"Let me make one thing clear: even if you chopped Noel Cobb into pieces and sold him by the pound, he wouldn't be worth me lifting a single finger!"
Lauren's face went cold instantly.
"Who told you to humiliate Noel in front of everyone yesterday? This is the compensation you owe him!"
"Drop the act. Those hands of yours teach calligraphy all day. How much does that even pay? I promised you the position of man of the house at Sanchez Corp. Don't bite the hand that feeds you!"
"This is the anniversary gift Noel wants most, and I will give it to him!"
With that, she pulled out a bamboo calligraphy brush and sneered.
"Laurence, I believe this means a great deal to you. Am I right?"
"If you don't want me to snap it in half right now, you'll do exactly as I say."
My fists clenched at my sides.
That brush wasn't worth much money, but it was the last birthday gift my father ever gave me.
He'd made it by hand.
Not long after that, he died in a car accident.
I drew a deep breath, grinding my teeth before I spoke.
"Fine. I'll wash them."
Then I bent down, picked up the plastic basin they'd prepared, and said without a trace of expression, "Can I go to the bathroom to fill this up now?"
Only then did Lauren curl her lips in satisfaction.
"Good boy. As long as you keep Noel happy, I'll give it back, and things can go back to the way they were."
She posted a bodyguard at the door so I couldn't run.
Water rushed from the faucet, and my reflection stared back at me with ice-cold eyes.
I pressed the hidden button on the back of my mechanical watch.
A faint crackle of static lasted two seconds before a voice came through, equal parts roguish and wounded.
"I thought you'd thrown that watch away. What, you finally decided I'm not so bad after all?"
"Fair warning: if you're about to tell me you went and got a marriage license, I will throw myself off this building. Try me."
My voice came out level.
"No license. We broke up. She's making me wash her boy toy's underwear in front of a crowd."
"If you still want this marriage, don't make me waste my breath."
The other end went quiet for half a second.
When Ebony Mason spoke again, the excitement and fury in her voice were almost tangible.
"The Regalia Hotel?"
"Sit tight. I'll make that woman eat every last pair."
I was brought back to Noel.
Lauren hooked her arm through his, her tone dripping with tenderness. "Noel, today Laurence won't stop washing until you tell him to. Not until you're completely satisfied."
"Do you like your present?"
"Oh my God, I love it! Nobody treats me as well as you do, Ms. Sanchez."
The two of them locked lips in a shameless kiss, as if no one else existed.
Noel sauntered over to me, all smiles.
"So it turns out you didn't like barking like a dog, but this is more your speed? Tsk. Even trashier than I thought."
"You should've said so sooner. I've got plenty more at home. But wait, you're not planning to do this standing up, are you?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Lauren flicked her wrist.
A bodyguard behind me drove his boot into the back of my knee, forcing me to the ground.
Mocking laughter erupted all around.
"There we go. Much better angle for getting them nice and clean."
Noel picked up a bottle of liquor with an elegant flourish and blinked innocently.
"The thing is, I'm a bit of a germaphobe. Someone as filthy as you, Laurence... I just can't stand it. You don't mind if I sterilize you with a little alcohol, do you?"
I didn't look at him. My gaze went past him, settling on the woman behind.
"Lauren. Do I need to remind you that my skin is allergic to alcohol?"
"I'll ask you once. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Hesitation flickered across Lauren's face.
Before she could speak, Noel's eyes reddened, his voice trembling with hurt.
"Ms. Sanchez, don't tell me you actually feel sorry for him? You promised you'd help me save face today."
