Chapter 169 – "The Enigmatic Nadia: Layers of Intrigue"
“This woman looks tiny and harmless on the outside, but she’s actually inexplicably tough. What she said is very true. I had better not mess with her!” Kristian admitted defeat in his mind.
All his life, he had only met sexy and charming women. They were all weaker than men and this always aroused his pity and love for them.
Nadia was the first woman he had met who was charming but tough. She was also stronger than most men, including him. And this bruised his ego greatly. He thought that it would be unwise to argue with her, so he put on a fake smile and did a welcoming hand gesture.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. Please go on.” Then he walked to a treadmill and began to run. He had known from the very beginning that they were two worlds apart.
They were the only ones currently in the gym because it was still working hours. As a result, they seemed too close to each other even though the gym was spacious.
Nadia punched the punching bag a few more times before she began to practice her fighting skills.
Kristian watched her for a while with his mouth agape. The sight of her fighting skillfully filled him with more fear. His self-esteem was dwarfed in her presence. After making several futile attempts to concentrate on his exercise, he decided to pack up and leave.
Nadia sneered under her breath when she saw him pick up his fitness bag carefully and make his way for the door. She wasn’t surprised one bit. Ever since she became a professional fighter, she had come across a lot of men like him. Not only did they find it weird that a girl like her was a good fighter, but they were also intimidated by her. They always wanted to stay away from her.
*Humph! Good riddance to bad rubbish!” Nadia didn’t give a damn about insecure men like Kristian because she didn’t like them too.
Midway towards the door, Kristian stopped in his tracks and walked back slowly. He looked at Nadia sideways and saw that her slightly pale face and long hair were soaked with sweat.
Raising his eyebrows, he said seriously, “Remember to take a shower after you are done here. The bathrooms are behind the gym. The one with hot water is on the left and the cold one is on the right.” Blinking her eyes in confusion, Nadia asked, “And why are you telling me that?”.
When Kristian noticed that she was getting angry, he raised his hands and replied innocently, “It’s just a piece of harmless advice. You are supposed to work here as my secretary. If the other employees see you in my office in this sweaty state, they would think we just had sex. I already have a terrible reputation, so it won’t get to me. But I doubt if you can take such embarrassment.”
Nadia glared at him with a flushed face. She then uttered crossly, “Okay, you can leave now!”
Now that Nadia became Kristian’s secretary, she got to see Rachel often. Today, she invited Rachel out to dinner.
“Thank you for recommending me for this job,” Nadia said as she handed the menu over to Rachel.
“This one’s going to be my treat!”
Although Rachel hadn’t really done much, Nadia never liked owing favors to anyone.
Rachel waved her hand and smiled.
“It’s nothing, Miss Ortiz. You’re the one who saved my life. I don’t even know how to thank you properly for that.”
“You don’t need to be so formal with me. We are friends now. Please just call me Nadz. It’s what all my buddies back at the club call me.”
A wistful smile played on Nadia’s lips.
Rachel leaned forward, curious as a cat.
“A club? What kind of club is it?”
Nadia stopped short. She had blurted out the words without thinking, “Well… You know, just a hobby club.” She cleared her throat and took a sip of water.
“But they’ve all relocated to the countryside. I plan on saving a lot so that I can invite them back to the city.” “How about you, where are you residing at the moment?”
“Down at Station Road.”
“That’s quite a distance from work. How about I help you find a place near Porter Group?” Rachel offered.
“The closer you live, the more convenient it is in terms of commute. Actually, I live in a pretty good neighborhood, with lots of affordable apartments. Would you like me to make an inquiry for an available unit?”
The opportunity was too good to pass up, and it would certainly be easier for Nadia to protect Rachel if they lived close to each other.
“That’s great! Please do, and thank you.”
Thrilled, Rachel wasted no time and immediately called up the real estate agent.
Soon enough, Dominic was notified of her request. It was only a matter of course, since half of the properties in the neighborhood were owned by the Porter Group.
Eventually, the women found a single-bedroom apartment. It was cheaper than most units in the area, despite it being fully furnished.
Since Nadia’s move, the two often traveled to and from work together.
On some weekends when they were both free, they would go shopping and have dinner.
“You’re such a kind and generous person, Rachel,” Nadia remarked one day.
“You must have a lot of friends.” But Rachel shook her head in response.
“Not at all. I never really had friends even when I was a child.” Since primary school up to her university days, no one had dared to befriend her for fear of incurring Ivonne’s wrath.
“Well, then,” Nadia said emphatically.
“I’ll be your good friend from now on.”
No matter how they had come to know each other, it was clear that Rachel and Nadia had the same wavelength and got along really well.
It came to Charlene’s attention that another woman had been hanging around Rachel recently. It didn’t take long for her to look into the woman’s identity.
“Nadia Ortiz?” she read the report, frowning.
Charlene sensed that Nadia was not the typical office worker.
She might be petite, but she had quick reflexes and was rather nimble on her feet, and anyone with a sharp eye would recognize the faint traces of scars on her arms and shins.
This woman was obviously a fighter.
Charlene was instantly suspicious of Nadia’s sudden appearance in the company and ordered her men to investigate her background.
Charlene’s private investigator couldn’t find a lot of information about Nadia whose identity was kept confidential.
However, there was a piece of information that shocked Charlene.
It was that Nadia was one of the top bodyguards in the country and she had protected many wealthy personalities in the past.
This indicated that she had several years of experience under her belt.
Another shocking detail was that Nadia was also the same woman who had saved Rachel from the car accident.
Charlene didn’t need anyone to tell her that Braden was the one that hired her for Rachel’s utmost protection.
“Aargh! Braden even got Nadia into the Porter Group so that she could watch and protect Rachel closely. Since he is going all out to protect that bitch, it means she’s very dear to his heart. This is so annoying!” Charlene became angrier and more jealous as she put two and two together.
Chapter 170 – "Playing Dirty: Charlene's Manipulative Strategy"
"Why does he like her so much? Humph!" she snorted.
She was so heartbroken that the urge to make Rachel disappear became stronger than ever before.
"Gosh! He has only known Rachel for a few months, but she’s already a very important person to him. Is he blind? What does he see in her? I really can’t understand why he’s head over heels in love with that Plain Jane."
The more Charlene thought about Braden’s strong love for Rachel, the more worried she became. She feared that he might even decide to announce to the public one day that Rachel was Braden Porter’s wife.
Not Dominic, Braden.
Hence, she decided to get rid of her before it was too late.
As much as she wanted to finish Rachel off immediately, she couldn’t do it herself.
Spencer had failed her previously. She even colluded with Kate, but the latter also failed. Her previous attempts were a little easier.
But now that Nadia was protecting Rachel, it would be more difficult to get to her.
Charlene was dead sure that the future held doom for her if she didn’t eliminate Rachel soon. Time wasn’t on her side. She tapped her foot on the floor and racked her brain.
After a while, she abruptly stood up from the chair with a sinister smile on her face.
"Oh, you were so stupid, Charlene! How could you have forgotten the Peterson family? Those people are the ones that can help you now. You must contact them," she murmured to herself.
After falling in love with Dominic in high school, Charlene paid utmost attention to the Peterson family. She knew that everyone in that family wasn’t to be messed with.
More so, she was aware that Amanda, the real Mrs. Peterson, and his two half-brothers hated him so much and they would be more than willing to grab any chance to hurt him.
The Peterson Group and the Porter Group were currently rivals in the business industry.
Now that Rachel worked for the Porter Group, she saw it as a great opportunity to make the Peterson hate her.
She planned to play her cards right, so this wouldn’t cause any problems for the company.
Eric seemed to be the best potential ally out of all of them.
Hence, she decided to use him. It had been ages since Charlene last saw Eric.
However, she remembered that in high school, he looked nothing like Dominic even though they had the same father.
Dominic was way more handsome than him.
Eric had been two grades higher than Charlene and Dominic when they got into high school.
He didn’t graduate from high school with honors, so he wasn’t granted admission to any top university. But his family bribed the school admission officer at one of the universities and eventually got him in.
Right from childhood, Eric had been a school bully and he committed a lot of offenses.
However, his family always helped him clean up his mess without bringing him to order. He had slightly grown out of his troublesome behavior, but it was a known fact that he hadn’t changed much.
And this was the first reason why Charlene thought he was the best person to collude with. The Peterson weren’t people who trusted outsiders easily.
She would have to employ a good trick to get any of them on her side.
But she was so blinded by her wicked ambition to get rid of Rachel that she didn’t care anything else.
"Eric will crush that bitch like a fly," Charlene thought confidently.
Another reason why Eric was the perfect candidate was that he wasn’t as emphatic and careful as Spencer. People like Rachel were nothing in his eyes.
After completing the joint project with the Dixon Group, Rachel finally ended her hectic schedule that had been going on for the past two weeks.
The designers gathered early one morning to discuss their prospective portfolios for this season’s autumn and winter series.
Without warning, Stephanie pushed through the glass door and strode in, her high heels clacking against the tiled floor.
"All right, everyone," she said, clapping her hands to get their full attention.
"We are going to launch a high-end series of early spring styles. Brace yourselves because we are going to the Spring Fashion Week in Sunhaven! Now, get moving and squeeze your creative juices! I want to see your designs piled up on my desk by the end of the week."
A wave of excitement came over everyone, and they burst into action.
The Fashion Weeks in Sunhaven were decidedly a big deal in the industry.
Designers needed to adhere to very strict qualifications for a chance to showcase their talents.
On top of that, the slots were limited, so they had to make sure that their portfolios stood out even during the screening procedure.
"None of our designs got in last year," a colleague remarked.
"But we will definitely qualify this time and get international brands to sign with us!"
"The Sunhaven Fashion Week is no joke," Hilda said.
"Even if we only get through to the first runway walk, that would be considered a great honor. Unfortunately, beginners and mid-level designers aren’t allowed to participate in the event."
She sighed before nudging Rachel’s shoulder.
"I don’t know about the others, but I really think you stand a chance to get into the preliminary screening. You’re a lot more talented than anyone." Rachel shook her head sheepishly.
"Thank you, but I suppose there’s nothing we can do about it."
Stephanie came over at that moment and gave Rachel a big smile.
"That’s not exactly true. You’re perfectly qualified to undergo the screening process. The superiors think so highly of you that they decided to make an exception."
"Really?" Rachel exclaimed.
"Thank you, Ms. Miller! I promise, I won’t let you down."
She glanced at Hilda, who was also grinning with joy.
The two women laughed together and let out squeals of excitement.
Stephanie turned on her heel, and left the room with a spring in her step.
"Oh, my God!" Hilda gushed.
"You are so going to defeat all the other designers! I’m putting my money on it!"
The next few days saw the company’s senior designers working overtime to perfect their final output.
Five days later, it was game time.
The panel in charge of the preliminary selection consisted of the big shots in Porter Group’s Design Department.
They were all experts in the field, whose designs had been featured in various Fashion Weeks around the world.
"Their current designs are much better than the ones submitted in the last few years. These drafts are very unique; it’s quite difficult picking out a handful from this brilliant body of work."
This came from the chief editor of a fashion magazine. She leafed through the rest of the drafts until she came upon a portfolio. Her eyes immediately lit up.
"This girl’s work is fantastic! I must say, I’m very impressed." Charlene was also part of the panel.
The Palmer family had started their business in the entertainment world, so she had a distinctly uncommon approach when it came to design. She looked over the praised draft and saw the name on the bottom of the page — Rachel Daley.
"It’s excellent," Charlene finally exclaimed after observing Rachel’s drawing.
"The color combinations seem perfect, and every layer is designed to perfection. I can tell the designer has a great sense of fashion. This design is outstanding — a clear winner," Charlene voted for Rachel’s draft
.Since Charlene had praised the design, the others looked at the draft with great interest and curiosity.
"What do you think?"
Charlene looked up and glanced around haughtily. She held the highest status on the panel, so her opinion naturally influenced the other people’s decisions.
"It’s indeed good."
"Ms. Palmer always has good taste. This design is indeed professional and impressive," the other assessors chimed in.
"Well, it’s really good." Stephanie nodded in appreciation.
Ultimately, Rachel’s design draft was chosen.
Stephanie didn’t have a problem with the decision because Rachel’s design was indeed outstanding.
All the senior designers participating in the competition are good, but Rachel was a natural talent. Her design was superior to theirs.
The news about Rachel’s outstanding performance in the preliminary selection soon spread among the design department.
"Everyone spoke highly of you in the primary election. And one of the senior executives was constantly praising you," Stephanie said, shrugging nonchalantly.
Rachel was both happy and surprised. She didn’t expect to impress the senior designers or earn their praise. She had only intended to participate in the competition and give her best shot.
"Ms. Miller, I have seen the designs of some senior designers. They are more professional than mine.
"Oh, come on. Stop belittling yourself, Rachel. Your design was excellent. I think those senior executives prefer your style. After all, everyone has different tastes and preferences. As you said, some of their designs were more professional and wholesome. But they all seem to lack something."
Noticing the unease on Rachel’s face, Stephanie patted her shoulder reassuringly and returned to her office.
Meanwhile, Rachel heard three senior designers complaining about her getting selected, "What’s going on? Daley was not qualified to participate in the competition in the first place, but she not only managed to take part in it but also won the goddamn competition," one of the senior designers snorted with disdain.
"That’s right. What the hell? I thought she just made up the numbers, so I didn’t take her seriously. It looks like they had made up their minds to select her even before looking at our drafts," another designer grunted with disdain.
"Fucking hierarchy!"
"You know what? I heard that she has an affair with a top-level senior executive of our company. That’s why she is getting special treatment," the third designer added.
"Well, I’m aware of that. I heard it had caused quite a scene before. Someone was fired because of her. Well, let’s not discuss it further. She is right here. We’ve got to be careful. Otherwise, she will complain about us as well, and we’ll end up losing our jobs. After all, we are decent people. We can’t compete with that bitch who has her way with everything by playing dirty tricks."
The first designer elbowed the other designers, and the two winked in return.
Rachel frowned. She had already guessed some people in the design department would be unhappy with the decision and bitch about her.
Never had she thought things would escalate this soon.
Chapter 171 – "A Rising Phoenix: Rachel's Resilience Amidst Office Drama"
Once the three senior designers saw the sullen look on Rachel’s face, they quickly went back to their respective desks and pretended like they hadn’t been gossiping a while back.
“It’s almost as if they think their job here is to gossip. They are always chatting incessantly. This time, they have gone too far. More than anything, I’m sure you are relying on your strength here. How could they say such a thing? Humph!” Hilda stared at them angrily.
She felt bad for Rachel and wished she could give the rumormongers a tongue-lashing. But on the other hand, Rachel wasn’t that angry. This wasn’t the first time she was hearing such a rumor, so she had developed a thick skin over time.
“It doesn’t matter, Hilda. Leave them. Please don’t get yourself into trouble because of me. When Alesha spread false rumors about me in the past, I retorted because I caught her red-handed.” Rachel turned on the computer and began to work.
Staring at the design drawings, she added, “None of them dares to gossip about me in my presence. They always backbite. I don’t take such people seriously. If they are bold enough, they will say it to my face.”
“Does this mean you will allow them to continue gossiping about you? Won’t you take any action against them?” Hilda was amazed by Rachel’s nonchalance despite the severity of the matter.
“Hmm!” Rachel sighed.
She stood up from her seat and looked at her colleagues.
“A clear conscience fears no evil, so I’m not bothered at all. Only those who are up to no good should be bothered!” Rachel didn’t have time for any frivolities. She wanted to invest most of her time and energy into the upcoming spring fashion week. It was very important to her.
However, things didn’t go as she had planned. Most of her colleagues turned against her. They always looked at her strangely and gave her the cold shoulder. Rachel also noticed that they gossiped about her more frequently. They did very little to hide their distaste for her, so it was difficult for her to ignore them.
This was different from the last time when Alesha spread rumors about Rachel sleeping with her direct superior, where she could easily prove herself. This time, she found it hard to properly deal with it. She didn’t know whether to shut down the rumor or just ignore it. All she knew was that it was said that a designer whose surname is Daley had an affair with a senior executive of the Porter Group. Rachel’s name wasn’t specifically mentioned, so it would be awkward if she confronted the rumormongers. They would think she decided to shut down the rumor because her guilty conscience was eating her up.
In a state of confusion, Rachel decided to speak to Stephanie after much hesitation.
“Ms. Miller, you have heard of the recent rumor, right?”
“Yes, I have. Is it true?”
Stephanie responded and asked her naturally. She had her customary smile on at this moment.
“Of course not!” Rachel instantly looked aggrieved and helpless after answering sharply.
“Cheer up, Rachel. Since the rumor isn’t true, I advise that you turn a deaf ear to everything they are saying. Focus on your work. Make sure your designs are selected for the first show. Your success will be a good response to all your haters. It will also prove that you are innocent of the accusations.” Stephanie put down the documents and patted the back of Rachel’s hand.
After pursing her lips, she continued, “You had better invest the time you are using to think about that rumor on the design drawings instead. Thinking will get you nowhere. But designing will shoot you to the peak of your career in no time. Everyone’s eyes are on you. Most of them are earnestly waiting for your downfall. I want you to put all of them to shame!” The powerful glint in Stephanie’s eyes pierced through Rachel’s soul.
Those words also reset her brain.
At that moment, a strange feeling enveloped her. The worry in her heart was immediately replaced with the zeal to strive and get out of the dark land of thorns she was trapped in. She wanted to move to the bright light that was shining ahead.
Meanwhile, the outrageous rumor got to Dominic’s ears. And he was displeased, to say the least. He immediately ordered Kristian to investigate the source of the rumor.
“I have tried everything, but my efforts proved abortive. Even after interrogating many of the employees in the design department, I couldn’t get tangible information that will lead to the source. They all heard it from rumormongers. The source remains unknown. It’s like a never-ending circle!” Kristian revealed helplessly.
His inability to find out the source of the rumor made him more curious.
“The originator of this rumor is an employee in the company. How is it possible that the person is untraceable?” Conflicting emotions swirled in Dominic’s dark eyes.
All of a sudden, he narrowed his eyes and said, “You know what? Stop the investigation for now. Don’t alert the enemy. If the culprit finds out about the investigation, he or she will become extra cautious.”
“From the look of things, I’m certain that Rachel’s colleagues are spreading the rumor because of her success on the job. They are jealous and intimidated by her. She is being too lenient with them. And that makes it more difficult to investigate,” Dominic stated, his head teeming with different thoughts.
“Jeez! You never let an opportunity to praise your wife pass you by. Now I know how protective you are.” Kristian shook his head. Staring at Dominic, he put down his crossed long legs and took another comfortable position.
‘Wow, this guy has changed so much!” he thought.
He had noticed some major changes in Dominic’s behavior these past few months. The previously cold and uptight Dominic was now warm and caring.
Lost in thought, Dominic leaned his back on the chair and stared blankly at Kristian. He suddenly snapped his fingers and said, “I have an idea. Since we can’t find the source of the rumor, we should try our best to provide Rachel with all the resources she would need. Her works must be excellent so they will be selected to be displayed at the fashion show.”
Kristian was pleasantly surprised to hear this idea. He abruptly stood up and his eyes lit up. With his shoulder lifted, he asked, “Wait, does this mean you are going to strike the Peterson family again?” There was a subsidiary company under the auspices of the Peterson Group. It was called the Peterson Silk Fabric. Producing high-end clothes was its specialty.
As a result, it was one of the biggest rivals of the Porter Group. The major reason why the Porter Group came into the clothing business was to compete with the Peterson Group.
For the past few consecutive seasons of the Sunhaven Fashion Week, the Peterson Silk Fabric had come out first. Dominic thought that it would be a huge blow for the Peterson if the Porter Group clinched the first-place title this year. Dominic leaned forward, rested his elbows on the table, and clasped his fingers. He stared outside through the French window and said, “The Porter Group has developed rapidly in the past few years. Let’s give those folks a run for their money. It’s time we win that show.”
On the other side, Rachel had buried herself in work day and night. Stephanie’s advice had charged her up. She wanted to blind her haters with her success and show them that she wasn’t someone who depended on a backer. Her mockers were the very last people she wanted to lose to.
On D-Day, many people gathered at the selection site for the Sunhaven Fashion Week’s haute couture.
Chapter 172 – "Resilience Rewarded: Rachel's Journey to Success"
"Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for Porter Group and the Peterson Group to compete for first place!"
With this announcement, the judges began to scrutinize the design drafts carefully. They occasionally exchanged glances and joked about some designs.
The Peterson Group and the Porter Group always went head-to-head every year. Their designs were often excellent, but the Peterson Group's designs consistently edged out their rival's.
This wasn’t surprising because they had been in the business longer and had a good reputation in the industry.
“This design is concise and innovative. The designer must have put in a lot of work.”
As the judges examined the Peterson Group’s design, they confidently praised, “It seems the Peterson Group will be selected for the opening show again.”
The judges were about to make their final decision when they were interrupted by a senior judge at the table. His eyes suddenly lit up as he stared at the design drafts sent by the Porter Group.
A bright smile also appeared on his face. “Wait, I find this design from the Porter Group very interesting.”
‘What is he talking about?” the other judges thought and refocused on Rachel’s work. Initially, they found the design a little tacky and naive, not suitable for a fashion show. But upon closer examination, their opinions shifted. They discovered many hidden meanings in the design, evoking thoughtful consideration.
This surprised all of them, turning the design into a masterpiece in their eyes. After a heated deliberation between the judges, the chief judge took the microphone and announced.
“For the first time in many years, we had to carefully evaluate the designs. It was a stiff competition between both designs. We have decided that the Peterson Group’s design will be showcased during the second show, while the Porter Group’s design will headline the first show!”
This announcement caused quite a stir in the Porter Group. Such an event had never occurred in the years of the competition.
This victory silenced all of Rachel’s detractors. It proved that she was indeed excellent at her job. Soon, the rumors drastically reduced, and Rachel’s colleagues no longer looked down on her or gave her the cold shoulder. Some of them even tried to ingratiate themselves with her.
“The design department of the Porter Group defeated the archenemy for the first time in many years! We are so proud! Good job, Daley!”
Stephanie gave Rachel a hug. The victory filled her with vigor and vitality. She also became more confident. Rachel chuckled and covered her mouth to control her excitement. Waving her hand, she said humbly, “I just tried my best. Thanks for the praise, anyway.”
“All right, all right! Your best has done us good. Woo-hoo! This calls for a celebration. Listen up everyone, the entire design department will be going out for a get-together! It’s Mr. Porter’s treat!”
“Yay!”
A cry of jubilation went up in the department when the employees heard that the boss was treating them.
The dinner party was held in a fancy French restaurant. “Daley, would you like to have a drink with me?”
Stephanie swirled a glass of red wine in her hand, gesturing toward Rachel. She glanced around the crowd before returning her gaze to Rachel. With sincerity, she said, “I’m sure it must’ve been difficult for you to showcase the limits of your talent under all that pressure. I know what kind of person you are. Truthfully, I’d rather not say anything else. Different people have different views. Right now, I just want to share this glass of wine with you.”
Upon hearing Stephanie’s remark, all the employees fell silent. Amidst the quiet atmosphere, someone stood up and joked, “We didn’t think that Daley was very capable. She looks pretty meek. We’re actually surprised that she’s so incredible! Perhaps we should try to get along better after this drink?”
“This could be a way to overturn the previous rumors circulating about me,” Rachel thought.
She took a sip of wine and smiled at Stephanie. With a reserved smile, she said, “Thanks, everyone. I appreciate that.” Now that she had cleared things out, Rachel was over the moon.
When the dinner party came to an end, she received two messages; one from the bank, and one from Braden. He said that he had given her a bonus. It was a large sum of money.
This time, Rachel accepted the money without any qualms. She had spent lots of time and energy for the fashion week in Sunhaven, and she had indeed made great contributions to the event. Since she was just an ordinary woman who was short of money, Rachel accepted the bonus gratefully.
She sent Braden some words of gratitude to express how grateful she was. The dinner party didn’t last very long. Most of the company’s employees were married, so they had to go back to their families and take care of them. Around eight in the evening, Rachel’s colleagues sent her home.
Unable to restrain her excitement, she started humming a song while she was changing her shoes.
“You seem pretty happy. What’s going on?”
When Dominic heard the door open, he came out to have a look. He was holding the clothes that he had just taken out of the dryer.
His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and the simple white tank top he wore made him look even more muscular. Rachel’s eyes lit up as she walked to the sofa to lay down. She had the look of satisfaction and relief.
“There was a project in the company I had been working on. Now that it has been completed, and I get some extra bonus!”
She didn’t tell Dominic all the details of the project, because she assumed that he didn’t know much about fashion shows. After all, men usually paid no attention to fashion. Dominic nodded in response.
Then, he sat on the sofa with a pile of clothes in his arms. Thereafter, he folded the clothes neatly. It was then that Rachel noticed that her underwear were among the clothes he was folding. Her bras and panties looked a lot smaller in his hands.
“I can fold those myself!”
Rachel took her underwear away; her face turned red. Dominic didn’t think it was a big deal, for he had done this many times. He chuckled and pinched her blushing face. “We’re a couple. Why are you so shy about it?”
The way her eyelids dropped and her eyelashes fluttered made Rachel look timid yet lovable. Trying to suppress his smile, Dominic cleared his throat and decided to change the topic.
“In that case, we should celebrate your victory! Let’s go out this weekend. You’ve been busy with work for so long that you haven’t had a chance to relax.”
He and Rachel had been through a lot recently, and they weren’t even that close yet. All he wanted was an opportunity for them to develop their feelings for each other.
Chapter 173 – "Under the Sun: Dominic and Rachel's Romantic Interlude"
As Rachel lay on the sofa, she stared at the ceiling, realizing that so many things had been happening lately. She had done a good job during the fashion week, so she deserved to relax for once.
Aside from that, ever since she and Dominic got together, she seemed to be getting luckier than before. Rachel had left the Daley family, and she was able to stand out during the fashion week. She looked at Dominic and asked, “I have no idea where to go. Do you know where we can go?”
Dominic picked up the neatly folded clothes, stood up, and headed back to his room, saying, “Yup! I’ll make the arrangements.” Fearing that he would waste too much money, Rachel sprang to her feet and said, “Don’t spend too much money!”
Adhering to Rachel’s request of not spending too much money, Dominic took her to his private island near Sunhaven. This island hadn’t been developed yet.
At a glance, it was just an island with a dense jungle, and the only source of light at night was the lighthouse. Dominic got off the yacht, grabbed Rachel’s waist, and lifted her up.
The waves dashed against the rocks and hit the reef. The cloudless sky seemed to have lined up with the coast.
“There aren’t any tickets or goods to spend money on here. So, what do you think? Is it economical enough?”
‘It’s good that it doesn’t cost a lot. We need to save as much money as we can in case of any emergencies. Anyway, How did you find this place? The scenery is so beautiful and the air is fresh. It’s nothing like the city.”
Rachel took a deep breath, and the cool air soothed her nerves. She continued to inhale and exhale to relax more. Her day-to-day life was a little tough. She usually faced the computer and saw many tall buildings and people every day. Now that she was away from the hustle and bustle of the city, she was at ease.
“A friend recommended it to me. I’m glad you like it.”
Dominic carried the big bags and walked ashore, quite heavy, but he preferred to carry them himself. He didn’t want to burden his wife at all. Rachel just followed him closely, carrying her small handbag. She had thought she was alone with Dominic on this island.
But when she looked back, she saw four men coming down from the yacht.
They were carrying tents, tables, chairs, cauldrons, and a couple of other camping equipment. The men went under a shade of coconut trees and began to set up the tent. It was as big as a yurt, almost the size of a house.
“What are they doing?”
Rachel had never seen a tent this big before. From the sizes and appearance of the other equipment, she could tell that they were high-end. She had her eyes fixed on the men in confusion.
“They are helping us set up the tent and everything we will need.”
Dominic put the foldable outdoor chair on the ground. Patting off the dust, he said to her, “Come and sit here. The arrangement will take them some time.”
“How much does all that cost?”
Rachel covered her mouth in awe of everything she was seeing. It was as if she was seeing those things for the first time. Three of the men were setting up the tent, while one of them was arranging the barbecue grill.
“How come they are doing all these? Well, I don’t think they are doing these for free. Delivering such high-end camping equipment and setting everything up must cost a lot. How was Dominic able to afford their service? Did his friend who recommended this place send them here?”
Noticing that Rachel was lost in thought, Dominic pulled her to sit on the chair and explained, “Those pieces of equipment are all rental. They don’t cost much at all.”
Shortly after, the four men were done setting up the equipment. They bowed to Dominic and Rachel and left as quickly as they came. As Rachel took a sip from the orange juice Dominic had given her, she murmured to herself, “Those men were so diligent.
Their customer service is just excellent. That’s good to know.”
The couple went to the arranged area and camped there.
“What would you like for lunch?”
After checking the time on his wristwatch, Dominic walked to the grill to start the fire. The dried leaves and branches on the ground made rustling and snapping sounds as Dominic walked on them. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. His slender fingers and strong arms had green veins slightly protruding out of them.
Rachel’s mouth flew open when she saw his muscular figure. It was until Dominic turned to look at her that she regained her senses.
She shook her head and blinked several times as her face flushed.
As if nothing had happened, she walked up to him and finally replied, “Since there’s a grill here, how about we have a barbecue?”
The faint fragrance of Rachel’s body wafted into Dominic’s nostrils as soon as she walked to his side. He couldn’t help but wonder what perfume she wore today. Her scent was doing something to him.
To control himself, he pinched his palm hard and slightly bit the walls of his mouth. The piercing pain kept him from getting turned on. However, his temporary wall of defense came crashing down when Rachel touched his hand.
“Let me help you…” Rachel said as she tried to take over the grill from him. But her words were cut short because Dominic suddenly grabbed her chin with his big hand.
“Damn it!” he cursed, gritting his teeth.
After staring at her lips for a split second, he lowered his head and bit her lower lip gently. He suddenly held her around the waist and pulled her closer with his other hand. Rachel’s body was trembling, and her heart was beating fast at this time.
Before she could process what was happening, Dominic kissed her slowly and deeply. She found herself responding hungrily to him.
The kiss was so passionate that they didn’t know how long it lasted. By the time they released each other’s lips, they were both panting heavily, and their lips were slightly swollen.
Dominic hugged her and stroked her hair lovingly. Camping was a first-time experience for both Dominic and Rachel. Although they were so excited to cook in the open air, it took them the whole afternoon to make a half-cooked barbecue and vegetables.
They were happy with the result, nonetheless. When dusk came, the island became even more breathtaking. The orange setting sun hung above the sea horizon. It made the water glisten brilliantly.
A fishing ship was in a distance. At this moment, it seemed like time slowed down. Sitting in a chair, Rachel looked in a distance and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. She propped her chin on her hand and mumbled casually, “The sight is so beautiful. I wish I could make a painting of it. I haven’t painted in a long time. It’s a pity that I didn’t bring any painting tools along. I guess I can only feed my eyes then.”
Dominic didn’t say anything in response to her at first. He just stared at her quietly as she basked in the sun. The reflection of the sunlight on her beautiful face delighted him.
Affection flitted in his eyes. His heart suddenly began to thump against his chest, and he could hear it clearly. “Ahem! You don’t have to just feed your eyes. I’ll see what I can do about the painting tools,” he finally said.
Rachel quickly turned to look at Dominic as soon as she heard those words. With her eyes widened in surprise and disbelief, she asked, “Did you bring painting tools along?”
Undiluted affection glistened in Dominic’s eyes as his lips curled up in a smile. He stood up and leaned close to her. As he stared at her affectionately, the golden sun rays danced on their faces.
Instinctively, he stroked her hair and replied, “I’ll try to find you some. Just wait for me here.”
Dominic straightened up and began to walk towards the forest. When he was sure that he was out of Rachel’s sight, he took out his phone and called Andy. His face was cold, and his tone was authoritative at this time.
