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

not stand on ceremony either. “Sure. Can I bring someone with me?”

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

course.” She nodded

…

Hence, it would not be considered negligent to invite someone of Kevan’s status to

went over to occupy a table first. Kevan only arrived half an hour later. Unlike Dylan’s casual attire, he was still dressed in a suit, and his hair

in a meeting. It only ended now.” He gave only a

was long used to this, and replied without complaint, “Have

sides of the table. She thought that

to move her arm a little to touch Kevan’s. For that, she felt like she was sitting on a hot pan, but Kevan seemed unaware of her

were you together?” He seemed to be asking this in passing, but his narrowed eyes had a cold glint to them that

involves the privacy of my client. I think

to the key point before turning to look at Larissa, his eyes suddenly warmer than before. “You want a

to others, but since Kevan had asked,

an

blandly with his gaze lowered. “With such unreasonable parents, I

right

After she experienced the insanity of the Hardy elders, she actually carried a glimmer of hope that Travis would be

proven

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

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 it worth the expensive service

the scolding that they kept apologizing before deferentially filling up his glass with

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

he said, “Just focus on your department. You have no jurisdiction to be meddling in the affairs of the food and beverage department.”

mouth at once.

that the atmosphere had gotten awkward, Dylan quickly smoothed things over by saying, “Alright, alright. Let’s make our orders, shall we? I’m starving.”

handed out the three menus in due course, waiting for the moment to

heard that you’ll be treating us to