Chapter 634: Slapped Him

“I still have something to do. I’ll leave now,” North said, turning and departing.

Clara watched Elvis. North’s comment had heightened her awareness of Elvis’s altered demeanor toward Olive. Her heart pounded. She’d been using Olive to seduce Elvis; could he still be attracted to Olive, even under Sadie’s guise? Olive had staked everything on Elvis.

“Elvis, what are your thoughts on my girl?” Clara asked, her gaze fixed on him.

Elvis pursed his lips. “What do you think?”

“Although my girl’s face is…unattractive, she has a good figure. Many men find that appealing. Are you…in love with her?”

“No,” Elvis denied quickly, disavowing any attraction to Sadie.

But Clara, needing reassurance, was unhappy. “Then why are you treating her differently?”

Elvis frowned. “How am I treating her differently? Don’t start trouble without reason.” He rose and left.

He was gone. Just like that. Clara, expecting to be coaxed, was stunned. Had she made a mistake? Was he angry? Impatient? He’d never treated Olive this way before. What had changed since her arrival? What went wrong?

Elvis stood at the window, his long legs braced, hands resting on the glass. The sea breeze ruffled his expensive shirt. Raven approached, nudging him. “What? You really like that girl?”

Raven, a longtime friend, knew Elvis well. Elvis remained silent, his lips pursed.

“Aside from Olive, I’ve never seen you so concerned about a woman,” Raven murmured. “North was right. A man often teases a woman he likes.”

Annoyed, Elvis frowned, speechless. He didn’t understand his own behavior. Olive was there, yet he’d lost interest and patience. Now, his gaze always sought that girl—her bright eyes, slender figure, and alluring scent.

“I’ll go smoke a cigarette,” Elvis said, leaving.

He headed for the cabin when Olive appeared around a corner. Still in her light yellow bikini, she was returning to her room. They collided, their eyes meeting. Olive’s bright gaze quickly flickered away; she lowered her head, attempting to pass. She bumped into a solid barrier—Elvis, who’d silently blocked her path. Her forehead struck his chest.

Tears welled in Olive’s eyes. She rubbed her forehead.

A low, harsh voice resonated above her. “Didn’t you want to seduce me? Why the sudden retreat? Playing hard to get? Did you think I’d fall for it?”

Olive looked up blankly. Elvis met her gaze. Her eyes—so beautiful, he’d noticed them instantly—were captivating. He pinched her chin. “It’s a pity. I won’t be ‘hooked.’ Don’t dress like that around me again. You look like a clown.”

Anger and resentment flared within Olive. She pushed him away, then slapped his face.

The sharp sound echoed. Elvis recoiled, his dark eyes blazing. She dared to hit him? A mere worker?

He raised his hand, intending to retaliate, his palm a blur. Olive didn’t flinch, meeting his strike head-on. He stopped, his gaze fixed on her clear, defiant eyes, his hand frozen. He was furious at her audacity, even angrier at himself.

“Be careful next time,” Elvis warned harshly, then departed.

Olive slumped against the wall, gasping for breath. Moments before, she hadn’t felt fear, but now…Elvis was an unpredictable force.

Clara, observing from a dark corner, found Olive incredibly irritating. She wouldn’t wait passively.

Olive emerged, having changed, when Clara stopped her.

“Sadie, come here.”

Olive looked up. Clara sat with several CEOs; Elvis was present, smoking on a dark red sofa, his face obscured by smoke.

Olive approached. The CEOs whispered amongst themselves upon seeing her.

“Isn’t that the beauty with North? Her face needs improvement, but her figure’s amazing!”

“Princess Olive, is this your assistant?”

“We like her! Princess Olive, would you consider letting her go?”

Clara smiled, covering her mouth. “Of course. My girl is of marrying age.”