Chapter 146
Hurry Up and Hold Me
Once they started eating, Ruby Sterling completely forgot about keeping up appearances and immediately dug in like crazy. She stuffed her cheeks full and kept mumbling about how good it was through a mouthful of food.
Watching from beside her, Cameron Quinn reached out worriedly and patted her on the back, telling her to slow down and be careful not to choke, and thoughtfully handed her a glass of water.
Ruby Sterling thanked him as she took it.
Seeing the way the two interacted, Claire Bennett felt a little suspicious.
Earlier, Ruby Sterling had said she had a crush on Cameron Quinn, but the way Claire saw it, Cameron Quinn seemed to dote on and care about Ruby Sterling a great deal too.
But then she suddenly thought of Julian Sterling. He was just as thoughtful and warm.
As his good buddy, it was only natural that Cameron Quinn had a similar personality. That was probably why the two of them got along so well. Maybe that was exactly what made it easy for people to misunderstand; in reality, it was just their gentlemanly nature.
Next, Ruby Sterling popped open some canned beer and handed one to everyone.
Unexpectedly, after a round of drinking, Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling were not the ones who got drunk. Instead, Ruby Sterling herself ended up with flushed cheeks and passed out drunk, slapping the table as she furiously cursed Chase Monroe, that social-climbing bastard who had cheated on her.
"Urp... Chase Monroe is a total asshole!"
"He's a shameless piece of trash!"
After cursing for a while, Ruby Sterling finally felt better. She hooked an arm around Claire Bennett's shoulder, a grin spreading across her face. "Claire, heh heh heh, we're going to be one family really soon!"
"What do you mean, one family?" Claire Bennett asked in confusion.
"I mean..." Ruby Sterling's brain seemed to have disconnected. After saying those two words, she stopped and thought for a long time, but still couldn't remember what she had been about to say next.
Julian Sterling's expression darkened.
Seeing that Ruby Sterling was drunk out of her mind, he was afraid she might blurt something out and expose his real identity.
He immediately shot Cameron Quinn a look, telling him to take Ruby Sterling away.
After receiving Julian Sterling's signal, Cameron Quinn stood up and helped Ruby Sterling to her feet, saying softly, "Ruby, you're drunk. I'll take you home."
"No, I still want to drink! I'm not drunk. What are you doing? Let go of me already!" As soon as she stood up, Ruby Sterling lost her balance and nearly toppled to the side.
She hurriedly threw her arms around Cameron Quinn and whined, "Why is everything spinning? Is it an earthquake? Cameron Quinn, hurry up and hold me."
Cameron Quinn helplessly wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.
He said to Julian Sterling and Claire Bennett, "I'll take her back first."
Very quickly, the two of them left, and the room instantly felt empty.
At that moment, Claire Bennett stood up, wanting to clean up the leftovers on the table, but the moment she got to her feet, she too felt the whole world spin and staggered to the side.
She hadn't felt much just now, but the alcohol was hitting her now.
Claire Bennett was really only a little better off than Ruby Sterling.
With her nerves numbed by alcohol, her whole body had gone sluggish. She could only wait to fall, but unexpectedly, a strong hand came across her waist, and Julian Sterling's firm chest pressed up against her too.
Claire Bennett looked at him hazily, her expression blank and adorable.
Seeing that look in Claire Bennett's eyes, those red lips and white teeth, her slightly flushed cheeks, that unprovoked temptation, Julian Sterling's Adam's apple bobbed lightly, and he felt her effortlessly stir up a fire through his whole body.
Unable to help himself, he pulled Claire Bennett closer and then lowered his head to kiss her.
Claire Bennett had already been a little drunk, and now she was completely intoxicated. She could only clutch tightly at his clothes and go soft in his arms.
As things between them grew more and more intense, Claire Bennett suddenly snapped back to her senses.
Sensing the danger that the two of them were getting a little out of control, she pressed a hand against Julian Sterling's chest and pushed him away, then fled the scene with a burning red face, darting straight into the bathroom.
Only after her back pressed against the door did Claire Bennett finally gasp for breath in lingering shock.
It felt like her heart was about to jump right out of her chest.
Julian Sterling just now...
He must have been drunk to do something like that to her. Luckily, she had come to her senses in time, or it might have led to terrible consequences.
Julian Sterling watched Claire Bennett's retreating figure as she fled in disarray, his brows knitting tightly together, his mood turning extremely sour.
Could it be that she had now started rejecting even his closeness?
Just now, Claire Bennett had pushed him away directly and turned to leave without the slightest hesitation.
It looked as though she couldn't stand his intimacy.
He pressed his thin lips together and walked back into the bedroom.
By the time Claire Bennett came out of the bathroom again, she had already regained her composure. She didn't bring up that kiss just now, and Julian Sterling didn't take the initiative to say anything either.
That night, neither of them slept very well.
Whether it was because they weren't used to the new environment or because of that kiss that invited too many thoughts, in any case, both of them tossed and turned.
The next day.
Claire Bennett got up early. Today was the day she was reporting to Sterling International, and she would also have to face Naomi Pierce, so she had to be fully on guard.
Looking at herself in the mirror, her face a little worn and haggard, she let out a sigh, took out her makeup, and covered it up a little. Only then did she get herself ready for work looking full of energy.
When she had gone to the market last night, she had casually bought some breakfast too.
It only needed a simple reheating before it could be eaten. On her first day of work, Claire Bennett definitely did not want to be late.
After she and Julian Sterling finished breakfast, the two of them went out together, and Julian Sterling drove her to Sterling International.
As Claire Bennett got out of the car, she heard Julian Sterling say, "I'll pick you up after work."
When she turned back, the car had already driven away, and soon even its taillights disappeared from sight.
Claire Bennett let out a faint sigh.
Sigh, things between her and Julian Sterling had become so strange now.
It was as though there was some kind of taboo between them, but neither of them wanted to break it. For example, Julian Sterling had not explained last night's kiss either.