Chapter 209
Dorothea knew she was in the wrong. She figured the flowers were probably from Albert.
Normally, she wouldn’t bother her team after hours unless it was something urgent, but tonight she made an exception. She called the Admin Director and told them, in no uncertain terms, that the front desk should turn away any flowers sent to her from
now on.
That should put an end to it.
Just as she finished the call, Latham closed the door behind him. “All done p>
She nodded, setting her phone aside. “It was just a misunderstanding. It won’t happen again p>
She’d been the one to suggest that if either of them cheated, the marriage would be over. She never expected to be the one suspected of straying, not even a day later.
Latham slipped off his jacket and, with easy strength, lifted her from the chair and into his arms. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss.
“Open up,” he murmured, his voice low and just a little rough, coaxing her.
His tongue brushed gently over her lips, making her flinch back a bit.
But his hands held her at the waist, not letting her go, deepening the kiss.
He traced kisses from her brows to her nose, the corners of her lips, down the graceful line of her neck. Finally, he stopped at her collarbone.
Dorothea shivered from head to toe under his kisses, pressing closer to him without even thinking.
Latham seemed to take her reaction as encouragement. He held her tight and started for the bathroom.
Nerves twisted in her stomach. She dug her nails into his shoulder. “Latham p>
“Mmm, I’m here.” He kissed the corner of her mouth, not once but again and again. “Are you still going to accept flowers from other men p>
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “No. I won’t p>
He kissed her eyelids, clearly pleased. “Good. I’m not the forgiving type. Next time, I won’t let you off so easy p>
The next morning, Dorothea woke up and realized Latham was still in bed. She
turned over, her back to him, not quite ready to face him.
Last night, they’d done everything except that last step.
Everything they should have done. Everything they shouldn’t have, too.
But Latham wouldn’t let her hide. She felt his warm breath at her back. “You’re up. It’s the weekend. Wanna get up p>
She burrowed deeper under the covers, inching away. “You get up. I want to sleep a little longer p>
“Alright. Want me to massage your hand p>
She shot a kick backward at him. “Shut up p>
Latham chuckled, the sound warm and low. “Okay, okay. You worked hard last night.
I just feel bad for you. Your hand might be sore. That’s all I meant p>
Once he finally got out of bed, Dorothea slowly opened her eyes and grabbed her phone. There were a bunch of messages from Carmen.
Dorothea, did Albert send you flowers yesterday?
I saw a huge bouquet of pink roses in the trash when I got home. I mentioned it to Albert, and he stormed out looking absolutely pissed. He didn’t come back. Later, when I checked, the roses had been shredded.
Did you throw them out?
Wow, you went to sleep early tonight.
Only then did Dorothea realize what had happened. Latham must have had someone drive the flowers over and dump them right outside Albert’s door.
She couldn’t help replaying what Latham had said the night before. He really could be petty. She felt the corners of her mouth turning up despite herself.
Albert didn’t get home until morning, still reeking of alcohol. Carmen watched him stumble in, feeling oddly satisfied.
Now he wanted to drown his sorrows? Maybe he should’ve thought about that
sooner.
She couldn’t resist poking at him. “Albert, weren’t you supposed to divorce Carola this afternoon? Did you chicken out and change the date p>
Albert’s face was thunderous. “Don’t start with me. I didn’t reschedule p>
He washed up, crashed for three hours, then dragged himself to the courthouse.
He was already in a foul mood. After waiting an hour without seeing Carola, he was
at the end of his patience.
วน
He called her, voice icy. “You’ve got thirty minutes to get to the courthouse. If you don’t show, I stop all cooperation with the Layton family tomorrow fo
Carola had actually been sitting in her car in the parking lot the whole time.
She bit her lip, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Albert, are you really this heartless p>
“I have to be back at the office this afternoon. Let’s get this over with. Don’t waste my time p>
Choking back the bitterness, Carola went inside and signed the papers with Albert.
“On the thirtieth day of the waiting period, I’ll pick you up to finalize the certificate. Don’t forget p>
His cold tone cut deeper than any words. Still, Carola couldn’t let go. “Albert, can we at least have a meal together? I’m starving p>
He brushed her hand off his arm. “Take a taxi. Go get something to eat. I’m not hungry. I need to get back to work p>
Without another word, Albert got in his car and drove away, not looking back. Carola just stood there, watching his car disappear.
She knew that if she didn’t show up on the thirtieth day, Albert would do whatever it took to force her.
Misery washed over her, dark and heavy. Then her father called. “Three subpoenas arrived today. Come home when you’re done p>
This was worse than divorce. The female students had really taken her to court.
“I know. I’ll be right back p>
The second she thought of Dorothea, the one who’d pushed her this far, hatred boiled up inside her. She wanted to tear Dorothea apart.
Albert had no idea there was another surprise waiting for him at the office.
That afternoon, as he walked in, he saw the giant screen outside his floor-to-ceiling windows switch to an eye-popping neon green.
His eyelid twitched. He called his secretary.
Albert, we checked. Apparently, they’re advertising a female singer’s concert. The theme is something like ‘Green Forest Fantasy.’ The color ca little much, but it shouldn’t block your view. Unless you want the blinds closed?
Albert didn’t let her finish. He swept everything off his desk in fury. “Get it taken down p>
O-okay, Albert. The secretary scurried out.
Albert was sure of it. This had Latham written all over it.
Meanwhile, Latham was watching the billboard from his own office quite pleased with himself. He turned to his assistant. “Check the spaces downstairs from his
ad
company. Make them all green p>
The assistant blinked. “Yes, Latham p>