Page 34 of Dr. Damaged Protector

"Good morning, James," I greeted warmly. "Thank you for letting me stay temporarily."

"Temporarily?" He raised a brow and then took my hands. "Stay as long as you like."

"It will be temporary," I assured him with a forced smile as I withdrew my hands.

"If you say so," he shrugged. "Sebastian, show her to the guest room."

"Yes, sir," the butler agreed and led me to my room.

It wasn't the same one I slept in last time. It was smaller but still had a luxurious charm that made it better than the hotel room. While it was a nice place, I only planned to stay there briefly. Whatever my salary was going to be, I would get a studio apartment. No matter how shoddy it was.

I was meant to resume work around one p.m. But it was only a few minutes past nine, so I decided to check in on Kate. I made my way to the living room where the couple was.

"I just think maybe we should go together to pick out the wedding dress or something," Kate suggested. "It would be very reassuring to have you there with me."

"Do I have to be there, though?" he asked with a groan. "I planned to go drinking that day. Oh, that's right, why don't you accompany me? My friends have been dying to see the girl I got."

"I…but…" Kate didn't want to go.

"Look, it's just a stupid dress. You'd wear it once, and that's the end of it," he said to her.

My hands balled into a fist, and I gritted my teeth. Anger built up within me, although I wasn't even the one he was talking to.

"Ah, don't make that face," he said. "You know how we met through a recommendation of one of your previous clients, right? And now, you have a husband-to-be? It's the power of networking. If you want to become powerful, then you have to be able to build powerful networks."

Who the hell talks like that?

Kate was heartbroken, but she smiled. "You're right. Maybe I am rushing things; we can always get the wedding dress another time."

That's my girl," he praised before kissing her. "Now go get yourself some breakfast."

"Okay, thanks. I love you," she said.

"I love you too," he said before getting up. "I have a meeting today. So don't worry about me coming back early. I'll be late."

"Okay," she responded.

"Good," he grinned and left her.

He noticed me at the entrance as he left, "Oh, hi, Olivia."

I nodded in acknowledgment while glaring at him. It did not affect him; he just shrugged and continued on his way. I went to sit by my friend's side.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Oh, hey, yeah, I am," she lied. "Have you settled in nicely? I can tell the maids to attend to you."

"I can handle myself," I assured her. "You don't have to worry about me."

"Of course, you can handle yourself," she smiled weakly.

"I overheard everything," I said, my anger gradually returning.

"Oh?"

"Yes," I replied. "You didn't stand your ground. Why would you let him talk to you like that?"

"I mean, he's not wrong, it is just a dress," she said. "And it's not going away. We could pick it after deciding what day we would get married."

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