Chapter 213
"Cindy."
Just as I turned back to look, I heard Leopold's voice from behind me.
I looked back toward the elevator lobby suspiciously and saw Leopold in a charcoal gray suit walking out from there.
His features were deep-set and distinct. His silhouette walking against the light was tall and upright.
I stared blankly as he approached. "What are you doing here?"
So the man entangled with Irma really wasn't him?
Leopold took my hand and held it tightly in his palm. "I was afraid you'd misunderstand, so I came specifically to explain."
My throat felt slightly warm. I didn't know what to say.
"Mr. Percy, you were right. The drink Irma gave you was drugged." Teddy walked over quickly.
Only then did I notice he was wearing Leopold's clothes.
Recalling the scene I'd just witnessed, I instantly understood how deep Irma's scheme ran.
She'd deliberately left me a message to lure me to the hotel while simultaneously finding an opportunity to drug Leopold and bring him to a room.
If I'd arrived and immediately seen her with Leopold in the same room, then I...
Thinking of this, I frowned deeply.
"She's the one who brought you here?" Perhaps my expression looked troubled, because Leopold immediately caught on.
I nodded slightly.
His eyes instantly became unfathomably deep, his tone darkening. "Call the police directly. Have them take the drink for drug testing. Follow all legal procedures."
"The police?" Irma's entire body went soft, nearly unable to stand.
When she saw Teddy actually pull out his phone to call the police, she immediately stumbled over to beg for mercy. "Lucinda, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. You know I'm about to compete in the Valeria International Ballet Competition. I can't have a criminal record. Please help me..."
Just as her hand was about to touch me, Leopold pulled me back first.
The bodyguard behind us quickly stepped forward, forming an impenetrable human wall that blocked Irma out.
"Lucinda, I had no choice tonight. If you're willing to let me go, I can tell you everything."
I looked at her calmly. "No need. All of this can be uncovered without you."
I didn't think I had any grudge with her or had done anything to wrong her.
Yet she'd repeatedly played me for a fool.
Irma hadn't expected my refusal and tried to struggle. "Lucinda, a clear threat is easier to avoid than a hidden one. Aren't you really afraid?"
"No." My tone remained flat. "Someone who doesn't even dare face me directly isn't my match."
I couldn't boast about other things, but when it came to dance, I had some confidence.
Irma kept shaking her head. "Impossible. How can you not be afraid!"
The farce concluded. I had no interest in watching the show any longer and said to Leopold, "Let's go."
Leopold left with his arm around me.
In the car.
Leopold's grip on my hand hadn't loosened. Instead, it tightened further as the silence continued.
I steadied my breathing before speaking. "What do you want to say?"
Leopold turned his head, his eyes locked on me.
His voice sounded somewhat tight in the confined space. "I didn't mean to keep it from you."
His opening was unexpected.
"Earlier, you asked me to help investigate Irma, but I didn't find anything problematic in her records."
"It just so happened that tonight at dinner, I saw her being especially attentive to me, so I decided to play along and see what her purpose was."
"Originally, I planned to tell you everything when I got back, but I didn't expect her to bring you there."
So that was it.
I'd thought Leopold had really been attracted to her.
"I understand. Let go."
"Cindy, this time I didn't hide anything from you, and I wasn't tempted. Don't I get a reward for that?"
My scalp instantly tingled.
Was he acting cute?
"Let go first."
Just then, the smoothly moving car suddenly lost balance.
Unprepared, I tumbled into Leopold's embrace.
Leopold caught me naturally, his tone suggestive. "So Cindy prefers to take the initiative."
My face instantly burned as I awkwardly explained, "The car suddenly turned. I wasn't sitting steady."
Leopold gripped my waist, trapping me firmly in his arms. "I don't care. Either way, now that you're in my arms, you can't escape."
My cheeks were burning hot, my heart racing wildly. "Let go."
Teddy and the bodyguard were still in front. This wasn't appropriate.
But Leopold refused to release me. His strong, powerful arms suddenly exerted force, directly changing my position.
I faced him, straddling his legs.
My center of gravity lost, my entire body uncontrollably falling onto him.
"Cindy, I told you that you can't bear to leave me."
This position made me feel very ashamed.
His body heat seeped through the thin fabric and spread across my skin.
"Leopold, don't do this." My breathing unsteady, I reminded him, trying to get off him.
But Leopold tightened his arms, forcibly pressing me against his chest. "Do you really not want this?"
His magnetic voice pressed against my ear. His hand hidden in the shadows roamed, seeking out my sensitive spots.
He enunciated each word. "But your body tells me you like it very much."
I raised my arm, placing it between us.
My breathing quickened slightly, my voice taking on a hint of coyness. "Don't..."
Leopold's palm was scorching hot, like a wildfire. Wherever it touched, the fire burned.
"Leopold!" Realizing I was about to lose control, I frantically pressed down on his hand.
I looked up at him.
The surroundings were pitch dark.
Just then, headlights from behind shone over, falling on his superior shoulder line.
Dimly outlining his handsome, noble features.
I couldn't help staring, entranced.
Suddenly, cool lips descended.
Startled, I instinctively tried to press my lips together, but was blocked by his agile tongue.
"Cindy, Cindy..." His voice was magnetic and husky, each call piercing straight to my heart.
The kiss deepened, almost wringing all the oxygen from my chest.
My body involuntarily went soft, pressed tightly against him.
Until his hand slipped under my shirt and began exploring upward.
I jolted awake. Forcefully pressing down on his shoulders, I pushed him away. "Enough."
Leopold gazed at me, his deep eyes surging with intense, scorching emotion.
I didn't quite dare meet his gaze directly.
His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling irregularly.
I thought he'd forcefully continue, but instead he withdrew his hand. He even straightened my clothes before pulling me into his embrace.
"Sorry, I lost control just now." Hearing his voice gone dark and hoarse from desire, I didn't know what to say.
I was about to climb off him when he pressed down on me firmly with both hands. "Wait. It's not convenient for me to let you go right now."
Heat exploded across my face.
I instantly flushed. "You..."
Leopold rested his chin on my shoulder, his scorching breath falling on the skin behind my ear in waves.
I was at a loss, yet powerless to resist.
I don't know how long passed.
Leopold finally mercifully released me. "Okay now."
I practically scrambled down in a fluster. My nerves were stretched to the limit, afraid he'd lose control again the next second.