Chapter 189 - 188
Simon Lockwood looked her over from head to toe, his furrowed brow only relaxing slightly when he saw she was alright.
"You didn’t sneak out," he murmured, his lips pursed as he hugged the girl in his arms even tighter.
An hour ago, he had been in a meeting when Sean Grant suddenly sent him an infuriating message, saying that Joanna Kennedy was about to get bullied.
Simon Lockwood knew that if Joanna Kennedy were truly in trouble, Sean Grant would have gone into hiding long ago. He would never have dared to send a message like that. Still, Simon couldn’t shake his unease and had come over anyway.
Seeing Joanna Kennedy perfectly safe and sound, eating hotpot with Anna Yates, he could finally let out the breath he’d been holding.
The car was parked at the side of the road. After they both got in, Simon Lockwood leaned over and expertly fastened her seatbelt for her.
He was so close that Joanna Kennedy once again caught that pleasant scent of agarwood. She couldn’t help but ask, "Are you wearing cologne?"
Joanna knew that even though Simon Lockwood was incredibly handsome, he wasn’t one to fuss over his appearance. His couture suits were worn as complete sets, or they were coordinated for him and delivered directly to the villa.
Today, he’d not only used hair gel but had also put on cologne. ’A peacock spreading its tail feathers?’
"Spill it. Were you at a business banquet, or did you go on a date with someone?" Joanna asked, putting on a playfully stern voice.
Simon Lockwood’s expression turned a little unnatural. He feigned indifference. "You’re overthinking things."
"Then who were you trying to entice, all dressed up so handsomely?"
Simon Lockwood: "..."
Joanna gave him a look that said, ’I don’t believe you for a second. You’re definitely hiding something.’ Simon Lockwood pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice tinged with resignation. "...Don’t say things like that."
’Tch, what a prude.’
Joanna Kennedy pouted but dropped the subject. Instead, she told Simon Lockwood that she was about to join the cast for her new movie.
Simon’s brow furrowed when he heard. "You’re going to shoot in Marinus?"
"Yep." Joanna didn’t think much of his reaction and said, "That’s right. The story is set in a seaside city, so I’ll probably be there for over two months..."
She didn’t notice Simon Lockwood’s fallen expression. Her lips curved up as she continued in a wheedling voice, "Once I join the production, I’ll have less time to study every day, you know? I won’t be able to do practice tests all the time."
’The exams were still half a year away, and Joanna already felt like she was going to puke from all the studying. Using work as an excuse to slack off a little wasn’t asking too much, was it?’
She waited smugly for Simon to agree, but after a long moment of silence, she looked over in confusion. What she saw was Simon Lockwood’s handsome face, now dark as a thundercloud.
"...What’s wrong?"
’It can’t be that serious, can it? I’m just doing a few fewer practice tests. Is he really going to get this mad over it?’
"Then... how about I do extra practice tests to make up for it when I get back from filming?" she suggested tentatively.
Simon’s face grew even darker. "I didn’t tell you to make them up," he said, his voice strained.
"Then why are you angry?"
"I’m not angry."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’His face is that dark and he still says he’s not angry? Yeah, right. Not a shred of credibility.’
Joanna calmly crossed her arms, fixing him with an enigmatic smile.
Simon’s face grew even darker under her gaze. After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice oddly stiff. "When you’re in Marinus, stay on set with the crew. Don’t go wandering off. I’ll come visit when I have time."
"Who says I wander off? I never just wander around, okay?!" Joanna retorted indignantly. She was about to say more, but seeing the gloom on Simon’s face, she had a sudden flash of insight. She asked tentatively, "Are you... worried I’m going to run into Liam Valentine?"
Marinus, the home base of the Valentine Family.
Sure enough, at the mention of Liam Valentine’s name, Simon’s expression soured even more. He looked a little uncomfortable, like someone whose secret worries had just been exposed. He fell silent.
The domineering CEO had suddenly turned into a silent, sulking dud. Even his jealousy was in a class of its own. Joanna couldn’t help but find it amusing. Stifling her laughter, she began to placate him. "Oh, come on. I already told you, nothing is going to happen between us. Besides, he’s not as handsome as you..."
"But you said he looks like me," Simon interjected out of the blue.
Joanna was caught off guard. She immediately backpedaled. "I was just talking! How could he ever compare to you? You’re the most handsome! The most universally, super-duper, unbelievably handsome!"
She was laying the praise on thick, and Simon’s expression softened a bit. But then a thought occurred to him, and his brow furrowed again. "So, you only like me for my face?"
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
Joanna Kennedy: "Hey, no finding fault with my compliments."
’I can’t even praise him without getting it wrong.’
Seeing the utterly indescribable look on her face, Simon pursed his lips, slightly annoyed at himself for having asked the question so directly. He offered her an out. "Well... you’re only allowed to like my face, then..."
There was no readable emotion in the man’s voice. His gaze was lowered, his long lashes casting a shadow on his cheeks. He had the face of a cold, domineering CEO, yet his posture seemed so vulnerable.
Joanna felt her heart melt into a fizz of pink bubbles. While they were stopped at a red light, she leaned over and planted a smacking kiss on his lips. She declared, "I only like you. And I only love you."
...
The warm, soft, fragrant sensation of her lips lingered on his. Simon couldn’t help but purse his own lips, his fingers tightening unnaturally on the steering wheel before relaxing. He let out a muffled, "Mm."
The light turned green, and Simon started the car. The corners of his mouth kept threatening to curve upward the entire way home. Even when they pulled up to the villa, the girl’s earnest, smiling confession still seemed to be echoing in his ears.
It wasn’t until Joanna got out of the car and urged him to hurry up that Simon, in a low, muffled voice, whispered through the closed window, "Me too..."
’I only like you, and only love you, too.’
Unfortunately, Joanna only saw his lips move without hearing the words. Seeing him slowly get out of the car, she asked quizzically, "What did you just say?"
"I’m not telling you," Simon said, squeezing her hand.
’Hmph. He’s not telling me. So mysterious,’ Joanna thought with a pout. She tossed her head. "It’s not like I was dying to know anyway!"
Simon Lockwood still hadn’t had lunch, so the housekeeper made him a bowl of lobster noodles that looked and smelled divine. As the aroma wafted over, Joanna realized she was feeling a little hungry again herself.
’I was so preoccupied with that business about Charles Jennings during hotpot that I barely ate anything.’
She stared at the bowl with longing eyes. The housekeeper found it amusing. "Shall I make a bowl for you too, Miss Kennedy?"
"Yes, please!" Joanna didn’t hesitate.
The lobster noodles were served, and they sat across from each other, eating. Between them were a few small side dishes. Joanna loved the large shrimp, which were coated in the housekeeper’s special sauce and burst with a rich, savory flavor in her mouth.
As she ate, a few more large shrimp suddenly appeared in her bowl. Joanna glanced up, but Simon Lockwood just kept eating his noodles, as if nothing had happened.
"Why are you giving them all to me? I can’t eat this many..." Joanna said, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she popped another large shrimp into her mouth.
"I really..." Joanna mumbled, CHOMP CHOMP, "...can’t eat this many."
Simon Lockwood: "..." ’What a lovable goofball.’
Simon’s expression remained unchanged. He reached out and gently wiped a speck of sauce from the corner of her lips with his thumb. "Just eat," he said, his tone flat.