"How dare you ruin my moment? You're in for it!" Andrew shot a fierce glare at the young maid, scaring Scarlett into fleeing the room. The way she twisted as she ran made him wonder if that delicate waist of hers might snap in two.
Dinner began under a strange, tense atmosphere. Andrew sat at the head of the table, with the two women seated on either side.
Originally, Scarlett had planned to eat alone in the kitchen, but Pepper insisted she join them at the table.
After all, she wasn't some outdated Southern aristocrat exploiting household staff. That dynamic didn't sit right with her.
Having heard about Scarlett's tragic past, Pepper felt even more compassion for this gentle, soft-spoken woman from the East.
"Your English is quite good," Pepper said, taking a bite of shredded pork in garlic sauce. She found the flavor surprisingly appealing.
"Miss, I passed my university's English proficiency test. So basic communication is no problem," Scarlett replied, keeping her head lowered and quietly focusing on her bowl of rice.
"Eat more of the dishes. No need to be so tense. I'm not a monster," Pepper said, gently placing a piece of braised beef into Scarlett's bowl.
Hearing this, Andrew thought to himself:
You may not be a monster, but you're scarier than one. Someone like Scarlett wouldn't even know she's being devoured and would probably still thank you for it.
"That's right. Pepper's my girlfriend, what she says goes. She's the one in charge here," Andrew added with a smile.
At the same time, his foot slid beneath the table, brushing against Scarlett's bare calf. She flinched, startled, then quickly nodded in response to his words.
"And stop calling me 'miss,' it makes me feel old. Just call me Pepper," she said, clearly pleased with the young woman's docile demeanor.
"Exactly. Besides, you're even older than she is," Andrew added, his gaze casually sweeping across the women's chests.
Pepper raised her wine glass and gently swirled the crimson liquid. "Welcome to the Stark family," she said with a soft smile.
After dinner, Scarlett rose to clear the dishes while Andrew lounged lazily on the living room sofa.
The TV was playing Black Swan starring Natalie Portman, but his eyes weren't on the screen.
They were locked on the graceful figure moving around the kitchen. In his mind, Andrew was already imagining the positions he'd try when the time came.
Just then, Pepper walked in from the gym, clad in a fitted yoga outfit. A towel hung around her neck as she wiped the sweat from her face.
The tight fabric hugged her curves, revealing every line of her figure.
Even the tips of her toes had a seductive charm, her lips slightly parted. Her golden hair was damp at the temples, her eyebrows delicately arched like crescent moons. Her slender waist swayed lightly as she sat down beside him.
"Your body's already amazing. Why do you keep pushing yourself so hard?" Andrew handed her a sports drink. Pepper took a sip.
A trickle slid from the corner of her mouth and disappeared into the neckline of her outfit—out of sight, but very much in Andrew's thoughts.
"Hmph, you men claim to like fit women, then turn around and say you prefer someone with a little more softness. But if I actually weighed 200 pounds, you'd probably be too annoyed to even look at me," she said, dabbing at her neck.
"That's not true. No matter how you change, I'll still like you." Andrew grinned and slipped his arms around her waist from behind.
Her post-workout body radiated warmth, like a furnace burning just beneath the surface.
"Ugh, stop it! I'm all sweaty and sticky—it's uncomfortable," Pepper protested, twisting her waist to escape his playful grip.
"I don't mind," he whispered, breathing in the blend of perfume and sweat that clung to her skin.
"Hmph, I'm going to take a shower!"
Unable to tolerate her disheveled state, she darted off to the bathroom.
Once he heard the water running, Andrew stood and walked into the kitchen.
The elegant silhouette in front of him stirred something in him again. Scarlett pretended not to notice and kept cleaning the dishes.
Suddenly, she felt warmth at her back, Andrew had stepped in close.
Startled, she turned and gently tried to push him away.
"Sir, Miss Pepper is still home. Please, have some respect. If she sees us, I'll be thrown out."
"It's fine. She's in the shower. She won't be done for at least an hour. Besides, I make the rules here—when did this place ever become hers?"
"Scarlett, bring me a towel!"
"Sorry, sir. She's calling for me."
Andrew cursed himself internally. He was acting like a beast. This wasn't the right time or place. He'd been too impulsive with someone so refined.
"It's okay. I got carried away. Don't let it bother you."
"It's alright, sir. I was… happy about it," she replied softly.
Then came a phone call.
"Hello? Betty, where are you?" Andrew asked.
A man shouldn't mistreat his friends, he thought, but he also shouldn't bottle up everything. Still, random hookups just aren't my thing.
"I'm having dinner at my boyfriend's place. What's up?" Betty's voice was low, as if she didn't want someone nearby to hear.
"Ah, never mind. Just hang up," Andrew said, guilt suddenly washing over him.
After all, she had a real boyfriend.
And he… was just the other man.
(End of Chapter)
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