Chapter 52
A black sedan was parked not far away, its sleek body catching the eye even from the corner where it sat in wait.
The rear window was lowered just enough to reveal the sharp, defined profile of the man inside.
Should she go over and say hello?
Victoria hesitated where she stood for a few seconds.
They hadn't yet reached a level of familiarity that warranted a bold approach; walking straight over felt like it would be awkward.
Yet, pretending she hadn't seen him felt impolite, almost a deliberate slight. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to approach.
Victoria started towards the car. "Mr. Windsor," she began as she reached the side of the vehicle, "I didn't expect to run into you here."
She offered a tentative smile, her lips pressed together. "Are you at the courthouse for work as well?"
"I was waiting for you," Edward replied, his gaze lifting to meet hers. His tone was neutral, betraying no emotion. "Get in."
'What?'
Victoria almost thought she had misheard him, her eyes widening in disbelief.
'Get in his car?' Was he intending to discuss what had just transpired in the courtroom? Or perhaps it was about the collaboration he had mentioned the last time they spoke.
A dozen possibilities flickered through her mind, none of them solidifying. After a brief, uncertain pause, she pulled the door open and slid inside.
"The same address as before?" Edward's attention had already returned to the documents in his hand, his voice calm and even.
Victoria fumbled with the seatbelt, her mind still racing. It took her a beat to process his question. "Yes, that's right."
She clicked the buckle into place, her thoughts a jumbled mess.
Had he truly been waiting here specifically to give her a ride home?
The gesture felt strange, almost incongruous with the man she thought she was beginning to understand. She lowered her gaze, unable to make sense of it.
"I've reviewed the design drafts you sent over a couple of days ago," Edward's voice cut through her thoughts. "This part here," he said, his long, slender finger pointing to a section of the page, "what was your initial concept for it?"
Following his gesture, Victoria was surprised to see that he was holding a printed copy of the very design she had just submitted.
The moment the conversation shifted to her area of expertise, her expression sharpened into one of intense focus.
"The inspiration for this section comes from the shape of a magnolia blossom," she explained, her voice gaining confidence. "For the materials, I chose pearls and…"
Victoria launched into a detailed explanation, her entire being radiating a self-assured energy, as if she were glowing from within.
Edward listened in silence, but his gaze slowly drifted downward, eventually coming to rest on her right hand.
He could see the pure, unadulterated passion for her craft shining in her eyes, but he could also perceive the faint, underlying trace of frustration mixed within it. If only her hand hadn't been injured…
A complex emotion flickered in the depths of his eyes before vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
"...and that's why I used this particular design technique, combined with these specific materials, to convey the concept I wanted to express," Victoria concluded, finishing her explanation in a single, breathless rush.
The last word had barely left her lips when a sudden, unwelcome sensation made her body go rigid.
What was the date today? The dull, heavy feeling in her lower abdomen became acutely sharp, and she could feel an unnerving dampness spreading between her legs that sent a wave of goosebumps across her skin.
'No. Not now.'
Of all the possible times, why did it have to be now? Dear God, was it too late to just throw herself from the moving car?
Victoria discreetly pressed a hand to her stomach, feeling a desperate urge to simply disappear.
Her eyes darted to the pristine leather of the car seat, and a horrifying conclusion dawned on her.
If she stained it, the cost of cleaning this car—or worse, replacing the upholstery—was likely more than she could afford even if she sold herself.
Maybe jumping out was the better option after all.
Her temples throbbed, but she knew that was an impossible, ridiculous thought. She was trapped.
To avoid soiling the seat, Victoria shifted her weight, propping herself up with the hand closer to the door. She angled her body so her hips were hovering just slightly above the cushion, a tense and precarious position.
The cramping in her abdomen was intensifying, but she could no longer afford to give it her attention.
"I just remembered I have something else to do," she said, her voice strained but attempting to sound casual.
Her face had gone pale, and a fine sheen of cold sweat was breaking out on her forehead. "Could you please drop me off at the department store up ahead? I need to pick something up. Don't worry about me, I can just get a cab home from there."
At this point, Victoria couldn't even bring herself to worry about whether the potential stain on her pants would be noticeable when she got out.
No one knew her here. The embarrassment would be fleeting.
What she truly could not bear was the thought of such a mortifying scene playing out in front of Edward.
The humiliation would make it impossible for her to ever face her new boss again.
"Why?" Edward didn't agree immediately, his gaze turning inquisitive. "Are you not feeling well?"
It was obvious something was wrong. Her entire posture was unnatural.
And as fate would have it, she was seated on the right side, forcing her to use her right hand for support—the very hand that, due to her past injury, had very little strength.
After only a few moments, her arm was already beginning to tremble, her body swaying precariously.
There was no other way.
Resigning herself to her fate, Victoria managed a smile that looked more like a grimace. "I got my period."
She watched him furtively, but his only reaction was a slight arch of his eyebrow, an expression that seemed to say, 'And?'
"I just realized. My stomach hurts a little, but that's not the main issue," she confessed, biting her lip, the words costing her every ounce of composure.
"The point is, I might stain your car. So it's really better if you let me out now. Otherwise, you'll have to get it cleaned."
The short speech had nearly depleted her courage. She fought to keep her expression neutral, but a deep blush had already crept up from her neck to her cheeks. She ducked her head, unable to meet his eyes any longer.
A brief silence descended upon the car. The driver in the front, demonstrating an admirable level of professional discretion, pretended to have heard nothing, his focus squarely on the road ahead.
Victoria was so mortified she could have dug a hole in the floor with her toes. Never in her life had she wished so fervently to be kicked out of a car.
Her arm was screaming in protest, on the verge of giving out completely.
"I don't lack for a second car," Edward said, his brow furrowed as he glanced at her. "Sit down."
He didn't understand. It was just a car. If it got dirty, he would have it cleaned. He owned others.
Why was she acting as if the world were ending? Did the great Miss Spencer conduct herself with such frugality at home?
Victoria had no idea what was going through his mind.
But since he had insisted, she stopped arguing. Releasing the tension in her right arm, she let herself sink back into the seat.
The rest of the journey wasn't long. It felt to Victoria as though she had only drifted in a daze for a moment before the car came to a smooth stop.
As she prepared to exit, she cast a quick glance at the seat. Sure enough, a small, dark mark was visible on the black leather, though thankfully it was subtle.
She let out a silent sigh of relief and was about to open the door when his voice stopped her.
"Take this," the cool voice commanded.
Victoria turned back, confused. A suit jacket was being held out to her, the cut of it familiar.
She looked up in surprise and saw that the jacket that had been resting beside Edward was now gone.
"Thank you, but I..."
Edward's brow creased with impatience. He cut her off by pushing the jacket into her arms, his gaze averted. "Cover yourself."
Clutching the jacket, Victoria stepped out of the car in the fog. It took her a full minute to process what had just happened.
As she tied the jacket around her waist, her mind couldn't help but wander.
So, was Edward the type to be cold on the outside but warm on the inside? It was, she thought with a strange flutter in her chest, almost a little bit cute.