The CEO's Hidden Love: Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires novel Chapter 568

Jeffrey clutched a pack of cigarettes in his hand, but hadn't lit a single one. He just fiddled with his lighter, occasionally flicking it on, watching the flame spark to life before snapping it shut, all while keeping his eyes on her.

No next move, no words spoken.

Karen hadn't expected him to actually show up in front of her parents, so she was really pissed.

The last thing she wanted was for her folks to catch wind of her reckless escapades! How could she possibly explain to them that their darling daughter had been living it up and even boldly hitting on a guy, asking him outright if he was up for a one-night stand?

Click.

The lighter sparked again, the flame appearing and then being extinguished.

Jeffrey gritted his teeth, trying to rein in his temper before finally speaking up, "Your dad mentioned you're going on a blind date. Is that true?"

"It's true," Karen responded without little intention of concealment.

There was no need to hide anything from Jeffrey.

"And what about me?" Jeffrey lowered his gaze as he reached for a cigarette, and Karen couldn't help but notice his defined hands seemed to tremble ever so slightly.

"What are you talking about?"

"You admitted to my mom that you're my girlfriend, and now you're off to meet another guy."

Jeffrey was struggling to keep his cool, not wanting to start a row with Karen the moment he arrived.

The truth was, he hadn't rested much over the past few days and was running on fumes.

"That was you talking! With the way things were going, how could I not play along?" Karen kept her distance. Her voice was barely above a whisper, wary of her parents overhearing from upstairs, "Did you drive here?"

"Yeah."

"Let's talk in your car." Karen glanced at the clock; she had a few hours before the dinner party and needed to sort out this mess quickly.

Leaving the car now would seem too deliberate.

"You mentioned before about three strikes and we're done. I can't do that anymore; I don't want to sleep with you anymore," Karen spoke first, her voice trailed off with a hint of guilt for reneging on her promise.

"I noticed."

"So, Mr. Turner, please go find someone else to entertain you and leave me be. Look at me, I'm average in looks and figure, and my family's nothing compared to yours. How can I believe you when you say you want me as your girlfriend?" Karen decided to lay it all out, "I'm not a kid anymore. I date with marriage in mind, so we're not on the same page. Even if I said yes, it would just mean a few more nights together, that's all."

Jeffrey's eyes fixed on her, his tongue pressing against his cheek, "So how do you know the guy is going to marry you?"

"He probably will. I haven't met him yet, but it's a setup by my parents. So he's likely on the same page."

"And you're sure he's not just in it for fun, ready to bail once he's had his fill?"

"I don't know," Karen admitted. "But at least we're well-matched socially."