Chapter 11 I Won’t Give You Face
It was nighttime at JD City. The lights of the bustling city lit up.
Riley took off her lab coat and grabbed her bag. She was about to go home. Suddenly, Serena called out to her from behind just as she was leaving, "Dr Watson, did the handsome guy from today contact you again?"
Serena was in the mood for gossips.
"No, he was just asking for trouble. I simply dismissed him," answered Riley short and concisely. She hoped to hide the fact that she knew Hendrix with her unpolished and curt answer.
But Serena continued running her mouth, "Dr Watson, you are a great person. You're intelligent, you have good taste, you're skillful and capable...but you're a tad bit lacking in skills when it comes to dealing with men."
Dr Rose talked as she gestured an "a little bit" sign with her fingers at Riley. She was prepared to lecture Riley on love. Riley was rumored to have zero experience with love.
"Men like gentle and meek women. Only so they can display their power and might, highlighting their means to protect the woman. You have to show a meek side to them from time to time, in order to arouse their desire to protect..." They walked into the elevator. There were doctors from other departments in the elevator before them.
Serene lowered her voice and said, "For example, you should act like you can't handle something on your own even when you're completely capable of finishing the job."
Riley was just staring into space. She could see everyone's reflection on the elevator's steel door.
"Asking for a man's help even when it's something you can do on your own? That's retarded, you're just halting the progress and wasting time and resources."
The other people in the elevator exchanged glances with each other amusingly.
Serene covered her face in frustration, "Dear Dr Watson, going Dutch with men just shows that you have low EQ."
Riley didn't mind her, "Everyone has different personalities and different ways of dealing with stuff. I am not the type of person to act meek when I'm not."
Serena clenched her fist, "Miss Riley Watson, you ought to think about your marriage and your future. Do you want to stay single forever?"
Riley thought about her marriage with Euan. After experiencing all sorts of trouble, she concluded that it would be much better to be single and alone.
Her marriage made her miserable. So why should she get married instead of enjoying being single and free?
"There's nothing bad about being single forever. That's exactly my plan," said Riley serenely, her eyes as calm as a lake. It was the type of calmness that one could only achieve after going through many turbulent times.
"Fine, you win. Don't come crying when you realized that you scared the handsome young man away." Serena gave up. Dr Watson was special, she couldn't talk common sense into her.
The cold wind swept on Riley's face as she walked out of the hospital. She hugged her arms and she felt a sharp, hellish pain on her knees.
She hailed a cab and went straight back to her apartment.
She then took out her keys and was about to open the door, but the key wouldn't fit into the hole.
She turned on the torchlight on her phone and realized that something was stuck in the keyhole. Riley snickered, a prank with bad taste!
Who jammed her door like that? Was it a manifest or a warning? A reminder or a threat?
Riley then called the property management and explained that her door was jammed. The people from the management came over shortly after. They smiled as they apologized upon arrival, "We will deal with this problem right away, madam. But first, we would need to see some form of identification from you. It could be your ID card or your housing contract."
Riley only managed to grab her small handbag when she left yesterday. Only her phone and her lipstick were in it, she even forgot to bring her purse with her. She had no form of identification with her. "I don't have anything with me. But I do live here, you can ask around."
The person from the management looked troubled, "My apology, it's company policy that we could only change your lock after you show us some identification."
Riley snickered, "I live here for about three years now. I bought this apartment. Do you not recognize me?"
The person from the management was inflexible and it was getting on Riley's nerves.
"I don't have an ID on me, they're all inside the house. I'll show it to you once you open the door for me."
They were in a deadlock.
They argued for a while and the person finally said, "You can call your husband and make him show his ID. That works as well."
Riley was boiling with rage, her face gloomed as she said, "No need. There's a better way to prove that I am the owner of this house. Let's check the CCTV for proof."
But the truth was, she rented the apartment. Though, she couldn't tell the truth as the management might just refuse to do anything for her.
"Well...fine."
Of course, Riley was also planning to find out who jammed her door by looking at the surveillance camera. It wasn't only to convince the person to change the lock for her.
As suspected, there was a suspicious man in a black sports suit and a baseball cap that went up to her apartment shortly after she left yesterday. He messed with the door, pulled down his cap to cover his face and left.
They couldn't see his face at all.
Riley clenched her fist, "I would like to request taking a look at the outdoor surveillance camera as well. He deliberately sabotaged my door and threatened my safety. I will complain to the higher-ups if this matter is not handled properly."
The security guard quivered hearing the word "complain". He quickly said, "Give me a sec, Miss Watson. I'll immediately pull out the videos."
The camera followed the suspicious person from the apartment to the walkway outside. Riley watched the tape intently as it trailed the person until he left the residential area.
It was her!
She saw a familiar yellow Ferrari and someone familiar in the car. She recognized this person!
The security guard stared at the car. He didn't dare to say a word as Riley's face was as pale as a sheet.
"Give me a copy of the tape."
"Erm...I can't do that."
"My safety is threatened. You guys are to provide the evidence unconditionally to help me solve this case. It doesn't matter if I settle it in or out of court. Please check online if you think that I'm making up these laws. I don't have time to explain common knowledge to you guys, give me the tape now."
The security guards and the person from the management exchanged glances. They didn't know what to do.
Riley continued yapping, "You guys will have to bear the responsibilities if the matter becomes worse or if I experienced more losses just because you guys will not give me the evidence in time." "Fine, fine, fine. We'll give it to you."
Riley put the data in her bag and said, "I hope that I will be able to open my door tomorrow by 8 am."
"Yes, of course."
Riley then left the surveillance room, leaving the men terror-stricken.
Riley felt a wintry breeze as she stepped out of the building. She felt cold inside and outside. Freya, you would pay for this!
I would get in your way since you got in mine. We would fight till we both drop.
She squeezed the CD in her bag that stored the copy of the surveillance camera's video. She endured the pain in her knees and walked out of the residential area.
"Riley!"
A white Mercedes stopped in front of her as she tried to hail a cab. Hendrix winded down the car window and peeked his head out.
The yellow streetlights made Hendrix look more mature. He didn't appear as foppish and vain as he did during the day. But Hendrix was still Hendrix.
Riley crossed her arm and peered at him, "What?"
Hendrix opened the door by the passenger's seat from inside and said, "Can't I come without any reason? Won't you give me some face?"
Riley then realized that Hendrix might be here because he knew something. He knew too much and shouldn't be here out of pure coincidence. He probably found out where she lived and came here directly, instead of going to the mansion.
Hendrix probably investigated her behind her back!
This realization made Riley very uncomfortable.
"No, I won't give you face. Go to someone else, I have nothing for you here." Riley just wanted to find Freya and condemned her. She didn't have time to deal with Mr. George right now.
But Hendrix wasn't going to give up, he smiled carefreely and said, "Fine, you don't have to give me any face. Riley, get in my car, I'll bring you somewhere."
Riley smiled, "It's probably inappropriate for me to get in your car in the middle of the night like this."
Hendrix shrugged, "Inappropriate? Don't be a coward." He provoked her aptly.
Riley snickered, "I'm not up for any adventures right now. I have a business to attend, please be on your way."
Riley was about to leave but the pain in her knees worsened. She felt like her bone was breaking into pieces with every step she took!
Hendrix left his car door open. He drove at Riley's walking speed, "Riley, you won't regret if you come with me. Trust me!"
Riley hugged her arms close to her body. Not only because it was cold, but she was also trying to act tougher. She was his sister-in-law. It seemed like he didn't understand the nature of their relationship. "Hendrix, I'm your brother's wife. You have to keep your distance with me, okay?"
Hendrix pouted and didn't seem to care, "Why should I care about who you are married to?"
"What!"
"You are not someone's wife. To me, you are just an independent woman."
This bastard was a smooth talker.
Riley squinted her eyes and said, "Where are we going to?"
Hendrix looked elated, "You'll know when we reach there."
They arrived at JD's City most crowded Entertainment street. The neon signs were flashing, and the street was ablaze with lights.
All stores on this street belonged to the George family.
It was George family's entertainment centre. It was broad in scale and hence people called it the Ten-li Long Street.
Money and power displayed their full might here.
Riley didn't think that Hendrix would bring her here.
Hendrix grinned, "Follow me, Riley."
Riley was in casual clothing. She was underdressed when compared to the beautiful ladies at the venue. People stared at her because of that. Some stared at her in disdain, some in irony. Some with scorn and some belittling her.
But she ignored them.
It was ironic that they looked down on her.
As the owner of this prosperous place was her husband!
Bright white neon lights flowed like a waterfall on the outside of the main building of the entertainment city. After walking through the glass revolving door, one could see a row of Italian crystal chandeliers adorning the hall, shining as bright as day.
Riley stood under the chandeliers. The glass on the wall refracted the lights and cast multicoloured rays on the ground.
In the hall, people were dancing and moving around. It was enchanting.
Suddenly, Riley locked her eyes on something.
She spotted Euan's tall figure in the crowd. He was in a black suit and white shirt. His shirt was unbuttoned, showing his healthy-looking skin. He held a wine glass with his slender fingers and he had people surrounding him.
And there was a woman in his arms. It was as if she collapsed into his arms and had no spine to support her own body.
Hmph!
That curvy figure and that bewitching heavy makeup. It was none other than the tramp, Lydia!
Riley's night had been an exciting one!☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐