Chapter 154 Uninvited Trouble

Chapter 154 Uninvited Trouble
Christina: POV

I asked, already having a suspicion, "It's not that Mr. Sinclair you mentioned wanting to introduce me to a while back, is it?"

Emily's words hit me like a bucket of ice water. 

"Yeah, you didn't show up to meet Mr. Sinclair last time, and he was quite upset. I've already asked him to wait in the reception room."

"Shit! What?" I stared at her, my brain struggling to process what she was saying.

Emily smoothed her skirt with a self-satisfied smile. 

"Mr. Sinclair. The man I told you I'd introduce you to. He's quite a catch—"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" My voice came out sharper than I intended, causing the security guard near the elevator to glance over.

People often mistake my soft features and gentle appearance for weakness. 

Those who knew me understood that while I was kind to people who treated me well, I showed absolutely no mercy to those who tried to manipulate me.

"Emily," I said, my voice dangerously calm, "did you seriously arrange a blind date for me without my consent?"

She blinked rapidly. 

"I thought you'd be interested—"

"Interested? Based on what exactly? Did I ever ask you to set me up with someone?" The words tumbled out in rapid succession. 

"And you invited him to my workplace? Are you out of your mind?"

Emily took a step back, clearly surprised by my reaction. 

"I was just trying to help—"

"Help?" I laughed, but there was no humor in it. 

"What if this Sinclair guy decides to spread rumors about me? What if he posts online about how 'Designer Christina Parker arranges blind dates while dating someone else'? Did you consider that?"

Her face paled. 

"He wouldn't—"

"You don't know that!" I was fully aware my voice was rising, but I couldn't stop. 

"You have no idea what kind of person he is, yet you brought him to my workplace?"

Emily's expression hardened. 

"I was trying to do you a favor. Sinclair has a luxury apartment, drives a Mercedes, and makes six figures at his company. Your boyfriend—" she made air quotes with her fingers, "—can't give you that kind of life."

The security guard didn't even try to hide his disgust as he shook his head.

I felt a cold smile spread across my face. 

"Tell me, Emily, if Mr. Sinclair is such a catch, why didn't you date him yourself?" I tilted my head, studying her. 

"Is it because you're not pretty enough? Not his type?"

Her mouth fell open.

"Maybe you should lower your standards," I continued, enjoying the way her face flushed with humiliation. 

"After all, a 'quality man' like Sinclair might be out of your league."

Emily stuttered, unable to form a coherent response. 

I knew this wasn't my most gracious moment, but she had crossed the line first.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a text from Patrick: [I'm outside your office.]

Perfect timing. 

I immediately called him.

"Hey," I said, relief flooding through me. 

"Can you come up? I need your help with something."

Emily's eyes widened as she realized I was calling my boyfriend. 

Far from backing down, she seemed even more curious now, as if eager to see who could possibly compete with her precious Mr. Sinclair.

When the elevator doors opened a few minutes later, Patrick stepped out looking like he'd walked straight off a GQ cover. 

His tailored suit highlighted his broad shoulders and six-foot-three frame. 

Even in my irritated state, I couldn't help but admire how the fabric stretched across his chest.

Emily's jaw dropped. 

"This is... this is your boyfriend?"

I walked over to Patrick and slipped my arm through his. 

"Emily, this is Patrick Brown, my boyfriend. Patrick, this is Emily, who thought it would be appropriate to arrange a blind date for me without asking."

Patrick's expression darkened instantly. 

"You tried to set up my girlfriend with another man?"

Emily backpedaled so fast I thought she might trip. 

"I'm sorry! I set this up before she had a boyfriend. I didn't know!"

"That's funny," I said, "because you just invited him here today. The security guard heard everything."

The guard nodded, clearly enjoying the drama.

Patrick's voice turned ice-cold, his military background evident in his posture. 

"Let me get this straight. You're forcing my girlfriend to meet a strange man against her will? Do you understand the potential legal implications here? Workplace harassment, for starters."

Emily paled. 

"I didn't—"

"My law firm would have a field day with this," Patrick continued, though I knew he worked in security consulting, not law. 

"Should I call your supervisor to discuss this matter?"

"No, please," Emily whispered, looking terrified.

I tugged Patrick's arm gently. 

"You're overreacting a bit, don't you think?" I whispered, though I was secretly enjoying his protective display.

"Let's go talk to this Sinclair person," I said, louder. 

"I need to make things clear." I turned to Patrick and murmured, "Give me a minute to talk to him first, then come in."

Patrick nodded, his eyes still locked on Emily with silent warning.

I headed toward our reception room, mentally preparing what I would say.

When I pushed open the door, I found Elliot Sinclair already sitting in one of our plush client chairs, legs crossed, looking entitled and impatient.

He stood when I entered—a little man in an expensive suit that somehow still looked wrong on him, like he was trying too hard. 

His calculating gaze traveled up and down my body, lingering in places that made my skin crawl.

"Christina Parker," he said with an affected accent that instantly set my teeth on edge. 

"Finally we meet. I've been looking forward to our dinner tonight."

As a voice-sensitive person, I immediately compared his grating tone to Patrick's smooth, deep voice and found Sinclair severely lacking.

"Mr. Sinclair," I said firmly, "I apologize for the confusion, but I have a boyfriend and absolutely no intention of dating or dining with you."

Before he could respond, Patrick walked in, his presence filling the room.

Sinclair's smile froze on his face.

"As I was saying," I continued, "there's been a misunderstanding. Emily should never have arranged this."

"What do you mean?" Sinclair's voice rose, his face reddening. 

"How can you be dating someone else?"

Patrick moved to stand beside me, his arm protectively around my waist.

Sinclair looked between us, growing visibly angrier. 

"You can't do this! I paid five thousand dollars for this introduction! You can't just reject me and run off with another man! I want my money back!"