Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

[My apologies, the content of the previous two Chapters has been revised and may not have synced yet, so these two Chapters might seem a bit repetitive.]

The next day arrived quickly. After packing their things, they headed for their evening flight.

By the time they returned to Lustre, the sky was already dark.

Nina Scott’s collection was particularly outstanding at the fashion show. Although she didn’t win first place, she received a special award. And because Ivy Sherwood’s walk had been so stunning, many A-list celebrities and wealthy socialites were now placing orders for custom gowns from Nina’s studio.

Orders for Nina Scott’s studio poured in nonstop. She wouldn’t be short on business for a long time to come.

”You’re my hero! When we get back to Lustre, I’m treating you to a feast!” Nina declared.

Ivy Sherwood nodded. ”Okay.”

The flight was less than three hours, and they soon landed at Lustre International Airport.

As the two of them disembarked, Nina spotted someone emerging from first class. ”Isn’t that Thea Sherwood?”

Ivy looked over as well. ”I think so.”

”Ivy, wait here for a second.” She hadn’t yet settled the score with Thea for making her fall last time.

Just as Nina ran off, a voice sounded by Ivy’s ear. ”Miss Sherwood.”

”Mr. Linton?” Ivy was surprised to see the man. It was Quentin Blackwood’s secretary, Zane Linton. She had met him several times.

”Miss Sherwood, what are you doing here? President Blackwood just got off his flight. He’s in the VIP lounge over there. Would you like to go over and say hello?” Zane asked.

’Quentin is back in Lustre so soon? Wasn’t he going to stay in Aethelgard a while longer?’

’Weren’t he and that Joy Sheridan just out shopping together yesterday, laughing and talking? I thought he would at least spend a little more time with her.’

Ivy realized that Quentin Blackwood’s words couldn’t be trusted.

He appeared so serious and proper, with a stoic and reserved demeanor, but in reality, he was probably nice to every girl he met, saying one thing and doing another.

He claimed there was nothing going on with Joy Sheridan, but didn’t he go shopping with her and buy jewelry with her?

Besides, he’d only seen her true self a few times, yet he could still flirt with her like that.

’What they say online is true: men are all sweet-talking liars.’

”I...” She didn’t want to go at all.

But before she could voice her refusal, Zane sighed and seemed to mention casually, ”President Blackwood has been too busy these past few days. He returned to Aethelgard a week ago and has barely rested. His sleep disorder is already severe, and on top of not eating properly, he was feeling sick to his stomach on the plane.”

”He obviously has so much time to rest, why doesn’t he take it?”

’He has time to go shopping but no time to sleep? I don’t believe it,’ Ivy thought.

Zane said, ”President Blackwood is very busy. He has almost no personal time.”

”But yesterday he was...”

”What about President Blackwood yesterday?” Zane asked, looking puzzled.

”It’s nothing. I just heard from a friend that they thought they saw him at a mall yesterday,” Ivy said, her hands tightening into fists.

Zane thought for a moment. ”That shouldn’t be right. President Blackwood hasn’t been back to the company in a long time, and there was a lot of work piled up. He’s been working nonstop ever since he got back from the fashion show. He met with a partner yesterday morning and signed two contracts. He was in a hurry to return to Lustre, so he’s been focused on handling work.”

”The only exception was last night when Miss Sheridan came to the office and insisted on dragging President Blackwood out for a while. But he came back very quickly and stayed up all night to finish the work he’d missed.”

’Quentin was dragged out by Joy Sheridan against his will?’

Ivy’s lips parted, as if she wanted to ask something, but she didn’t know how to put it into words.

Sensing her hesitation, Zane said, ”Feel free to ask whatever is on your mind, Miss Sherwood.”

”I don’t have any questions.” Ivy had wanted to ask about Joy Sheridan, but after a moment’s thought, she decided against it.

’She had no right to ask about these things.’

”In that case, Miss Sherwood, could you come with me to see President Blackwood? He’s still working, too busy to even think about eating, and now his stomach problems are acting up. Please, help me talk some sense into him.”

Quentin’s stomach problems were acting up again?

”Has he taken any medicine?” Ivy asked, not even realizing the concern lacing her own voice.

Zane shook his head. ”No. President Blackwood is usually all by himself, so lonely. It would be great if someone could just be there to talk to him.”

Ivy bit her lip. ”He shouldn’t be short of company, right?”

’Isn’t there a Miss Sheridan? And if not her, there’s always Miss Yates.’

”Miss Sherwood, I think you might have misunderstood something. There have never been any women around President Blackwood.”

Zane continued, ”If Miss Sherwood could go see him, I’m sure President Blackwood would be very happy.”

Ivy didn’t understand. Why would Quentin be happy to see her?

”Where is he?” Thinking of that workaholic, she knew he was even crazier than she was when it came to work.

Zane said, ”This way, Miss Sherwood.”

Ivy followed behind Zane, sending a quick message to Nina to tell her something had come up and that she should go home first without her.

...

Thea Sherwood wore sunglasses, her chin held high, not even looking where she was going—the very picture of arrogance.

She didn’t even notice Nina Scott walking up beside her.

Copying Thea’s move from last time, Nina simply stuck her foot out. Thea, not watching, tripped right over her leg and tumbled to the ground.

Her fall immediately drew the attention of everyone nearby, and Thea was mortified.

She looked up to see Nina Scott, who was grinning from ear to ear.

”Nina Scott!” Thea shrieked her name, furious. ”You dare trip me!”

”I’m just learning from the best. I’ve got long legs, and it’s your own fault for not watching where you’re going.” She was just giving Thea a taste of her own medicine.

”You...!”

”If you don’t get up soon, more and more people are going to see you making a fool of yourself,” Nina said, gesturing at their surroundings.

People were starting to stare. Thea finally scrambled up from the floor and instinctively raised her hand to slap Nina.

But she was no match for Nina, who easily grabbed her wrist. ”Trying to hit me? In your dreams. Oh, and by the way, I’d advise you not to try any funny business to come after me and Ivy. Otherwise, I’ll release your video.”

”What video?” Thea didn’t know what she was talking about.

”Oh, you know, that video of someone getting it on with an old geezer in the bathroom. Can’t hold themselves back, can they? I can send you a copy later if you’d like to admire your own work. Someone was calling him ’hubby’ so, so sweetly. It gave me goosebumps just listening to it.”

Thea froze.

”Nina Scott, you’re despicable!” she spat, biting her lip so hard it nearly bled.

”So what? It’s not as foul as your taste in men. You know, Thea, sometimes I almost admire you. You really just go for it. I can’t believe you could bring yourself to do it with a guy that old.”

Thea’s face turned pale. She never thought Nina would have seen, let alone filmed it.

No wonder Nina had called her back then. It was all a setup!

”Nina Scott, if you dare tell anyone about this, I’ll kill you!”

Nina scoffed. ”Threats don’t scare me. Thea Sherwood, if you behave yourself, I might just consider forgetting I ever saw anything. But if anything happens to me from now on, you can just wait to go viral online again!”

With that, Nina turned and walked away, leaving Thea seething with rage.

She desperately wanted to go up and slap Nina across the face, but she didn’t dare. Nina had the video. She couldn’t let the whole world know she was involved with an old man.

She couldn’t bear that kind of humiliation.