Chapter 3 CHAPTER 3: MY WIFE

Lhan was standing waiting for a cab when all of a sudden, a six-door black Mercedes Limousine stopped in front of her.

"Lhan! Going home?" Aljun queried.

"Yeah." Lhan nodded.

"Come we'll take you home!" Aljun got out of the front seat and open the second door.

"It's okay, boss. I'll take a cab." Lhan answered with a slight smile. But deep inside her she said, 'Who do you think would take a ride with four guys?'

"Ahh. Come on! Just treat us as big brothers." Seeing that Lhan has no reaction he convinced her, "For sure Fleur will kill me if she finds out what happened tonight. Don't worry my friends are harmless."

"When did I tell Fleur about my job?" She shook her head helplessly.

"I know you are not that kind of girl. But still let us take you home. I know you are tired." Aljun convinced her.

Lhan climbed in the Limousine after pondering for seconds. It might take her at least 15-30 minutes before she could take a cab and right at that moment what she wanted was to rest after a long day of tiredness from school and work plus the stress she got from the incident with Mr. Cruz. As soon as she entered, she noticed Dunce sitting. She bowed to show her respect.

"By the way, these are my friends. The one driving is Jaden, at the back is Thedd. This guy beside you is Ardunce." Aljun introduced his friends after Lhan settled in her seat.

"Nice meeting you all. I'm Lhan Avila." She gazed at them one by one, gave them a respectful bow then stopped at Dunce, "Ahm, Mr. Ardunce I haven't got the opportunity to say thank you. Although your actions were deemed unnecessary still, I sincerely thank you and also I would like to apologize for splashing the wine..." she politely expressed her words with poker face head bowed without the intention of offending the guy.

The trio was stunned upon hearing the words 'deemed unnecessary'. For sure their friend, Ardunce, was offended and Lhan was unaware.

Aljun thought to himself, 'this stupid girl is so stubborn'. Thedd opened his mouth, dared not to look at Dunce and shook his head, 'no one dares to questions Dunce' action yet this girl is digging her own grave. Ignorance really brings trouble.' Only Jaden was brave enough to laugh out loud. "Hahaha! Dunce, heard that?! Your damsel in distress is not really in distress."

Lhan felt awkward. 'Did I say something wrong? I am truthfully sincere, you know.'

"Hmm. Since you say that you are sincere, I do hope you pay for the clothes. The suit can be cleaned but the stain in my inner suit cannot be easily removed." He tossed her the paper bag with his damped clothes in it. "Get me same brand and same color. Dry clean the coat. You cannot hand wash it."

Ardunce bluntness astounded Lhan. Due to shock all she could say was, "Okay..." She gazed at him from head to toe with confusion, trying to read the man's thinking. 'Did I offend him?' She thought.

The three guys however found the situation a little vexing. Looking at Dunce with scrutiny, they found him childish as they know that he got irritated and offended when Lhan uttered the words 'actions were deemed unnecessary'. What's worse was that the young lady seemed innocent and unaware that she just offended him. Her ignorance added salt to injury. All of them were aware that his clothes' cost was truly expensive and Lhan was just a student. A working student on top of it. One or two clothes dirtied or ripped was not a big deal to Dunce yet he aggressively asked a working student to pay for his clothes.

"Give me your phone." He reached out his arm, his voice was quite imposing matched with his cold glance at her.

Lhan obediently handed her phone without saying a word like a robot being controlled. She's the type that doesn't want to be commanded but as she looked at Dunce intently, she could not help but be submissive. His deep grey eyes seemed to deluge her gaining control of her system.

Dunce typed his number and pressed call. His own phone rang. Then he cancelled the call upon hearing his ring tunes. "That's my number. Save it. Call me when you have my clothes ready. I am expecting to hear from you next week." And threw the phone back to Lhan.

Every word he delivered were pressing that Lhan had no choice but to agree silently. She looked at him like she was assessing and sizing his character again.

"What?" He crossed his arms, glared at her when he felt her stare, then looked at the window with a smirk on his face.

His civil yet arrogant actions made his friends scratched their head and sighed.

'This is way more annoying than harassment. Did I happen to step on his ego?' Lhan's thought. She also then busied herself gazing outside trying to recollect what she had just said, her lip pressed tightly and brows furrowed. Keeping herself not to spout words that might worsen the situation. 'I shouldn't ride with them.'

Aljun felt relieved when Lhan did not retaliate. He knew that most of the times, the girl was truly a stubborn one. His perception of her was that Lhan enjoyed arguing. Every time he stayed at their Flat, he watched many a times when Lhan and her girlfriend, Fleur argued. Lhan never stooped down and she was good at reasoning while maintaining an unperturbed and emotionless face. Fleur even suggested that she should had enrolled Law and not Computer Course. It was a good sign that she just kept mum. 'A clash between a domineering man and stubborn girl was not something appealing but dangerous, ' he thought

The three guys could only watch in awe.

Jaden's thought, 'this guy just wanted to get the girl's phone. What a suave manner to inquire one's number.'

For almost 15minutes, the car was awkwardly quiet. The silence was cut when Lhan spoke. No one broke the silence until they got closer to Lhan's place.

"My boarding house is just around the corner. Once you turn left at the intersection, please stop near the laundry shop." She peeked between the gap of the front seat and pointed her hand in front.

They remained silent until they arrived at Lhan's flat. She gracefully climbed out the car and turned to look at them to bid her goodbyes.

"Thank you for taking me home. I regret that I could not invite you inside as it is already late." She then glanced at Dunce. "Mister! Next time don't just randomly help someone. Honestly, your shirt's cost hurts more deeply than a slap from that guy. What a cheapskate!"

Lhan turned her back from the car and marched to the building in front of her without giving Ardunce a chance to speak.

The three guys could no longer hold their laughter. As Lhan veered 180 degrees heeding hr way to the building, they raised the heavily tinted window glass and laughed as loud as they could.

"Such a brave girl to give our dear CEO an advice. Interesting!" It was Thedd who commented first.

"Don't laugh. Of course, she is interesting. Worthy of being my wife." Unreservedly stated by Dunce.

The three of them suddenly turned speechless again. All they wanted was to tease him. They didn't expect his upright confession. Although they knew that Lhan piqued his interest, it was so sudden that he called her 'wife'. Within their circle of friends, once someone called a girl wife it only means that he was dead serious to be in a relationship with the girl.

"Drive! I want to have a good sleep now. I guess I'll be very busy these coming days pursuing my wife." A grin was plastered on his face. Disregarding his friends, he closed his eyes and sat relaxingly crossed legs and two hands behind his head.

The trio looked at him in awe but no one dared to speak as they lost their thoughts and they don't know what to say.