Chapter 849: The Lingerie Company Owner's Olive Branch
"That's still better than being a poor teacher at school," Lucas said. "You work so hard for just three or four thousand a month. What's the point? Why not come over here? Even if you can't find a job, I'll support you. My boss already said he'll give me more important tasks, and my income will double. I'll be making at least twenty or thirty thousand a month. What are you worried about?"
"Lucas, I know you work hard, but I still feel uneasy," Audrey sighed. "The pace of life in Starhaven is too fast. I'm afraid I won't be able to adapt. The climate here isn't as good as back home, and it's so hot in the summer. I've only been here a few days and I can't stand it. Plus, your father isn't in good health. We can't just rely on your brother and sister-in-law to take care of him. Why don't we go back home? I don't mind making less money."
"You don't mind, but I do," Lucas said, his temper flaring at the suggestion of returning home. "I promised you I'd give you a good life. I want everyone who knows you to see that marrying me was the best decision you ever made. I want you to walk into your class reunions with your head held high, making everyone envy you, making you the queen."
"Lucas, you're too stubborn," Audrey frowned. "Is our life for others to see? I've never regretted marrying you. Why do you care so much about what others think? If you weren't so concerned about appearances, we wouldn't have had to leave the provincial capital. With your skills, you could easily find a job there. Many of our classmates are now key technical personnel in their companies, earning as much as you do, with stable jobs and time to spend with their families. If I had stayed at my school in the provincial capital, I would have been promoted by now. We're northerners, with different eating habits from the south. Why make life so hard for ourselves here?"
"So, you think I'm a failure and a disgrace to you?" Lucas sneered. "Finally, you're telling the truth. Oh, right, you had two boyfriends before me who are still working in the provincial capital, right? No wonder you keep wanting to go back. You must want to rekindle old flames."
"Lucas! You're being unreasonable. When have I ever thought about them? You're slandering me!" Audrey was trembling with anger, tears welling up. "If I didn't care for you, I wouldn't have married you. Since our marriage, I've cut ties with all my former classmates, not just the men, but even the women. Think about it, can you really say such things?"
Lucas immediately regretted his words. What was he doing? His wife had traveled so far to see him, and instead of spending time with her, he was giving her a hard time. He quickly embraced Audrey, apologizing, "I'm sorry, honey. I was wrong. Don't be mad. I'm an idiot. Hit me if it makes you feel better."
He grabbed Audrey's hand and tried to make her hit him.
"Stop it. You're a grown man, act your age," Audrey said, pulling her hand back and giving him a reproachful look. "Now you know you're wrong, but just a moment ago, you were accusing me of cheating. If you keep this up, I might really cheat on you just to prove you wrong."
"Alright, honey, let's not talk about this anymore. Come on, I've made quite a bit of money this time. Let's go out for a nice dinner to celebrate," Lucas said, still feeling guilty. Audrey was so beautiful and sexy that if she really decided to cheat, men would be lining up. He couldn't imagine how many times he'd be cuckolded.
Audrey, still upset, didn't want to escalate the argument. She changed her clothes and went with Lucas to a nearby French restaurant.
The parking lot outside the restaurant was already filled with cars, indicating the restaurant's popularity. Lucas saw luxury cars like Mercedes and BMWs, and even some he couldn't name, making him envious. In Starhaven, there were so many wealthy people. Earning over ten thousand a month was nothing to brag about; they were still at the bottom of society.
The waiter, dressed in a blue uniform with white gloves, was tall and handsome, over six feet tall. He led them to their seats and asked with a smile what they would like to order. Lucas opened the exquisite menu, and the high prices made him gulp, but he couldn't show it. He handed the menu to Audrey, pretending to be generous. "Honey, order whatever you like."
Audrey frowned at the prices. Each dish was three or four hundred dollars. A casual meal for two could easily cost thousands. She regretted coming to such a place.
"Lucas, why don't we go somewhere else? I don't really like Western food. I saw a noodle place nearby that looked good," Audrey suggested hesitantly.
A woman at the next table suddenly sneered, "If you can't afford it, just say so. This isn't a place for poor people. Country bumpkins shouldn't come to the city."
Audrey turned to see a couple at the next table. The man was in a suit, and the woman was dressed provocatively, looking arrogant. Before she could respond, Lucas stood up, pointing at the woman. "Who are you calling a country bumpkin? I think you're the one who looks like a chicken."
"Who are you calling a chicken?" The woman stood up, furious, and started yelling at Lucas.
Audrey quickly pulled Lucas aside to avoid a confrontation. After a while, the man at the other table came over, apologizing. "I'm sorry, my friend shouldn't have said that. How about this, I'll cover your meal tonight as a gesture of goodwill."
"Oh, we couldn't possibly accept that," Audrey said, surprised and refusing. She didn't want to take advantage of someone else's kindness.
"It's no big deal," the man smiled, handing Audrey a business card. "By the way, you have a great look. I own a small company that specializes in women's lingerie. I'd like to invite you to be a model for us. The pay is thirty thousand a month. Would you consider it?"
"Well..." Audrey hesitated. She had seen lingerie models on TV, flaunting their bodies provocatively. She didn't want her relatives and friends to recognize her in such a manner.
"Don't worry about it. You have an excellent figure. It would be a waste not to be a lingerie model. How about forty thousand a month?" The man continued to persuade her, his sharp eyes quickly assessing Audrey's ample breasts. Even through her dress and bra, his experienced eye estimated her bust to be at least 36F, possibly even G cup. Her breasts were large yet firm, with no sagging, making her the perfect candidate for a lingerie model. If he could get her to model for his company, his brand would surely take off.
Just as Audrey was about to refuse, Lucas, tempted, took the business card from the man. "Mr. Keith, right? We'll discuss this and get back to you."
"That sounds good. I'll be waiting for your call," Mr. Keith said, taking one last longing look at Audrey's impressive chest before reluctantly leaving.
"What do you mean by that?" Audrey asked, her face darkening. "I'm not going to be a lingerie model. It's too embarrassing."
"Fine, you don't have to. Let's just eat," Lucas said, pulling Audrey back to their table. Mr. Keith and the woman had left, and they had told the waiter to put the bill on their tab.
With someone else footing the bill, Lucas's cautiousness vanished. He ordered the most expensive items on the menu: foie gras, caviar, oysters, snails—over a dozen dishes. Audrey frowned, chiding him, "Lucas, can we really eat all this? It's too wasteful."
"Don't worry, someone else is paying," Lucas said with a grin. "Let's take this chance to have a good meal."
Seeing Lucas's smug expression, Audrey suddenly felt a sense of estrangement from him. The Lucas she knew had been poor but proud. Now, he seemed obsessed with money and had become vulgar. Was this the same man she had once fallen for?
After dinner, Lucas suggested they walk to digest the food. He was excitedly talking about the dishes they had just eaten, but Audrey listened absentmindedly, walking slowly and falling behind.
"Honey, why are you walking so slowly? Are you tired? I told you to eat more," Lucas said, stopping to wait for her. "By the way, Mr. Keith seemed reliable. He really covered our bill, which was about five or six thousand. Maybe we should accept his offer. Forty thousand a month is a lot of money."
"Do you really want other men to see your wife like that?" Audrey glared at Lucas. "Being a lingerie model means being on TV. What if our colleagues back home see it? Your father might even see it."
"Who cares? In today's society, people laugh at the poor, not the shameless. We're not really selling our bodies. Even if we were, others would kill for the chance," Lucas blurted out.
"What did you say?" Audrey's face turned icy. "Who said anything about selling our bodies?"
"Sorry, honey, I was just making a point," Lucas said, regretting his words. He slapped himself and said, "I meant that being a lingerie model isn't shameful. You're not naked; you're still wearing lingerie. Our hometown is just small-minded. In the south, this is nothing. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the city to see for yourself. Some models do body painting, which is considered art."
"Art? It's just a disgusting excuse made up by men to exploit women," Audrey huffed, walking ahead quickly. She felt increasingly out of sync with Lucas, unsure if she was outdated or if Lucas was too forward-thinking.
"Honey, wait for me," Lucas called, hurrying to catch up. He was out of breath when he saw a small park nearby and suggested they rest on a bench.
It was a midsummer night, with the moon high in the sky, casting shadows that created a romantic atmosphere. They had also shared a bottle of red wine earlier. Lucas looked at his beautiful, sexy wife beside him, her skin glowing, her breasts high and firm, and he couldn't resist his lust. Seeing no one around, he hugged her, one hand sliding under her dress to caress her smooth, white thigh, while the other hand fondled her ample breasts.
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