Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Terrifying Blind Date
"Come on, let’s eat." Kenneth led Summer Lancaster to the dining table and picked up the utensils.
Summer Lancaster looked troubled. He had just thrown her utensils on the floor, and now only one set was left. ’What am I supposed to do?’ Kenneth seemed to notice her hesitation. He placed his own chopsticks in her hands. "You feed me!"
Embarrassed, Summer Lancaster still picked up the chopsticks and began to feed him.
The afternoon sun was intoxicatingly lazy. After resting for a short while with Kenneth in the office, Summer Lancaster went back to her desk to work overtime. Kenneth had told her she didn’t have to push herself so hard, offering to have someone else finish her tasks. But Summer Lancaster was fiercely independent; she didn’t want to trouble others or receive special treatment at the company.
Melody Donovan was enjoying a peaceful afternoon nap when a shrill, insistent ringing jolted her awake. ’This is the second time.’ The first time it rang, she had simply rolled over and ignored it. But now it was ringing again. With her hair a mess and a furious glare in her eyes, Melody Donovan rolled over and grabbed her phone.
"What is it?" Her voice was ice-cold. ’Two strikes, Dominic Thorne. You’ve managed to wake me up twice.’ ’As furious as I am, I can’t unleash it on him over the phone. I have to teach him a lesson in person.’
"What took you so long to answer? I’m in trouble. Valoria Restaurant. Get over here and help me, quick." Dominic Thorne’s words were rushed, his voice low, as if he were making the call from a cramped, hidden space.
"Hmph. Aren’t you supposed to be all-powerful? How could *you* be in trouble?" Melody Donovan retorted, leaning against her headboard and mocking him mercilessly.
"I’m serious. I’m not kidding. Just get over here, quick."
"And why should I help you? Give me one good reason."
A cunning smile spread across Dominic Thorne’s face on the other end of the line. His voice drifted lazily through the receiver. "I have photos of you. The extremely revealing kind."
Melody Donovan shot up from her bed in shock. "What did you say?" Even as she spoke, her mind raced back. ’If he has photos, it can only mean he secretly took them that night.’
"If you don’t come, well, we can just go down in flames together. I originally planned on keeping them for my own private viewing, but circumstances might force my hand..."
"Twenty minutes! I’m on my way!" Melody Donovan slammed the phone down, quickly applied some light makeup, grabbed some clothes, and bolted out the door. Even flooring it couldn’t quell the rage in her heart. ’For that despicable man to stoop so low... he can’t blame me for what I’m about to do.’
Dominic Thorne smirked, pocketed his phone, and walked back toward the main dining area.
A woman in an outlandish outfit sat across from him, her long, curly hair clashing with a puffy skirt. Dominic’s parents had intended to set him up with this Sary, but he had already made it clear he wasn’t interested, which had led to this blind date. His date, however, seemed quite taken with him and was bombarding him with questions. Dominic gave vague, noncommittal answers, but the woman, completely oblivious to his annoyance, prattled on endlessly.
"Mr. Thorne, how many girlfriends have you had in the past? Ah, but that’s all water under the bridge now. They have nothing to do with your future."
Dominic was about to say ’at least a hundred,’ but she didn’t seem to be looking for an answer. He just shrugged and said nothing.
"Mr. Thorne, what are you looking at?" The woman seemed displeased that he kept looking around. She set down her coffee cup and fixed the man across from her with a stern gaze.
"Nothing." ’It’s been twenty-five minutes. She’s still not here.’
