“Matthew, don’t… don’t you dare lay your hands on me!”
Now, Clarissa was no different from a helpless animal waiting to be slaughtered. She could hardly do anything if he really forced himself on her.
Clarissa stuttered and tried to resist when she sensed the growing desire in Matthew’s obsidian eyes.
As they were so close to each other, Clarissa dared not to move an inch. Besides, she could clearly feel Matthew getting hard.
She held his arm forcefully and nervously and stared at him, hoping that he could feel her resistance and pleas.
“Don’t…”
“Clare…” He suddenly leaned forward and whispered in her ear in a slightly hoarse voice.
The next moment, her body shivered when he gently bit her ear.
“Clare, when can I lay my hands on you?”
“… Well, it won’t happen now. Since we’ve just started going out, we don’t really know each other yet…”
“Is that so? I know you very well!”
Matthew grabbed Clarissa’s waist tighter when he spoke to give her an obvious hint. Obviously, he had some misunderstanding about whether he really knew Clarissa.
Although Clarissa’s face was flushed, she looked at him with dissatisfaction.
She wasn’t as embarrassed or nervous as before when she said solemnly, “We haven’t really known each other yet. We might like each other now, but the feelings we have now are rather superficial. Uncle Matthew, you and I haven’t really understood our true selves. We are probably getting along well now but might eventually figure out that we are not as perfect as expected. So, why don’t we just take our time? After all, I don’t want to rush into a relationship.”
Matthew fell silent and calmed himself down. After that, he turned around and sat next to her. At this moment, the intimacy between them had faded away.
After a while, Clarissa sat up and kept a slight distance from him.
Although she could only see his back but not his face, she could somehow feel that he was angry.
Despite his vexation, she was determined to tell him the truth.
“I might seem ungrateful, but I mean what I said.”
A moment later, Matthew replied in a deep voice, “You’re indeed ungrateful.”
As she was baffled by his response, she couldn’t help but let out a “Humph.”
Unexpectedly, he turned around and pushed her body down. The next moment, he pressed against her body with his arms.
Why is he so unpredictable? He looked upset and said unpleasant words earlier on but hugged me now.
“What are you trying to do?”
She avoided his gaze as soon as he opened his eyes.
“Go to sleep!” He said coldly.
Upon hearing his command, she immediately closed her eyes and slept.
Meanwhile, his lips curled into a smile, which soon disappeared.
The next morning, Matthew had already left the room when the alarm rang and woke her up.
She thought to herself when cleaning herself up. Is he still mad at me?
Her guess was proven to be right because he didn’t harass her in the office throughout the day.
Humph! So, he’s mad at me? Why is he angry?
Does it mean that we have to break up just because we didn’t do the deed?
In that case, Clarissa thought he wasn’t the man who deserved to be loved by her.
Also, she unilaterally declared a cold war against Matthew because her mind was in turmoil.
After she returned to the apartment angrily, she didn’t even have the appetite to eat. Instead, she pondered if she had to make things clear with him. Since he is mad at me because of that reason, I must break up with him.
Suddenly, her phone rang. She answered it and asked grumpily, “What do you want?”
Miles away, Ryler was startled for a moment and chuckled upon hearing her grumpy voice. “What’s wrong, Clare? Who pissed you off?”
Once Clarissa heard his voice, she immediately composed herself and changed her tone.
“Oh, nothing. Ry, you are not filming now?”
“No. I’m back in D City for an event and happened to have some free time tonight. Would you like to have dinner with me?”
“Sure, but…”
Since Ryler knew Clarissa’s concern, he reassured her, “Don’t worry. We’ll meet at a private place where no one will take pictures of us.” “Alright then. Give me the address.”
After hanging up the phone, she put on a dress, a cardigan, and a pair of high-heels. She looked gentle but still a little sexy after letting her long hair down.
Given that Ryler suggested the place, it would certainly be a private restaurant.
After entering the private lounge in the restaurant, Clarissa finally heaved a sigh of relief.
“You look so nervous. Why are you so afraid that someone might spread a rumor about us? I mean, a lot of women out there wish to be involved in rumors with me. Am I not good enough for you?” Ryler led her to a chair as he said teasingly.
Besides, he even gently poured a glass of water for her.
“Well, I’m afraid of it. Not that you’re not good enough for me, but you’re way out of my league. I might be eaten up alive by your fans if there is any rumor about us.”
She grabbed the glass of water from him and took a sip. After that, she looked at him and asked smilingly, “It hasn’t been that long since we parted ways in the film studio, is it? Why do you look even more handsome now?”
“I’ve always been handsome. It’s just that you didn’t notice it.”
“Jeez! I really can’t see a connection between your good looks now and your embarrassing image during high school…”
“Clarissa! Stop it!”
She was giggling when she covered her mouth and said, “Alright, I won’t dwell on it. However, the way you looked in the old days has stuck in my mind. You know what? I even have some pictures of you at home! If I need money one day, I can sell the pictures and definitely make a lot of money.”
Ryler shot her a warning glance. After the waiter came in to serve the dishes, both of them chatted over dinner.
“Weren’t you at W City? Why did you come back? I talked to your grandma over the phone a few times. She said that you’ve been in D City for quite some time, is that right?”
She nodded and replied, “My mom was admitted to hospital back then. So, I stayed here to take care of her.”
Ryler remembered that he met Hilary when he was young. However, he never saw her again ever since she abandoned Clarissa.
As such, he was surprised to hear that Hilary was in D City.
Nonetheless, he soon changed the subject to avoid touching her sore spot again.
“By the way, when will you go home?”
Clarissa shook her head and answered, “I haven’t had any plans yet. Since I have to write about things that usually happen in an office, I’ve started working in a company to get some experience. So, I haven’t thought about when I should go home.”
Ryler nodded his head and said approvingly, “You’re really serious at work. Also, you’ve sold the film rights of some of your works. Apart from the one that I’m filming now, another production company is preparing for filming with your script. Well, you’re a great writer now, and I’ve to depend on your help in the future.”
Clarissa pretended to be cocky and teased him, “Everything is negotiable. It won’t be difficult if you desire to be the male lead. All you have to do is to give me some benefits in return!”
“Well, what kind of benefits do you need? Are you hinting at sleeping with me?”
She was stunned as Ryler suddenly came closer and acted suggestively.
Nevertheless, he soon retreated as he sensed that Clarissa looked a little embarrassed. He immediately added smilingly, “What’s wrong? Are you afraid that I’ll offer up my body as payment? Little girl, don’t you think it’s too much to ask? After all, I am the husband to numerous ladies out there. I can’t bear seeing the ladies weep because we’re together.”
“Hump! Do you think I want you? I have numerous fans too! The readers who leave their comments for me every day are my true love.”
With that, both of them weren’t embarrassed anymore and didn’t take the earlier conversation seriously.
Time flew by as they chatted over dinner.
It was about time for them to leave after Ryler received a call from his manager Toby.
“Don’t leave yet. I was just informed that they are in the private room next to yours. Go and greet them. Director Yates, who has made Shermaine the international best actress, is also there. Since you’ve come a long way, you only lack an opportunity to venture into the overseas market.”
“Okay, I get it.”
After hanging up the phone, Ryler said, “Clare, please wait for me here for a moment. Toby said that Director Yates is in this restaurant too. So, I’ve to greet him and hope that he can remember me from now on.”
“Director Yates? Are you talking about the genius director Justin Yates?”
Since Ryler noticed that her eyes sparkled with excitement, he nodded and said, “Do you want to meet him?”
She nodded repeatedly in response. “Yes, I want to!”
Justin was Clarissa’s idol because he had directed high-quality films at a young age. Apart from film directing, he was also good at writing scripts. Besides, he was considered her senior because he also graduated from D University. Clarissa became Shermaine’s fan because she loved the movie which he directed.
Putting aside Shermaine’s personality, the movie as a whole was impressive. Moreover, the director’s skill showcased in the movie was outstanding. Although he wasn’t a film studies graduate, he became both a screenwriter and a director with various achievements. As such, Clarissa felt deep in her heart that Justin was amazing.
Meanwhile, Ryler put on a smile on his face after noticing her excitement. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked out of the room.
“Ry, wouldn’t it be awkward if we greet him all of a sudden? Since Director Yates is here to have dinner, he surely doesn’t want to be disturbed. If he is meeting his family or friends privately, we would be…”
“Don’t worry. Director Yates permitted it, or else I won’t disturb him.”
“In that case, can I come along?”
“Sure! We’re only going to greet him anyway.”
In another private room, Justin hung up the phone and put on a wry smile. “I don’t know which bastard revealed that I’m back. Alas, I can’t even have some time for myself.”
“My great director, since when did you purify your heart and become ascetic? Back then, you were always surrounded by ladies. Didn’t you say that you are willing to be intoxicated and die in a woman’s arms? I mean, it has been only a few years since then. Are you getting old or impotent already?” A man said in a fricking confident but impish manner.
Justin rolled his eyes and replied, “What a jerk! Can’t I change because I’ve been enlightened? What’s the problem if I’ve learned about purifying my heart from him?”
“Him?”
The man who teased Justin was Jeremy. When he glanced at the man who had a “purified” heart, he couldn’t help but laugh in a rather strange manner.
Justin looked at him bewilderedly and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Jeremy raised his brows lewdly while his lips quirked to tease Justin.
“Matt’s heart was indeed purified in the past. However, you’ve gotten rid of your chains now, haven’t you?”
