Chapter 52 Teasing Her
In the backstage corridor, the man seemed to be smoking.
Winnie wondered if he smoked the same cigarette as Mr. L.
Olivia nudged Winnie. "Hurry up and go express your gratitude properly. I'll keep an eye out so your mysterious husband won't see you."
"All right, all right." Winnie was annoyed by her so she quickly walked over to where Lawrence was standing.
"Mr. Lawrence," she called out admiringly. "Mr. Lawrence? Hello!"
The tall man turned around, his exceptionally handsome face with a touch of mischief in his deep eyes.
"Why are you talking to your archnemesis?" He teased.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." Winnie immediately felt embarrassed.
Even after he had done her a significant favor, this man remained playfully mischievous.
Winnie lifted her head with a serious demeanor as she conveyed her gratitude. "Mr. Lawrence, I genuinely didn't anticipate your assistance today. I must confess, I had misconceptions about you earlier. I didn't expect you to be fair and just, standing up for justice. Perhaps I had a slight misunderstanding about your character."
"Just a slight misunderstanding?" He prodded.
"A considerable misunderstanding." Winnie humbly lowered her head.
The man let out a light hum, his voice held a pleasant tone as he stepped closer to her.
As Winnie extended her apologies, she added, "On that day, I was upset, thinking you were swayed by Ava's bribe. Little did I know that you were holding onto the painting as evidence. You are truly wise and intelligent. In any case, I apologize for everything. I can't adequately convey my gratitude for what you've done for me today, Mr. Lawrence."
She intended to express her sincere gratitude yet, the man exhaled a breath toward her and said in a suggestive tone, "So, how will you express your gratitude? Remember, actions speak louder than words." His gaze held a mysterious depth.
Winnie stood against the wall where Lawrence had her cornered. His towering figure cast a shadow on her face as he leaned in with a hint of intimacy.
Winnie's ears reddened as she pressed against the wall in frustration. "Lawrence Rodriguez, I'm being serious here."
"Am I not serious?" He tilted his head, his expression grave. "When dealing with someone who has done you a favor, shouldn't you be more gracious and appreciative?"
"In that case, please keep a distance from me. I find it puzzling, what prompted you to suddenly help me, the CEO of Triton, and your competitor? Could you provide some insight?" She tightened her fist, using it as a barrier to maintain a proper distance from the man.
Lawrence glanced at her small fist and raised his eyebrows. "Am I your adversary? It seems that you've always tried to make your presence known in front of Imperial, seeking vengeance and overestimating your capabilities."
"You!" Winnie's face twisted with anger but then she realized something. "Oh, so you remember me. You recall the female CEO of Triton, your competitor, don’t you?"
The man's throat clenched. For a moment, annoyance flickered in his eyes before they were swiftly replaced by their usual depth. He chose not to respond.
Winnie grew increasingly convinced that this man, who paid no attention to anyone else, harbored a perception of her as his rival.
A faint smile curled at the corner of her lips. "So, why are you willing to help me then?"
Luke, the assistant, glanced at Lawrence and almost chuckled, surprised to discover that his little rival was actually his very own wife. In moments of injustice towards his wife, the husband consistently stood up for her.
Winnie felt puzzled when she realized that he couldn't come up with a convincing reason. "Mr. Lawrence, we have been feuding for so long. You've taken a painting worth 26 million to help me... Is there some ulterior motive behind this?”
The man then briefly strategized the position of his arm and trapped Winnie against the wall, smirking. "Indeed, I have no interest in an ugly painting."
He leaned closer and inquired in a hushed tone, "However if I were interested in you, would you give in to my advances?"
His mature voice was seductive, wicked, and captivating.
Winnie swiftly pushed him away yet she experienced a strangely familiar sensation. "Mr. Lawrence, you can't use favors to blackmail me. I've already told you that I have a husband. Even though you saved me today, I would not submit to you. I'm loyal to my husband."
For some reason, he burst into laughter.
The incredibly handsome man's laughter left Winnie dumbfounded as to why he would laugh at her for being faithful to her husband.
It was truly confusing. However, this man went as far as to playfully pinch her cheeks and look at her with a mischievous expression, his lips forming a smile. "Are you that devoted to your husband?"
"Yes," Winnie replied irritably.
He leaned his tall body closer and gripped her shoulders teasingly. "What if I insist on kissing you?"
"No!" Winnie immediately covered her mouth.
The man stayed still, his eyes filled with laughter.
Winnie couldn't shake the discomfort when she saw the determined look on the man's face. He provocatively said, "I want to touch you. Can we have an affair while I'm still married?"
Winnie blushed and quickly attempted to diffuse the situation. "No. Wait for me to get a divorce first, all right?"
Luke, the assistant, was utterly taken aback.
The man's demeanor swiftly shifted to become more assertive as he gently squeezed her delicate face and inquired in a serious tone, "Are you contemplating a divorce? Is your husband treating you poorly?"
His agitation was perplexing despite their supposed rivalry.
Winnie found herself bewildered by his reaction.
She swiftly pushed away from him. She then stood up, adjusted her clothing, and angrily retorted. "Whether I divorce or not is none of your concern, Mr. Lawrence.”
The assistant sensed that the CEO had genuinely swallowed his grievances.
An air of displeasure crept into the man's eyes.
Winnie quickly waved. "I was initially going to invite you for a meal but it's too late now. I want to go home and share the good news with my husband. I'll extend an invite next time, Mr. Lawrence."
Instantly the man's face brightened. He asked in a bewildering manner, "So, you want to go home and attend to your husband?"
"Indeed. Are you being skeptical?" Winnie nodded and pretended to be serious about it because she was afraid that if she stayed any longer it would be dangerous.
She quickly turned around, grabbed Olivia’s arm and they walked out.
"You and Mr. Lawrence are so ambiguous. He's already smitten with you. If you had appeared just ten minutes later, I would have deciphered your dynamics, poor Mr. L..." Winnie tightly covered Olivia's mouth, anxious that Lawrence might overhear.
In the corridor, the man indeed heard snippets of the conversation.
Certain words and gestures made him instantly restless, prompting him to loosen his tie.
In his mind, he pondered over the woman's question about whether he remembered her.
Lawrence considered his position unmatched. He had never truly focused on Triton's female CEO from the perspective of influential individuals.
He had heard of Winnie before- an astute businesswoman. He had seen that girl at a banquet, her beauty and intelligence evident. However, her eyes were filled with arrogance. She was too confident despite her lack of experience, which he found unappealing.
Imperial and Triton have experienced their fair share of conflicts in the past.
She always competed with him for contracts and snatched his businesses away. Even though she was constantly defeated, she continued to provoke him.
He had always kept a low profile, merely observing the events unfold as a disinterested spectator.
Little did anyone expect that, eventually, she would conceive a child with him.
Benjamin asked him why he wore a mask.
Initially, he just wanted to pacify his mother and avoid unnecessary trouble.
A brush of his fingers against his temple, imprinted with the memory of her scent, sent a ripple of disquiet through him. It burrowed deep into his heart, an itch gnawing at his bones. The prospect of teasing her, of playing with this newfound vulnerability would be quite interesting.
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