Chapter 9: Beauty in His Arms

Words : 2121 Updated : Sep 11th, 2025

Was she really throwing herself into his arms? Without thinking, Alex Hayde slipped an arm around the woman's slender waist. Even through her thin blouse, he felt the firm, springy curves, and heat flooded him-he was hard in an instant. "You... are you okay?" he stammered. "Please don't tell anyone, I'm begging you." The fair-skinned woman suddenly wrapped both arms around his neck. The buttons at her chest seemed to pop open on their own as a faint fragrance rose from her skin and pale flesh pressed forward. They were full and beautifully shaped. Alex felt a rush rising like a tide; he leaned in toward her neck. "No." He snapped out of it, a jolt of clarity cutting through. This was taking advantage of someone in a tough spot. He pulled her blouse closed and said, "I won't say a word. But you have to be extra careful. Don't go out alone again." She was taken aback. Men in Berton Village went wild when they saw her-she didn't have to throw herself at anyone; just walking past, they'd try to cop a feel. Yet this handsome young man hadn't made a move and was worried about her instead. Moved, she straightened, buttoned up, and whispered, "Thank you." Just then a voice rang out from the road. "Alex, Alex, hurry up!" Ricardo called. Alex called back and hurried out of the cornfield. Ricardo kept grinning at him; Alex didn't explain a thing. The green jeep rumbled to life. As they drove on, Alex checked out the pretty women by the roadside, though his mind kept circling that narrow waist, and he smiled to himself. They soon reached William's house in Berton Village. After what he'd just seen, Alex didn't much care for the village head. "Director Ricardo, Alex, come in and have a seat," William said, ushering them inside. Marianne brought tea. Ricardo's eyes roved restlessly, taking everything in. "William, is work going smoothly? Berton Village is the pilot village Evan Showyer picked-we're prioritizing you for projects." "That's all thanks to you. Want a smoke?" William pulled out a box of Monkey King cigarettes and handed it to Ricardo. Ricardo accepted, flopped onto the sofa, and crossed one leg over the other, acting like Evan Showyer himself had just walked in. "Alex, want a smoke?" Marianne slid a cigarette into Alex's fingers. She wore a high-slit cheongsam; her face was plain, which explained why William had chosen a daytime tryst in a cornfield. "William, go change your pants, Director Ricardo is here," she added. William was still wearing those loose, low-crotch work pants from earlier. His dark chest was matted with black hair, making him look like a mountain spirit. His thighs clenched now and then, and when he thought no one was looking, his hand drifted to his crotch for a quick rub. The grit down there must've been killing him. "Change what? Director Ricardo is one of us. This is me. We're mountain folk-we keep it simple." "Right-this is William being down-to-earth," Ricardo said. "Damn, why is Josephine taking so long to buy fruit? Doesn't she know Director Ricardo is here?" He was still grumbling when hurried footsteps sounded outside. Alex looked up and almost jumped. The woman with the fruit was the same slim-waisted beauty he'd caught William on top of earlier. No wonder she was so lovely; Ricardo had already said she was the village belle. "William, I bought some apples, peaches, and bananas." "Look at you, so slow. Did you go home and sleep with your man?" "No, I arranged today's work on the way." "Hurry up, will you!" William muttered, then gave Josephine a slap on the butt. The sight made Alex bristle. He wanted to put William in his place, but with Ricardo there, now wasn't the time. Josephine peeled an apple and handed it to Ricardo, then picked out a peach for Alex. "You-?" She looked up, saw Alex, and blinked in surprise. In the cornfield she'd already sensed he wasn't ordinary. Now it turned out he was from the Township Government. "What, you two know each other?" William's eyes were sharp; he caught on immediately. "Know each other? Not really. Accountant Josephine gave me a peach, like she could read my mind. I like peaches," Alex said, smiling as he admired the fruit. Color rushed into Josephine's cheeks. Fate was playing tricks. Of all things, William bullying her had been seen by this particular man. What was she supposed to do? Splash! A cup toppled and water sloshed onto the table, splattering Ricardo's trousers. Marianne had just poured that water, and it was hot. Ricardo yelped and sprang to his feet. "I'm sorry, Director Ricardo, I didn't mean it!" Josephine snatched a cloth and rushed to dab at him. William's eyes went hard and he drew breath to unleash a tirade, but Alex stepped in fast, putting himself between William and Josephine. "William, it's fine. Director Ricardo is easygoing; he wouldn't hold this against her." It was William's first time meeting Alex, and the words stopped him cold. In Berton Village he was used to throwing his weight around, but Alex blocked him with a single sentence. Ricardo heard it all. He grabbed Josephine by the wrist and pointed at the wet patch at his crotch. "Accountant Josephine, in a hurry? It's not even dark and you're already getting a man's crotch wet-save that for tonight." "Director, you're joking. Why don't you change your pants? I can wash them for you." "Fine-let's go to your place so I can change. I can't work like this." Ricardo and Evan had long treated Berton Village as their turf. Women like Josephine were rare, and Ricardo had been wanting her in his arms for some time. That burn in his lap looked like the perfect opening. Josephine trembled, lost for words, until Alex cut in. "Director, please don't. Josephine's husband isn't someone to mess with. Besides, didn't you say we've got work to do?" Ricardo chuckled, let go of Josephine's hand, sat upright, then eased back again. Evan Showyer took this assignment very seriously; bringing down Eternal Construction would hinge on it. "William, how did last year's Water Conservancy pilot project go?" "Great. Evan oversaw it himself. It's a major public-works project." "Good. That's what I want to hear. Evan speaks up for the people. We're only doing our jobs if people are satisfied." Alex had already guessed it. The thorniest issue in Hasson lately was the Water Conservancy Project. Prosper Construction had pulled some crooked tricks-Alex had exposed them. They were probably at it again. Evan's current mission seemed to be to dig up some highlights to make Prosper Construction look good while undercutting Eternal Construction. Ricardo suddenly remembered the recording and photos. He tapped the camera in his bag. "Alex, quick, get the camera. Grab some photos and audio-this is for the boss's record." "All right." Alex pulled out the camera and started shooting. "Alex, say those lines again. William's words carry the most authority." Alex nodded and carefully filmed William repeating himself. It felt like pure flattery, and he hated every second of it. "Who should we interview next? William, keep it going." Ricardo waved. "Let's go outside. Alex from the Township Government, lots of villagers have something to say." Josephine pulled back the curtain and gestured toward the yard. Alex almost laughed. With so many people, not everyone would sing praises. That Water Conservancy pilot was a shoddy mess. Plenty of people cursed Lionel Denford for having a black heart. He hurried to the doorway with the camera. "Tristan, tell us about our village's Water Conservancy Facilities," Josephine said, turning reporter while Alex played cameraman. "Good. Quality number one, best standards," the white-bearded Tristan intoned. Listening to him was like hearing a memorized chant, but Alex kept recording; inside, Ricardo and William were over the moon, sipping liquor and starting a rowdy drinking game with shouted numbers. "Helena, tell us about our village's Water Conservancy Facilities." "Good, everything good. Top quality, top standards." "Tristan, tell us about our village's Water Conservancy Facilities." "Good. Quality first-best standards."

Chapter 9: Beauty in His Arms

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