As Dolores stood in front of the door to Matthew’s office, she sucked in a deep breath and after a while, she finally mustered enough courage to knock on the door.
A faint reply came from inside the room, she then pushed the door open...
The decor in Matthew’s office was very modern and simplistic. The color scheme was minimalistic, bringing out his maturity and all-encompassing empathy. On one side was a French window that allowed a generous amount of sunlight to pour into the office. If one were to stand in front of the window they would be able to take in the view of the whole city.
Matthew was busy scanning documents. He didn’t even raise his head in response to his visitor.
Dolores stood in front of his desk and held the translated document out for him to see.
Matthew didn’t accept it, he simply said. “Put that on the table.”
Dolores placed the documents on his desk before attempting to broach the topic of bringing him along with her back home. However, she was struggling to say anything.
Should she just say, Mr. Nelson, can you come with me back to my home for a while? Dolores was sure that she would get rejected instantly if she tried that one.
Matthew probably thought the visitor was Helen as he asked, “What’s the matter?”
He flipped over the document while keeping his head low. His eyes never averted from the documents.
“Mr. Nelson, I want to ask you for a favor,” Dolores said, finally mustering enough courage.
As if he finally noticed the unfamiliar voice, he looked up and saw Dolores standing hesitantly in front of his desk.
Dolores forced a hasty smile as she greeted him. “Mr. Nelson.”
At the sight of her, there was a flash of something in his eyes, but it was fleeting. Her appearance in his office was something he’d probably never considered.
Matthew closed the file while leaning back in his chair. He slowly scanned her from face to her feet. He was studying her with the utmost care, missing none of her extraneous features.
“You have a favor to ask from me?”
Dolores tried to avoid meeting his mocking gaze. “Mr. Nelson, have you realized that I’ve been plagued by trouble lately because of you?”
“Oh?” Matthew was surprised she had actually said that.
Dolores clenched her fists to calm herself down as she continued. “Helen has been making life difficult for me in the company and I think you know very well what she’s been doing, Mr. Nelson. Yesterday, my life was even in danger and it was all because of my current identity as your wife. Therefore, by considering my safety, could you please accompany me back home just this once?”
Matthew was cupping his forehead while massaging his temples. He didn’t respond for quite a while.
Dolores continued to stand rooted to the spot as her heart pounded in her chest. She did not know what his response would be.
Dolores’ heart leaped into her throat. It seemed that nothing could escape his intuition.
She decided to be honest with him. “I want to display our ‘mutual affection’ in front of Randolph so I can get back what used to belong to me from him. With that in mind, Mr. Nelson, will you please accept my invitation?”
Dolores was afraid of the prospect of him rejecting her bluntly, so she added. “Mr. Nelson, I was almost scalded by hot water today. If it wasn’t because of your girlfriend thinking too highly of me, I don’t think such an accident would have happened, don’t you think so?” She paused briefly before adding, “Last time we were at home, I had just finished a translation for you and we agreed on a price for my labor. However, you haven’t paid me yet. I spent the whole night on that translation, but now I’m not asking for the money anymore. You just need to do me this favor, Mr. Nelson.”
He finally looked up at her, “If that’s what you really want, then there’s no way I can refuse you anymore.”
“Thank you, Mr. Nelson—”
Someone knocking on the door cut off Dolores before she could finish her words.
Dolores tensed and she abruptly removed her fingers from Matthew’s head as she stepped aside. Matthew just eyed her without saying a word. He approved of her reaction at that moment.
Dolores looked at the floor while twiddling her thumbs. Her palms were soaked in a cold sweat at the moment. If she hadn’t been aiming to borrow some of Matthew’s influence, she would never have flattered him like that.
She didn’t have anyone backing her in her endeavors so she could only employ the services of her “husband” to retrieve what used to belong to her.
Helen entered the office with some documents in her hands, and when she caught sight of Dolores, a hint of brutality flashed across her eyes…
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