Chapter 5

"Sorry. I didn't mean to listen in on your conversation," Theodore said as he rubbed his nose. "Excuse me, please."

He was about to sweep past them when Isobel grabbed him. She wrapped her arms around one of his and looked at Ethan. "You wanted to know who I was with last night, right? I was with him!"

As soon as her words fell, Ethan's face, which was ashen from his pain, twisted. Then, he snorted, seemingly thinking of something. He said to Theodore, "Sorry about this, Mr. Stone. Isobel's just throwing a tantrum with me. You should head inside to get a drink or two."

Theodore was at the top of the social pyramid, even within the upper crust. His family business was the most powerful among them, and he himself was the elite of the elite. Despite his youth, he'd already gained control of his family business. That was why everyone treated him with respect and rarely joked with him.

Theodore raised an eyebrow and broke free of Isobel before walking away.

She stood there stiffly as she watched him leave. For a second, she regretted what she'd done. She and Theodore had just slept together the night before, yet there he was, leaving without another look back. He couldn't even be bothered to do her such a tiny favor.

Ethan said, "I know you want to piss me off, Isobel, but don't drag Theodore Stone into this. You'll get in trouble if you step on his tail."

Theodore faltered at his words and turned to give Ethan a cold look. "What's up with that? Are you trying to say I'm scary, Mr. Goode?"

Ethan froze. "Of course not. I didn't mean it like that."

He was about to continue explaining when Theodore turned back and approached Isobel. He said, "I'll take you home once you're done dealing with this."

Isobel was at a loss for words. After a while, she said, "Okay. We can leave now."

Ethan gaped at them, his eyes wide with disbelief. Theodore had never been one to stick his nose into someone else's business, yet he'd just offered to take Isobel home. Could there really be something between them?

His expression darkened at that thought. It became positively hideous as he watched Isobel and Theodore leave together. He didn't dare do anything to Theodore, so he vented his anger by punching the wall.

Isobel followed Theodore out of Mysterio. There, she saw a black Maybach slowly pull up before her. The driver got out to open the door for Theodore, but the latter turned to look at her. "Why are you still standing there? Get in."

"Huh?" She thought he'd only been saying that to help her.

To her surprise, he raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't like lying."

Isobel made a sound of acknowledgment and got into the car, not wanting to seem like she was afraid of him. She gave the driver her address after he started the car, after which an eerie silence descended upon them.

After a while, Theodore said, "You really are blind, huh?"

She turned to look at him, wanting to say something in retort. However, he was right.

He tugged his collar loose and sneered. "So, you were just using me last night?"

Isobel pursed her lips, finding that question silly. "Don't tell me you think you drew the short end of the stick, Mr. Stone."

She was confident in her looks and figure. To her surprise, Theodore's expression darkened at her words. After a brief silence, he looked at the driver and said, "Pull over."

The driver did as told. Isobel looked at Theodore in confusion. "What's going on?"

He said coldly, "Get out!"

She looked out the window, feeling puzzled. Hadn't they been chatting happily? Why was he suddenly telling her to get out? Besides, they were on the highway. She couldn't get a cab here!

"Get out!" Theodore repeated.

Isobel hesitated but ultimately got out. Behind her, Theodore said, "I hate being used. We don't owe each other anything anymore, Isobel!"

He told the driver to get going once Isobel was out of the car, leaving her shivering by the side of the road. "He's nuts!"

She rolled her eyes. After some thought, she called Sophie and told her where she was, asking Sophie to pick her up.

Sophie arrived half an hour later. As Isobel got into the car, she complained, "When it rains, it pours."

Sophie looked at her. "What happened?"

Isobel sighed. "I might've pissed off our big client. Say goodbye to your Ferope trip."

She was really down on her luck lately. Nothing was going well.