Chapter 5. Complicated

A handsome and dashing man stands in his grand office, gazing at the skyscrapers of Los Angeles through the tall window. The handsome man slowly sips the wine in his hand. His eyes stare straight ahead, lost in thought. A faint, mysterious smile appears on his face. A cold aura and a firm gaze surround him.

“Mr. Damian,” greets Freddy, Damian’s assistant, as he steps closer.

“What is it?” Damian shifts his gaze, coldly eyeing his assistant standing before him.

“Sir, will you be staying long in Los Angeles? You have an important meeting next week. Is it possible for you to return to Seattle in four days?” Freddy asks politely.

Damian falls silent for a moment upon hearing the question. “For now, I will stay here for an undetermined time. As for the meeting in Seattle, you can ask the representative director to replace me.”

Freddy looks a bit confused and doesn’t understand. “Excuse me, Sir, didn’t you previously intend to stay in Los Angeles for just three days? I mean, you yourself said you don’t like staying here for too long.”

All this time, Damian rarely comes to Los Angeles. The last time he came to this city was only to attend the wedding of Fargo, his step-nephew. Even then, Damian attended the wedding for less than an hour. If he has work in Los Angeles, he always finishes it and immediately returns to Seattle. However, this time is different. Damian even seems reluctant to return to Seattle.

“I’ve changed my plans, Freddy. There’s something keeping me from leaving Los Angeles right away.”

“Excuse me, may I know what plans you mean?”

“You’ll find out later. Now, leave! Finish your other work.”

“Yes, Sir. Excuse me.” Freddy bows his head and takes his leave from Damian.

Once his secretary has left, Damian returns to gazing at the skyscrapers through the tall window of his office. In the mind of this handsome man, there is currently one name he is thinking about. The woman who has made him delay his return to Seattle.

Kimberly….

The name slips unconsciously into Damian’s heart. He never imagined he would have a scandal with his step-nephew’s wife. More precisely, it is a sweet scandal. Damian’s reason for coming to the nightclub was to relieve his boredom. Then, there was a woman sitting there alone, who managed to catch his attention. Everything just flowed, even ending up in bed. Well, Damian realizes how despicable he is for sleeping with his step-nephew’s wife.

However, there is one thing that surprises and shocks him: Fargo has never touched Kimberly. At her age, it’s almost impossible for a woman to still be a virgin. Kimberly is like a needle in a haystack.

“A very interesting game,” Damian mutters with a smirk on his lips.

***

Kimberly exhales sharply, full of anxiety. She is thinking about her meeting with Damian at Fargo’s office. Honestly, she didn’t know her husband would invite Damian. Her reason for coming to Fargo’s office was to handle the investment process, but who would have thought that Damian was also investing in her husband’s new company. In fact, he is the largest investor.

Darrel Group is one of the major companies in America. No wonder Damian became one of the biggest investors in the company Fargo just established. Especially after Kimberly found out that Damian was the man she had a one-night stand with.

Kimberly accidentally found an article about Damian Darrel on the internet. Apparently, her husband’s step-uncle has tremendous power and influence in America. All this time, Kimberly never really followed complete information about young billionaires in America. Moreover, Darrel Group has never worked with her family’s company. That’s why she doesn’t know much about it.

“Kimberly, you’re so stupid!” Kimberly massages her temples to ease her headache.

A knock on the door is heard, making Kimberly turn her gaze toward the source of the sound. She clicks her tongue in annoyance at being disturbed while her head is aching like this.

“Come in!” she calls out irritably.

When the door opens, a maid steps in, walks up to Kimberly, and greets her politely, “Good evening, Mrs. Kimberly.”

“Why are you bothering me?” Kimberly asks, trying to contain her irritation.

“I–I’m sorry, Ma’am. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to ask what you would like for dinner tonight?” the maid asks politely, her head still bowed.

Kimberly closes her eyes briefly. If the maid hadn’t reminded her, she wouldn’t have remembered that she hadn’t eaten since this afternoon. The headache makes her lose her appetite. It seems the complications have already filled her up.

“Just make me a vegetable salad and grilled salmon,” Kimberly answers flatly.

“Yes, Ma’am. Um, Ma’am, there’s something I want to tell you,” the maid says politely, but with a hint of seriousness.

“What is it?” Kimberly looks intently at the maid.

“Mr. Fargo called earlier, Ma’am. He said he’ll be home late tonight,” the maid informs, immediately changing Kimberly’s expression.

“Fargo called the house? Why didn’t he contact my phone?” Kimberly asks irritably. Earlier today, when she was at Fargo’s office, her husband asked her to go home first. As usual, Fargo said he was busy and busy. She doesn’t know what keeps her husband so busy that he forgets everything.

“Ma’am, maybe your phone is off, so Mr. Fargo called the house,” the maid answers politely.

Hearing the maid’s answer, Kimberly immediately grabs her phone from the sofa and curses when she sees that it is indeed off. She forgot to charge the battery. Too many things are weighing on her mind, so she neglects even the small but important things in her life.

“So, Ma’am, is it true your phone is off?” the maid asks carefully. The maid scratches her head nervously, afraid her boss will scold her.

“Yes, I forgot to charge my phone. Now, go! Please prepare my dinner and bring me some green tea. Tonight, I want to have dinner in my room. I don’t feel like eating in the dining room,” Kimberly answers coldly, her face expressionless.

“Yes, Ma’am. I’ll prepare your dinner right away. If you’ll excuse me.” The maid bows her head and leaves Kimberly’s presence.

Kimberly slumps onto the sofa as soon as the maid leaves. She leans back and closes her eyes for a moment. Her mind recalls the incident when Fargo received a call from Gilda. She doesn’t mean to be suspicious, but she’s sure that all this time, Fargo and his stepsister have never had close communication. But why do they seem so close now?

“Tomorrow I have to meet Gilda. I’ll ask her directly,” Kimberly mutters, her eyes staring straight ahead and her mind wandering.

When morning comes, Kimberly is already getting ready to go to her family’s mansion. Today her goal is to meet her stepsister. Of course, she won’t tell Fargo. She simply says she’s going to the office as usual.

“Kimberly!” Fargo steps out of the walk-in closet, approaching his wife who is enjoying her breakfast.

“What is it?” Kimberly shifts her gaze, looking at Fargo in annoyance. Last night, her husband came home very late. She doesn’t even know what time, because she was already asleep.

“Next week, there’s a shareholders’ meeting. Don’t forget to come. There are some documents you need to sign again. During the meeting, just follow what I say.” Fargo sits beside Kimberly, takes a cup of hot coffee, and sips it slowly.

“I don’t need to attend that meeting. You can go alone. Besides, I’m your wife, so you can represent me at the shareholders’ meeting,” Kimberly answers flatly while eating the sandwich in her hand.

“You can’t not come, Kimberly. This company is still new. At least in the beginning, you must attend,” Fargo replies, emphasizing firmly.

“I can’t come, Fargo. If you want me to come, you have to kick Pa....” Kimberly’s words are cut off as she realizes what she was about to say. She quickly continues, “I mean, I don’t feel like coming. I have a lot of work to do.”

“Don’t be stubborn, Kim. Everything is arranged. Next week is the shareholders’ meeting. Just spare one hour. After the meeting, you can go to your office,” Fargo says firmly, finishing his breakfast. “I have to go now. I have an important meeting this morning.”

“Fargo, wait!” Kimberly grabs his arm.

“What is it now, Kimberly?” Fargo shifts his gaze, looking at his wife.

“Um, will you be home late tonight?”

“I don’t know. Lately, I have too much work. Don’t wait for me. Just go to bed early.”

“But—”

“I have to go now. I don’t want to be late for this important meeting. You know, I just started a new company. There are many things I have to take care of. So, please understand my position.”

Fargo grabs his car keys and leaves, leaving Kimberly still sitting in place. Kimberly clicks her tongue in annoyance. But she doesn’t have time to dwell on her irritation. The next moment, after her husband has left, she leaves the room and heads to the car that has been prepared.

Throughout the journey, Kimberly gazes at the bright sky. Unfortunately, it’s not as bright as her heart. Her mind and heart are in turmoil because of too many complicated things she’s thinking about. She feels like she’s in a labyrinth that she knows she can’t escape.

At a red light, Kimberly stops her car right at the front of the line. But suddenly, unintentionally, her gaze shifts to a jewelry store not far away. She squints as she sees a man and a woman looking affectionate as they leave the jewelry store. Kimberly focuses her gaze. The handsome man in a black suit is very familiar to her. The handsome face, the aura of decisiveness, and the masculine way of walking. Everything about that man is etched in Kimberly’s memory.

Damian? Isn’t that Damian? But who is the woman beside him? Kimberly wonders, her face full of curiosity. For some reason, her heart seems to feel something.

Yes, the man who just came out of the jewelry store is Damian Darrel. However, this time is different, Kimberly sees Damian with a woman she doesn’t recognize. The distance between her and Damian is quite far, so Kimberly can’t clearly see the woman’s face with him.