Chapter 228
Caleb's words were laced with scorn, each syllable a dripping icicle of disdain. Susan, however, found herself hoping for this very reaction. The more vitriolic his words became, the more her hope in him dwindled.
A ghost of a smile graced Susan's usually stoic and impassive face. "In our line of work, it's customary to take into account the preferences of the female homeowner. It's nothing out of the ordinary. Mr. Eilish, I fear you're being overly sensitive."
Sensitive? She had thrown that word out purposefully, a baited hook cast into the waters of their conversation.
"Do you bring her up now to provoke me? You know exactly what you're doing," he retorted.
"Mr. Eilish, you're mistaken. You are a devoted husband and father. I am certain that you and Mrs. Eilish share a harmonious marital bond. Why would the mere mention of her incite such a reaction?" she countered, her words laced with a subtle wit. A laugh escaped her lips, but her eyes danced with derision.
Caleb felt a sudden urge to strip away the façade she wore. When had Susan learned to don such a mask?
"Are you concerned about the state of our marriage?" Caleb's smile was a veneer, concealing his simmering anger.
"My interest doesn't extend to the personal lives of my employers. I am solely focused on my work," Susan replied, her words measured and reluctant. "Understanding the preferences of my clients helps me avoid unnecessary revisions in the future. My time and energy are finite."
"Do you even consider me a client?" Caleb scoffed. "Your job as a designer is to keep refining the design until I am satisfied. Do you think money is easily earned?"
Susan felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The glamour of being a designer was a façade, concealing the reality of being a 'humble' subordinate. Earning money was a struggle, and procuring Caleb's one million dollars seemed an insurmountable task. She had a sinking feeling that no matter how hard she worked, she would never see that money and would only end up wasting her time.
With these thoughts weighing heavily on her mind, Susan sighed inwardly, choosing her words with care.
"Mr. Eilish, let's leave the past where it belongs." Susan was no fool. She understood his motives all too well.
A quest for revenge would only drain them both, an unnecessary expenditure of energy. Perhaps Caleb had time to spare, finding pleasure in the hunt, but Susan's energy was limited. She worked twelve-hour days, attended social events, and often returned home late at night. She wanted to make every second count, to spend precious moments with her son. She had no time for shopping, dating, or idle chatter. Her son was her world.
As people age, they become busier, more cognizant of the value of time. She didn't have a single minute to squander. If it weren't for the money, Susan wouldn't even be standing here. But now, she didn't dare ask for it.
Her tone suggested that he was a nuisance, a sentiment that irked Caleb. What truly stung him was the voice in his heart that he didn't want to acknowledge. He was the one who couldn't let go, always the one to initiate.
But this wasn't due to nostalgia on Caleb's part. No, it was his method of exacting revenge. Caleb clung to this rationale, a lifeline in the storm of his emotions. The knot in his heart loosened slightly, and a cold, mocking smile played on his lips. "The past? Do we have a past? What past? I don't remember." The more he said it, the more Susan's head throbbed.
Caleb's anger indicated a willingness to communicate, to vent his emotions. She could handle his outbursts, his insults. But his pretense of indifference, his bottled-up feelings, left her unsure of how long he would keep up this charade.
Susan was on the verge of pleading with him for mercy.
Susan's lips parted, a hesitant murmur escaping her throat. "Mr. Eilish, I fear my time is limited, and I may not be the best fit for this role. Perhaps I could recommend a designer who can cater to your needs around the clock..."
"Round the clock?" Caleb's brow arched, his gaze intensifying. His face bore a frosty expression, yet the love in his eyes was faint yet undeniable, a captivating allure.
Caught off guard by Caleb's unexpected retort, Susan felt a blush creep up her cheeks, her ears tingling with warmth. The sight of her rosy complexion stirred something within Caleb's heart.
He hadn't seen Susan blush in what felt like an eternity. Her shyness...
Upon their reunion, Susan appeared to be a different person, distant and aloof, treating him as if he were a stranger. She was like the tranquil Dead Sea...
And now, a hint of emotion finally surfaced in Susan.
It was like a potent poison, enticing Caleb, sparking a glimmer of hope in his heart, urging him to push the boundaries...
Caleb's long, thick lashes fluttered, revealing an even deeper radiance. "Are you seeking a designer for me, or..."
"I am indeed seeking a designer, and I never specified the gender. Don't let your mind wander," Susan cut Caleb off mid-sentence, her tone laced with impatience.
"Wandering thoughts? How have I misconstrued anything?" Caleb's interest was piqued, and this time, even Susan's ears flushed a deep red.
Susan yearned to retort, to accuse him of feigning innocence when he knew full well his intentions. But she held her tongue, fearing her words would come across as provocative.
She swallowed her words.
"Why the sudden silence?"
Caleb studied Susan's flustered and choked expression, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. A single pebble had caused ripples in Susan's "Dead Sea". His heart began to flutter, eager to stir the waters further...
Closing the distance between them, Caleb towered over Susan. "Why so quiet now? You were quite argumentative earlier."
His imposing presence enveloped Susan, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Despite her height of 5'7", even with heels, she felt dwarfed by Caleb. His broad back blocked out a swath of light, trapping her in a confined space.
Susan struggled to draw breath.
"Mr. Eilish," she managed to croak out, "I'd prefer to keep our conversation strictly professional."
"Are we not discussing a designer? Enlighten me, what kind of designer do you intend to recommend?"
Despite his apparent indifference, Caleb seemed genuinely intrigued. Reluctantly, Susan responded, "Someone who can be at your disposal, catering to all your needs..."
A smirk tugged at the corner of Caleb's mouth. "What needs? What sort of needs?"
Caleb, usually so stoic, had a knack for flirtatious banter during their courtship. But now, as a married man, his suggestive words drove Susan to the brink of madness.
While she loathed him, she found herself despising her own reactions even more. Susan knew it wasn't as simple as it seemed, she shouldn't have let herself be ensnared.
In that moment, she resolved to reject the one million dollars.
"Mr. Eilish, I fear you've mistaken me for someone else. The woman you seek can be found in the nightlife scene, not here."
Upon hearing this, Caleb let out a derisive laugh. "Nightlife scene? Mrs. Susan seems quite familiar with it, a regular patron perhaps?"
What absurdity was he spouting?
"I am a woman."
"But I've seen you mingling with various people, haven't you frequented such places?" Caleb couldn't help but envision Susan accompanying other men for drinks, a pang of irritation gnawing at him.
Was Susan's newfound confidence and composure a result of her interactions with men? Had she mastered the art of navigating the male-dominated world?
How many times had Susan found herself intoxicated in the company of other men?