Chapter 16


    “Can you


    believe it?” Joyined, “I have no idea who dropped me offst night but. they just ditched me at


    my front door. I spent the whole night sleeping on the floor!”


    Joy lived in one of those fancy high-rises where each elevator ride required a keycard. Safe, yes, but


    waking up with a sore back and an achy body felt like she had gone tent rounds in a boxing ring. Plus,


    she was sure she wasing down with a cold..


    The heartless soul? She had cked out and couldn’t remember who the guilty one was. Pounding her


    fist on the couch, she grumbled, “If I find out who did this… Leaving. someone at his doorstep is like


    getting all frisky and not following through. What’s the point?”


    Leanne listened with a raised eyebrow, wisely keeping to herself that the likely culprit was Curtis. After


    a few muttered curses, she hung up the phone.


    Devin swung by ElitePinnacle’s swanky new office for a tour and to grab lunch with Curtis. Curtis


    emerged from the conference room, trailed by a pack of executives in crisp suits.


    Spotting Devin lounging on a sofa, engrossed in a video game, Curtis gave a quick wave. Devin


    immediately powered off the game and hustled over.


    “Did you get her homest night?”


    “Don’t remind me,” Devin grumbled at the memory.


    Leanne and Joy had knocked back too many drinks and passed out on the table. Curtis had taken


    Leanne home, leaving him the task of escorting Joy.


    The woman was surprisingly heavy for her size, especially after a few drinks. She’d thrown up in his


    car, and it had taken great effort to drag her upstairs.


    When he asked Joy for her keys, she clung to her purse like it was her firstborn, screaming, “Robbery!


    I’m calling the cops!” while iling at him with punches and kicks.


    “Damn it. Look at what that woman did to me.” Devin rolled up his pant leg to reveal a collection of


    bruises that still hadn’t faded.


    The nearby executives could hardly contain their amusement. “Mr. Perez, bet you didn’t expect to find


    yourself in hot water like this, did you?”


    “How did Leanne know such a wild friend?” Devin muttered, then added, “Leanne sure keeps her act


    together when she drinks!”


    Hands in his pockets, Curtis barely lifted an eyelid. “Who told you she can keep her act together?”


    Devin paused, “She’s hit you before?”


    ???


    Chapter 16


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    The executives exchanged nces, wondering if they should excuse themselves from such a private


    conversation.


    In the tense silence, Curtis casually remarked, “No, that’s not it.”


    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, including Devin, who added, “I mean, she seems so demure and…”


    Curtis interrupted, “She’s tried to seduce me.”


    Devin was stunned.


    The executives were shocked to hear that.


    Later that day, when Leanne finished her shift at the hospital, she was surprised to see Curtis’ Bentley


    parked outside.


    Thinking Curtis had finally managed to make time for her amidst his busy schedule, she got in the car


    only to find Curtis was not there.


    “Where is he?”


    “Mr. Curtis had an appointment this afternoon and is still tied up. He sent me to pick you up,” the driver,


    Jake, informed her.


    “Where to?”


    “Hubert’s family just celebrated the birth of a great-grandson. There’s a christening today, and Mr.


    Curtis wanted you to join him. The gown has been ready. Would you like to try it now?”


    Curtis hadn’t taken Leanne to a private social gathering in ages. It only happened o asions when


    she needed to y the part of the doting wife in front of others.


    It was no secret to anyone that he barely came home. Everyone was ying their


    Suddenly, Leanne felt exhausted by it all. She had worked all day and was tired.


    “I don’t want to go.” she refused.


    She was usually so easy-going, but not today. Jake tried to reason with her, “The Richardson and


    Perez families go way back. If you don’t show up…”


    “And what does that have to do with me?” Leanne interjected. “Just take me home, please.”


    pa


    Jake looked troubled. “If you don’t go, I’ll have a hard time exining to Mr. Curtis…”


    Leanne didn’t wait for him to finish. She opened the car door, stepped out, and hailed a cab back to her


    ce.


    Once home, she washed up, changed into herfy clothes, and yed with her cat when Laura


    came in with a message. “Mr. Curtis is back. He wants you toe out


    11:14


    Chapter 16


    immediately.”