Sweet Subterfuge by Trina Duo

Chapter 9

Dylan spat out the water he had just drunk.

He hurriedly leaned forward to grab tissues from the dispenser and wiped his mouth as well as the wet stains on his clothes.

“My apologies.” He was a tad embarrassed, and yet there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. Once he had straightened up again, he pretended to act serious by rubbing his chin in deep thought. Then he said in a straight-faced manner, “There actually is something wrong with Mr. Rogers. He really does have a problem.”

Larissa perked up at that.

“He’s a total germaphobe,” Dylan grumbled with disdain, clearly having been a victim of it.

This bit of gossip was nothing exciting for Larissa, but as she had not quite experienced it herself, she could not relate to him.

She just didn’t quite understand. “How does being a germaphobe have anything to do with rejecting Karin Gallagher?”

“Mr. Rogers’ germaphobia is so extreme that he can’t even have bodily contact with anyone else. When he goes out on business trips, he doesn’t even want to shake other people’s hands.”

Dylan’s words shocked Larissa once more.

When Kevan checked in that night, he clearly shook her hand, and last night, they had…

Larissa naturally would not think that she was the only exception for Kevan. After all, he did say that he originally wanted to have her get a call girl. Hence, she did not understand how Kevan’s ridiculous germaphobia would lead him to refuse Karin and have a call girl instead. Could it be that Karin was dirtier than a call girl to him?

Dylan saw her confusion but did not elaborate. Some things could not be interfered with by outsiders like him.

Larissa did not have the courage to ask either.

be dinner time now, she asked out of courtesy, “Do you have any plans for tonight, Mr. Shields? How about having

on ceremony either. “Sure. Can I bring

think of anyone else but Kevan as Dylan’s tagalong. Even if she did not want to meet Kevan due to last night’s events, he did help her out this morning. So, she needed to show her gratitude to him too.

course.” She nodded with a

…

Michelin rating. Hence, it would not be considered negligent

an hour later. Unlike Dylan’s casual attire, he was still dressed in a suit, and

a meeting. It only ended now.” He gave only a brief explanation for

long used to this, and replied

for them. As Larissa was not familiar with Dylan, they naturally sat on opposite sides of the table. She thought that

big, so they were very close to each other. Larissa only needed to move her arm a little to touch Kevan’s. For that, she

this in passing, but his narrowed eyes had a cold glint to them that caused Larissa to hunch a

privacy of my client. I think it’s better if

at

her private affairs to others, but since Kevan had asked, she could

out an

he replied blandly with his gaze lowered. “With such unreasonable parents, I doubt your former

right about that.

to look beyond the superficial. After she experienced the insanity of the

proven wrong in the worst way.

her vexed expression—from Kevan’s perspective—ended up becoming her dissatisfaction with

waiter who just happened to be passing by. “I’ve been sitting here for a while. Why is no one serving us water? Is this the service offered by the Regal Dynasty? Is

that they kept apologizing before deferentially filling up his

Mr. Rogers. I will relay this to the restaurant’s manager. I’ll make sure that he pays more attention

stare, he said, “Just focus on your department. You have no jurisdiction to

mouth at once.

the atmosphere had gotten awkward, Dylan quickly smoothed things over by saying, “Alright,

course, waiting for the

heard that you’ll be treating us