Chapter 191 No Interest in Older Men
After twoTwo hours later, they arrivedfound themselves at thea resort nestled on at the outskirts of town.town's periphery. Internally, Layla let outreleased a triumphant "Hallelujah," relieved to bea sigh of relief escaping her lips as she was finally free from Mr. Smith's non-stopincessant chatter, which had been a real pain in the ear.
Steppingrelentless assault on her ears.As she stepped out of the carvehicle, a brisk breeze greetedswept across them. CladDressed in her striped cotton long-sleeved shirt, Layla shivered.
couldn't help but shiver."Cold?" Mr. Smith quickly shedasked, swiftly removing his varsity jacket and drapeddraping it over her shoulders.
"No, really, I'm fine, Mr. Lee," Layla triedattempted to decline, but Mr. Smith insisted.
was insistent."Keep it on. If you catch a cold, you won't enjoy the next couple of days."
Layla was never likedone for this type of forced kind of attention, and the. The jacket carried a scent particularpeculiar to middle-aged men, which she wasn't fond of—her preference wasa scent she didn't particularly care for—she preferred the crisp, masculine scent of her friend Samuel.
"Move it., w Why are you blocking the door? Are you blind?" Gioanna came up Gioanna's voice rang out from behind and, as she bumped into her.
Layla.Layla frowned.
Apart from Mr. Smith, Phillip, Susan, and herself, who each had their own rooms, the rest were doubledpaired up.
Gioanna, holdingclutching her keycard, was visibly irritated. "Ever since I became a designer, I've never had to share a room. This is just bizarre."
"Well, we can't all be lead designers," Jane quippedretorted sarcastically,. "And some of us know how to play the damsel. On a chilly day like this, someone still pretends to forget her jacket. Quite the man-trap."
"Exactly."
"Will you two cut it out?" Susan intervenedinterjected, causing
In response, Jane to muttered resentfully, "It's not like I'm wrong."
Layla had seenencountered enough of these types not to getlet them upset her, but hearing their incessant, fly-like buzzing still gotgrated on her nerves.
...
...Layla and Susan were assigned torooms on the fifth floor.
"Here's my stop. See you in a bit,." Layla waved back at Alice.
"See you soon." Alice stole a glance at the tall figure of Phillip beside her, her heart racing.
Was this the flutter of romance from the she had read about in novels?
Holy smokes, she thought excitedly, this was her first real crush and it was thrilling.
Blushing fiercely, looking likeHer cheeks flushed a deep red, making her resemble a giant ripe apple,. Alice was overcome with a mixwhirlwind of excitement and shyness, lost in her daydreams.
"I'm up on six," Phillip said.
"Me too., w What a coincidence. This one's mine."
"I'm next door," came Phillip's reply.
Phillip replied.Alice practically soaredlevitated with joy, nodding eagerly.
Living Stayingnext door might, they may as well have been as well have meant they were roomiesroommates. Oh, the joy.
...
...After a brief respite, our respite, the group headedreconvened downstairs for some lunch.
Layla couldn't shake off a certaincertain gloom when she realized Mr. SmithSmith wasn't about to "let her be," engaging her in conversation despite her disinterested demeanor. She shot Alice a pleading glance, but Alice, engrossed in a lively discussion with Phillip, didn't catch her driftsignal.
At the table, Mr. Smith seated himself beside Layla, incessantly offering her helpings of food, much to Gioanna's visible irritation from across the table.
On the verge of tears, Layla had zero interest in middle-aged men!
Post-lunch, our visitthe group's tour around the resort continued. The corridor was bustling, and Layla accidentally brushed against Gioanna, who instantly flared up.
"You"You always have to be first, don't you?"
"Think you're the queen bee as the lead designer? When I studied design, you were still playing in dirt."
Already worn thin from tolerating Mr. Smith, Layla retorted, “The hallway's here for everyone. How am I stealing your space?”
Unaccustomed toTaken aback by Layla's comeback, Gioanna was speechless, her eyes nearly popping out.
“Because you just love to steal other people’s men!” Gioanna sneered, her wrinkled face contorting, “Mr. LeeSmith's old enough to be your dad, yet you flauntflaunt yourself in front of him. Is there a man you'd let pass?”
“That's right, she only chases men with money and power,” Jane sneered.
chimed in.“How I interact with Mr. Lee Smith is none of your business,” Layla fired backback, “We all knowknow who's really interested in him.”
“Whoever sticks to Mr. Lee Smith has ulterior motives,” Gioanna retorted Gioanna.
. “Oh, now I get it, Mr. Lee Smith is your 'in' at the Eilish Group, right?” Gioanna accused, angrier nowher anger rising., “I knew there was a reason why you're the headhead designer; it's your high-level connection with Mr. LeeSmith.”
Jane piled on, “No wonder. With Mr. Marley gone, you didn't have a leg to stand on, so you latched onto Mr. LeeSmith. Clinging to men has always been your real talent over any design skill.”any design skill.”Layla, unable to bear the false accusations, retorted, “Don't slander without evidence, or I could sue you for defamation.”
Layla couldn't stand being wronged, “Don't slander without evidence, or I could sue you for defamation.”
“Gioanna's voice dripped with sarcasm as she feigned fear. "Oh, lookhow terrifying., Sshe's threatening to sue us. I'm shaking,” Gioanna mocked," she mocked, placing a hand dramatically over her heart, “Truth. "The truth will out.”
“We'll see about that.”
reveal itself in due time."The retort hung in the air, a challenge left unanswered. "Layla," Mr. Lee called out, endingSmith's voice broke the silence, his phone call and approachingconcluded. He moved towards her. She pretended not to hear and walked over, but she feigned deafness, choosing instead to link arms with Alice.
Alice cast a sidelong glance at Layla, a smirk playing on her lips. "Don't be a third wheel," Aliceshe murmured with a side glance at Layla, , clearly enjoyingrelishing her conversation with Phillip.
Try as she might to avoid it Despite her best efforts to evade him, Mr. Lee Smith was quicklyhot on their heels again, sotrail. Layla hurriedly tugged on AliceAlice's arm, urging her to quicken their pace. Their tour guide's voice rang out, drawing their attention to pick up the pace.
a nearby attraction. "This is the resort's most famous wishing fountain," the tour guideshe explained. "Toss in a coin, make a wish, and it's said your dreams will come true."
Gioanna's eyes lit up at the prospect. "Really? I'm in," Gioannashe declared, pulling outproducing a coin and lobbingtossing it into the water, closing. She closed her eyes in, her face a picture of hope.
As Layla was fumblingfumbled for her own coin, there was a sudden loud splash. echoed through the air. Gioanna had tumbledfallen headfirst into the fountain, the resulting spray startling the surrounding onlookers with the ensuing spray.
. "Gioanna!" Jane reachedJane's voice rang out in alarm as she hastily extended a hand to help her.
Soaked to the bone and climbing out of Emerging from the water, drenched and furious, Gioanna glared through tear-filled eyes and accused,. "Layla, you pushed me!"
she accused. Dozens of eyes turned towardtowards Layla, leaving her dumbfounded. After a moment's pause, she denied, the accusation. "I didn't push you."
Gioanna was relentless. "You were the only one behind me. If not you, then who?"
"I was just getting a coin out."
," Layla protested, her voice wavering."That's no excuse. It was you."
," Gioanna insisted."No, it wasn't..." Layla looked around in vainLayla's voice trailed off as she scanned the crowd for support.
Mr. Lee was quick to come to her aid. "I believe Layla wouldn't do such a thing," Mr. Lee quickly came to her aidhe declared, standing firmly by her side.
Gioanna's fists "Mr. Lee," Gioanna clenched her fists in rage, kicking as she kicked at the water. "Mr. Smith," she spat, "don't be fooled by her innocent act. She's deceived many men with that face. Remember Mr. Marley? A victim too, transferred abroad because of her. And now she's latched onto you, using you."
Jane chimed in, pointing an accusing finger at Layla. "Yes, Mr. LeeSmith, I can vouch for it. I saw Layla push her," Jane pointed accusingly at Layla's face.
Gioanna."Gioanna's voice was relentlesscold and unforgiving. "You're truly malicious, Layla. All I did was argue with you, and you shoved me into the wishing fountain. I'm calling the police; I'll sue you for assault and make sure you pay for this!"
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