Chapter 39 Chapter 39
The stationery had a pretty floral pattern on one end. It was unique, though hardly adorable. Grace had grown accustomed to using it and had made an oversight by leaving Vito's address on this paper. For some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that something about this young girl wasn't quite right—a sensation that had lingered since the moment she first laid eyes on her.
Grace picked up the note from the coffee table, crumpled it, and pulled the remaining sheets from her leather bag. She handed them to the girl. "Since you like them, you can have these."
The girl accepted them with thanks and tucked them into her bag. Benjamin finished signing the softcover book, closed it, and returned it to the girl. The girl paused, suddenly remembering the photo request. She fumbled for her phone, handed it to Grace, and deliberately stepped around the coffee table to demonstrate how to take pictures beside her.
"Oh! This is the photo album, not the camera!" The girl accidentally opened her photo album and flipped through several pages before realizing her mistake. She stuck out her tongue playfully and said to Grace, "I'm really nervous. Please don't laugh at me.”
Though Grace only glanced briefly, she recognized the middle-aged man in the photo with the girl—it was Officer Meyer. Grace pursed her lips, closed the album, opened the camera app, and said calmly, "It's fine. I've used this phone before. Give it to me."
The girl stared at her nervously. "Really? That's great! Please don't mess it up!"
Grace nodded. "No problem."
Only then did the girl walk over to Benjamin and lean against the armrest of the sofa beside him. Facing Grace, she forced a smile, stretching her lips into a grin. Just as Grace raised her phone to take the photo, Benjamin said, "Wait."
The other two froze. The little girl's face flashed with panic, but Grace remained composed. She looked at Benjamin indifferently and asked, "What's wrong?"
Benjamin gave a faint smile and beckoned to her with his finger. "Come here. Let's take a picture together."
Grace frowned slightly and was about to refuse when the girl bounced up and called out, "Yes! Come join us! I'll find someone to take our picture!"
She ran off to find someone to help, then pulled Grace over and nudged her to stand next to Benjamin. "Stand over here."
Benjamin remained seated on the sofa, but he swept his arm around Grace's waist and pulled her into his embrace. He guided her to sit down, with half of her body leaning against his.
Grace's expression darkened. Without hesitation, she tried to pull away. Unexpectedly, he murmured a threat, "You want to sit in my lap?"
She froze, ceasing her struggle to rise. Instead, she shifted sideways onto the armrest, her eyes fixed on the camera lens in front of her. In a soft voice, she replied, "Benjamin, please mind your manners!"
"On the count of three, everyone smile!" a passerby directed enthusiastically.
As "three" fell, Benjamin smiled. In the trio's snapshot, only Grace remained expressionless. The passerby handed over the phone. The young girl hurried forward to take it, then turned back to Benjamin and Grace and bowed repeatedly. "Thank you."
After hesitating, she asked Benjamin, "Would you like me to send you the photo, Mr. Norman?"
Benjamin, who was unusually patient, reached into his pocket, pulled out a business card, and handed it to her. "Send it to the number on this."
The girl was utterly flattered and accepted it with both hands. She then turned to Grace, but before she could speak, Grace declined. "I don't need it," she said.
The girl seemed slightly surprised, but she said nothing, merely shrugging lightly. "All right. I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time.”
She carefully tucked Benjamin's card away, picked up her soft leather notebook, and skipped off.
Grace had already risen from the sofa armrest and was standing several paces away from him. She asked, "I've received your return gift. Is there anything else you need me to do? If not, I need to leave. I have work to attend to.”
Benjamin raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced toward the distant conference service desk before appraising her attire. "I'm a special guest at this forum. Providing me with service is part of your job.”
Some time had passed since the earlier video incident. Order was slowly returning to the lobby. Aside from a few hotel staff puzzling over why a scenic video abruptly switched to "adult content," most people's attention had shifted elsewhere. Soon, someone spotted Benjamin sitting in the public lounge.
He always had a dazzling presence, and even sitting there, he drew others' attention. Grace felt probing eyes on her and grew irritable, eager to leave Benjamin. Her impatience was evident as she asked, "So, what service do you require?"
Unwittingly walking right into his trap, Benjamin's lips curved into a sly smile. Sitting there calmly, he asked softly, "An escort service. Would that be acceptable?”
She froze in shock, then flushed crimson with anger.
He relished seeing her face turn red with fury—this expression pleased and satisfied him far more than her previous deathly pallor. Smiling at her, he produced his room key and held it between his fingers. "Come to my room tonight. Don't be late. I don't like waiting."
She had always known he was shameless, yet she underestimated his shamelessness time and again. His hand remained raised, clearly unwilling to back down. The longer this went on, the more people would see. Realizing this, she snatched the key card from him, snarling as she clutched it tightly in her palm. Yet she couldn't resist taunting him. "Mr. Norman, don't you ever get bored sleeping with the same woman?"
"I do," he nodded lightly, then grinned at her. "So tonight, we can try something new."
Grace was so furious that she blurted out. She sneered. "Benjamin, you're despicable. It's bad enough that you use your body to get back at women, but I never imagined that you'd actually do it yourself. Don't you hate me? Didn't you want to turn me into a whore? Why are you acting like a john over and over again? Have you become addicted to fucking me?"
The smile on his face gradually froze. His thin lips pressed into a line as he stared at her indifferently.