Chapter 8 A Valuable Ring

Maurice's POV:

"What trick are you playing?"

I bent down and whispered in Eliana's ear.

I felt her tremble before she could recoil.

"Get off of me," she snapped. "I just saved you from your client's angry husband. Are you going to return my kindness with ingratitude?"

My client's husband?

I didn't know whether to cry or to laugh.

She still thought that I was a male escort.

Was she pretending, or was she really confused?

I couldn't see through her.

While I was distracted, Eliana broke free from my arms. She raised her eyebrows and said in a fierce tone, "You're still young. You can find a decent job. Making a living by sleeping with rich, lonely women isn't a good long-term source of income."

I was about to say something when her phone rang.

Frowning, she picked it up.

"Eliana! What the hell did you do? Antwan just told me you hit him!"

I heard a woman's roar from Eliana's phone.

It was either Eliana had the call on speaker without realizing it or the caller was just too damn furious. I couldn't tell which.

Eliana glared at me and said in a low voice, "I didn't hit him."

Well, technically, she really wasn't the one who hit that fat geezer.

"We were going to ask him for a second chance, but you messed it up completely! You have to take full responsibility for the loss of the project and for Antwan's medical fees! I am not going down with you, Eliana. Do you hear me?"

After a while, Eliana hung up the phone and stuffed it back in her pocket.

"Who was that, and why was she screaming at you?" I looked at her curiously.

Eliana glared at me and whined, "None of your business, but she was yelling at me because of you! I screwed up my job to save you. And don't think you're getting away with it. Give me your phone number."

She took out her phone and handed it to me.

I looked down and refused to take it. "Your excuse to get my phone number is ridiculous."

"I don't care what you think!" Eliana shoved her phone to me and barked, "Hurry up and save your number!"

I couldn't help beaming. She looked cute when she was enraged.

I shook my head and took her phone. As I entered my phone number, I pretended to sigh and muttered, "You know, I haven't had any business in a long time. I almost got one today, but you ruined it."

"I did it to save you. Do you have any idea what would've happened to you back there if I hadn't stepped in? Is your business more important than your own life?"

"Fine. How about I repay you with my body and sleep with you for a night?"

"You... No, thanks!" Eliana hissed, glaring at me.

After saving my number, I returned her phone.

Then, I stepped forward, pinched her chin, and looked into her eyes. "Let me ask you something. I had a valuable ring, a priceless family heirloom. It went missing after I spent the night with you five years ago. I haven't seen it since then. Did you..."

Eliana immediately denied it. "No! And don't even try to accuse me of taking it."

I fixed my gaze on her and pressed on, "Really?"

"Y-yes!"

Her flustered reaction made me think that she was lying.

How could she play me like this?

I'd see if she could still smile tomorrow.

I cast a cold glance at her, stepped away, and took out my phone. "Come get me," I ordered into the receiver.

Eliana's POV:

His cold voice made me shiver. I faltered, "W-wait. Tell me what your ring looks like."

But the gigolo turned a deaf ear and didn't respond to me.

After a while, an Aston Martin sped over and stopped steadily in front of him.

The gigolo went ahead and opened the car door.

I was stunned. Was this his car?

Seeing him get in and sit in the back seat, I wanted to follow him in, but he slammed the door shut.

The engine roared, and the Aston Martin sped away, leaving me alone in the remote street.

I gritted my teeth and picked up my phone to call for a cab.

I saw the newly created contact. The name read, "Preston Archer."