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.

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

stand on ceremony either. “Sure. Can I

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.

nodded with a smile.

…

a 3-star Michelin rating. Hence, it would not be considered negligent to invite someone

table first. Kevan only arrived half an hour later. Unlike Dylan’s casual attire, he was still dressed in a suit, and his hair was clearly taken care of. His bangs had

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

used to this, and replied without complaint, “Have a seat.”

table for them. As Larissa was not familiar with Dylan, they naturally sat on opposite sides of the table. She thought that Kevan would sit with Dylan, but who knew that he would sit next

other. Larissa only needed to move her arm a little to touch Kevan’s. For that, she felt like she

passing, but his narrowed

involves the privacy of my client. I think

look at Larissa,

affairs to others, but since Kevan had asked, she could only bite the

an unprecedented

his gaze lowered. “With such unreasonable parents, I doubt your former husband was anyone good.”

was right about that.

then. She had not known to look beyond the superficial. After she experienced the insanity of the

proven

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 it worth the expensive service charge your

so embarrassed by the scolding that they kept apologizing before deferentially filling up

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

on your department. You have no jurisdiction to be meddling in

mouth at

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

course, waiting for the moment to take down their orders.

you’ll be treating us to the meal?”