Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Stood him up
Alana: How about around seven tonight at Sunny Café?
She would finish work at five, rush home to pack her clothes, and then head to the café. She should make it in time.
Stephan’s stared at the message from Alana, a thought suddenly striking him.
She wants to buy him a coffee?!
At the thought of this possibility, the man’s lips suddenly curved into a faint, small smile.
Little did he know, Alana merely wanted to arrange a place to return his coat. Once it was handed over, she’d be off in a flash.
Stephan: Alright.
Seeing the man had agreed to the proposal, Alana breathed a slight sigh of relief.
And so, she waited for the end of her shift.
But the heavens were not on her side; just as she was about to leave work, a sudden downpour began.
A sudden thought struck Alana, and she hurried home.
Sure enough, the laundry hanging on the balcony was completely soaked.
Including the man’s suit jacket.
It was soaking wet, you could wring water out of it.
Alana hastily took down the jacket along with all the other clothes hanging on the balcony, placed them in a basin, and carried them into the bathroom to hand-wash them all over again. Little did she realise that as she washed the clothes, time ticked by, and it was already seven
o’clock.
By this time, Stephan had arrived at the café where he and Alana had agreed to meet.
He had changed into a fresh outfit on his way back, a crisp white shirt and black trousers.
This ensemble lent him an air of distinguished elegance, enhanced by a crisp, clean freshness. Combined with his handsome features and upright posture, he drew the attention of many patrons the moment he entered the café.
Particularly among the ladies, whose gazes unconsciously lingered on Stephan.
Upon entering, Stephan sought out a corner table and seated himself, ordering two coffees from the waiter.
One was black coffee, without sugar or milk, while the other was sweetened and milked.
After placing his order, he remained seated, silent.
He glanced at his phone from time to time, then looked out the window. The girls around him couldn’t help but start whispering.
“That bloke’s gorgeous, isn’t he? Tall and handsome. I’d love to go up and ask for his number!"
“Don’t be silly. Guys that good-looking usually have someone special. He’s definitely got a girlfriend!"
“Exactly! Why else would he order two coffees? One of them must be for his girlfriend!"
“I’m so jealous of his girlfriend! To have such a gorgeous boyfriend, he’s far more handsome than any actor I’ve seen on TV. He could make anyone swoon!"
“Don’t get too envious. If he’s that handsome, his girlfriend can’t be too shabby either."
“But why hasn’t his girlfriend shown up yet? He’s been sitting by the window for ages now, half an hour, easily!"
“His girlfriend really is making him wait. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to bear it, not a single minute or second! I’d probably even arrive at the café before him!"
“Me too, me too! His girlfriend’s got no heart for him!"
“Aaaah! If his girlfriend won’t cherish him, I’ll cherish him instead!”
Stephan heard the chatter from the girls beside him, and his stern brow furrowed slightly.
He glanced down at his phone again. It was already ten past seven.
Had that woman not arrived yet?
She’d agreed to meet at seven. He’d even arrived at the café twenty minutes early and ordered her a coffee.
Yet here he was, half an hour later, and she still hadn’t shown her face. Could it be that she’d stood him up?
Or had something urgent come up?
Even if urgent business has delayed you and you cannot arrive promptly, you ought to have given notice, shouldn’t you?!
Stephan gritted his back teeth in frustration.
Fine, he’d wait a little longer. If she still didn’t show up, no one should blame him for storming straight to her place!
After washing the clothes, Alana found the rain had stopped. She hung them out to dry on the balcony once more.
Having caught a bit of rain on her way back, her clothes and hair were slightly damp, and she feared catching a chill.
She went back into the bathroom and took a hot shower.
Emerging from the bathroom with her hair dripping wet, she wrapped a pink towel around her head.
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and hurriedly grabbed her phone to check the time.
Oh dear!
It was nearly half past seven!
She was nearly half an hour late for their arranged meeting!
In her haste to rewash the wet clothes, she’d completely forgotten to send him a message cancelling tonight’s meeting.
She wondered if that man had made it to the coffee shop yet?!
If he did, why hasn’t he contacted her?
Besides, she’d already rewashed the coat, so there was no way she could return it on time.
Alana was in a right panic. She quickly tapped her fingers to send him a message.
Alana: I’m terribly sorry, but I won’t be able to return your coat tonight. It just started raining, and I’d hung your clothes out to dry on the balcony, they got caught in the downpour. I’ve just washed it again and hung it out to dry, so I can’t bring it over to return it. I’m terribly sorry, I was so busy I forgot to send you a reminder. Um, did you make it to the coffee shop? If you’re there, please head back. I won’t be able to make it to our meeting.
She sent several messages in succession, convinced her apologetic tone was impeccable, yet the man didn’t reply to a single one.
Alana felt as though her head was splitting.
What on earth should she do?
She felt she’d thoroughly offended him.
What’s more, he knew that representative from HG. What if he complained to them, and they refused to cooperate with her company? Bloody hell!
Let’s hope he’s not that petty!
Just then, her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the caller ID and her eyelid twitched. Without hesitation, she answered the call.
“Hello? Sorry, I was just...”
Before she could finish, a deep voice cut in.
“Come down!"
Alana froze. "Come down? Where exactly?"
“The entrance to your estate."
Alana was stunned. He couldn’t possibly... have driven straight over here?
Come...to settle the score with her?
She’d just been hoping he wasn’t that petty a person, and now she’d been proven wrong so quickly?
Alana felt an inexplicable sting in her cheeks. "Er, you... wait a moment, I’ll be right down..."
“Hurry up."
With that, he hung up.
Alana bit her lip, hesitated, then resolved to go down and see what was happening.
She snatched a dry towel, threw on a light jacket, and rushed out of the room without even combing her dripping wet hair.
Hurrying to the estate gates, she spotted a black Bentley parked conspicuously at the entrance. Her footsteps faltered momentarily before she hesitantly, slowly made her way towards it.
She pondered what she should say upon meeting him.
Should she apologise first?
Or should she explain first?
Lost in thought, her slender fingers had already tapped upon the car window.
“Er, Mr Hudson.”
Before she could finish, the door swung open abruptly, revealing the man’s cold, ruthless face with its sharply defined, handsome features.
His gaze swept over her indifferently, his pupils as dark as ink, betraying no emotion.
“Get in!"
His deep, magnetic voice sent a jolt through Alana’s heart.
She hesitated briefly before climbing in.
No sooner had she settled than the man’s icy voice cut through the air.
“Miss Martin, have you nothing to explain to me?"
Alana bit her lip. Explain?
Hadn’t she already explained via WhatsApp? Had he not seen it?
Seeing her silence, Stephan’s eyes darkened with a chill. "Did you deliberately stand me up? Take me for a fool?"
This was the first time Stephan had ever been taken for a fool, and by a woman, no less!
He couldn’t fathom what had driven him to come here, but his mood was thoroughly sour, and he intended to vent his frustration on her!
As for how he would vent it, he hadn’t yet decided.
Alana’s clear eyes flicked towards the man with a startled glance.
Stand him up? Take him for a fool?
How could she dare?!
She had simply forgotten.
Though, in essence, the two seemed scarcely different.
After all, forgetting was rather like standing him up and playing games with him.
Still, Alana plucked up the courage to say, "No, I wasn’t playing games with you! It’s just that it started raining earlier, and your jacket hanging on the balcony got wet. I took them down and washed them again, so..."
Stephan’s thin lips curled slightly, the curve betraying a hint of mockery. He didn’t buy her explanation.
“And so you left me waiting at the café for over half an hour for nothing?"
The accusatory tone made Alana feel even more at fault, lowering her head, unable to meet his gaze.
“I... I’m sorry."
It was her failure to notify him promptly that had caused him to wait so long at the café.
Stephan’s brows knitted slightly as his deep eyes fixed on her. "Is ’sorry’ all you have to say?"
What else could she possibly say?
She didn’t know.
Under his intense, unyielding gaze, she felt uneasy. Biting her lip, she finally lifted her eyes and asked, "Well then, what did you want me to say?"
Stephan narrowed his eyes at her, displeased. He’d waited like a fool in that coffee shop for so long, only to be met with a flippant "I forgot" and a "sorry" and that was it?!
He hadn’t made this special trip merely for her apology.
Stephan’s long-fingered hand tapped the steering wheel as he spoke slowly, lips curling.
“Miss Martin, my time is precious. If you truly feel you’ve wronged me, then think of a way to compensate me."
Alana froze.
Wasn’t her apology enough? Now he wanted compensation too?
Indeed, this man wasn’t one to be trifled with.
How had she managed to provoke him so carelessly?
She felt a pang of regret, but knowing she was in the wrong, she decided to ask first,
“How do you want me to make it up to you?"
Stephan found his gaze involuntarily drawn to the girl.
She appeared freshly bathed, her damp hair still clinging to her chest. Her exquisitely delicate features now bore a faint, alluring blush, like a ripe peach radiating a seductive aura.
Not only did her appearance resemble a peach, but the fresh scent of shower gel wafting from her body was distinctly peachy too.
It was quite fragrant.
She wore a pink dress, draped over a sheer, lightweight shawl, her soft, graceful figure hinted at beneath the fabric, carrying an intangible allure.
Her eyes, wet with moisture, were fixed upon him, wide and pleading, carrying a hint of innocent vulnerability.
She looked like a sweet, fluffy little white rabbit, tempting one to tease her mercilessly.
The thought of those two nights with her, the vivid, sensual scenes, unabashedly disrupted his thoughts.
It felt like an addiction, a nightly obsession.
He couldn’t fathom what this longing was, a mere infatuation with her body? After all, only she could give him that sensation of ecstasy bordering on delirium.
Alana noticed the man remained silent for a long while, his gaze fixed upon her instead, an expression akin to that of a predator eyeing its prey, brimming with aggression.
She felt like a tempting morsel, ready to be devoured at any moment, and her heart tightened involuntarily.
“Mr Hudson, what exactly do you want me to compensate you for?"
Stephan met the girl’s pleading gaze and desperately wanted to say he didn’t want any compensation at all. He just wanted to ask her: why not come with him?
After all, his desire for her body was genuine.
But the thought of her already having a boyfriend forced the words back down his throat.
“I haven’t had dinner yet. Join me for a meal.”
Alana froze. "Is that all?"
Just accompany, not treat?
Stephan shot her a meaningful glance. "If you have any other ideas for compensation, I wouldn’t mind hearing them in detail."
Alana choked on her words. "No need. Just dinner is fine.”
After all, she hadn’t eaten yet. If someone was treating her to a meal, she wasn’t losing out.
“Fasten your seatbelt."
Just as Alana was about to reply with an "okay," her nose suddenly stung, and she couldn’t help but shiver and sneeze.
She rubbed her slightly sore nose and gave Stephan an apologetic smile.
Stephan glanced at her. The girl smiled faintly, her eyes crinkling with a charming dimple that was utterly captivating.
His gaze darkened slightly. Noticing her slightly shivering frame and her hair, still damp from the rain, he frowned. With a press of his finger, he opened the car’s storage compartment. He retrieved a spare dry towel and tossed it to Alana.
“Dry your hair."
The towel landed on her lap. She froze. How did he know she wanted to dry her hair?!
“Er, thank you."
Stephan hummed in acknowledgement. Though his own body burned with fever, he reached out and turned on the heater.
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