The instant Wesley heard Alexander’s request, his expression changed imperceptibly. “Uh...”
“My wife is pregnant, so she can’t be exposed to cigarette smoke, Mr. Ford.”
Alexander’s voice was even, and he did not sound livid. Yet, Wesley still broke into a cold sweat.
Not daring to say anything further, he nodded fervently. “Got it, Mr. Xenos. I’ll have someone arrange for another private room right away!”
After saying that, he whirled around and went into the private room. Then, he came out and looked for the hotel’s manager to ask for a different room.
Alexander stood at the side and watched it all expressionlessly.
It’s impossible for him to have failed to perceive that Sophia is pregnant. But still, he had someone arrange a room that isn’t non-smoking. He’s clearly not attentive enough. Sure enough, he’s overestimating his importance now because he has been the local despot for too long a time.
Tilting her head sideways, Sophia looked at the man. Seeing that he remained silent, she reached out and tugged at the hem of his shirt. “Is this really okay?”
Alexander gazed down at her. “Why is it not okay? You’re pregnant and can’t be exposed to cigarette smoke.”
In the past, he smoked occasionally, but ever since Sophia fell pregnant, he had already quit the habit. At present, he did not like the stench of secondhand smoke either.
Since he had said so much, Sophia did not say anything further.
Oh well, what’s there to complain about my own husband loving me too much? Besides, he’s been germophobic since years ago. If Felix were in charge, the interior of the private room would’ve been sparkling clean without a hint of cigarette smoke. This Wesley guy is just too sloppy. I wonder if it’s because Alexander hasn’t flexed his power for too long a time that he doesn’t take him seriously or if he’s been the local autocrat for too long and truly thinks that Odyssey’s headquarters are too far for its influence to reach him.
The ventilation in the hotel’s private rooms was poor in the first place. Worse still, it was winter then, and the indoor heating was turned on.
If one could not curb the urge to smoke,
one could have left the private room and satiated one’s addiction in the corridor. No one would have blamed him.
However, those in that private room did not bother budging and smoked in their seats instead.
Sophia was pregnant, and her stomach was exceedingly sensitive, making her prone to nausea. Alexander had already given an obvious hint when he took exception to the stench of cigarette smoke earlier. Even then, Wesley ignored that and balked at changing rooms.
Sophia glanced down at her hand in Alexander’s. Just when she wanted to tease him and ease his anger, the door to the private room swung open once more.
“Mr. Lindbeck!”
Unexpectedly, the man who stepped out this time was not Wesley.
Wesley followed behind Lionel Lindbeck with a grim look on his face. As he cast his gaze at Alexander, his expression was rather complex.
“What’s the meaning of this, Mr. Xenos?”
The first words out of Lionel’s mouth were an accusation toward Alexander, and chagrin was written all over his face.
By sheer luck, he made some money more than ten years ago. Later, he happened to have a good eye for trends, and his investment projects profited perpetually. The domestic economic growth had been improving in the past few years, so he made increasingly more. Gradually, he started getting full of himself.
He had some status in the business circle and had been a smoker for over thirty years. Everyone knew about his fondness for cigarettes. But a moment ago, Wesley mentioned that the stench of cigarette smoke in the private room was too pervasive, and Sophia could not be exposed to it.
Thus, he felt that the comment targeted him explicitly.
He had five kids, and he had been smoking in front of his women when they were pregnant. None had ever had any problems with it.
Yet, Alexander did not bother affording him any respect and wanted him to compromise for the sake of his wife.
Naturally, he could not take it lying down. In his opinion, women were not worthy of such care.
Alexander pulled Sophia to his back before glowering down at the man before him. “What do you think, Mr. Lindbeck?”
Compared to Lionel’s aggressive questioning, Alexander’s voice was mild yet carried an inexplicable sense of intimidation.
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