared out.
Thalia sat in her car, touching up her lipstick. "Time for my entrance."
Layla sighed. "If you used your skills with men in the entertainment industry, you'd be famous by now."
Thalia's mind worked fast, always quick to adapt and see the bigger picture.
Otherwise, how could someone with her temperament survive in showbiz?
"It's different. Men who practice self-restraint are more challenging."
"Do those men ever sleep with you?" Layla jabbed.
Thalia pouted and got out of the car.
When William emerged, surrounded by people, he saw Thalia standing across the street. She was wearing a green skirt and a white mesh sun shirt, looking both alluring and carefree.
The streetlight highlighted her in a way that made her look tantalizingly exposed.
"Ms. Smith's figure really is the best in Emerald City," someone in the crowd commented lecherously.
William's eyelashes fluttered at the remark. Before Thalia had latched onto him, he'd heard plenty of crude comments about her. Many men dreamed of sleeping with Thalia.
But after experiencing her once, hearing such comments made him inexplicably irritated.
His mind was filled with images of Thalia's long legs, slim waist, and perfect curves.
"Mr. Brown, everyone!" Thalia came over, sweetly linking her arm with William's and greeting everyone.
With such a stunning couple, it was hard not to be envious.
"We're heading out," William announced, taking his leave.
He strode towards his car, Thalia following closely.
"Ms. Smith, the show's over, everyone's left. Aren't you going home?"
"I'd rather go home with you than to my own place."
William's gaze swept over her barely-there outfit. "What? Is your dad dying, and you can't afford proper clothes?"
Thalia glanced at her sun shirt and leaned closer to William. "I wore this just for you, Mr. Brown. Do you like it? It's easy to tear off if you get impatient..."
William covered her mouth with his hand. "Can you shut up?"
Shy? After sleeping together, what was there to be shy about?
If he was truly shy and didn't want her flirting, he'd just agree to her request already.
Thalia's delicate eyebrows arched as she licked his palm, her moves designed to entice. "Can you agree to my request?"
William's spine tingled. Thalia was a rare gem, able to be both pure and seductive. No man could resist her if she truly wanted them.
Had he really become her plaything?
"It's a shame you aren't a porn star," William remarked.
"If I did porn and it wasn't with you, that would be the real shame." Thalia's slender hand reached for William's lower back, but he stepped back, maintaining his composure.
"Is that so? My skills are average, and my body's nothing special compared to athletes. What's there to regret?"
Thalia was speechless. Why was William so vengeful?
"You're handsome! There's no one else like him in Emerald City," Thalia said, feeling awkward but also grateful for William's presence in her life.
"No athlete has your money."
"Money and looks can cover any flaw."
Thalia had always been praised, but complimenting others was new to her, especially as much as she had with William in the past few days.
William chuckled. "Even impotence?"
Thalia was silent.
Once in the car, Thalia chugged a bottle of water to cool down. Layla watched her leisurely. "Didn't succeed again?"
"Shut up!" Thalia squeezed the bottle in frustration. It made her seem incompetent.
William suddenly said, "There's a new reality show that might help rebuild your pure image. Interested?"
"What show?" Thalia asked.
"Celebrity Life Challenges."
"I'm in."
Thalia felt pitiful. How had her life become so tragic?
As soon as William got home, Brian called.
William stood by the entrance, undressing as he listened to Brian. "Mr. Brown, there's been a murder attempt."
"What murder attempt?"
"The water truck you had me follow today. The police have classified it as attempted murder. The target was your girlfriend."
William was puzzled. "My girlfriend?"
Then he realized it was Thalia.
The law firm staff had already started calling her that behind his back.
It was very Thalia-like. No one could outdo her in trying to win people over.
"Ms. Smith is having a tough time. Two days in a row, people have tried to kill her. The police are considering assigning protection. Boss, do you think you'll lose your girlfriend at this rate?" Brian sounded genuinely worried.
He was already concerned for her safety.
"Brian, since when did you become so compassionate?" William's tone was indifferent.
Brian sighed. "Because Ms. Smith is your girlfriend?"
"Did I say that?"
"Mr. Brown, it doesn't matter! Ms. Smith choosing you is a blessing for all of us."
Emerald City's most beautiful woman. William would have the Emerald City's top beauty.
The Smith family's wealth. Thalia could inherit just a fraction and it would be enough for several lifetimes.
William was silent. He'd heard similar comments back in school when Thalia first pursued him. She was like a little girl who wanted a shiny toy, but that wasn't enough to earn his favor. Despite her relentless pursuit, he remained unmoved.
Everyone had advised him the same way: Thalia choosing him was his good fortune.