Nora returned Andrew’s sharp gaze without fear. Her plump, red lips turned up slightly as she said, almost mockingly, “What would you have me do instead if I don’t leave? Would you like to have another medical consultation with me?”
Having interacted with Andrew before, it was safe to say that Nora did not have a good impression of him. It was made all the worse the previous day when she heard what he’d said at the Harper family home.
If this man thought he could use marriage as a bargaining chip or tool, he had another thing coming.
Andrew kept a lid on his temper. In fact, his eyes hinted at the intrigue that he felt. “Miss Harper, besides the misunderstanding we had at our first meeting, is there any other way I have offended you? You seem to be quite hostile.”
‘Because of that night. You’re just an average Joe. You’re wasting your life! Nora counted off the reasons in her head.
Outwardly though, she averted her gaze and spoke in an icy tone, “Mr. Sinclair, you must be overthinking things. I’m just an insignificant staff member in Kayson Designs. I couldn’t possibly have anything against you.”
Andrew frowned slightly, his eyes boring a hole into Nora. He felt a strange sense of familiarity suddenly.
For some reason, he was feeling an even stronger bout of déjà vu now than he did in their first meeting. Had they met again in recent days?
Andrew suddenly remembered the woman who ran away after having a summer fling with him. Throwing dollar bills in his face seemed like something Nora was easily capable of doing.
Childish, but extremely vindictive and humiliating.
“Mr. Sinclair, are you finished? If there isn’t anything else, I’ll be taking my leave now,” Nora said.
Andrew took out a sheet then and asked for Nora’s signature.
It was densely packed with dozens of lines, all of which were filled with the employee names of the third design department. Every time a draft was rejected, a name had to be written.
Nora picked up the pen and promptly wrote hers. She was eager to get out of that place and hadn’t considered changing her handwriting.
Andrew had planned to cut Nora loose after she wrote her name, but when he looked at the familiar handwriting, his body involuntarily shuddered.
The handwriting was way too familiar. He remembered the piece of paper with insulting comments that was still in his drawer, waiting to be used as evidence.
Such cursive yet neat handwriting was not common. In Windiburg, even more so.
Coupled with the way that Nora was treating him, Andrew was sure she was that one who had showed up at Beyond the Stars that day too.
“Beyond the Stars,” Andrew said carefully out loud.
Nora had turned to leave, but when she heard Andrew’s words, she froze up instantly.
The corner of Andrew’s mouth lifted into a sly smile. He finally got up from his seat and walked closer to her.
He held the sign–off sheet in between two fingers and said, “Care to explain, Miss Harper?”
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3:38 am
Chapter 17
He continued without waiting for a response, “The night before, in the suite on the third floor of the bar. That was you.”
It wasn’t a question.
Nora’s heart was racing a mile a minute, but her face betrayed no emotion, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking. She hadn’t expected this scumbag to have such a sharp eye and quick mind. She’d let her guard down and messed
- up.
“I did go to a bar the day before because my friend invited me out. As for a suite…. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I went home that night,” Nora claimed.
“Oh you went home, did you?” A cold smile spread across Andrew’s face.
“Shirking your responsibility and running away. Where did you think you can run to?” he asked.
Andrew had been searching painstakingly, but to think that what he was looking for would simply show up on his doorstep.
He grabbed hold of Nora’s wrist and gripped it tightly, hurting her.
Nora cursed at Andrew in her heart, but she sure as hell was not going to just roll over and admit that Andrew was right.
“Let go of me,” Nora said calmly.
She didn’t want to show off her fighting abilities and expose more of her identity, but she couldn’t break free from sheer strength alone.
“Well, there is one way to verify once and for all if you’re the woman from that night or not,” Andrew said.
He looked at Nora’s waist then. If there was a crescent–shaped birthmark on her skin there, it would be conclusive proof.
“Miss Harper, right over here…” he said as he planted his finger on her waist. Nora could feel the heat from Andrew’s skin through her clothes.
She bristled at the thought that this dirty scoundrel was trying to get her to take off her clothes.
More importantly, Nora realized then that even though Andrew hadn’t seen her face, he remembered her birthmark.
The birthmark that was presently, indeed, on her waist.
Andrew wanted to get to the bottom of the matter, but he wouldn’t make such a move against a girl. “There’s an empty room next door. Go in there, take some pictures and show them to me. That’s the only way to prove your innocence,” he instructed.
‘Innocence? The nerve of you to mention that,’ Nora scoffed in her heart.
She had no intention of going through with his plan, so she sneered, “Mr. Sinclair, surely that night wasn’t your first time doing it? Some woman took your virginity so you’re holding a grudge and taking it out on another woman?”
“I’m not taking it out on anyone, I just wanna confirm it,” Andrew replied in a low voice.
Nora had to hold back her laughter. He hadn’t denied that it was his first time. It was ridiculous to think that he could actually just be a naive little boy.
“Nora Harper.” Andrew called her by her full name. “Stop stalling for time. Are you gonna take your clothes off or not?”
Andrew moved even closer to Nora then, backing her into a tighter corner with no escape.
2/3
Chapter 17
She couldn’t help but clench her fists.
What happened that day could never come to light, and if he continued to push her, she might just knock him out and slip
away.
“Andrew Sinclair, don’t go too far? Nora went toe to toe with him and called him by his full name too.
Andrew felt his name sounded quite nice coming from her lips.
The door to Andrew’s office suddenly opened with a bang.
A concerned voice floated in from outside. “Andrew, have you had lunch? I asked the new family chef to whip something up for you, you should try…
Samantha had just stepped into the office when she saw her brother in a seemingly intimate position with a woman.
She froze.
Her brother had been stubbornly single his whole life. Had he finally seen the light? To think that he’d even go about it in the office, without anyone being none the wiser…
“Sorry to interrupt, I’m going to leave now,” Samantha hurriedly said.
“Wait.” Andrew stopped her. Then he said in frustration, “You didn’t knock on my door before entering again.”
He released Nora from his grip and walked over to Samantha, carefully taking the lunchbox from her hands.
“The assistant can get me whatever I feel like eating, you don’t have to come all the way here just to bring me lunch. Did the doctor say you can leave the hospital?”
His tone was warm and gentle, as if he had morphed into a completely different person.
Nora shook her aching wrist and cussed out Andrew in her heart. If he was already in a relationship with someone else, why did he have a one–night stand with her? And why try to make use of a marital union?
The man was scummy, through and through.
Nora tried to leave again but was called back by Andrew. “Stop right there. Who said you could go? We’re not done here.”
Nora was bewildered. Did Andrew want to figure out who his one–night stand was in front of his girlfriend?
“Hey sis, just give me a sec,” Andrew said to Samantha.
Nora was taken aback. The lady turned out to be his sister.
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