Chapter 177 - Finding The Chance To Bomb It
"You damned shrew. I was only trying to help!" Liam exploded, annoyed by her attitude. "Even if you are not grateful, you should be polite at the very least!"
Ximena looked at him like he was an idiot. "Thank you for what? For wasting my time or for calling me a shrew?" She cast him a disdainful glance and turned away. "I'm pretty certain as a busy man, you have no time to care for shrews like me. I will not bother you, Mr. Preston." She rolled up her window so she would no longer hear his nonsense.
She dared to ignore him! He glared at her smug side profile and crossed his arms. "Whatever. It's not my business anyway."
Even though he said that it was not his business, he continued to wait at the side to see her make a fool out of herself. Besides, a gentleman never leaves a helpless lady on her own. If not, he would have let her go to hell if she wanted to. Of course, watching her make a fool out of herself was the major part.
"Why is it taking so long?" Ximena glanced at her wristwatch for the umpteenth time. It had been twenty minutes already, and she was yet to hear any response from them!
Thinking of a possibility, she got off the car and pointed at Liam who was playing with his phone while leaning against a pole. "You! Did you contact the gas station and have them delay me on purpose? Are you trying to make sure I don't to my destinattion on time?"
He frowned at her accusations that came out of the blue. "What would I gain from doing that? Do you think I have so much free time as to do something that will not be of any benefit to me?"
She frowned in annoyance. "Who said there would be no benefits? You could do it to sabotage me or rescue me and forcefully make me owe you. Being the dumb hero that saves the beauty." She exploded, grabbing his tie as she glared right into his eyes. "Let me warn you. You don't want to get on my wrong side."
He met her threatening gaze. Looking at her eyes, she was not bluffing. She would really do sometthing horrible if he got on her bad side. However, he did not feel intimidated. On the contrary, he found the situation comical.
His lips curved on both sides as he looked into her eyes.
"You seem experienced in grabbing ties, Little Devil. Are you experienced in ripping them off as well?"
"And using them as a murder weapon to strangle their owner? You can count on me." She threatened as she tugged his tie harder. He chuckled, making her want to lose her mind. He really was ready to die, wasn't he?
He took her hand and pulled it away from his tie. "How unfortunate. While that is thrilling, I only appreciate women tugging my tie if they thing it's in the way. I may not be able to fulfill your romantic urder fantasy."
She frowned at his words. Was he insinuating that she was trying to seduce him?
"I have nothing to do with the delay, just so you know. I thought you would need my help but I will mind my business, I guess." He waved and entered his car.
She checked the time again and sighed. How much longer would it take? She had to get to Zaria as soon as possible!
She followed him to his car and knocked on the window. When he rolled down the window, she didn't dare be loud. "Fine. I was going to Preston and Fort Group. Could you give me a ride?"
The little devil asked nicely… Liam was surprised. He got off the car and opened the driver's door. "Take care of the lady's car." He instructed his chauffeur.
"My chauffeur will bring your car to the company as soon as it is refilled. Get in." He sat in the driver's seat with a smug smile. Why was he so happy about it?
"Don't expect me to thank you." She harrumphed as she fastened the seat belt.
He gazed at her with a slight laugh. "Are you kidding me? I would never expect snow on a hot summer day."
Was he implying that she was naturally ungrateful? She harrumphed and ignored him.
The ride was silent until her phone rang. It was her assistant, informing her that the investor they were discussing with the day before had rejected their proposal.
"What is wrong with our proposal? He is guaranteed to earn much more than we will on this project! He wants 70 percent instead of the agreed fifty? What a lousy greedy fox!" She hung up and gripped her phone so hard that Liam wondered whether her hand was alright after exerting such pressure.
" Are you having trouble at work?" He asked, merely out of politeness. Of course, the bigger reason was because he would be elated to hear that the devil was having trouble.
Seeing through him, she cast him a side glance and let out a sigh. "If it makes you feel better, yes."
For some reason, he found his previous imagination childish. "Why would your troubles make me feel good? Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I do not accept help from men." She glared at him.
"You and your pride." He harrumphed. And to think he had been willing to help her out a moment ago. Why would he even offer help to a woman like her?
"According to you, rejecting help is pride?" She regarded him scornfully.
"What else would it be?" He was unwilling to continue speaking to her but it would be more awkward to ignore each other while in the samee car, so he painfully put up with this conversation.
"It's a precaution." She deliberately taunted. She was not entirely joking, however. She had dealt with a swindler before, so she would never casually accept help especially from strangers who might as well turn out to be big fishes intending to swallow up the little fishes.
When they arrived at Preston and Fort Group, she took out her purse and slapped a fifty euro bill onto the dashboard. "Keep change."
"What?" He looked at her, flabbergasted.
She turned just as she was about to leave the car. "The fare. It's usually around ten euros but since I got to ride in a luxury car, I gave you fifty. I will pay for the fuel later. Don't even think of trying to extort me."
He watched her saunter away and his expression darkened. Did she think that was the point?
He felt his blood boil as he looked at the fifty euro bill. Very well…
…
Zaria had just arrived in the underground parking to get her car when she witnessed this odd scene. Why did Ximena arrive in Liam's car, and why did the latter look like he was about to erupt.
"Ximena?" She called out in confusion.
Ximena bolted towards her when she finally saw her. She threw her arms around her best friend. "Zaria, you are here. Are you alright?"
Zaria finally understood what was going on. Ximena must have rushed here since she told her what had happened with Theodore. She hugged her back with a smile. "It was not an emergency. Of course I am alright. Did you think I would cry until I pass out?"
"That's not entirely impossible." Ximena was relieved.
"Wait. Why did you come with Liam?" Zaria lowered her voice to ask. After the car incident just a few days ago, seeing them together was quite odd.
Ximena face palmed when Zaria brought it up. "Long story. You must be busy right now. How about I wait for you and see you at lunch time? I'll treat you to your favorite burger."
"You don't need to leave. Actually, I'm meeting the lawyer. You can tag along and we can go for lunch together afterwards." Zaria suggested jovially.
"Sounds like a blast!" She hooked her arm around Zaria's and led the way. They entered Zaria's car as she asked, "Is it a lawyer you know? I'm not trying to discourage you but most court-assigned lawyers do nothing but waste time. Some of them take bribes and it might lower uncle's chances of winning the case."
"I know…" Zaria frowned as she started the car.
"I have a good friend who is an experienced lawyer. Although he is in The US right now, I can call him back to take this case." She offered, then slapped her forehead. What was she waiting for? She should have called the lawyer already!
"Thanks, Xim. Desmond already gave it to his lawyer." She smiled at how willing everyone was to help her.
"He stole my thunder. Where is my knife?" She gritted her teeth.
Zaria burst into laughter. "Why don't you tell me what you were doing in Liam's car?"
"Finding a loophole to bomb it. Does this reason count?"
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