Chapter 148
Chapter Title: The Tension Between Them
“Tony Hart, you’re… you’re shameless!” Myra seethed as soon as he released her lips.
They were still in front of her apartment, with people walking by, some stealing glances at them. But their bold display in the car only drew more eyes, and Myra could feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck.
Tony, however, was unfazed. “Don’t you know that better than anyone else?” He pursed his lips, his gaze unwavering as he stared at her. His eyes were dark and deep, like still water—impossible to read, but magnetic.
Just as she thought she might escape his piercing stare, he suddenly pressed her waist firmly against him. The unexpected intimacy caused her body to stiffen, her face flushing a deep shade of red.
She hadn’t anticipated this—Tony’s rebellious stunt in such a public setting.
“Tony, you… you rascal! Let me out!” she sputtered, the anger spilling over into her words.
“You’re right, Myra. I’m a rascal… a rascal for you,” Tony murmured, his voice calm, almost too calm.
Her whole body trembled, trapped in his grasp, her hands pinned above her head. With all the people walking by and staring, she knew that if he didn’t let her go soon, tomorrow’s headlines might very well feature them in the entertainment section, her face front and center without a blur.
After a moment of deep, conflicted thought, she calmed herself and spoke softly, “Tony, I don’t feel comfortable like this. Can you let me go?”
Her voice was like a soft breeze—gentle and soothing, a sharp contrast to the tense atmosphere surrounding them.
His intense gaze didn’t waver, but slowly, the hard expression on his face softened. But then, without warning, he bit her lip hard enough to make her cry out in pain. He seemed to draw a moment of satisfaction from it, before finally releasing her hands.
Rubbing her sore wrists, Myra quickly straightened her clothes and tried to get out of the car, but Tony swiftly buckled her seatbelt back into place and shut the door before she could protest.
Frustrated, she unfastened the seatbelt and reached for the door handle again, but he had already slid into the driver’s seat, closed the door, and locked it behind him.
“Let me out, Mr. Hart!” she demanded, glaring at him with fiery eyes.
He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he started the engine, his eyes fixed straight ahead, his jaw clenched tightly.
She could feel the tension radiating from him. Was he afraid she still had feelings for Sean? Did he fear she might leave him for the man she had once loved?
Biting her lip, she noticed the plastic bag she had left by the road, the items she had bought still lying there. “The things I bought are still outside,” she blurted, hoping to break the silence.
Tony glanced at her, his expression hardening again. With a quick motion, he backed up the car, stopping when they passed the bag. He opened the door, grabbed the bag, and inspected its contents. His eyes narrowed sharply when he saw what she had purchased.
Myra’s stomach sank. Why had she bought all these things for him? Why? She turned her head away, pretending not to notice the fire in his gaze.
Then, she heard his voice—calm, almost too casual, but with a biting edge: “You forgot to buy me underwear.”
The words hung in the air like a punch to her pride. She froze. His tone was as if he were remarking that she forgot to pick up some milk.
Her face turned a deep shade of red as she ground her teeth together in frustration. “Get it yourself,” she snapped.
Tony, however, didn’t seem bothered. He smiled to himself, feeling somewhat pleased by her reaction.
Without missing a beat, he drove them straight to a Calvin Klein exclusive store.
Initially, Myra didn’t want to get out of the car, but Tony’s unrelenting stare made it clear that if she didn’t, things would get much worse. Sighing in defeat, she got out, knowing that resistance was futile.
Once inside, a young shop assistant greeted them cheerfully, “Sir, Miss, what can I help you with today?”
Myra felt her cheeks burn. She couldn’t help but feel like everyone in the store was watching them, her embarrassment only intensifying with every passing second.
Tony glanced at her, then turned back to the assistant with a polite smile. Myra, all too aware of what was happening, cursed him silently. She had no choice but to ask, “Where are the men’s boxer briefs?”
Even as she asked, she could tell that her question sounded awkward—a woman and a man together, in a store, buying men’s underwear. It was bound to raise some eyebrows.
The shop assistant’s eyes widened slightly, but she quickly led them to the men’s underwear section. “It’s all here,” she said, clearly trying to mask her own surprise.
Myra just wanted to pick the underwear, pay, and get out of there. But as she reached for two random pairs, Tony interrupted, his voice low, “Get a different size. This one’s too small.”
Her hands shook with irritation. Without thinking, she grabbed two pink pairs instead, her anger flaring as she turned back to the assistant. “These two. Pack them up, please.”
She hadn’t brought enough money, of course. She glanced at the wallet Tony had put in his suit pocket earlier. She pulled it out, somewhat reluctantly, and opened it. Inside was a gold card, which she handed to the assistant.
When the assistant asked for the passcode, Myra turned to Tony, a fleeting thought crossing her mind. She decided to use her own birthdate instead of his.
The card beeped, and the reader spit out a receipt. Myra’s heart skipped a beat. Under the assistant’s envious gaze, she quickly signed the receipt and made her way back to Tony, the bag in her hand.
She was fully aware of how people would perceive her—a woman who could reach into a man’s wallet and know the passcode without a second thought. Some might even envy her.
“Here.” She handed the wallet back to Tony, the anger inside her dissipating a little.
Tony took the wallet slowly, locking eyes with her as he put it away. Then, in a surprising turn, he grabbed her hand and asked, “Are you not mad anymore?”
Her eyes widened at the sudden shift in his demeanor. The coldness had vanished, replaced by something softer, though still intense. Pursing her lips, she looked away, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Who said so?”
A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Without warning, he pulled her toward him by the waist and started walking out, casually glancing at the pink underwear in the bag.
“Myra, I didn’t know you had such a tacky taste,” he teased. “Now I understand why Estelle sent you that box of things.”
His laughter echoed in her ears, and for a brief moment, Myra felt herself freeze, mortified by her own choices.
“I won’t mind if you wear something from there tonight,” Tony added, his voice taking on an unexpectedly serious tone.