บท 17: Laurence's Appalling Touch

"Mr. Carter, are you alright?"

The distinct smell of vanilla dulled his senses. His throat moved subtlety as the scent became more fervent. A different kind of vanilla normally pure, creamy, comforting fragrance suppose to elicit innocent pleasures. The scent coming from the woman's body was full of erotic freshness, stimulating the increase of masculine hormones in his glands, leading him to take a deep breath once more to capture that intoxicating substance drilling into his pores setting an erupting fiery sensation in his lower abdomen. The palm under the soft waists moved trailing in a small circle.

"Mr. Carter, are you okay?" Someone patted bewitched man's shoulder.

The arousing stupor was put on hold when Dante Carter realized his current situation. He immediately retrieved his arm. His placid face suggested his unaffected mood, but deep inside, Dante knew he willingly sank into the seductive chasm the woman in front of him had unintentionally or intentionally offered.

Arianne lifted her gaze. The silvery tendrils almost shining with metallic light drooping down his head in a tame manner. A pair of eyes with unfathomable depth met her scrutiny. She was quite embarrassed at this point. She bent her back and knees and gave him a small salute of gratitude. "It's my fault. I apologized for bringing you inconvenience."

A burst of fragrance once again clamored it way towards Dante. He closed his silver eyes and rubbed his temples trying to control the rush of rapture coursing through his veins. "It's not a big deal." His statement did not match his inner thoughts. He was so unusually affected tonight from a trivial smell. This was a big deal. He began to draw suspicions about this woman, if she had planned this encounter.

Arianne lowered her head and once again sent her apologies. The clear annoyance on his face indicated his state of minding her actions. "If an apology is not enough. I'm willing to compensate." Her purse was now filled with cash after the vain trip to the wholesale supermarket.

The men besides Dante Carter had a variety of colorful expressions. They wanted to throw some snarky remarks but when the contents of purse was laid before their eyes. The initial belittling attitude dispersed and they began to wonder what sort of identity this woman possessed. For a limited edition bank card that only a handful of people around the world owned to appear in her purse. It was an exceptional mystery. The averted their their eyes and began to assess her appearance.

The striking hair in shade of red sun, made her smooth pale skin glow radiant. They wanted to look more but a hunter green haired man clad in white expensive suit and coat blocked their gazes.

"Mr. Carter, I apologize if my fiancee did anything wrong." Laurence displayed a mild warm smile. His left arm encircled Arianne's waist, brandishing his ownership over the woman.

Arianne still had a smile on her lips but inside she had an impulse to shake his arms off. She was filled with aversion towards his touch. Like a snake crawling on her limbs, his intimacy made her imagined of the predatory scaled mutated beasts luring its prey into trap.

Dante Carter and his group recognized Laurence and when they heard how he had addressed the red haired beauty, they were enlightened of her identity. The Cromwell's only princess. Magnus' sister who said to be dead set on the Rothschild's heir, which means the earlier accident had no mixed intentions and purely a coincidence.

Dante was also surprised, though the emotion was fleeting making it hard for Laurence's to grasp his thoughts. Dante watched their intimacy from the corner of his eyes and caught a faint impatience on the woman's eyes. It was not directed at him nor his subordinates but rather to the one beside her. This made him puzzled, but he was not in position to inquire. "It was only an incident." His voice so cold pierced Laurence will another wave of chill.

"If that's the case Mr. Carter. I wish a good night. I would have love to invite you for dinner but I made an appointment with my fiancee beforehand." Laurence said, deepening his smile and ignoring the drop in the ambiance. His hands slightly roamed Arianne's waist, quite enjoying the feeling. The depths of his night shade eyes twinkled in undescribable delight upon the woman's silent approval.

Arianne was close to smacking Laurence's head. The hair on her body trembled with rouge behavior.

Dante once again detected the displeasure in her face which Laurence wasn't aware. A slight wrinkle emerged on his forehead. It looks like Magnus Cromwell wasn't all that caring towards her sister letting a snake invade his nest. "Suit yourself." He lifted his legs and took large strides. This matter should be handled by Magnus.

His subordinates followed him whilst glancing back at the beguiling beauty.

Laurence waited for them to disappear from his sight before setting his attention on Arianne. Her red hair softly cascading on her back evoke a feeling of possessiveness. Eyes vibrant than any he'd seen, cheeks tempting him to commit crimes and a pair of lips urging him to take a bite. "You look beautiful tonight. Even the moonlight paled in comparison." She was really beautiful, too beautiful to let go. He really wants to...If only Magnus wasn't around.

Smooth and pleasant, his ability to spout flirting praises was really beyond her understanding. Still Arianne didn't let him dominate their conversation. She answered equally in a coquettish manner. "You jests, my fiancee's is far more appealing. I am in awe of your beauty."

For someone who's selfish and treat himself as heaven, Laurence was thrilled with her response. Her unreserved behavior was also very intriguing, it's much more likable than their conversation over the phone this morning. He didn't withdrew his arms. Instead he coiled his arms around her thin waist letting his palm caressed her abdomen. "I really look forward to our marriage." Really looking forward to the nuptial night.

Arianne smiled and didn't respond but her expression so charming and enthralling casted an illusion spell on him leading him to think she was also happily waiting for their marriage.

Laurence escorted the beauty to the private compartment where a candlelit dinner was awaiting. His mood became excited at the thought.

[ +10 Favorability points]

Arianne calmed down her anger after the system notification.

[Edit: The contract just arrived. It's only been two days! It's so fast!]