Chapter 5 - Bad Tastes in Men

Emerald recognized that voice. It belongs to Red, one of her male friends.

With a wide and bright smile she turned towards Red, but quickly her smile faded away as soon as she caught sight of the man beside Red.

"You did great!" Red raised his hands with thumbs up and he walked near Emerald.

"How long have you been here?" Emerald asked, ignoring the man standing next to Red.

Clayton wanted to engulf her into his embrace. But held back as he didn't want to make another mistake that would cause her to run away again.

Unconcealed adoration and longing danced in Clayton's eyes as he stared at the woman he had been searching for a long time.

Last time, he saw her in an evening gown which stunned him. Today, she had the same effect on him even when clad in a race suit.

"An hour?" Red said as he looked at his watch.

Emerald nodded and acted normal as if she was unbothered with Clayton's presence.

"By the way, I would like to treat you for lunch together with my cousin here," Red pointed at Clayton.

"Emerald, this is my cousin Clayton Strong," the excitement in Red's voice couldn't be concealed.

An uncanny silence pervaded but Clayton broke it apart by offering his hand for a handshake, "My pleasure to meet you, Emerald."

Emerald looked at the hand in front of her but didn't take it. She looked at Red. "I'm sorry, the pit team wanted to have lunch with me, maybe next time."

Red felt something was odd because the usual warm Emerald was nowhere to be found and replaced by an icy cold person.

"We can join you, lunch will be with me," Red didn't want to miss his chance.

"I'll ask them if they want," without waiting for Red's response Emerald walked toward the pit team.

"She isn't like that, she is the sweetest woman I've ever seen. Perhaps she's tired practicing and pressured as the season of racing was about to begin," Red explained. If Clayton rejected Emerald he couldn't woo her.

"When did you meet her?" Clayton asked as his eyes followed every movement of Emerald.

"Six months ago, I rescued her from a group of men who were trying to harass her," Red answered.

Clayton loosened his tie. The thought that his Emerald was nearly violated and he wasn't there to help her, made his chest constrict.

Red followed Emerald after that, afraid that he would be turned down.

"Hey, guys! It's been a while. It would be great catching up with you guys while having lunch," Red without asking permission from Emerald to speak to her team.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Shannon chimed in.

Emerald pursed her lips, she knew that Shannon had a thing for Red and didn't contradict her.

The others in the team have no problem having lunch with Red. He was an easy going man and is not hard to be with.

Emerald shrugged in resignation. It was really a small world. Who would have thought that Red Stanford was related to her ex - husband?

She met Red abroad. If it wasn't for Red she would have lost her chastity at that time and was ravished by a group of lustful men.

"Red, who is he?" Shannon asked with her eyes fixated at Clayton with fawning adoration.

Long gone was her infatuation for Red as her eyes landed on Clayton's face.

Who could escape that beguiling deep blue eyes with long thick lashes matched with finely not too thick flawlessly arched eyebrows. His Grecian nose was finely sculpted with no imperfections. A high cheekbone complimented by a perfectly chiseled jaw. Well, his lips are alluringly lovely to look at.

He wasn't just gifted with a symmetrical handsome face but he was endowed with a beautiful body at that. His form fitting white shirt couldn't hide the body underneath it. His long and slender legs highlighted his height of 6 feet and three inches.

One must be blind if they weren't affected by the embodiment of Adonis.

Only Emerald was immune to this man. She didn't bat an eye at him.

Emerald looked at Shannon pitifully.

If only Shannon knew how ruthless and coldhearted this man is, she wouldn't trade Red over a man like him.

Emerald excused herself from the group to take a quick shower. Emerald locked the door so no one could come into the shower room. She heaved a sigh of relief when Clayton didn't follow her.

Clayton was rather irritated as Shannon hadn't stopped pestering him but didn't show it.

He intended to draw a chair for Emerald but Red beat him to it.

Emerald smiled at Red and said, "Thank you," before taking a seat.

The pit team begged Emerald to choose food for them as they're too lazy to choose and wanted to have a chat.

"Don't complain if I chose the wrong one," Emerald said, faking a stern look at her team. And then she looked at Shannon who sat next to Clayton.

"You're the best Emmy, I like everything you order for me. You have an impeccable taste be it food or clothes or anything, I trust your taste," Shannon propped her face with her hands, acting cutesy.

"No, you haven't discovered it yet," she shook her head while smirking. "I have an awful taste."

"Oh?"

The group thought she was referring to food.

Of course, only one person knew what she was talking about. She had a bad taste when it came to men.