Chapter 111
Chapter 111
James pushed up his glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, paused for a moment, and then spoke
with composure, "I called you Ms. Martinez."
Roxanne stumbled on her thoughts for a second.
Did she mishear?
She could swear James just called her Mrs. Rodriguez.
James stayed cool, "Ms. Martinez, as I was saying, this villa is quite large."
Did she really mishear?
James reiterated, "Ms. Martinez, you might find this villa a bit too spacious, so feel free to leave all
lights on at night, no need to switch them off, in case you feel scared."
The villa was indeed massive.
She found her attention successfully redirected by James.
She asked, "James, has Harrison paid the rent? It must be pretty pricey to rent a place this big. If he
hasn't, I can pay you right now."
"He's paid everything, don’t you worry."
James was here looking after Mr. Harrison's idle villa because he was getting a hefty paycheck from
him.
How could he possibly charge Mrs. Rodriguez any money?
"Really? I'd feel really awkward staying here if Harrison hasn't paid."
"Don't worry, this house was meant to be a vacation rental. Even though Harrison and I are good
friends, the rent was still calculated properly."
"James, how much did you charge Harrison? You didn't shortchange yourself, did you?"
Such a nice villa, even as a vacation rental, should be at least 500 dollars a night.
James frowned.
What should he say was a reasonable amount?
If he said too little, Mrs. Rodriguez might think it's a scam.
If he said too much, that wouldn't work either.
"Normally, the vacation rental goes for 300 dollars per night, but due to the economic downturn,
business isn't great, and we don't have many guests. So I gave Harrison a discount and charged him
50 dollars."
"Is it that cheap, James? Aren't you running at a loss?"
"It's a waste if the house is left empty, how could I possibly lose out? Besides, I'm good pals with your
husband, so don't feel burdened. Oh and, Ms. Martinez, the food in the fridge was prepared especially
for you, help yourself and don't be shy. Also, the car parked out front has a full tank of gas, feel free to
use it. Here's the key."
Receiving the car key, Roxanne was immensely grateful.
After going through some details, James finally turned to leave.
Once he turned around, James breathed a sigh of relief.
He almost blew his cover.
He texted Harrison: [Mr. Harrison, Mrs. Rodriguez is all settled in, you can relax. Also, Mrs. Rodriguez
kept asking about the rent, I told her I charged you 50 dollars. If Mrs. Rodriguez asks you, just tell her
that.]
Harrison's plane landed at Warmville airport half an hour later.
Before the plane had fully come to a stop and was still decelerating on the runway, Harrison was
already impatiently turning his phone on.
Alexander reminded him, "Harrison, didn't you hear the announcement asking to turn off all mobile
phones and electronic devices while the plane is still taxiing? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Samuel chimed in with a smile, "He must be dying to call his wife."
Harrison ignored their teasing.
After turning his phone on, he saw James' message and several missed calls from Roxanne.
He immediately dialed back.
Roxanne picked up right away.
"You called the moment you got off the plane, did you miss me?"
"Harrison, I haven't been gone for long, I'm not the kind of person who's always thinking about
romance."
Roxanne was being honest.
Harrison pretended to be heartbroken, "I'm so sad."
"Okay, let's get to the point. Why did you arrange such a nice villa for me? It's such a waste."
"A 50-dollar villa, where's the waste?"
"I'm not saying 50 dollars for a villa is expensive, in fact, James is losing out charging 50 dollars. I'm
saying, I could've stayed at a budget hotel, there's no need for such luxury."
"You're just too frugal. Don't worry, didn't I tell you? I got a promotion and a raise."
"Even if you got a raise, I still think staying in such a big house is a bit wasteful."
Roxanne chatted with Harrison for a few more minutes.
Nothing important, just some thoughts on how to save on living expenses.
After that, she had to rush off to the factory and wanted to hang up.
Harrison was reluctant to end the call, "Roxanne, remember to video call me."
"Got it."
"Anything else?" Harrison asked on purpose.
Roxanne joked, "Also remember to miss you, I'll remember that."
"That's my good girl." Harrison smiled satisfied.
Roxanne said, "Harrison, why do you sound like a kid who wants candy?"
Harrison said, "Don't you know we just got married?"
Roxanne said, "Alright, but I have to go take care of business, let's talk later."
Samuel looked at Harrison reluctantly ending the call, helplessly rubbing his own arm.
"I've got goosebumps."
Alexander next to him laughed out loud, “Hahaha, Samuel, you'll never understand this feeling since
you've never been married."
Roxanne spent two days at the factory. Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.
The first batch of goods destined for Russia, both in quality and quantity, was ensured and successfully
completed.
Her task was also completed.
These two days, she forgot to video call Harrison.
Harrison knew her whereabouts well, knew she's busy and everything else was fine, so he didn't take
the initiative to call her.
Instead, he wanted to see when she would remember him.
Roxanne returned to the villa arranged by James, it was already past nine at night.
The weather in Warmville is indeed not as good as in Seraphim Haven.
The evening breeze was chilly.
Roxanne stood under the lamp outside the villa.
Her shadow stretched long on the ground.
At first glance, she seemed all alone.
Perhaps she had gotten used to being with Harrison, so when she was alone and had nothing to do,
she felt lonely by herself.
She kind of missed Harrison.
Things at Harrison's end were already settled.
Alexander shut down his computer eagerly. "I'm catching tonight's flight back to Seraphim Haven,
Harrison. You coming? I'll have my secretary book the tickets."
Harrison was glued to his phone, not blinking an eye.
His brows were knitted tightly.
"Alexander," Samuel joked. "Stop asking him. Didn't you notice he's always distracted when he's
working? He spent the whole time looking at his phone, probably worried about missing messages."
Alexander lightly patted Harrison's shoulder and pretended to ask, "Harrison, whose message are you
waiting for?"
Samuel interjected, "Do you even need to ask? Messages from his wife, of course."
Harrison remained silent, lounging on the sofa with his legs elegantly crossed.
He held a pen in his fingers, twirling it absentmindedly.
On the surface, he seemed calm and composed.
However, his furrowed brows concealed a restless and anxious mood.
There were many unread messages on his phone, but none from Roxanne.
He didn't care about those unread messages.
He just kept staring at Roxanne's profile picture.
Two days.
That woman who once promised to miss him and to initiate video calls hadn't sent him a single
message.
She verbally promised to call him, but her promise was not fulfilled.
What a heartless woman!
Alexander noticed his anxiety and restlessness, gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder, and
chuckled.
"Harrison, if you miss her that much, go see her. How long are you going to wait for a message from
Roxanne here?"
Yeah, how long was he going to wait?
Roxanne was a workaholic.
Now that her new company with Chloe was just starting, all her energy was focused on her work.
She probably hadn't even thought about dating him.
Samuel also advised him, "Harrison, take some initiative."
Meanwhile, Roxanne was beginning to miss Harrison. She had been busy for two days.
She had been busy until late at night, and fell asleep from exhaustion.
She completely forgot to call Harrison or video chat with him.
Sitting on the swing outside the villa, she decisively made a video call to Harrison.
Upon receiving the video call, Harrison's brows furrowed even more deeply.
So this heartless woman finally remembered him?
Perhaps still angry, Harrison answered the call with a sullen face.
Alexander and Samuel, on the other hand, tactfully moved away.
Roxanne's crisp voice came over the video: "Harrison, what are you doing?"
Harrison remained expressionless, "I'm waiting for your call."
"No way, what a coincidence!" Roxanne didn't believe it.
She called him and he just happened to be waiting for her call?
Harrison's voice revealed his discontent, "You finally remembered me?"
"I'm sorry, I've been really busy these two days and forgot to call you when I was busy."
Harrison was speechless.
"But I really miss you, I called you as soon as I have time!”
Harrison consoled himself, "How much do you miss me?"
Roxanne hesitated for a moment, not answering immediately.
She didn't miss him to the point of going crazy.
She was past the honeymoon phase.
Now, she pursued an ordinary, mutually supportive marital relationship, not a passionate romance.
So her attitude seemed a bit cold.
This made Harrison a bit disheartened.
"You liar," he said, emotionless and gloomy.
Roxanne laughed at his teasing, "Harrison, when did I lie to you?"
She just said a few comforting words, saying she would miss him, call him, video chat with him, but she
didn't fulfill them.
If she wasn't a liar, what was she?
He asked, "Then tell me, how do you miss me?"
Roxanne thought for a moment, "I wish you were here with me now, that's my true thought."
Harrison, "Then wait for it."
He ended the video call.
Then he stood up, picked up his suit jacket from the sofa.
Alexander, sitting on the sofa, gave him a look, "Harrison, if anyone is a liar, it's you. Roxanne still
doesn't know your identity."
Harrison quickly put on his suit jacket, "I'm afraid she'll be scared, so I don't plan to tell her for now."
Alexander asked, "When do you plan to tell her?"
Harrison said, "Slowly, I'll tell her when she can't leave me."
Alexander replied, "You're really a jerk."
Harrison said, "Take me to EternalBreeze Villa."
Alexander asked, "Are you really going to see Roxanne right now?"
Harrison threw the car keys over, "Hurry up."
Alexander tossed the car keys to Samuel, "Tell Samuel to take you. I'm going home to see Hazel
tonight, she's prepared roses for me specially."
Samuel helplessly said, "Can you two stop flaunting your wives in front of me?"
Half an hour later, Samuel took Harrison to EternalBreeze Villa.
But Harrison did not get out of the car.
He sat in the passenger seat, turned his head and glanced at Samuel who was chewing gum, looking
carefree but handsome.
"Those piano concert tickets in your bag, they must've been hard to get, right?"
"What piano concert? I'm not interested in piano."
"Nora's piano concert, tomorrow morning at ten, at Warmville Opera House."
"Nora's having a piano concert tomorrow? I heard she plays well, but I didn't know she was performing
in Warmville."
Harrison gave Samuel a pat on the shoulder, "If you dig her, go for it, man. No need to beat around the
bush."
Samuel's shoulders slumped.
His eyes lost their spark.
"Harrison, as you know, I am the illegitimate child of the Carter family. My grandfather and father have
never acknowledged me. I am the most worthless member of the Carter family. If it weren't for you
taking me in, I would have had nowhere to go, and my reputation is not good. As for Nora..."
Nora was classy and pure, like an angel walking among them.
He didn't dare to approach her, he felt unworthy, and lacked the confidence to do so.
"You think the gap between me and Roxanne isn’t big enough?"
"You're different, you've got your old man's full backing. Plus, you pull all the strings at Rodriguez
Group, you…"
Harrison cut him off, "If you've given up on yourself, then no one can help you."
With that, Harrison hopped out of the car.
Back at EternalBreeze Villa, Roxanne shot Harrison a text: [Why did you hang up on me?]
She waited for a while, but Harrison didn't respond.
She sent another message: [Harrison, you're not mad, are you? I swear I didn't mean to not call or
video chat these past couple of days, I've just been swamped. Please don't be mad!]
Still, Harrison didn't reply.
She sent another text: [I really miss you.]
After waiting for what felt like forever, there was still no response from Harrison.
But she didn't get mad.
Maybe he was just busy.
She decided to take a hot bath, get a good night's sleep, and catch the earliest flight back to Seraphim
Haven in the morning.
The bathtub was already filled.
She stripped off her clothes, one delicate foot just stepping into the warm water.
There were footsteps outside…
Who could it be?
She had locked all the doors and windows, where could the footsteps come from?
Could someone have broken in?
Roxanne quickly threw on her robe, snatching up a vase to hold in her hand.
If there was a thief or some creep, she'd smash their head in with the vase.
She was on high alert, stealthily hiding behind the bathroom door.
When Harrison entered the villa, it was pitch black.
Hadn't he told James to let Roxanne know to leave the lights on, no need to turn them off?
But Roxanne was in the habit of saving, so she couldn't bear to waste even this bit of electricity. He
went upstairs, only the bedroom light was on, he pushed the door open and entered, but there was no
one inside.
He then walked to the bathroom door.
The footsteps were getting closer.
Roxanne held the vase tighter, watching as a tall shadow was cast on the frosted glass bathroom door.
She would never have guessed that the man outside was Harrison.
As the door was slowly pushed open, Roxanne raised the vase in her hand, decisively smashing it
down.
The vase suddenly came crashing down.
But Harrison reacted quickly, his head turned to the side and he swiftly raised his arm to block.
The shards of the vase smashed onto Harrison's arm, shattering all over the floor. At the same time,
Roxanne saw who it was.
She was both surprised and worried, "Harrison, it's you, what are you doing here? Did I hurt you?"