Chapter 98

When she finally landed, she was surrounded by unfamiliar faces. The towering figures of the Black people made her feel lost, and the dizzying scent of perfume mixed with confused accents made her feel flustered. She was just a simple girl, never having traveled abroad alone. She was always surrounded by flashes of light and adoring attention. She didn't understand why her luggage was delayed, how to exchange foreign currency, how to buy a SIM card, or why, even with international roaming activated, she still had no signal. As soon as she got off the car, a monkey or a baboon snatched the banana from her hand. "You don't understand anything. How dare you come here?" Van's lips were so close, almost brushing her ear, as he whispered the question. "Find the embassy..." Winnie's voice was faint, almost powerless, and when he kissed her again, all she could manage was a soft moan. All words turned to silence in that kiss. Heartbeats and breaths intermingled, and the sounds from the outside world were swallowed by the intimacy of their lips and tongues. A few minutes later, the door opened, and the atmosphere around them returned to calm, as if nothing had happened. Van adjusted his collar, looking unfazed, as if he had perfectly hidden all the turmoil. However, the wrinkles on his shirt were notably sharp, as if they had just appeared, drawing attention. "Mr. Marlowe, the car wasn't ready..." a staff member whispered, their gaze unconsciously landing on Winnie. "It's fine," Van replied casually, taking Winnie's hand, seemingly indifferent to the attention from those around them. Winnie lowered her head, avoiding the gazes around her, her face flushing slightly. Her heart raced, and she felt a swirl of complex emotions, her mind flooded with absurd scenarios—Hollywood star Winnie, known everywhere, being led into a lounge for intimate contact, as if she had become the main character of some gossip tabloid. Van turned slightly, noticing her uneasy expression, and gently squeezed her hand. He paused for a moment before softly saying, "This is my girlfriend, let's keep it private for now." Winnie's heart skipped a beat, her lips parted slightly. She couldn't respond right away; the label felt strangely unfamiliar to her. The people around them had clearly noticed and nodded in quiet agreement. "What a perfect match!" one employee said with a smile, admiration evident in their voice. Winnie forced herself to suppress a smile, but it still curved at the corners of her lips, a faint sparkle in her eyes. Van glanced at her, a barely perceptible smile appearing at his lips, and softly replied to the staff member, "I'm the lucky one." Winnie sighed inwardly. She shouldn't be pleased by these words; after all, this was just a part of their contractual arrangement. She reminded herself that this was all just work, and she shouldn't get emotionally involved. The money he gave her was likely just for her to put on a public act. As they walked out of the embassy, the air was thick with the scent of dust. A large SUV was parked in front, its size almost obscuring everything inside. Once inside, she noticed the car was simply decorated, with no extra frills. The seats were unadorned, and the backseat lacked a center console, giving it a clean, minimalist look. Van didn't miss the opportunity. He kissed the top of Winnie's head and lightly patted her waist. "Sit in my lap," he said. Winnie stole a glance at the driver, a tall local man with a calm and alert expression, resembling a bodyguard. He maintained his driving posture, his gaze steady, seemingly unaffected by the atmosphere inside the car. Winnie hesitated for a moment, then, under Van's watchful eyes, obediently sat in his lap. "Did Eric give you the address?" Van asked softly, trying to ease her tension with casual conversation. "No," Winnie shook her head slightly. "I booked a hotel myself and planned to tell you once I get there." "So, you don't even know my schedule?" Van looked down at her, his gaze a little deeper than usual. "I remember you mentioned a city," she responded, her voice low. "I was supposed to leave at six this afternoon," Van said, his tone carrying a hint of subtle frustration. Winnie froze. "Really?" "Yes. If we missed it, only the embassy could save you," Van replied casually, but his words carried a strong sense of protectiveness. Winnie's heart leaped to her throat, and her face grew even paler. Van smiled, his eyes playful. "Then why did you travel all the way here?" He clearly knew the answer but wanted her to say it herself. Winnie lowered her head, uneasily, then hesitated. "I..." Van didn't wait for her to finish. He gently kissed her lips, holding the kiss for a moment. "What were you going to say?" Winnie intended to speak but was interrupted again, her voice barely audible. "I want..." Once again, she couldn't manage to finish her sentence. Van softly kissed the corner of her lips, his fingers gently caressing beneath her sheer dress. Winnie's face no longer looked pale, now flushed with warmth. "Why do you wear stockings?" Van's voice dropped to a lower tone, and his gaze darkened. "Cold." Winnie lowered her head slightly, avoiding his sharp eyes. She didn't want to explain much, just gave a simple answer. His expression was serious, but his tone was teasing. Winnie felt a rush of warmth in her chest, her cheeks flushed, and she almost couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye. The air in the car grew hotter and hotter, the sun shining through the window, and the wind blowing in a way that made it hard to breathe. Winnie began wiping the sweat from her face. Van softly noted, "You're wet." His words, laced with sexual innuendo, instantly made Winnie's face flush red. Nervousness welled up in her chest as she squeezed her eyes shut and instinctively clutched the collar of his shirt. "Mr. Marlowe..." Her voice trembled, almost gasping for air. "What did you call me?" Van remained calm, even seeming somewhat distracted. Winnie softly responded, "Van." Van lowered his head, looking into her eyes. He gently cupped her chin, forcing her to lift her head to meet his gaze. Then, he lowered his head and kissed the corner of her lips. Winnie's lips softly responded to his, her tongue lightly brushing against his. As the kiss deepened, everything around them seemed to disappear, leaving only their intertwined breaths and the heat of their bodies. The world outside the car remained noisy, but in this moment, in Van and Winnie's world, there was only each other.