Chapter 4 The Investigating
"Honey, sorry! I did take advantage of you- but it is all for our better future. William Croft promised to make me the Director of Mayer Advertising as long as I smear Liam's reputation! What a career opportunity. After half a year, we will make enough money to buy a house so I can marry you!"
Oliver dragged Amber's arm, begging in whisper.
Amber frowned: "William Croft, who?"
Oliver thought he still stand a chance: "The cousin of Liam Croft, a promising candidate of the Watson Group. The old Mr. Croft attached top priority to the moral standards of young persons. If Liam messed it up, William will have the chance to wrest the succession."
So that was how matters stood.
Amber smiled ironically: "So you stab me in the back only for money and promotion?"
"Honey! It is for our future! I know you are upset. I will make it up!" Oliver grabbed her arm in a panic.
"Oliver Stein. We have no future! We are over! Leave me alone or I will call the police!" Staring at Oliver's eyes, Amber took out her phone and input 911.
"OK! Take it easy! Calm down, baby!" Terrified by her determination, Oliver released her arm immediately. "Amber, it is all my fault. I will regret if anger affects your health."
Amber looked indifferently at Oliver, a master of sweet talks. His attentive and considerate care, once felt so touching, now only sickened her.
She straightened her back and swaggered off without looking back.
However, her heart was bleeding when she turned around. Amber raised her head to hold back the tears.
Beside a nearby pillar, Liam in a thin white shirt, witnessed this scene speculatively.
After a good while, he turned around and stepped towards the underground parking lot.
"Check up on a 22 years old woman named Amber Currie, about 165 cm in stature." Looking at rear view mirror, Liam reversed the car while sending orders with a car phone. "Got it. Mr. Croft. How to spell it?"
How to spell it? Liam pondered a moment and tap on the steering wheel with his long, sexy fingers.
"Currie, the family name and Amber, the organic gem originated from fossilized tree resin. Try this combination first."
"Copy that."
Against the cold night wind, Amber walked 13 stops all the way home, a small apartment located in South Town to save the bus fare.
Numb with grief, she had no more tears to shed.
Amber cleared her throat and pat the face to recollect herself.
In an old, shabby residential building, the light of the staircase on the third floor was till on.
God! Pearl stayed up so late? Amber rushed upstairs.
A girl at the table turned back when she heard the door creak opened.
The warm light cloaked her adorable face with a golden radiance. Sadly, on an adorable expression as sweet as a little deer, the girl looked dulled and empty in her big, blingy eyes. "Amber, my dear sister, is that you?"
Pearl Currie stood up and groped her way towards Amber.
Amber hugged her and stroked her hair, complained lovingly: "Why did you stay up so late? I said don't wait up for me."
Pearl lifted her face and grinned broadly: "Amber, I cannot fall asleep alone."
Her delicate, angelic face and blind eyes aroused a wave of regret and remorse in Amber.
"Don't be afraid. I am back, Pearl. Let's go to bed."
Amber escorted her younger sister to the bed room, like a caring mother.
In the morning, Amber served their breakfast: two boiled eggs, glutinous rice porridge and a pinch of salted vegetables. Then she led Pearl to the table hand in hand.
"Come, come. The porridge is just right in temperature." Carefully, Amber shelled the eggs and dug the yolks out.
Pearl preferred egg white much to egg yellow.
Eating the egg white, Pearl turned her head to face her elder sister with a big smile: "We make a perfect team-I hate egg yellow while you hate egg white. So each time we can both enjoy two shares of happiness!"
How childish! A blast of bitter sweetness struck Amber.
She fiddled the soft hair of Pear I: "When I graduate and earn more money, I will fill you with gourmet food!"
After the dinner, on the way to send Pearl to the school bus of a blind school, Amber's phone rang.
"Hello?" It came from a strange number.
"Amber Currie. This is Liam Croft."
The male voice sounded clipped and cool.
Amber paused: "How did you know my phone number?"
"It is not the point. The point is we will have a very pleasant collaboration."
"Collaboration? Mr. Croft, you seem to forget that I rejected your offer yesterday!" Amber loathed the way he talked-always patronizing and commanding.
Her aggression did not bother Liam at all.
"Yeah? What if I can cure the eye disease of your younger sister?"