Mason’s tone was serious, devoid of his usual lightness and teasing.
Le locked eyes with him for a few seconds, quickly grasping his intention. “That man just now was not here for his wages?”
Mason’s gaze was deep and steady. “Yes, he was here for his wages, but someone was pulling the strings behind him.”
Le stayed silent for a moment, then asked, “He came after you?”
Mason nodded. “Yes.”
Le continued, “Trying to use me to pressure you intopliance.”
Mason admitted frankly, “That’s right.”
Le didn’t know how to describe her current feelings. She didn’t know Mason’s side of the story, but she knew she was already in trouble. Whether she wanted it or not seemed irrelevant now, she had be a pawn in this game.
Le pondered quietly.
Seeing her hesitation, Mason lowered his head slightly, lightly touching her forehead. “It’s my fault, brought trouble to you . I promise, during this time, I won’t touch you.”
“Say something that I can believe.”
Mason cupped Le’s chin with one hand, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Le, I don’t want to drag you into this, but it’s toote now.”
“I’m afraid of trouble.”
“I’ll protect you.”
Thinking of the tangled rtionships within The Ramirez Family, Le blurted out without thinking, “You’re a mess yourself, how can you protect me?”
“If anyone wants to touch you, they’ll have to step over my dead body.”
Mason’s assertion left Le breathless. It couldn’t be denied that men like Mason easily captured women’s hearts. He had status, looks, sweet words flowed effortlessly, and they didn’t seem fake at all. It was no wonder so many women fell for him.
They locked eyes for a few seconds. Le was the first to look away, pushing his hand away. “I’ll consider it.”
Mason subtly smirked. He straightened up. “Give me your answer before the end of the workday.”
“Okay.”
“In fact, you just need to bring yourself. I have everything else-clothes, jewelry. I’ll arrange for someone to prepare them for you.”
Le looked up at him. “Mr. Ramirez, I said I’ll consider, not that I’ve agreed.”
“As I said, I’m informing you, not negotiating.”
“Then why ask me to consider?”
Mason lightly tapped his slender fingers on her desk. “Consider what to bring, or even consider what you want to eat tonight. Esther is a good cook; you can tell her anything you’d like.”
Le sighed.
She didn’t know how to argue with Mason. When Joshua pushed the door open, holding a stack of documents. “Miss Patel, there are some documents that need your signature.”
Seeing Mason, Joshua quickly added, “Mr. Ramirez.”
Mason nodded indifferently,.
Joshua approached Le’s desk and handed her the stack of documents. Le carefully reviewed them, found no issues, and signed her name on the papers.
After signing, Joshua respectfully greeted both Mason and Le before taking the documents and leaving the office.
Watching Joshua’s departure, Mason leaned back on the desk and looked down at Le, as if reminding her, “Your assistant is quite something.”
Outside the door, after leaving Le’s office, Joshua took out his phone and sent a message: [Mr. Ramirez is in Le’s office.]
Mason’s appearance in Le’s office caused a stir in thepany.
Rumors spread throughout the project department, but Le remained oblivious, focusing on the usual procedures and submitting contracts.
Just after submitting the Premier Construction contract documents, she received her projectmission.
Looking at her bank bnce on her phone, Le gripped the phone tightly. After so many years of waiting, she finally had the chance to bring her mother closer to her.
Meanwhile, in the executive office,
After returning to his office, Mason tore off his tie and threw it on the desk. He called Daniel in with a grim expression. “Where are Le’s bodyguards?”
Daniel, just informed of the day’s events at thepany entrance, responded cautiously, “They’re arranged.”
Mason pressed on, “Where were they when Le was in trouble?”
Daniel dared not speak further.
Mason’s voice turned cold. “Rece them.”
“Understood.”
After settling this matter, Mason pinched the bridge of his nose and adjusted his emotions. He spoke again, “What’s Omar up totely?”
Daniel replied, “Heard he was in the hospital a couple of days ago.”
Mason chuckled mockingly, “Real illness or fake?”
Daniel admitted, “Not sure. The hospital was tightly guarded. Word is, his condition isn’t light; even the old man went to see him personally.”
A glint of coldness shed in Mason’s deep eyes. “He’s been struggling for so many years with a frail body and illness.”
Daniel dared notment.
“Help me investigate someone.”
“Who?”
“The assistant around Le.”
“Alright, Boss.”
At 6:30 PM, Le finished work.
As she stepped off the elevator into the underground parking lot, she saw Mason leaning against the front of her car.
They locked eyes, and Mason’s gaze held a hint of teasing. “Heading home together?”
Le met Mason’s gaze, considering pretending not to know him. This was peak rush hour; being seen together would fuel gossip and rumors, as she had already heard plenty about her and Mason this afternoon.
Truth be told, after spending this time together, Le knew Mason wasn’t a bad person, and he treated her well. But no woman wanted to bebeled as someone’s mistress, and Le was no exception.
Seeing her hesitation, Mason got into the car first.
Le’s phone vibrated in her hand unexpectedly.
Le nced down to see a message from Mason: [Where are we going first?]
For some reason, Le felt a flutter in her heart.
After a moment, Le resumed walking towards her car and replied to Mason; [I’m going home to pick up some things.]
Mason: [Should Ie along?]
Le: [I can manage on my own.]
Mason pretended not to notice her response: [Let’s meet at the entrance of yourplex.]
Le bent down and got into her car. As she saw Mason’s message, her hand hesitated briefly while fastening her seatbelt. He had already made up his mind, so why ask again? Just to show that he was gentlemanly enough?
While Le contemted, Mason stepped on the gas and drove out. He was driving a sports car today, which made quite a noise. As their cars passed each other, Le was startled and looked up to meet his eyes.
There was a brief exchange of nces, and Mason’s gaze was somewhat cold.
On the way home, Le’s mood wasplex. Truth be told, she wasn’t ready to move in with Mason yet. She wasn’t naive; she knew that once she moved in, things would inevitably progress between them.
At this point, she couldn’t deny – and couldn’t help but admit – that her resistance to Mason was indeed very low. However, considering how many times he had helped her before, including ensuring hermission was quickly received this time, she felt indebted to him. The thought of bing a bargaining chip for someone else to threaten him troubled her deeply.
When Le arrived, Mason’s car was already there.Original from N?velDrama.Org.
She knocked on Mason’s car window and asked, “Is there really no other way?”
Mason leaned on the steering wheel, one hand ying with his phone, and replied decisively, “No.”
After half a minute of thought, Le asked again, “Do you usually have guests at your ce?”
Mason asked, “Caleb?”
Le rified, “Besides him?”
Living together, if they ran into anyone, it would be hard to exin and only cause more trouble.
Le talked with Mason for a few more moments, confirming once again that there was no room for negotiation in this matter. She straightened up and headed home to pack her luggage.
As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, reaching into her pocket for her keys, a hand suddenly covered her mouth from behind. A sleazy and oily voice whispered, “Don’t move, as long as you don’t resist, I promise I won’t hurt you…”
Le was forced to stay still, unable to turn around. Based solely on the voice, she couldn’t judge what the man behind her looked like.
With her house keys in hand, she didn’t struggle or resist. Within a single day, she had not only encountered life-threatening danger but also faced a pervert.