Chapter 273
Caleb looked at her with indifference. "What do you have to offer?
"Your looks? You're already 28, and there are many younger and prettier girls than you. Your figure? You've already had a child. There's no way you can compete with someone who hasn't had a child. Besides, you're short-tempered. You don't know how to take care of people. You're always in a bad mood. Susan, as a woman, you're a failure."
Susan felt uncomfortable in her heart but had to accept his comments and accept being evaluated as if she were a commodity.
A sense of annoyance rose within her. She regretted coming to him. It was crazy of her to willingly go and let him humiliate her. After all, even after humiliating her, he might not give her the project.
"If that's the case, goodbye," Susan said as she immediately stood up. Caleb grabbed her wrist.
"How come you can't control your emotions? I really doubt how you got your position now."
"Don't worry. I didn't get my job by relying on my young and pretty face, nor my figure, and definitely not by serving other men," Susan responded confidently.
"You have good eloquence. But you are still asking me for something. If you have a better attitude, maybe I'll give you a chance," Caleb said.
"Will you? I don't think so," Susan replied.
"To me, two hundred thousand dollars is just a small amount of money. Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll give it to you." Caleb's tone was like a wealthy businessman dismissing a pitiful beggar. His condescending attitude stung Susan.
But Oliver was still in the hospital bed. The doctor said they needed to raise a hundred thousand dollars within a week. Thinking about this, she could only bear it.
Biting her lip, she forced herself to sit down.
Caleb suddenly became curious about how a stubborn girl like her could endure such humiliation, but he held back and didn't ask. That was her problem, not his. He just wanted to exploit her vulnerability and make her feel uncomfortable.
The steak was served.
Caleb calmly cut the steak with a noble and elegant posture. "Are you planning to watch me eat?" he asked.
He was in a good mood.
Susan thought to herself, ' How could I eat facing such a condescending and self-righteous jerk?'
"Not hungry," she replied coldly, although her stomach grumbled at that moment.
Susan blushed and felt very embarrassed.
Caleb raised an eyebrow. "You're just asking for trouble."
Susan only ate half of the steak. Occasionally, she responded to Caleb's words.
Caleb swirled his wine glass and sneered, "I'm starting to wonder if I'm the one asking for a favor." She was the only woman who dared to give him such an attitude.
Susan remained silent. Did he expect her to apologize to him?
Throughout the meal, Susan couldn't help but look at her watch several times. It was already eleven o'clock. "I should go back," she said.
"Drive for me," Caleb put down his wine glass. He didn't want to play with her anymore in this place.
He wanted to continue somewhere else.
"It's already late," Susan commented.
"Do you think I'll drink and drive?" Caleb lazily glanced at her.
"You should call a driver," Susan said.
"Now, you're asking for my help," he reminded her.
Susan thought to herself, 'Then why haven't you helped?'
He really was a despicable jerk.
After he finished speaking, he tossed the car keys to her.
The financial center at eleven o'clock was not as noisy as it was during the day. It still looked prosperous but peaceful.
Caleb opened the window. The cool night breeze came in, mixing with the scent of alcohol on Caleb's body, creating an intoxicating smell.
Smelling this scent, Susan felt as if she were becoming intoxicated.
Caleb was annoying, but his scent was pleasant.
She remembered when she was abroad, Caleb used to drive her around the city's riverside at night.
They enjoyed the river breeze together.
The happiness back then was unforgettable for her. But even if she could choose to forget the past, she would still hold onto those memories.
If life only consisted of painful memories, how regretful that would be.
It must have been the gentle night that evoked so many emotions in her.
These emotions had no benefit for her current situation.
Susan erased those thoughts and asked, "Where do you want me to take you?"
Caleb closed his eyes.
"Mr. Eilish," she called him several times.
Caleb lazily smirked, "What's the rush? Even if I wanted to find a prostitute, I would have to be interested."
Susan became livid. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she replied, "I don't think a customer would be in the mood for cultivating feelings with a prostitute."
He called her a prostitute. Then, wasn't he her client?
Caleb closed his eyes and laughed. "Keep driving."
Susan drove along the coastline for more than ten minutes. The scenery was brightly lit and beautiful. In the past, when she was tired from work, she also enjoyed driving along this coastline. Soon, she would reach the end. But at this moment, this road seemed endless. She drove for a long time before reaching the end of the beach.
It was almost midnight, and Susan was anxious.
However, Caleb remained calm. He seemed to enjoy all of this greatly. He took a rest with closed eyes.
Indeed, it had been a long time since he had felt so relaxed.
His heart was at peace.
"It's midnight..."
"Hush, just enjoy it."
Susan was worried. Her son was still in the hospital. How could she be in the mood to enjoy herself?
She bluntly said, "If you don't plan to hand over the project to me, just say so. I'm not in the mood to play along with you."
"If you stay, at least there's still a chance.
"You're also half a businessman. If you leave, there won't be any chance at all." Caleb became even lazier. His deep voice became slightly hoarse and extremely pleasant to listen to.
They enjoyed the breeze together until midnight, and then Susan drove Caleb back to the hotel.
He clearly had a home, but he stayed at a hotel. Susan didn't know what Caleb was thinking.
The car stopped outside the hotel.
"We're here." Susan turned her head, and Caleb had fallen asleep.
The light from outside cast a shadow on his face. He looked very attractive.
When he didn't speak, he seemed gentle and not serious at all. His features were extremely beautiful.
Susan's heart trembled.
"Mr. Eilish, we're here.
"Mr. Eilish."
Susan reached out and shook him, but he didn't budge.
A strange thought suddenly popped into her mind. 'Did he catch some sudden illness from drinking?'
There were many sudden deaths.
"Caleb?"
Susan hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned over, and subconsciously used her fingers to check his breathing.
Her face also moved closer.
The distance between them was so close.
In that instant, Caleb's sharp pupils suddenly opened wide. He grabbed her wrist.
"Ah!" Susan screamed in fright. They were already close to each other. Now, he pulled her directly onto him, and her hand hit his chest.
"Plotting against me, aren't you?" Caleb's face was filled with wicked playfulness, but it happened to make him look very sexy.
The two of them breathed heavily, intertwined with each other. Susan's heart raced faster from the fear. And now, because of their tangled breaths, her heart beat even faster. Susan nervously pursed her lips and couldn't speak for a while.
"I... I was scared. I thought you were dead."
"Are you cursing me?" Caleb laughed. "You'd be happy if I were dead, wouldn't you?"
Susan bit her lip and blurted out, "But you're not dead yet, right? Let me go. We've arrived at the hotel."
Her words sounded unpleasant, but her voice was gentle and soft. Caleb was happy to hear it. A rosy apple flush bloomed across her cheeks, beckoning him with its innocent sweetness.
"Caleb..."
Susan sensed the desire in his eyes.
It was the look of a wolf staring at its prey. He wanted her.
"Come up with me." The intensity in Caleb's eyes deepened. He ground his teeth as he ordered.