Chapter 198 An Intimate Yet Awkward Atmosphere
After Luke's car left the courtyard, the workers lost all mood to sleep.
The boss had arrived suddenly, and he had departed from the scene just as quickly, like a passing gust of wind.
However, they were inexplicably nervous.
It felt as though their boss was conducting a spot check on their work.
They thought that their performance was not up to standard, and it was unacceptable in their boss's eyes.
Joe could not contain his curiosity anymore and asked his colleagues, ’ How's the relationship between our boss and his
Cayenne-driving cousin?"
His colleagues all shook their heads.
"How would we know?” One of the female colleagues answered. "The boss has always kept his personal life a secret. Even the
paparazzi couldn't find out anything."
All that was known about their boss's personal life was a photograph exclusively published in a recently popular magazine,
showing their boss bringing his son and daughter out for breakfast one early morning.
Many female workers in the office bought the magazine and browsed through it at work. They thought that their boss, who was
not only handsome and capable, but was also a single father who doted on their children, was extremely manly and attractive.
That female colleague was one of the workers who had a crush on their boss. She placed the photograph on her work desk and
looked at it occasionally, using it as an encouragement to work harder and improve herself so that she might find an outstanding
man like her boss.
Joe pondered over the situation. He did not feel sleepy at all. He went back to his room to retrieve a jacket and told everyone,
"Does anyone want to follow me to search for Bianca? We're in this town as a team. What if Bianca went out alone so late at
night and found herself in danger?"
If something happened to Bianca, it would be hard for them to explain to their superiors!
The small town might be honest and down-to-earth, but that did not mean that everyone there was a good person...
Bad people existed in every corner of the world. The difference was a matter of proportions...
The female colleague volunteered herself. "I'll follow. When we went to the wet market with Bianca earlier, she told us where her
old house was. We even passed by the entrance. I'll bring you there."
The other colleagues nodded. "Be safe!"
After the black Range Rover left the courtyard, the two colleagues also left to search for Bianca with flashlights in their hands.
Meanwhile, at the old house, Luke abruptly came into Bianca's view...
Luke had left A City for the small town of his own accord. He did not ask for anyone's permission, nor did he inform Old master
Crawford or Bianca.
"Why are you here so late...?" That was the first thing Bianca said to him.
Luke stepped into the courtyard and toward her.
’It's already so late. Why aren't you asleep yet?”
Luke walked through the tall grass and weeds of the courtyard. In the dark night, one could not discern their actual color.
The man's leather shoes stepped on the grass, exuding a unique and mysterious charm.
His presence was like a stalk of opium poppy, alluring yet dangerous.
He stopped in front of Bianca and looked at her ambiguously. She lowered her head and found herself flustered. "Is your
grandfather okay?" "He's fine. His condition is stable." As Luke answered the question, he transfixed his gaze on the top of her
head.
They had agreed to go to the small town together, but he did not show up at the promised time. Later, Bianca received a
message from Luke about his grandfather.
Only then did she know that Old Master Crawford suffered a heart attack and was in the hospital.
Luke did not tell her the reason for his grandfather's heart attack, though Bianca could guess that it had something to do with
Allison catching them in the act that morning.
Allison must have gone home and told Old Master Crawford.
Bianca understood that even though Old Master Crawford did not reject her presence, it did not mean that he allowed the
younger generation to step past moral bounds.
Legally, she was still Xavier Tanner's wife.
For a conservative old man, he might not be able to accept the fact that Luke had stepped out of someone else's wife's room so
early in the morning.
"Does your grandfather agree to you coming here?" Bianca could not find any other conversation topic.
The courtyard was dark and silent, save for the chirping of crickets. The atmosphere was not peaceful but instead unnerving.
Luke looked seriously at the woman in front of him. She did not know what he was thinking, nor did he reply to her question. A
while later, he furrowed his brows and lit a cigarette.
Bianca's gaze drifted to the cigarette between his fingers and focused on it
She was engrossed with looking at the cigarette and happened to look at his fingers.
Bianca had observed the fingers of many men before, though none of them had fingers as animated and strong as Luke's.
Luke noticed that she was looking at him, but he did not call her out. He lifted his hand and brought the cigarette to his lips.
As he took a drag from the cigarette, he noticed that her gaze was brought upward.
As Bianca's gaze followed the trail of the man's hand, her eyes eventually met with Luke's. She knew that she was at a
disadvantage, and her face blushed...
The atmosphere became awkward again.
Bianca tried to find a topic to alleviate the tension. "It must've taken you three hours to drive here. Have you had dinner? Should I
find something for you to eat?"
Bianca smiled gently. She wanted to bring him away from the awkward yet intimate atmosphere of the courtyard.
She was about to step away when the man stopped her.
The hand that was holding the cigarette gently grabbed her wrist...
Luke whirled around and hugged her close from the back.
Bianca could not stop her heart from thumping hard. She wanted to turn around, but she did not have the courage to meet his
gaze.
No woman could resist his domineering aura, his tall nose bridge, his thin but sexy lips, his sculpted face, and that fresh
masculine smell mixed with the faint scent of tobacco...
Luke's actions were deliberately slow as he took in her fresh scent. His arm went around her waist as he said solemnly, "It was a
long drive, and I am indeed hungry." "Then I'll... I'll bring you to... to dinner..." Bianca stammered.
She had just finished the sentence when the man's grip on her waist became tighter. Suddenly, she lost all strength. The man
turned her around and pressed his lips on hers.
"Nothing can sate my hunger except you," he said hoarsely.