Chapter 242: A Step Before The Scandal
Micah slipped out of the grand banquet hall with a slow exhale, the heavy doors quietly closing behind him. The warm lighting and the chatter faded as he stepped into the cool night air. For a moment, he thought he could finally be alone. He had only taken one step down the stone path, just one, when a sharp voice rang out.
"Who’s there?!"
Micah stopped mid-step and turned around. Under the tall garden tree stood a striking woman in a red gown. Her figure was highlighted by the curve-hugging fabric, and her bright red hair tumbled down her shoulders in deliberate waves. She leaned lightly against the trunk, her posture graceful but oddly posed.
Micah looked at her questioningly. He didn’t recognise her. Was she a distant relative? A family friend? Or business partner? She looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place her.
The woman took a shaky step forward, limping. One hand rested dramatically against her chest. "What a relief. I was just out here taking a breather when I tripped. Thank god, I ran into you," Shirley said.
Micah just looked at her. What was with his luck? First, that WeChat moment, then Emile’s surprise identity, and now this mysterious woman appearing out of nowhere?
He didn’t even know the woman. He couldn’t just shrug her off. He didn’t want to be rude. But what if she were an important figure? There was no doubt someone would say he was a disgrace to the Ramsy name. He didn’t want to create trouble tonight.
Shirley, however, misunderstood that look. Her eyes darted nervously. Did he see through her? Did he know she was lying?
She shifted slightly. "Could you help me? I think I sprained my ankle a little."
Micah’s eyes dropped to her outstretched hand, a bit uncomfortable. The scent of her perfume was strong, almost overwhelming. It made his nose wrinkle. Something about her didn’t sit right with him.
Shirley leaned a little closer, the hem of her dress shifting with her movement. What Micah didn’t notice was the subtle motion of her other hand adjusting the angle of her phone in her clutch bag. The screen was tilted ever so slightly, the camera already recording.
All she needed was a few seconds. A brief moment where Micah touched her. That would be enough. Enough to edit. Enough to twist into something scandalous. Enough to blackmail him. Or someone close to him.