Chapter 661 I Would Rather That We Become Strangers
“What are you doing here?” June regarded Jennifer with a quizzical frown.
With arms akimbo, Jennifer responded with an ambiguous smirk, “Just dropping by to see how you’re holding up. Wasn’t quite expecting to see that you aren’t doing that much better off either.”
As he adjusted his tie, there was a hint of annoyance between June’s brows. “I don’t have time to humor you if you’re only here to gloat. Now, if you would excuse me.”
“How about a drink together? Take it that we are two people down on their luck, seeking solace in each other in the darkest of nights,” Jennifer said.
Turning around to scrutinize Jennifer’s exquisite figure, June remarked with a laugh, “Couldn’t tell that you’re such a hottie before. Personally, I wouldn’t mind having a quick hookup with you had it been any other day, but not today, unfortunately. I’m just not interested right now.”
Jennifer’s expression grew solemn. “We’re allies, June, so I think a little decency might be in order.”
June’s lips curled up. It was not clear what was on his mind when he opened the door on the passenger side of Jennifer’s ride and sat himself in.
Snorting, Jennifer got in behind the wheels. “Where to?”
“Didn’t you say that we were going for a drink?”
Jennifer stepped on the gas and drove them down to a bar.
Following that, the pair of them entered together. That bar was unlike the typical lively ones. The sort of ear-splitting music that was commonplace elsewhere was conspicuously absent here. Mostly, people just sat on their high chairs to have conversations over a drink or two.
Both of them occupied a table in the corner. Jennifer wanted a cocktail, and June randomly followed suit.
After taking a sip, Jennifer said, “We have been totally screwed over by Oscar, June. Never mind what people on the streets are saying about us, our companies’ stock values have also taken a real hit. I suppose that your situation isn’t that much better than mine, if not worse. Word has it that the Yard family has left you hanging high and dry. Are you going to take this lying down?”
Taking a sip of his drink, June replied hoarsely, “I swear that sooner or later, I’m going to hand Oscar some real payback for all of this.”
As she curled her lips into a cold sneer, there was a subtle hint of mockery in Jennifer’s tone. “Has it ever crossed your mind that even the two of us combined would not pose enough of a threat to him? I suppose there must be a reason why Cassie is still so stuck on him. There’s no woman who isn’t drawn to a strong alpha male.” While she spoke, her gaze still lingered upon June as though she meant to imply that he was a loser who had no hope of getting the girl this lifetime.
June slammed down his glass, seething, “What are you looking at me like that for?”
“Are you that easily angered?” Jennifer snickered.
June suddenly broke into a guffaw. “Don’t forget, Jennifer, that you’ve once spent an entire night riding a beta like me, moaning in such delicious ecstasy. I’ve watched that video and seen how much you enjoyed it just from that expression on your face. Mm, thinking about that really makes me feel like bending you over right here, right now.”
“Shut your mouth,” said Jennifer in response to her scab being peeled at.
“Are you that easily angered?”
Downing a large mouthful of alcohol, Jennifer sought to douse the flames of fury that were blazing inside her.
“I don’t think there’s a need for either of us to try to put each other down here, June. Do you have a plan on how to deal with Oscar?” said Jennifer, changing the subject.
“Nope.”
“Are we going to be sitting ducks here?”
“Do you have a better suggestion?”
That elicited no reply from Jennifer.
She really had no clue whatsoever herself. The higher-ups that she managed to latch onto inside Clinton Corporations had also backed out owing to the feat of being discovered by Oscar, and all they had provided her with were some unreliable intel. Clinton Corporations itself was like an iron fortress. It was hard enough for flies to penetrate it, let alone bribe the employees there.
Downing yet another mouthful of acridness, June said, “Better start cleaning up that mess you have on hand, for starters. I heard that the Larsons’ stocks have been plummeting because of that video of yours and had lost close to forty million in less than ten days. Rather than coming to me and trying to discuss how to deal with Oscar, perhaps you ought to think about finding a way to patch up that hole.”
A vicious glint flashed across Jennifer’s eyes. “Mind your own business. No matter how hard up the Larson Group becomes, there are still people we can count on in Tayhaven. This crisis will eventually pass.”
June nodded and said no more.
“Hey, June. I was thinking…” Before Jennifer could finish her sentence, she got alcohol splashed onto her face.
Raising her hand to wipe the liquid off, Jennifer glared at the culprit with narrowed eyes.
It was Cassie.
Jennifer set herself upright. “The hell are you doing here, Cassie?”
June got onto his feet as well, looking quite thrilled. “Oh honey, you’ve come. Is it because you missed me?”
Crossing her arms, Cassie stuck out her chin haughtily. “I was curious to see how you two might look like canoodling together, you shameless pair. You got some nerve, Jennifer. If you fancy this guy, then go after him openly instead of trying to hook up with him through me. Such a slut you are, always so obsessed with men who are attached to other women.”
There was a palpable shift in Jennifer’s expression, but she took a deep breath to calm herself. “You’ve probably had one too much to drink, Cassie. Let’s have June see you home.”
“I didn’t even have time to have any before I saw you two snuggling up to each other. Both of you make me sick,” said Cassie, shriveling up her nose in contempt.
June went over to her. “There’s nothing going on between us, so don’t take your emotions out on her. Come on, it’s getting late. Let’s get you home.”
“Why? Does it hurt you to see that?” said Cassie as she raised her head to regard him with an inscrutable look.
Wrapping an arm around her midsection, June forcibly took her out of the bar.
With her hair dripping with alcohol and her teeth gnashing, Jennifer was a disheveled mess.
She was so livid that she emptied the cocktail drink in her glass in one breath and did the same with her two subsequent orders of the stiffest drink available. Then, she paid up and stormed out.
At first, she did not feel the effects, but once she was outside, the sensation of the wind conversely caused the alcohol to rush to her head.
Feeling a surge of nausea, she squatted down by the curb to throw up. Having not had much for dinner, and with the amount of drink she had imbibed on an empty stomach, she was practically puking bile toward the end.
After she was done hurling, Jennifer opened her bag in search of a clean piece of tissue paper to wipe her mouth with. Unexpectedly, there was none to be found. It was as though they were also conspiring against her.
Suddenly, a piece of tissue paper was extended in front of her.
Taking it in her hand, she wiped furiously at her own lips before glancing up to see who was being so kind to her. It was only when she had a proper look at that person did her pupils shrink. A disconcerting sliver of self-consciousness glinted across the depths of her eyes.
Standing up, she reflexively primped her own hair in an effort to appear decorous. “What brought you here, Mr. Carter?”
In response, Carter only looked at her intently in a way that prompted Jennifer to retreat subtly.
“You’ve come for drinks, haven’t you? Well, enjoy! I’ll see you around,” said Jennifer, waving her hand.
Carter reached out and caught her by the wrist.
Jennifer turned around. “Yes?”
Raising his hand to caress her hair, Carter said, “I’ll send you home.”
“I’ve got my own ride,” Jennifer shook her head and turned him down outright.
With considerable insistency, Carter brought her to his car and opened the door to let her inside. Then, he secured the seatbelt for her before closing the door.
Circling round to the driver’s side, he settled himself in. Jennifer’s inability to get the door open left her a little peeved.
“What are you trying to do, Carter Scott?” Jennifer fumed.
“It’s late already, so I don’t feel comfortable leaving you on your own. That’s why I’m going to drive you home.”
In spite of her outward portrayal of disdain, Jennifer’s heart was filled with anguish.
“Since when have you cared about my safety, Carter? In the past, when I tried to woo you, I bought you supper at midnight several times. All you did was dump them in the trash bin and then shoo me off. You were never concerned if I would run into any bad guys back then,” said a goading Jennifer. It was only on keen listening that one would be able to pick up the bitterness that her inflection was steeped in.
Pursing his lips, Carter held his tongue.
After they had arrived at the Larsons, Jennifer undid her safety belt to open the door to the car, only to find it locked tight.
“Open this door right now, Carter,” Jennifer hollered.
“Let’s chat for a while, Jennifer.”
“There isn’t anything for us to talk about.”
“Even if we can’t become a couple, Jennifer, there’s no reason for us to treat each other like enemies either. Wouldn’t you agree?” said Carter while he kept his own emotions in check.
“Regrettably, I have no desire to be friends with you. When I think of my mom, I’d rather that we are strangers to each other,” said Jennifer in spite.
Once more, Carter fell silent.
“Open it. I want to get out.” Jennifer closed her eyes and did not reopen them until she had composed herself. “Let me go, Carter. You don’t owe me anything. Just stay as indifferent as you were before. Whatever happens to me is no concern of yours.”
Carter eventually did unlock the door.
Following that, Jennifer got out of the car, as did Carter. With the car separating them, he said, “Call me if you need anything, Jennifer. I want to help.”
That caused Jennifer to pause in her tracks, but she did not look back as she walked off.
Carter’s gaze appeared distant while he unflinchingly watched Jennifer’s silhouette fade into the horizon.
