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.

separated from the entertainment area. There were

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

tough man

he turned to Melora, he chuckled. “Where did you find this girl from? She

blew out a ring of smoke. “She’s a

man did not believe

men like them would only bring their lovers to such gatherings. Though

in the morning, Ingrid had called, hoping to find out

pulling your leg. She’s

men in the

Grim

head. “The girl said she wanted to learn more about the world, so I brought her with me. Cease the nonsense, all right?”

others. “This is Eras Yonder. You can

over. She looked young,

appeared intimate with

between Alfred’s group, Melora sweetly greeted,

woman chuckled, and so did

laughed and asked where Alfred had found her. Though the woman was laughing as well, she was a little stunned.

during the meal was merry, and the people were not reserved around each other.

be more accurate to call it a social event. These prominent figures needed a way

was the one

regarding the new energy source. Any simple project he could offer them would let

use

who wanted to curry favor with the Miller family and Henry came over to toast Melora, but Alfred shielded her from them. Without beating around the bush,

the others stopped trying.

restroom, Melora followed him out. Everyone in the room could tell that there was something else about their relationship, but since Alfred said she was merely his young family friend, they were going to

to whisper, “Mr. Alfred, I

off the golden faucet.

more than he wanted, so he was smoking to

smoke rose, he mulled over Melora’s words.

these people were his classmates and they were not indebted to each

was lonely at

of him and were respectfully calling him “Mr. Lodge” now, if he were to ever fall from grace, they would crush him and leave him in

like Melora would make

was starting to regret having brought her

also delighted. At the start, it was unrhythmic, but both parties soon

even

out, sometimes soft and sometimes urgent, mixing with

Melora stiffened.

for a married couple would not be so urgent to do such

of the young women in the room, a sour look crept onto her

lovers

eyes, she glared at Alfred.

continued to smoke, but a mysterious

gave him a

had thought that Alfred

another. hand. He lowered his voice