As soon as she stepped into the parking garage, she heard a familiar voice. “I’ve been waiting for a long time. You finally came.”
Elijah had brought a chair and had been sitting there all morning. He had also set up a folding table at the side, which was filled with snacks and tea.
Upon closer inspection, she could even see that one of the teacups was already empty. She wondered how long he’d been waiting.
“Elijah, you seem to have a lot of free time.” Liesel’s eye twitched.
There were rumors spreading around the office about her relationship with Elijah. However, he still refused to tone it down and even came all the way here.
She continued, “Why are you having afternoon tea here? Do you like your tea infused with car fumes? It’s certainly a unique flavor.”
Who would go to the lengths of having afternoon tea in an underground parking garage?
“It’s all because I was waiting for you, Ms. Sharp.” Elijah grinned at her. His carefree face was filled with amusement. “I never thought that you’d like my gift so much. Not only did you accept it, but you also put it on and posted a photo on social media. It really moved me.
Standing up, he stretched his arms. Only then did he straighten himself and slowly walk
toward her.
Bending at the waist, he leaned close to her.
His thick fingers caressed the sexy curve of her neck. His movements were light and slow like he was teasing her.
Liesel slapped his hand away and took a step backward.
Elijah let out a chuckle. He held his fingers to his nose and took a whiff. “You smell nice.
“As I thought, I have good taste. Someone like you should be dolled up to the nines, Ms.. Sharp,” he praised. “Did you know that when you have this necklace on, you look like a dazzling red mermaid caught in a whirlpool in the deep sea? You look like you’re radiating an unparalleled radiance even in the dark depths of the ocean..
“The only pity is that this time, I wasn’t the one who helped you put on this necklace.” He sighed like he really regretted it. “So, could you give me this one chance, Ms. Sharp?”
As soon as he said that, Liesel said coolly, “Mr. Hardin, are you done with your theatrics? You’re really coming off as a pervert when you act like this.”
Elijah wasn’t a simple person; if he was, he wouldn’t have been able to lie low in the Hardin
+25 BONUS
Chapter 9
family for so many years.
Actually, even without her help, he would have been able to take down Uriah sooner or later. She had only given him the opportunity to do so.
Also, Elijah wouldn’t have gone out of his way, wasting his time to catch her here just because he found her beautiful.
If he wasn’t here to intentionally provoke someone, then it had to be because there was something he stood to gain.
His amusement intensified.
“In the past, I thought it was cliche and ridiculous to liken a sharp and pretty woman to a thorny rose. But now, having met you, I feel like the saying was not wrong.
“If I hadn’t opened myself up for you to have a good look, I’m afraid the thorns on your body would have hurt me, Ms. Sharp.”
Liesel
gave
him an unconcerned look. She picked up an iced drink that had a lid on its cup and took a sip.
“Thanks, but I don’t think that’s a compliment.”
Why would she like to be compared to a thorny rose?
“Mr. Hardin, if there’s something you came here for, then tell me. If not, please don’t disturb me any longer,” she said, cutting to the chase. She wasn’t in the mood to be wasting her time here.
