章 18: WHAT IS KINDNESS?
Amelia took a bit longer to grasp the outcome of Shane's order. Did this man want her to freeze to death?!
A sense of panic bubbled within her in an instant. She hadn't driven herself here; his car had picked her up directly from her house for the date. Now that he refused to take her back in his car, she was left with no option but to consider taking a taxi. The thought of doing that left her extremely terrified.
Never had she had to use a taxi her whole life!
She had been excited for this date and prepared for it with absolute care. Used to attention thanks to her looks and background, she believed it wouldn't be hard to captivate this man too.
Amelia Arlet was a practical woman. She knew just how profitable it would be for her father's business if she became Mr. Degavon's wife.
Sincerely speaking, she had done her best, pushing herself to the limit to appear desirable to this man, but he...
Not only did he bring her to such a cheap establishment for a date she had prepared for a whole week, but he also publicly humiliated her in front of these lowly servants!
He did this on purpose, didn't he? It had to be intentional!
A maniacal laughter erupted from her throat, echoing through the walls of the empty cafe.
With streaks of mascara painting her cheeks black, she looked almost scary as she laughed. She couldn't believe it.
Now, he wouldn't even let her leave with her coat to shield herself from the harsh cold outside.
She'd likely freeze before managing to get home in this cold. All because she supposedly mistreated a lowly waitress?
She refused to believe it! There had to be another explanation... she was definitely his mistress!
Realizing she couldn't do anything about Mr. Degavon, she redirected her focus to Laleen, pointing at her. The crazed glint in her eyes barely dimmed as she spoke, her voice trembling with a wicked promise, "You... I'll make you pay for this, I swear!"
Shane, who had issued his orders and heard more than enough, signaled with a small wave of his hand, and the men resumed pulling Amelia out of the cafe.
Laleen stared boldly at her, still hugging herself from the cold. Amelia continued to bellow, raising her voice as she got pulled farther away to ensure Laleen heard every single word.
"I swear you'll pay for humiliating me like this!" She let out a final scream and disappeared from her field of vision.
Laleen took in a cold breath when she finally left, restoring the silence that now hung over the surroundings like an awkward umbrella.
She had never been one to enjoy conflicts. A sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes for a few seconds. She'd never been lucky with women. Maybe that's why she had zero friends. They all seemed to always dislike her.
It was saddening to see that part of her had yet to change even in her new life in a completely different world where the old her did not exist. It left her feeling numb yet relieved. At least the problematic woman was gone.
The silence was broken by the sound of Shane's footsteps from behind her. Turning around, she saw him bend down and pick something from the ground. Standing back up, he turned around and looked at her, causing her to freeze and immediately look away.
Her eyes coincidentally fell on the table where the couple had previously been seated before the stumbling episode. The tablecloth covering the table was now stained with coffee spills, dyeing it a dirty brownish hue. The glass cups had shattered, falling to the floor, not to mention the big pool of water underneath the table trickling down the floor.
Her lips pursed into a thin line as she regarded the mess with a frown. She'd have to clean this up herself.
She was too immersed in her thoughts to realize when he got closer.
A sigh escaped her lips when she was suddenly enveloped with warmth on her shoulders. Looking up, she noticed that the man in front of her wasn't wearing his coat anymore but had instead carefully draped it over her shoulders.
Taking a step back, he commented with a lazy expression, "You'd freeze from the cold."
Her fingers instantly tightened on the collar of the coat and she sighed again.
The warmth of the coat, accompanied by his body heat, felt comforting.
Shane regarded her expression with a sneer as his face crumpled. "Trouble magnet," he suddenly blurted, surprising her.
Laleen snapped to her senses at his remark. "Heh?" she voiced, a bit shaken.
Shane had his eyebrows raised as he studied the girl in front of him. The words just fell out before he even realized.
She looked genuinely surprised and maybe even slightly offended at his words.
His lips barely curled up for a second before reverting to his sides.
This girl brought trouble along with her wherever she went. Most probably the reason why his dates had been so dramatic.
A disgusted look smeared his face when he remembered each one of them. He just wanted to be alone. But he couldn't even have that.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he turned to leave. His solitude was always going to be a part of him. It was the one thing he'd never give up on, even if he wanted to. Not like he would ever want to be not alone.
He didn't need anyone disrupting his peace. He wouldn't tolerate it. Amelia Arlet was a perfect example.
He had just pushed open the clinking glass doors of the cafe to head out when he heard the girl from behind call to him.
"Sir..." Laleen called out, succeeding in making the man stop in his tracks.
She watched him turn back to her but was shocked at the look on his face. Instead of his usual lazy expression, he glared at her silently.
His glare seemed to pass the message—You have no business talking to me.
A cold gust of wind seemed to roughly blow past her when their eyes locked, and she struggled to maintain her balance in front of him.
Biting her lip in a bid to remain strong, she bowed deeply.
"Thank you," she muttered softly to his hearing. For everything, she completed inwardly.
It didn't seem like he was interested in speaking with her, so Laleen kept her apology very brief.
Remembering something, she quickly added, "And I'm sorry for everything that happened. Please do not leave us a bad review." She blurted it all out in one breath as she looked up.
Her brown eyes held a certain plea as she stared up at Shane's black eyes which seemed to be filled with nothing but darkness.
"Like I'd bother" Shane muttered back with a displeased expression, slightly irritated that she'd ask.
His words left her a bit stunned as she stared at him. A huge sense of gratitude enveloped her and she bowed once again.
"I appreciate your kindness" she whispered sincerely.
A smile tugged at her lips as she straightened up but almost immediately, he threw something at her which she quickly caught in her hand. It was her hair tie.
Her eyebrows raised in surprise as she stared at the black band in her hands. Was it what he bent down to pick earlier?
Looking back at him, his eyes gleamed with mirth as he wondered while gazing at her, "What is kindness?". He seemed genuinely unfamiliar with the idea.s
"Huh?" She voiced out, a bit confused as she barely caught his words.
He tilted his head as his dark eyes fixed on hers. "I don't know kindness, girl" He finally corrected in a clear voice.
Laleen blinked repeatedly as she took in his words. Not knowing what else to say, she slowly nodded.
Then she frowned, all of a sudden not liking how he always called her "girl".
Blurting out without thinking, she replied, "I am not "girl".
Her nose scrunched up in distaste as she spoke, her brown eyes glinting brighter against the soft rays of sunlight that reflected through the glass doors of the cafe.
His lips rose in an unbothered smirk, "Who cares... girl" he repeated despite her words causing Laleen to pucker her lips.
What a rude man, she couldn't help but mutter inaudibly with a humph.
Shane chuckled dryly as he turned and began to walk away. Laleen watched him walk away, her body screaming at her to stop him, but her feet remained glued to the ground, her mouth shut tightly.
She wanted to ask about the coat. How was she supposed to return it? But she didn't because she believed it was the only existing link between her and this mysterious man.
So many encounters and the result remained the same. He really wasn't in love with her.
A giggle escaped her lips as she watched him disappear from her sight. This would be the first time they had what resembled a proper conversation.
She felt like she had unboxed another of the many layers that covered this man.
Awkwardly kind and very... very distant.
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