Chapter 7 7

The sharp sound of the slap forced Crawford's head to the side. A red mark rapidly bloomed across his cheek.

The nurse kept knocking on the door outside. She called out that Miss Delphine needed him.

Crawford pushed his tongue against the inside of his bruised cheek. He stared at Holly with dark, dangerous eyes, but he held his temper.

He turned around. He adjusted his tie, took a deep breath, and opened the lounge door to step out.

Holly leaned against the back of the door. She waited for her breathing to slow down. She pulled a compact from her purse and fixed her ruined lipstick.

She pushed the door open and walked into the hallway. She saw Crawford just about to walk into Delphine's room.

The hospital room door was cracked open. Delphine was sitting up in bed, staring intensely through the gap at the hallway.

Holly caught Delphine's gaze instantly. At the exact same moment, the corner of her eye caught the wide-angle security camera mounted on the ceiling.

A dark idea flashed through Holly's mind. She walked fast toward Crawford, her heels clicking sharply on the floor.

Just as Crawford pushed the door to enter, Holly grabbed the lapel of his suit jacket from behind.

Crawford turned around in shock. Before his brain could process what was happening, Holly stood on her toes and pressed her lips against his.

It was a highly deceptive, heated kiss. Holly's hand deliberately slid up to stroke the back of his neck in a deeply intimate gesture.

Crawford's body went completely rigid. Then, pure instinct took over. His arms wrapped around her waist, trying to pull her closer and deepen the kiss.

Inside the room, Delphine watched the entire thing clearly. The glass water cup in her hand slipped. It hit the floor and shattered into pieces.

The sound of breaking glass reached the hallway. Holly's goal was achieved. She shoved Crawford away with all her strength, like touching a live wire.

Crawford stumbled back a step. His eyes were still clouded with a heavy, confused heat.

Holly wiped her lips with the back of her hand in absolute disgust. Right to his face, she delivered a cold review.

She looked dead into his eyes. She told him his kissing skills were garbage and the experience was terrible.

Crawford's face turned ash white. His male ego took a catastrophic hit.

He ground his teeth together. He demanded to know what the hell was wrong with her. She was the one who initiated it.

Holly smiled thinly. She used her chin to point at the half-open door and the camera on the ceiling.

She mocked him. She told him she was just doing her job, playing the loving wife for the cameras, and giving the audience a little free show.

Crawford followed her gaze. He saw the shattered glass on the floor and Delphine's pale, devastated face.

The realization hit him like a truck. Holly had used him as a cheap tool to torture his ex-lover. His blood boiled.

He pointed a shaking finger at Holly. He was so furious he couldn't form a single word. His chest heaved violently.

Holly ignored his rage. She turned gracefully and walked toward the elevators, her heels clicking in a steady rhythm.

She waved a hand over her shoulder. She reminded him not to forget to wire her PR fee for the day.

The elevator doors opened. Holly stepped inside. She looked at Crawford's furious face one last time and hit the close button.

The second the doors shut, Holly dropped the act. She leaned against the metal wall. A hollow sense of revenge mixed with exhaustion washed over her.

Crawford stood frozen in the hallway. He stared at the closed elevator doors. He suddenly kicked the heavy metal trash can next to him, sending it crashing against the wall.