"I've never hugged any of them either," Sheffield continued to explain, rubbing his face. It was starting to turn red. Evelyn's slap didn't hurt him. But he was embarrassed. That was the first time he'd ever been slapped.
"Not everything is all about you." Evelyn walked towards Felix. "Ask the driver to bring the car over here."
"Yes, Miss Huo," Felix replied obediently.
Looking at her back, Sheffield shouted, "Think you know everything? You don't! That boy you saw in my office is not my kid!"
"I don't care!" Evelyn answered without turning her head.
"I didn't sleep with anyone else!" He couldn't hold on to his charade any longer. He was hoping she'd apologize. Now, it seemed impossible.
"What do I care? We're not together!" Evelyn yelled.
"So are you apologizing?"
"You wish!" She decided to leave this man alone. She was so mad at him!
"But, I really miss you. Can you stay with me tonight?" He really wanted to sleep with her.
Abruptly, Evelyn turned around and glared at him. "Don't ever say that to me again! Date who you want! I don't care!" Sheffield tried to say something, but a glare from her shut him down.
"Not. Another. Word. You hear me?" Evelyn snapped.
Instead of stopping his prattling, Sheffield strode over to her and took her into his arms. "A chance meeting. What could be better? It's late. Sure you don't want to come home with me?"
"Let go!"
"Hey, don't forget, it was you who came to me and asked to get back together. Can't you just say something soft and nice?"
"Shove off, loser!" She thought that was what she wanted, but not if he was going to act this way. Starting over would probably be impossible. "Look, it's over, okay? You live your life, and I'll live mine." It was not that bad to be a single mom.
"Oh come on. You went to D City to see me. I think there's a future for us, if you just give it a chance." Not giving her the chance to retort, he started dragging her along with him.
"Felix!" To prove that she wasn't joking, Evelyn called her bodyguard over.
A few seconds later, Felix appeared in front of them. "Yes, Miss Huo?"
"Get Sheffield mmmff—"
Covering her mouth with his hand, Sheffield looked at Felix and chuckled. "Every couple has their issues. Stay out of this!"
Evelyn pried his hand away and snapped, "We're not a couple! Felix, get him out of my face!"
"Yes, Miss Huo!"
To her surprise, Sheffield released her before Felix made a move. In her anger, he suddenly looked in despair. He looked at Evelyn with sad eyes. "I guess it really is over. No matter how you felt about me in the past, you never sicced your bodyguards on me. I don't think you like me anymore."
What he said next left Felix flabbergasted.
Sheffield smiled bitterly. "If I knew you'd do me like this, I would have never come back to this town. Is this what you want, Evelyn? Then fine, I won't bother you anymore. Take care."
After saying that, he walked past her and left.
Evelyn felt her heart ache. But she was also confused. She was the one who got mad, but when did he become the victim in all this? Where was his despair coming from?
Felix couldn't figure out what Sheffield was up to. One moment he was smiling; the next he was thick-skinned; then he was deep in love; and then he was heartbroken and desperate. The bodyguard figured that even a Beijing Opera singer wearing all those masks couldn't compare to the amount of faces Sheffield showed.
When Evelyn couldn't hear him anymore, Sheffield hummed a happy tune and got into his car. He could well imagine that what he said still stung.
Yes, it was all an act. He wanted it to hurt, wanted her to have trouble eating or sleeping when she thought of his desperate expression.
Within a few minutes, he received a message from Evelyn. "Why did you come back anyway? To take over Theo Group or...?"
He curled his lips and didn't hide the truth. "Theo Group was just a small part of the reason. Wasn't it you who left town to follow me? To ask me if we could get together?"
Sheffield was right.
The words he said made an impact on her. After receiving this message, for the next few days, she was on pins and needles.
She was so confused. She really wanted to ask Sheffield flat out if they were getting back together or not.
Then, one night, she finally called him and asked him. But Sheffield simply replied, "Let me think about it."
At the International Golf Court of Y City
The golf course covered an area of 2, 000 acres. Three men were chatting and playing golf. One in white, another in black, and the third in grey. Near them were three caddies.
With a professional motion, Sheffield knocked a white ball into the hole. "We've been here for a half-hour already. If you're lying to us, I'll strip you naked and toss you out on your ass," he threatened.
"Hey, I may joke around a lot, but I'm being serious here." After straightening his cap, Joshua added, "Unless Evelyn suddenly changes her schedule. Then, it's out of my hands."
When Sheffield heard his last remark, he had an uncontrollable urge to bean him with the club.
Gifford unscrewed the cap of a water bottle and drank a mouthful of water. "I finally have time to hang out with you two clowns. And you make me wait for a woman? Do you think I have nothing better to do?"
"I'm busy too," Sheffield said, as if he were trying to argue that it was not his fault.
Joshua clapped his shoulder and suggested resignedly, "Fine, forget it. Just pretend I never said anything. Let's get some drinks! My treat." He turned and put his arm around Gifford's shoulder, ready to get off the course.
Sheffield's attitude softened. "Hey, don't go! We've already wasted 30 minutes. Why not 30 more? What's an hour between friends?"
"Humph! You want to see her again. You're just too stubborn to admit it. And then somehow it ends up being my fault she's not here yet. You know why we're here today, right? Who asked us to come? Tell me!"
Sheffield smiled obsequiously and said, "Okay, my bad. It was all me. Sorry about that."
"That's better! But, seriously, what's your plan? You've been back for awhile now. Why didn't you go to talk to Evelyn and tell her how you feel?" Joshua wondered.
Sheffield swung his club and said, "I don't want to talk to her, I want an apology. And to see her naked. Why not both?"
The two other men beside him were amazed at how openly he talked about stuff like that. "You horndog," Gifford commented disdainfully.
Joshua sighed and shook his head. "I'm impressed that Sheffield always says what he thinks. No filter." Sheffield was never ashamed to speak about how horny he was.
He didn't mind his friends' comments. After hitting the last ball into the hole, he passed the club to Gifford.
Joshua put his arm on Sheffield's shoulder and said, "Evelyn already offered to get back together with you, but you keep turning her down. Isn't that the same as being near the goal on the football field but never shooting?"
Sheffield stared at him before replying, "I just want to linger in the doorway for a little longer. I'm the one in the game. I'm not even anxious. What? You think my life's a spectator sport, for you to comment on it?"
"You're not even on the playing field," Joshua argued.
Gifford burst into laughter. "Hey! Are you two still talking about sports? Why do I feel like you're talking about sex?"