Chapter 44
“Which university?” Gideon asked.
I simply replied, “Harborton University.”
“Get in. I’ll take you there. I’m heading to my office anyway, and it’s on the way.”
I froze for a moment, surprised that Gideon would offer to drive me back to the university. But it was true that his route to the office passed by Harborton University.
I thanked him and got into his car without hesitation. I noticed a laptop resting on his lap as he
appeared to be working.
“Thank you, Mr. Jackman,” I said as I sneaked a glance at him. His eyes never left the screen, and
he was focused on the data in front of him.
If he was so engrossed in his work, how did he notice me by the roadside?
“You’re welcome. I need to make a quick stop somewhere. It won’t take more than ten minutes,
and then I’ll head back to the office.”
“Alright.”
As soon as I spoke, Gideon handed me a jacket. “Your dress is torn. You can cover yourself with
this.”
It took me a moment to realize what he meant. Looking down, I noticed a tear along the side of my
dress, running from the hem all the way up to my thigh.
Samuel had ripped it earlier in the restroom, and all the walking around I did after that likely made the tear worse. My tension while dealing with Leonardo had distracted me from noticing the
damage.
I quickly reached for the jacket and draped it over my legs.
“I’ll return it to you after I have it dry–cleaned,” I said.
Gideon looked up at me. “Why do you seem to assume I’m obsessed with cleanliness, Ms. Sutton?”
I froze at his unexpected question. Yvette often said he was extremely particular about hygiene. 1 remembered an incident where she once touched his clothes, and Gideon threw them away.
Yvette had complained to Samuel about it, asking if Gideon was a germaphobe, and Samuel affirmed it.
“I just thought it’d be better to clean it before returning it to you,” I replied.
Gideon let out a soft hum before saying, “I’m just teasing you. There’s no need to be so nervous.”
I wasn’t actually nervous, but I nodded anyway.
His joke wasn’t funny at all. In fact, it startled me. Perhaps it was because he was naturally authoritative. He could make even Samuel and Leonardo seem small in comparison.
The car came to a stop back at the club’s entrance.
I was about to suggest waiting in the car when Gideon said first, “Wait here with the driver for ten
minutes
I nodded lightly and didn’t say anything.
Gideon stepped out of the car, and I took out my phone. A message from Samuel popped up.
The voice–to–text read, “Have you made it to the subway? You’re dressed so provocatively. If anyone touches you, break their hand. I’ll deal with the consequences.”
I closed the chat with a cold expression. Gideon didn’t take the full ten minutes. He returned after only seven or eight, but he wasn’t alone.
Shortly after he walked out, Yvette came running after him.
“G–Gideon, I’ll make sure to talk to Samuel properly. Please don’t be mad at him anymore! He knows he was wrong, really! I’ll persuade him. He just lost his temper because he saw a woman he cares about hugging another man. He’s not usually like that!”
Yvette’s voice was soft, almost like a kitten’s meow, as she cautiously tried to explain to Gideon. The car window was slightly rolled down, and I heard everything clearly.
Gideon glanced at Yvette and said, “I don’t know which family you’re from, but since you’re calling me by my name so openly, I’d suggest you head home early. Don’t make your parents worry.”
I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Gideon’s remark was a perfect takedown.
The phrase “I don’t know which family you’re from” would sting Yvette enough to bother her for days–maybe even weeks.
Yvette’s expression crumbled, and tears welled up in her eyes. “No, it’s not like that. I… I’m…”
Before she could finish, Gideon opened the car door. I instinctively braced my hand against the seat to steady myself.
The slender, unmistakably feminine hand caught Yvette’s attention, cutting her explanation short. Whatever she had planned to say remained stuck in her throat.
