Page 149 of My Ruthless Neighbor

“And?”

“And they’d think something is going on between us, you know.”

“Does that bother you?”

“No. But I’m sure you won’t like people talking about us.”

“My employees know better than that. You don’t have to worry about them.”

“All right.”

“So?”

“So what?”

“Why are you acting so strange?” He places a hand on my thigh. His touch burns me, making me squirm.

“Because I want to kiss you so bad it hurts.” I slap a hand on my mouth. I did not just say that.

My stomach flutters when his eyes darken. When he goes to speak, I cut him off. “Please don’t say anything.” I clasp my palms in a praying gesture.

“You asked why I am acting strange? This is it. Your closeness is driving me mad. I dolled up for you but then realized I don’t want to come across as a clingy girl who’s trying too hard to get your attention, so I wanted to go home to change but you caught me and all but dragged me here and now I can’t stop talking!”

My chest is rising and falling fast when I finish. His lips turn up at the corners and my face heats up. “You are laughing at me!”

That makes him chuckle. And everything in me stops. Then my heart jumps. A suffocating emotion grabs me in a chokehold as I stare at him. A feeling I can’t quite name stirs in me the longer I watch him.

I didn’t know how much I craved his smiles until now. They’re so rare. One that reaches his eyes, like right now. He looks like a man much younger than his age.

Then all of a sudden, the smile is gone. A look I can’t decipher crosses his face.

“I’ll get a chocolate milkshake for you.” He stands.

“How do you know I love chocolate milkshakes?”

He doesn’t reply, just looks at me for a few seconds, then his hand comes down on the crown of my head. “Be good.” He turns and walks away, leaving me baffled.

Why did he practically run from me when he caught himself smiling? And did he just pet me like those Korean dramas’ male leads do?

I don’t get my answers because when he’s back with my shake, I sense a wall between us carefully erected.

???

Archer excused himself to attend a phone call and asked me to wait in the meeting room with others.

Ignoring the tightness in my chest at his aloof behavior, I enter the meeting room with a broad smile. “Hey, guys!”

I am met with tense silence. I look around the room. The creative team is here but none of them greets me. “Is everything okay?”

Brielle and Mia are beside me in an instant, squeezing me between them. “You are so strong, Summer.”

“I am?” I ask, confused.

They nod. Nina comes forward. “You showing up today proves your strength.”

“It does?”

Chris. “The way Archer humiliated you last night.” He shakes his head. “I would’ve left the country. And even changed my name.”

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