Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
“Danika, you’re totally thinking of me as the villain.” Christopher didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. Did he look that creepy?
Danika merely smiled. “Don’t think too much about it, Mr. Spade. It’s just a habit of mine. I hope you’ll understand.”
“Of course.” He nodded. What else could he do, anyway?
Danika hadn’t agreed to eat with him simply to do just that. She asked, “So, what do you want from me?”
He was a little stunned. He smiled. “Can’t we just be friends?”
“Of course, we can.” She nodded, but her gaze grew sharp. “However, I don’t think that you’re someone who needs more friends.”
“Danika-”
“If you want to be friends, Mr. Spade, why don’t you be honest? Don’t treat me like a fool,” Danika cut him off and looked at him coldly.
Growing up, the pampered Christopher had never been treated like this before. He suddenly felt a little guilty. After a while, he coughed to disperse the awkward tension and said slowly, “Well, my father wants me to be in your good books. He has a good impression of you.”
“Is that it?” She raised an eyebrow, a little doubtful.
“That’s it.” Christopher nodded, adding, “Perhaps it’s because you saved his life. He likes you very much and hopes that I can pursue you. So… Well, you know.”
That was a little unexpected. Danika always thought that the Spades had something up their sleeve, which was why her guard was up. But now it seemed that she was simply overthinking things.
Her grandfather’s words before his passing impacted her greatly. She always worried that someone would be out to get her.
She heaved a deep sigh and smiled. “I see. You should have said this earlier to spare us the misunderstanding.”
“Not necessarily. I think my father’s hilarious.” If word got out, people would think that Mr. Spade was in a hurry to get his son married.
Danika smiled and held up her glass. “I’ll toast you as an apology for being so uptight before.”
She believed Christopher. Her grandfather said the Spades could be trusted, and besides, Christopher was indeed a decent human being these past few days.
“It’s alright. I understand.” Christopher held up his glass. He was in a good mood. It looked like he had earned Danika’s trust.
Oh well. One had to be honest if one were to befriend a smart person.
Danika retouched her makeup in the restroom. She heard footsteps by the door and chose to ignore them… It was probably just another woman coming in to use the restroom.
But when the person neared her, a tall and broad figure appeared in her line of sight. Her hand froze in the air.
It was Eustace!
“You…” She looked at him, at a loss for words.
Eustace didn’t give her a chance to speak. His face was grim as he neared her. “So, you’re busy because you’re eating with Christopher?” His voice was cold.
Danika shivered, but she came back to her senses quickly. “I’ll eat with whomever I want, Eustace Quincey. It’s none of your business.” She thought he was out of his mind. This was the women’s restroom. Wasn’t he afraid of being found out?
“None of my business?” Eustace’s face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. “I dare you to say that again.”
He looked intimidating. Someone else would have been scared, but Danika wasn’t afraid of him. She looked him in the eye. “I said, it’s none of your business! Haven’t I told you… Urgh!”
Before she could finish, her lips were silenced again. Eustace was kissing her as fervently as he had before, as if he wanted to consume her.
“Have you seen that new television series?”
“What series?”
Voices sounded outside the door. Danika was stunned and was about to push Eustace away when he swiftly pulled her into a nearby storeroom. The moment the door shut, the people walked in.
Danika was infuriated. She bit hard, and the taste of blood quickly spread through Eustace’s mouth. He ended the kiss painfully and said in a low voice, “Do you like dogs, perhaps?”
“I’m going to kill you, Eustace Quincey!” Danika shook in anger. She had treated his last kiss like a dog bite, and now he was at it again. Did he think she was an easy target?
She raised her arm and was about to slap him in the face, but he grabbed her hand. “I don’t mind if you want to be found out.”
She quieted herself and glared daggers at him.
Soon, the people went out. Danika began to fight again, but after a while, it turned out that she was nothing compared to Eustace. She was even ensconced in his embrace.
“Eustace Quincey, let me go!” she growled. She regretted not taking her self-defense classes seriously. Otherwise, she would have been able to beat Eustace today.
He did not let her go. Instead, he drew closer. “Stay away from Christopher. Not just him, though. Stay away from every single guy on the planet who isn’t me
God knew how angry he was when Vincent called him and told him that she was eating with Christopher. Screw taking his time and letting it take control. Eustace thought it was all bullshit. He had to be relentless toward Danika, or she would slip out of his grasp.
“You should see a doctor if you’re sick, Quincey. Don’t act it out around me!” Danika had a sour expression. She looked at Eustace with hatred, like a hungry wolf about to bite.
Instead of getting mad, Eustace smiled. “Aren’t you a neurosurgeon? You can treat me.”
“Eustace Quincey!” She was furious, but she also knew that she was helpless. She couldn’t beat him, neither physically nor in the battle of shamelessness.
She spat out, “What are you doing?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m pursuing you,” he said. His gaze was sincere.
Danika was not moved. She smiled coldly. “Is this how you pursue people?”
“Who told you to reject me and go out with him instead?” Eustace lamented. Danika was so angry that she laughed. So this was her fault, now?
“Can you think straight, Eustace Quincey?!” Danika pushed him hard. She could still taste Eustace on her lips, and. her heart was in a frenzy.
He looked down at her, quiet.
Some time passed. His low voice sounded in Danika’s ears. He said, “I really wish I could. I know that I shouldn’t be harassing you. I shouldn’t be the type of person who does this. But…” he looked at Danika, and his voice cracked, “I can’t help it. The minute I see you with some other guy, I get so mad. I wish I could just pull you close to me.”
Eustace knew that the way he was acting wasn’t normal. But what could he do? He couldn’t help it.
He’d delivered a whole speech. Danika stood rooted to her spot in a daze. The person before her was different from the Eustace she knew. She was irritated and pushed him away. “I don’t want to hear this. I’ve told you before that I’m not interested in you. So don’t waste your time on me.”
She walked past him and left the restroom, moving toward the private booth.
Eustace watched her leave, his eyes darkening. He turned and walked out of the restroom.
Christopher had noticed Danika’s prolonged absence. Just as he was about to get up and look for her, she walked in.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look happy.” Christopher frowned, sensing her displeasure.
She snapped back into reality and struggled to keep herself calm and collected. “It’s nothing.”
Christopher suspected something, but he didn’t press the issue. They weren’t in that kind of relationship where they had to tell each other everything, after all.
“Are you finished with your food? Is there anything else you’d like to eat?” Christopher asked. Danika hadn’t eaten much.
She shook her head. She never ate much to begin with, and now she had completely lost her appetite.
When Christopher was about to suggest leaving, someone opened the booth. He could never have expected the visitor.
“Mr. Quincey?” Christopher was surprised.
Eustace nodded, smiling as he said, “I heard you were here in Parrington, Mr. Spade. I meant to treat you to a meal, but I never had the chance to. I didn’t think I’d meet you here.”