Dear Sweetheart

Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Somebody Saves Her

Rayna sent Julian a text, telling him that the head of her department was celebrating his birthday, and she wanted Julian to come and pick her up afterward.

As expected, Julian declined to do so, claiming that he had something to do at night, and asked her to hail a cab back instead.

Of course, the drama that he and Meredith orchestrated would not go as planned if he were there to pick Rayna up.

Rayna did not make a fuss about it. After work, she shared a cab with her other colleagues to the hotel. Many of her colleagues had arrived early, and they were chatting in the lounge.

The supervisor arrived not long after.

There were a few people accompanying the supervisor. Other than the vice CEO, there was a couple of other top management of the company as well, including Meredith. Incidentally, Rayna met her gaze.

“Rayna, come take a seat at this table,” Meredith said, rather loudly. She was all smiles as she beckoned at Rayna. “I heard that you speak fluent Ferropenian. I’m actually learning Ferropenian lately, and I’d like you to give me a few pointers.”

“You’re too humble,” Rayna said with a smile as she took a seat at the table.

A man was sitting by Rayna’s side. She stole a few glances at the man and noticed that he was not among the top management. Instead, he was Dylan, someone working in the same department as her. His uncle was in top management in some other department.

Rayna understood what Meredith was playing at right away.

Dylan must be part of Meredith’s plan.

He greeted Rayna in a friendly manner, and there was nothing suspicious about him. Rayna nodded at the man in return, as she did not wish to arouse Meredith’s suspicion.

After a few courses, some colleagues at other tables started drinking.

Meredith played the part of a gentle and considerate boss. With the vice CEO present at the table, she toed the line and engaged everyone in small talk, and managed to make Rayna drink as well.

Rayna did not decline her offer and would drink every single glass that Meredith toasted her. She was prepared for this. With a sponge hidden between her sleeves, she would spit the alcohol into the sponges when nobody was looking.

Otherwise, she would have drunk herself silly at Meredith’s table as they alternated between red and white wines.

“Mr. Faymon!”

Someone suddenly called out and everyone else stood up right away.

Rayna turned around to have a look and saw Curtis in an even more formal attire than at the last event. Kristie, who was circling his arms, was wearing a red dress. The two appeared to have come directly after some sort of cocktail reception.

“Please, be at ease. I have an appointment nearby, and I heard that Mr. Lawson is celebrating his birthday at this hotel. So, I’m just here to join in on the fun,” Curtis said with a smile.

Then, he raised a glass of red wine and clinked glasses with Jonathan.

Everyone toasted Curtis, and Rayna felt compelled to do the same.

When she was close enough to him, Curtis then whispered so that only the two of them could listen, “It’s such a pity that you’re only getting five hundred thousand to accompany me on this business trip. Allow me to present you with something else.”

Then, Rayna felt a slap on her buttock. She was so taken aback that she lost her grip on her wine glass. She instinctively reached behind her and felt a card on her buttock. Rayna hurriedly gripped the card in her hand.

Curtis had already left the lounge with Kristie when she lifted her head.

There were people all around, and so many pairs of eyes that could be watching her every move right then. Rayna’s heart beat frantically as she hid the card in her hand from plain sight. She had only noticed that the card that Curtis gave her was a keycard to a hotel room.

Julian and Meredith frequented the hotel, and they had the tendency to book the same room.

Rayna’s phone pinged, and she noticed that it was a text from a stranger that read: Meredith will receive news from Julian thirty minutes later.

Huh?

Even though Rayna was a translator, and she knew that Curtis must have sent the text, it was so short that Rayna was scratching her head trying to figure out what it meant.

Rayna looked at the keycard in her hand and thought hard and long. After some time, she finally figured out what Curtis was trying to tell her. He would lure Meredith to the hotel, and Rayna would only have thirty minutes to devise her plan.

Noticing that she did not have much time, Rayna took the initiative to pour Meredith more wine and watched her drink. Rayna only drank a few sips to make her face appear red. She spat the rest to theConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

sponge beneath her sleeves.

After a few drinks, she fell into Dylan’s arms.

“Rayna, are you all right?” Dylan took the chance and felt her waist while acting like a gentleman. “Are you drunk?”

“No, I’m not,” Rayna mumbled as she pretended to remove herself from Dylan’s embrace but to no avail.

Meredith had one too many drinks, and her cheeks looked red. However, she was still quite sober. Upon noticing that Rayna was slumped against Dylan’s chest, she shot a glance at Dylan.

Dylan steadied Rayna and left the lounge when nobody was watching.

After they left, the party almost came to an end, and everyone left one by one, including Meredith. Jonathan asked someone to send her back. Incidentally, she received a text from Julian.

Honey, I’m waiting for you to come and celebrate. Metropolitan Hotel, Room 8082.

They would always meet in Room 8082. In the morning, Julian had mentioned that he would wait for her at the hotel. Hence, Meredith did not doubt the text and declined Jonathan’s offer for a ride and hailed a taxi to head to Metropolitan Hotel instead.

Meanwhile, Dylan started to get handsy and caressed Rayna all over after getting into the taxi.

Rayna resisted his touch and acted coyly. Then, she whispered into his ear and said, “Let’s go to Metropolitan Hotel. I’ve booked a room there.”

“You’re such a slut.” Dylan grinned and pinched her on her buttock.

A wave of nausea washed over Rayna.

Smile while you still can. I bet you’re going to lose that smile the next morning.

Rayna had been to Metropolitan Hotel once. She was disgusted to set her foot at the hotel once again. However, she went along with Dylan and took the elevator, and checked into the room.

Dylan pounced on her as soon as she was on the bed. Rayna cleverly dodged him. Then, she drugged the bottle of wine when she opened it.

After Dylan drank a glass of wine, she pushed him into the bathroom.

Rayna went around the room and tried to check if there was a recording pen anywhere. After some searching, she noticed that there was a pinhole camera installed in an inconspicuous place near the headboard. Rayna was impressed.

Uncle Curtis is a detailed man indeed.

After some time, there were sounds of knocking on the door. It was Meredith. Her words were slurred. It was apparent that she was quite tipsy.

Rayna switched off all the lights in the room.

Then, she opened the door slightly and hid in a corner.

Meredith stumbled into the room. It was too dark, and she could not figure out where the switch was. However, she bumped right into Dylan who just barged out of the bathroom.

Dylan’s body was burning with desire, and Meredith had only served to stoke the flames of his fiery lust. Naturally, he pounced on her.

The sounds of the bed creaking and fervid moaning filled the air.

Rayna felt her ears going hot from listening to them. She could not bear to stay any longer. Since the deed was done, she stealthily scurried out of the room.

Her lips quirked into a triumphant smile.

She was still racking her brain trying to figure out a way to lure Meredith to the hotel back at the lounge. However, Curtis’ keycard came in just in time to solve all her problems.

Rayna had to admit that Curtis was a shrewd man.

“You could have just handed the keycard to me though. Did you have to do that?” Rayna mumbled. She could still feel the burning sensation on her buttock where Curtis slapped her. Her body was all sweaty from executing her plans.

She wanted nothing more than to get home and take a long, sweet bath.

However, her arms were gripped by someone when she came out of the elevator.

The person had exerted so much force that she felt her arms almost breaking.

“Belle,” the man said in a baritone voice. However, it made Rayna’s hair stand on its ends as she stiffened.

She dared not move a single muscle.

His leather shoes brushed against the marble flooring and made a pleasing sound. Then, his slender figure towered over her and blocked her vision, making her see nothing but his grey coat and his pocket watch.

“I apologize. It’s been such a pleasure to see you here that I’ve gripped onto you too strongly. Did I hurt you?” the man said in an apologetic manner as he loosened his grip and took a step back and bowed

slightly to Rayna.

She could finally discern his face.

The man’s delicate features had an oriental look to them. He had a tall nose, and his gold-rimmed glasses rested snugly on the bridge of his nose. Underneath those glasses were a pair of ocean-blue eyes.

There was a hint of a friendly smile in his eyes. However, Rayna could not help but feel a chill run down her spine as she recalled the wretched look on the man’s face when he strangled her a few years ago.

Her shoulders shook uncontrollably.

The man trained his eyes on Rayna like she was prey, and he, the predator. However, it was only for a fleeting moment.

He took a step forward and caressed Rayna’s cheeks. “Belle, I know that I’ve done you wrong in the past, and I’ve hurt you. But I am a changed man now, especially after having spent so long behind bars. I’ve been missing you, and I’ve been wanting to apologize to you after getting out of prison. But I just could not locate you. Did you change your name? Why didn’t you tell me? Hmm?”

Rayna clutched on tightly to her dress as beads of cold sweat broke on her back.

The nightmare of an incident that happened a few years back still haunted her to this day. She was terrified of Jefferson, so much so that she did not even have the strength to shove his hand away as she cowered in fear.

Anybody, please, come save me!