Chapter 1919


    Her expression was cold and detached. "What''s up?"


    He stared at her short, tousled hair for a long while before speaking slowly, "I''ll carry you to the car."


    As he bent down to pick her up, Yasmine stepped back, eyeing the sedan with its door already ajar.


    The wound on her waist had just healed not long ago, and getting into the car might indeed pose a


    risk.


    She turned to look at Derek, who was standing nearby. "Derek, give me a lift, will you?"


    Boyd''s eyes flickered ever so slightly.


    Derek stepped forward without hesitation, carefully avoiding her wounded side, and gently lifted her


    into his arms. Then he bent down and ced her in the car. "Don''t move just yet."d2


    Yasmine had always been the darling of the Peck family, coddled and pampered in every possible


    way to the point where such treatment had be second nature for everyone around her.


    Derek propped her back with his hand, reached for a cushion nearby, and ced it behind her waist


    for support before letting her lean back into it. He looked down at her, his voice low and gentle,


    "Comfortable?"


    She nodded slightly, "Mhm."


    They were close, Derek''s shoulder brushing her cheek as he leaned in to adjust the cushion, his


    breath grazing her face as he spoke. Yet both of them seemed utterly at ease with this intimate


    proximity, as if it was an everyday urrence they had grown ustomed to.


    Boyd''s gaze darkened a tad.


    After Derek had made sure Yasmine was settled, his eyes lingered on her face for a second longer


    before he withdrew from the car and stood up, casually closing the door behind him. He gave Boyd


    a nod and slid into the driver''s seat.


    Bryson and Aliza also climbed into the vehicle.


    Boyd stood there, watching the car pull away slowly. Suddenly, he realized that he had been


    through this scenario more times than he cared to remember.


    --


    Bryson had things well in hand at the school. It looked like Yasmine would be able to make an


    appearance at the graduation ceremony.


    During this time, Yasmine rested at home, with Derek bringing her a few documents each day.


    Sometimes she''d sit in the study, video call Derek on herputer to join apany meeting or


    two, discuss new projects, or brainstorm potential ventures.


    If something seemed promising, she''d dive in with a minor investment to test the waters, or


    sometimes jump into a brand-new industry feet first.


    Besides reading books, taking regr walks for light exercise, surfing the for information, and


    keeping up with thetest business trends, her days were fulfilling.


    Sometimes Yasmine would even brag to Derek, "I think I must have missed out on a few billion.


    With my smarts, had I started in business earlier, I could''ve been one of the richest woman by now."


    Derek would chuckle dryly, "Yeah, you''re the smartest."


    It wasn''t about Yasmine showing off. She genuinely felt that focusing on money-making was


    beneficial for both mind and body. The ups and downs of the process were much more interesting.


    Two months had passed, and her injuries were nearly healed.


    She''d had her hair styled at a proper salon, and her wardrobe now included a few more mature


    outfits.


    Wearing a sky-blue shirt paired with a simple ck knee-length skirt, she had a lightyer of


    makeup on her face. Though there was a touch of maturity, the shirt with ruffled sleeves added a


    youthful and fashionable touch.


    When Derek, who''d been waiting outside for her, saw Yasmine, his eyes nearly popped out. "What...


    What are you doing?"


    She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, "I''m heading to the office to check things out."


    Derek cracked a smile, though it was a bit strained.


    Her sudden visit without notice had the office buzzing with rumors that she was Derek''s girlfriend.


    The pair were certainly easy on the eyes – a handsome man and a beautiful woman.


    Yasmine didn''t mind the gossip, but Derek felt awkward as hell. Especially since he''d been ordered


    to give her a grand tour of thepany. Introducing her as a shareholder to department heads was


    one thing, but the childhood friends were now being shipped as an arranged match.


    Yasmine''s first experience at thepany was very positive.


    They had lunch together, and in the afternoon, left the office in the same car to head home.


    "Are youing back tomorrow?"


    Yasmine, sitting in the passenger seat, nced at him, "Do you want me toe or not?"


    "I just think that you''re not fully recovered yet."


    She nodded, "Then I''ll sleep in tomorrow."


    Derek breathed a sigh of relief.


    But the next day, Yasmine showed up with a lunchbox, making a beeline for Derek''s office.


    Derek''s nerves were shot, "Gosh, what are you trying to do? Office gossip is flying wild, and now


    you''re adding fuel to the fire. Do you want me to survive this?"


    Yasmine set the lunchbox in front of him, "Do you despise our little rumors that much?"


    He shuddered, "Please, spare me. If my dad finds out I''m courting his little princess, he''ll skin me


    alive."


    Yasmine chuckled, "Scared by a little gossip? I think..." She hopped onto his desk, her gaze yful


    and teasing, "You''ve got your eye on someone else in the office, afraid she''ll get the wrong idea?"


    Derek waved his hand, "Office romances are forbidden."


    "Then there''s nothing to worry about." She pushed the lunchbox closer to him, "Let''s have lunch."


    Derek opened the lunchbox to find the food still warm, but as soon as he took a bite, his face


    contorted. It looked decent enough, but the taste was otherworldly.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Yasmine watched him closely, her eyes narrowing in a borderline threatening manner.


    Spit it out and she''d wring his neck.


    He swallowed hard, chasing it with a gulp of now-lukewarm coffee. "Have... Have you had lunch?"


    "Mhm." Yasmine nodded, "Aliza''s pork ribs were quite nice at noon."


    Yet as Derek rummaged through the lunchbox, there wasn''t a trace of the pork ribs.


    "Where are they?"


    "I made this especially for you."


    Derek grimaced, "So you had my mom''s cooking for lunch and brought your own culinary creation


    for me?"


    "It shows more sincerity, don''t you think?"


    Derek set aside his fork and took a deep breath, "With all this sincerity, what exactly do you want


    from me?"


    "To be your girlfriend?"


    Derek nearly toppled off his chair.


    "What?!"


    Yasmine pronounced each syble deliberately again.


    Derekbed through his thoughts in a single breath, "What on earth are you trying to pull?"


    Yasmine shot him a nce, stood up, and sauntered over to him, reaching out to adjust his tie. "Is it


    such a crime to want you to experience what it''s like to be in love?"


    Yasmine leaned in a touch closer, "Be honest with me, have you ever even been with a woman?"


    Derek watched her approaching face, swallowed hard, and poked her shoulder with a tentative


    finger. "Back... back off a little, will ya?"


    "Hmm? So, are you up for being my boyfriend or not?"


    Derek''s temples throbbed, "For how long?"


    Yasmine chuckled, straightened up, and grabbed a bite from the lunch box, only to immediately spit


    it out. "We''ll see."


    Derek felt silent. He could more or less guess why Yasmine had roped him into ying the


    boyfriend role.


    Sure, she''d been living the easy life these past two months, but that didn''t mean Boyd had given up


    his relentless pursuit. Every few nights, he''d camp out below her apartment building, his car parked


    curbside when Derek headed to work. And when their paths crossed, Boyd would always inquire


    about her well-being.


    The sight of him, pining yet too afraid to face her, silently standing guard below, gathering tidbits


    about her from others—it was enough to stir a pang of sympathy in Derek, a tough guy not easily


    moved.


    He''d brought it up with Yasmine twice, so she was definitely clued in.


    Back when she was under the weather and didn''t venture out much, bumping into Boyd and


    brushing him off didn''t faze her. But Yasmine wasn''t one to hide away at home just to avoid Boyd.


    Getting Derek involved was a solid tactic to get Boyd off her back. So Derek''s role was essentially


    to help Yasmine shake Boyd loose.


    A few dayster, Boyd spent another night under her window. As they descended the stairs,


    Yasmine''s arm was looped through Derek''s. It was a first for Boyd to actually see Yasmine after


    such a long time.


    She gave Boyd a cold nce and hopped into Derek''s car. Derek closed the car door for Yasmine,


    nodded at Boyd, then got in himself.


    Their conversation inside the car seemed natural—yet it wasn''t. The way she clung to Derek''s arm


    was a departure from their usual rapport.


    Boyd''s expression darkened as he watched their car pull away. He fished out a cigarette and leaned


    against his own car, lighting up. He never smoked before, but now, he looked every bit the habitual


    smoker.


    "You sure this will shake him off?"


    "Sooner orter."


    "Don''t you think we''re ying it a bit too casual?"


    Yasmine smirked, "He''s no fool. If I started getting all lovey-dovey with you in front of him, do you


    think he''d buy it?"


    Derek nodded thoughtfully, "Fair point."


    "I''m not counting on him falling for it right away."


    Boyd was skeptical, but the office grapevine was abuzz with rumors about Yasmine—and she


    wasn''t about to let them fly unchecked. As long as Boyd harbored doubts, he''d seek confirmation.


    One person might lie, two could coincide, but if everyone said the same thing, belief would


    eventually take hold.


    Boyd''s smoking habit grew more intense. His assistant could feel his escting irritability. The


    assistant noticed how Boyd had stopped inquiring about Ms. Serana entirely, even though she was


    now four months pregnant, showing a slight bump, and had taken a leave from school.


    Boyd had been informed of her condition but seemed to dismiss it. Now, given his current state,


    bringing it up was out of the question.


    Boyd had instructed his assistant to keep tabs on all thetest news regarding Ms. Yasmine.


    However, the results of his observations were chilling. Yasmine and her childhood sweetheart, now


    seemingly in a genuine rtionship, were spotted together frequentlymuting, lunching, and


    asionally catching a movie. Then there were the weekend shopping sprees—for clothes, jewelry,


    always for two—followed by romantic dinners.


    Boyd''s foul mood was not without cause.


    If these observations weren''t proof enough, Yasmine''s reservation of the presidential suite at a hotel


    for graduation night was thest straw for Boyd, who had been holding back his patience.


    What in the world was she nning for the night of the graduation in that presidential suite?