Chapter 2: Indecent proposal

Lawrence's POV

Lately, I've noticed that my fiancée has been acting a bit strange. She always attributed it to the wedding preparations, even though I'm the one who's usually working most of the time. Then, a woman walked into my office and made a shocking proposition.

Despite her serious demeanor, I couldn't help but scoff at her. "I don't have time for your jokes, Martinez. Whether she's been unfaithful or not, after we're married, she'll only have eyes for me," I retorted. She smirked and pressed the space bar.

I glanced at my laptop and saw their intimate video playing once again. As I moved to stop it, she grabbed my wrist. I gave her a stern look. "I really do love you, Jaxon. Lawrence doesn't even come close to how amazing you are. That's why I have to put on this act when we're together, even though it disgusts me," Gianna confessed. I felt a lump in my throat.

Jaxon responds, "I understand. He's always been clueless. We've been together for four years, darling. Let's a little longer, okay? We can have everything soon. I promise my dear fiancée," Jaxon murmurs. They continued having sex.

In response, I impulsively throw my laptop off the desk. She sighs and releases my wrist. Justine walks over to the broken laptop and retrieves the flash drive. I notice her pained expression and see that her finger is bleeding. She hides it behind her back and turns to face me again.

"I warned you. What if they demand more than you realized? He's your cousin; there's no way you didn't know what kind of person he is. Unless you didn't even notice how he betrayed you back in our college days," she remarks.

I observe Justine's serious expression. Why is she saying these things to me? "Here. Watch it again and start paying attention to your affairs. Call me if you change your mind. I can be your standby bride," Justine offers.

After she walked away, she turned around and placed her hand in front of her. It took me a few minutes to stop staring at the door. When my secretary entered, he noticed my broken gadget and disposed of it in the trash bin. He then returned with a broom and dustpan.

Jude briefly sighed and pointed out the blood in a glass, asking if I had hurt myself. "Blood? Did you cut yourself with these broken glasses, Sir Lawrence?"

"No, I'm fine. By the way, I need you to investigate something and provide results as early as tomorrow. If you start today, I can manage on my own while you work on it," I explained, conveying the seriousness of the situation.

After expressing what needed to be done, he appeared surprised for some reason. Eventually, he informed me that my cousin was not as kind as I had believed. After he left, I decided to re-watch the video and listen to their conversation.

After enduring a dreadful afternoon, I found myself seeking solace in the familiar surroundings of the bar. It was a bitter realization to find that those I had trusted had betrayed me. How could I have been so naive and blind for four long years?

Frustrated, I almost threw my glass when I heard a familiar clicking sound and caught a whiff of citrusy perfume. Turning around, I saw a beautiful girl with messy hair held together by hair clam.

"Hey, handsome. Tell me, do you need someone to talk to, hmm?" she teased. "Being alone in tough times isn't good, you know," she adds.

"I don't have time for your arrogance, Justine," I retorted.

"Winning doesn't justify disrespect." Ignoring my words, she laughed and took a sip of her drink. Did she come here just to mock me? Even when Justine was still overweight, she possessed a striking beauty.

Her emerald eyes seemed to draw you into a forest, while her prominent high arch brows and expressive long lashes added to her allure. With her heart-shaped face, she exuded a celebrity-like appearance. There has been a significant transformation in her over the past five years.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not overweight anymore, right?" she remarked with meaning.

I understood what she was trying to convey. My college years would have been incomplete without teasing her, even if just for a day. It all started when she accidentally...

"Are you trying to get back at me?" I ask, full of sarcasm.

Justine set down her glass and confronted me. "I am not the one who cheated on you, Lawrence. I never fought unfairly. Did I use sneaky tricks? I never did, right? Lawrence, you already know yourself what you need to do. I've already help you. Stop being a fool," Justine said.

I chuckled and finished all the scotch in my glass. I requested another shot and drank it down. When she held my hand, I was just about to ask for another drink. After leaving a few dollars on the bar counter, she pulled me away.

I couldn't help but notice how warm and soft her palm felt as she held my hand. As we reached the parking lot, I realized that her car was not a luxury brand like Rolls Royce or Lamborghini, but the latest Toyota Land Cruiser LC300.

"You're not driving a fancy car like a Tesla or Lambo?" I inquired. In response, she gave me a stern look.

She explained, "Unlike famous cars that are only known for their beauty, I prefer the reliability of cars like Toyota. Actually I am planning to invest or even be part of Toyota but I know it won't happen. You may prefer those cars, but I choose vehicles from Toyota. But let's not dwell on that. Do you want to come over?"

I looked at her with a cold expression, to which she jokingly responded, "Why? Are you afraid that I'll rape you? Not a bad idea, actually."

Justine chuckled at my reaction before opening the car door and gesturing for me to get in. I look towards my own car and pointed it. "No one's going to take that. Let's go have a drink at my place and don't worry, I don't plan on making headlines. I have a reputation to uphold, Edwards," Justine assured me, as I noticed the bandage on her finger.

"Fine. I have nothing to lose anyway," I replied coldly.

As she started driving, I couldn't help but notice that her scent in the car was soothing, just like her. I leaned against the car window and closed my eyes, knowing she wouldn't harm me. I wake up to the sound of heavy rain outside.

"Take it easy," I say. She keeps driving and I notice that we're on a road surrounded by trees. She pulls over, turns on the heater, adjusts her seat, and relaxes.

"You should take a nap. This rain could last a while. I think you need some rest," Justine says.

I know she notice how haggard I was. I adjust my seat as well. Justine stays quiet and closes her eyes. After a few minutes, the silence is broken by a call. I feel tense when I see the name on the screen.

"Why don't you answer that? Oh please, don't mind me. It seems like your bride wants to talk to her... groom."