Chapter 209
“Isn’t this your own doing?” Garner scoffed with a smirk. “I’ve already called the cops, they’ll be here any minute. You’re about to face an investigation, and if my boss presses charges, you’re looking at criminal liability.”
“Garner, I’m your mother!” Madge exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Garner.
Garner remained silent for a long moment before speaking again. “Do you think the police will let you off the hook just because you’re my mom?”
Madge found herself at a loss for words against Garner’s rebuke.
“Right now, you shouldn’t be yelling just because you’re my mom. You should be taking a good, hard look at yourself. Why, after just getting out of jail, would you want to go right back?”
Before long, the neighborhood patrol officer arrived on the scene.
“She’s making a scene here and she attacked someone. We have it all on tape,” the company’s security quickly explained.
The police took Madge away, and the other relatives had scattered to the wind long before.
Finally, peace settled over the company.
Melissa stood there, looking at Garner, her heart aching inexplicably for him.
Without a word, Garner took Melissa by the hand and led her out of the office to a little corner store where he bought a popsicle, wrapped it in a napkin, and gently held it against her face to cool the swelling.
All the while, he remained silent. Melissa, however, felt a flutter of panic.
Garner was suddenly being too proactive, even helping her ice her face.
“Um…” Melissa struggled to find the words.
“You’ve seen how it is with my family. We’re like leeches, parasites from the gutter, disgusting and bloodsucking,” Garner said with biting irony.
Melissa’s heart pounded in her chest, unsure of what to say next.
“I’m sorry… my mom hurt you. Just name your price for compensation, and I’ll figure out a way to get it to you as soon as possible,” Garner asked for some leeway.
“Garner, I just want to help you, to stop your mom from making a scene,” Melissa said, flustered, worried she might have bruised his pride.
“I know, but we need to settle this. You were injured, and I have to make it right. I can stay by your side for a year, without pay, and do whatever you ask…” Garner’s voice was softer than usual, not his typical coldness.
Perhaps, it was because Melissa had taken that slap for him, which had moved him?
Melissa’s eyes sparkled. “You’ll do whatever I ask?”
The offer from Garner to do anything she wanted was too good for Melissa to pass up.
Because Garner knew exactly what Melissa wanted.
1/3
15:14
Chapter 209
She never held backs, even in front of the family bodyguards and butler, she’d brazenly declared her desire to sleep with him.
But for Garner, the games of the wealthy felt like an insult to his dignity
If it was Melissa, though, even if it was just a whim, it didn’t matter…
After a long silence, Garner nodded, “Yeah”
“Whoa? What’s this? A change of heart? Have you been charmed by me?” Melissa hugged Garner’s arm and snuggled into his chest, feeling like that slap was well worth it.
“A year from now… let me leave,” Garner spoke again.
Melissa’s grip on Garner’s hand stiffened, and she abruptly let go.
She knew Garner wouldn’t just give in.
Suddenly, she felt a wave of anger. “Am I that repulsive to you?” she asked.
Garner remained silent.
“Or is it because you’re still hung up on your ex–girlfriend? Your first love?” Melissa challenged him.
Still, Garner said nothing.
“You think I’m dying to have you? Get lost.” Melissa turned and walked away.
Garner followed behind her at a careful distance, protecting her.
Melissa stormed off to her car and floored the accelerator as she left.
“Melissal” Garner frowned, worried, and hurriedly hailed a taxi to follow.
In the beginning, Garner thought Melissa was just a spoiled rich girl, the kind who’d throw tantrums without a care in the world.
Now, as Melissa drove recklessly, overtaking other cars and letting her temper flare, Garner found himself feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy.
She was a rich lady, yet she had no true friends, no family who truly loved her, and
Melissa was kind–hearted but sharp–tongued, definitely a good woman at heart.
“Driver, please follow that car. I beg you,” Garner said, his voice tinged with panic.
one to trust.
“That your friend? She drives way too fast, it’s dangerous,” the cab driver remarked, his own driving skills pushed to the limit to keep up.
“Please, faster,” Garner urged, his anxiety mounting.
Suddenly, there was a pile–up ahead, causing traffic to come to a standstill.
Melissa, unable to brake in time, collided with the car in front of her.
The vehicle behind her couldn’t stop in time either, slamming into the back of her car…
A chain reaction ensued, involving five cars.
Garner’s heart was in his throat as the taxi screeched to a halt. He burst out in a blind rush, his heart
racing.
9/2
15:14
Chapter 209
“Melissa…Melissa!”
Garner felt like he was losing his mind, truly going crazy. He couldn’t stand the idea of something happening to Melissa, and what he would turn into without her.
“You’re worried about me…” Melissa was trapped in the driver’s seat, her head banged up and bleeding, but it didn’t seem too serious since the airbags hadn’t deployed.
Garner’s voice shook as he forcefully pried the door open, pulling her out and holding her close.
Melissa’s eyes reddened as she asked him again, “Are you worried about me because I’m your boss, or just because I’m Melissa…”
Garner slowly let go of Melissa without a word.
Melissa didn’t ask further, her anger simmering.
Garner understood Melissa, and she understood him just as well.
Push him too hard, and he might just run away, so she would have to keep using her charms.
“My head’s spinning, it hurts, I feel like I’m going to be sick,” Melissa leaned on Garner’s shoulder. “It hurts so much…”
Garner felt helpless. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Come here and give me a hug…” Melissa clung to Garner’s neck with a grip that seemed to defy release.
Garner’s hands tensed uncomfortably.
“And here you said we could do anything for a year. Is a hug too much to ask for? How about sleeping together?” Melissa teased, her voice laced with a playful provocativeness.
Garner desperately wanted to silence Melissa’s daring words. With the traffic cop approaching and a crowd gathering, her audacity knew no bounds.
“Is it on the table?” Melissa persisted.
“Shut it…” Garner sighed, his hand gently pressing against Melissa’s lips as he attempted to quiet her. “Let’s head to the hospital first and let them handle this.”
“Hmph.” Melissa snuggled against Garner, her pout dissolving as he carried her away.
At the police station.
Madge was escorted away by the officers, and Melissa didn’t press charges, but someone from the family needed to come for the bail.
With anger boiling inside her, Madge couldn’t reach Garner and reluctantly dialed Kristin’s number.
“Ms. Turner, your mother is at the Westwood Street precinct. Would you be able to-”
“I don’t have a mother,” Kristin cut the officer off mid–sentence.
The officer paused, taken aback, and turned to face Madge. “Sorry, wrong number.”
After hanging up, the officer relayed to Madge, “The number is incorrect.”
Madge was in disbelief. “Impossible! That’s her number. That bitch says it’s wrong?”
