Crystal's One Night of Love

Alfred lowered his head to look at the pair of fair hands.

Yet, his gaze went unnoticed by her as she continued holding his arm while they walked out of the cemetery.

Leslie, still holding the umbrella and trailing after them, was silent in contemplation.

The night before, Alfred had said that he was not interested in Ingrid’s company. Perhaps it was not because Ingrid was boring, but because he had encountered someone better that everyone else paled in comparison.

When they were on their way back, Alfred told the driver to take Melora’s car.

Melora sat beside Alfred. She was rather talkative and not at all fazed by what happened the night before.

Leslie drove with a smile, thinking, It’s rare that Mr. Lodge isn’t getting irritable.

Mid-journey, Alfred received a call from his university friend from Barnwood about a gathering in the afternoon.

After speaking for a while, Alfred suddenly turned to Melora.

He chuckled and went on, “You all must be doing this on purpose. You know that I’m single, but you still want me to bring a female companion. Aren’t you trying to make life tough for me?”

The person on the other end responded to Alfred’s words, but Melora could not hear what they said.

Alfred proceeded to stretch his arm to touch his car seat. “All right, all right.”

He ended the call.

If it was another day, Leslie would have definitely arranged for someone to be Alfred’s female companion-someone sensible and obedient. However, there was another woman in the car, and Leslie could not tell what Alfred’s plan was, so he said nothing.

Sure enough, once Alfred tossed his phone aside, he turned to Melora to say, “Join me for a meal.”

Melora hesitated. Mr. Alfred’s friends are probably a whole bunch of old men too, right?

Alfred added, “If you go, you’ll get monetary gifts.”

At that, Melora agreed to it.

After returning to the hotel, Alfred had a change of clothes.

He was still wearing his usual white shirt and black slacks, but he undid two of his shirt buttons and rolled his sleeves up to his elbow to reveal his defined forearms.

His body was one that women would fall for.

After that, he drove the black Lotus and brought her to an obscure upscale clubhouse that only members could enter. The average person could not come to this establishment, for they would not know about it in the first place.

The Miller family was wealthy, but they were in a different social circle, so Melora had never been to this clubhouse.

The manager dared not stare at Alfred as he led them to a private room. All he said was, “Enjoy yourself, Mr. Lodge.”

Alfred inclined his head.

Then, the gilded carved doors slowly closed. Alfred leaned against the doorframe and lit a cigarette.

It was clear that he was a frequent visitor to the clubhouse.

the entertainment area. There were over a

done with his cigarette, a man dressed to his nines came over with a glass of red wine.

tough

handsome, though his eyes gave him a frivolous image. When he turned to Melora, he chuckled. “Where did you

blew out a ring of smoke. “She’s a

not believe him, however.

to such gatherings. Though Alfred was

morning, Ingrid had called, hoping to

smiled and said, “I’m not pulling your leg. She’s the Miller family’s daughter

in the

of the legal world’s Grim Reaper? Why did Alfred bring her

learn more about the world, so I brought her with me. Cease

to greet the others. “This is

She looked young, maybe

intimate with

things worked between Alfred’s group, Melora sweetly greeted, “Mr.

and so did the rest.

asked where Alfred had found her. Though the woman was laughing as well, she was a little stunned. How many young women could

meal was merry, and the

more accurate to call it a social event. These prominent figures needed a way to maintain their connections with

the one with

simple project he could offer them would let them live the rest

course, Alfred had use for them

but Alfred shielded her from them. Without beating around the bush, he

others

the restroom, Melora followed him out. Everyone in the room could tell that there was something else about their relationship, but since Alfred

whisper, “Mr.

the

more than he wanted, so he

the smoke rose, he

indebted to each other, all of them hoped to ride

lonely at the top.

him “Mr. Lodge” now, if he were to ever fall from grace, they would crush him

young woman like Melora would make

Alfred was starting to regret

restroom. It sounded like someone was in pain yet also delighted. At the start, it was unrhythmic,

restroom cubicle door even started shaking

sounds rang out, sometimes soft and

Melora stiffened.

married couple

young women in the

lovers here,

eyes, she glared

smoke, but a mysterious look had appeared on

Melora gave him a kick.

thought that Alfred was a gentleman.

his fingers, Alfred reached out to hold her wrist with another. hand. He lowered his voice as he said, “Why are you losing your temper at me when