'How dare she speak for another man!' Fury was written all over Matthew's face, but he controlled his voice.
"Don't forget that you are a married woman. You can't simply go around making friends with another man, and going out to drink coffee alone with him. It's not normal or proper." As Erica listened, she realized for the first time in her life that even an aloof CEO like Matthew could make trouble out of nothing.
Noticing the awkward atmosphere between them, Harmon hurried over, hoping to mediate the dispute. "Hello, Erica. I'm Harmon Lu!" he said with frantic, false cheer. "I'm your mother-in-law's cousin, which makes me your husband's uncle. So you can call me 'Uncle' as well!"
'Huh? So he's actually Matthew's uncle!' thought Erica. 'I thought he was hitting on me before! How awkward!' With a strained smile, she remarked, "Uncle, you look so young! How old are you? You must be around the same age as Matthew."
In fact, what she said was true. Harmon looked like he was in his early twenties, but he was already Matthew's uncle.
To her slight relief, Harmon seemed genuinely amused by her question. "Oh, that's so sweet of you to say!" he chuckled.
"Actually, I'm already in my early thirties."
"Oh, I see!" Erica said, nodding.
Harmon turned around and signaled to the waiter. "Bring our coffee here."
"Yes, sir."
Harmon took a seat next to Watkins and asked, "Well, I know you didn't mean to meet us here, but can we join you for coffee? You wouldn't mind, would you?"
Watkins did mind, but obviously he couldn't say that. Shaking his head, he indicated the table with a gentlemanly flourish of his hand. "Of course not! Mr. Huo, Erica, by all means take a seat."
Matthew was in a similar predicament. He didn't want to stay either, but it simply wouldn't be proper to rebuff such company.
He sat opposite to Watkins and practically dragged Erica into the chair beside him.
The waiter brought coffee, but ironically, no one was in the mood for the stuff at that moment. While Watkins and Harmon tried desperately and futilely to sustain a conversation, Erica noticed that Matthew was staring at her. "What is it?" she asked in a low voice.
"The coffee's here," he explained icily. "Isn't that what you came for? Just have your coffee and we'll be on our way." He would take her home and lock her up.
That would teach her not to go hanging out with Watkins behind his back! 'Why is Matthew acting so strange today?' Erica asked herself.
With a shrug, she was about to lift the mug to her lips when Matthew's hand clamped around hers. "What are you doing?" he hissed, his face livid. "Have you forgotten you're not supposed to be drinking this stuff right now?!"
'What? Oh, I forgot I'm on my period. He's so thoughtful.' Erica was genuinely moved, but thought her husband was being overprotective. "It's just one cup. It'll be all right," she said mildly.
That only increased Matthew's fury. Coffee jumped over the rim of the mug as he jerked it from his wife's grasp. All the same, he chugged it in a matter of seconds.
His three companions watched, mortified and dismayed.
Had they really witnessed Matthew Huo doing such a childish thing?
After taking the last gulp, Matthew felt that he couldn't sit still anymore. He was afraid that he might try to strangle Watkins if he had to spend another minute in his presence.
Glancing at Harmon, he pushed his chair back and said, "My wife and I are leaving now."
Harmon was stunned, wondering why Matthew was in such a hurry. But he didn't protest. He simply waved at them and said, "Bye!"
Matthew took Erica by the arm and led her toward the door.
"Uncle, Watkins, goodbye!" she called over her shoulder.
Harmon shook his head helplessly. 'Matthew is so possessive of Erica!' he thought. 'And what a temper he has!'
Watkins shrugged and took a long, unhurried drink of his coffee.
He had met Harmon before, but they didn't know each other well, and it didn't take long to find that they didn't have anything to talk about. "Well, Mr. Chai, I have work to do," Harmon said after a moment. "Enjoy yourself here!"
Watkins nodded at him. "Thank you, Mr. Lu. Have a good day!"
Harmon left the cafe after paying the bill. Watkins passed a few moments alone, and then left without finishing his coffee. He had a lot on his mind.
Meanwhile, the Emperor car was cruising the streets.
Owen held back his laughter as he listened to Erica trying to coax his boss in the back seat.
"Matthew, honey, don't be angry," Erica was saying, her head bowed, trying to placate her husband. "You know that was just a white lie. I didn't mean to hurt you."
But Matthew wasn't having it. "A lie is a lie!" he declared.
"Hey, look at you! You are a man," she complained. "You don't have to be so mean!"
This remark backfired, though.
Without so much as blinking, Matthew admitted, "Yes, I do. I have always been so mean!"
'Geez! This man is so hard to coax, ' Erica thought, rolling her eyes helplessly. "Honey, do you know the difference between you and a monkey?" she asked.
The man's face darkened, as it so often did. "You compare me to a monkey?"
"No, no, no. Listen to me. A monkey lives in the mountain, while you live in my heart!" Erica forced herself to smile. "Aren't you happy to hear that?"
"No, I am not!" Matthew snapped. The truth was the exact opposite, but he refused to admit it out loud.
Erica pulled a long face. For the first time she had really confessed and tried to be humble and apologetic, but he was rejecting all of her efforts.
She was especially disappointed at how her line about the monkey had fallen flat; she had spent hours searching the Internet for a saying that would express her true feelings toward Matthew. The only one it made an impression on was Owen, whose broad shoulders trembled as he fought to contain his laughter.
The conversation went on and on, going nowhere; no matter what Erica said, Matthew was unfazed.
'Alas! Every time I'm angry, I'll accept his apology as long as he coaxes me. But he's impossible to appease! It really is a headache to have such a childish husband.'
Distressed and hopeless, Erica turned to the window and watched the scenery passing by. For a moment, there was nothing to hear but the smooth hum of the car's engine. When she looked back, her husband was reading documents again. "Matthew!"
He didn't respond.
'I know you can hear me, ' Erica thought irritably. She pursed her lips and said, "I want to ask you a question. I can't have any friends in Y City, can I?"
"You can!" he answered, not looking up. As long as it was not Watkins, he could accept that.
"Well, you've made me a little upset," Erica sighed. She was at a loss.
"Well, when we get home, you should reflect on why you feel upset," Matthew told her.
Back in the cafe, he had been livid and acting out. Now he was cold and in control of the situation again. Erica thought it might be her turn to be furious now. 'What, I should reflect on myself?' she thought. 'Shouldn't he be reflecting on why he made his wife so upset? Oh, never mind! I'm a generous woman, so I'll put up with him.'
"Okay, I'll do that. Will you still be angry then?" she asked.
It was not until then that Matthew finally looked her in the eye. "We'll see about that."
'Ugh! How mean!' she cursed inwardly.
When they finally arrived at the villa, Matthew stayed in the car, so Erica got out first. "Tomorrow, I'll be going on a business trip to the neighboring city," he said at length, right as she was about to close the door.
'So what? Is he asking me if I want to go with him?' thought Erica. "I'm free tomorrow!" she said quickly. Truth be told, she would be happy to go with him any day of the week.
Matthew coughed and gave her a cold look. "I was asking you to pack my luggage."
"What? Aren't you going to take me with you?" Somewhat pitifully, Erica held the car door open and started playing with the window button.
She thought she should break it if her husband refused to take her with him.
Matthew sighed and looked away. "I always keep my word!" Indeed, he had promised to take her on his trips if she wanted to come.
'So does he mean that I can go with him?' thought Erica. The bright smile returned to her face. "Oh, don't beat around the bush. If you want me to go with you, just say it!"
To her dismay, Matthew looked at her with disgust. "Close the door!" he ordered. He was still angry at her, so he wasn't going to say what he wanted plainly. He wanted her to guess.
Erica snorted and slammed the door.
After the car started and began to leave, she made a face at it.
However, Matthew happened to see what she was doing from the rearview mirror.
His face contorted with even more contempt than before.
'She's the one who went to have coffee with another man, ' he fumed silently. 'How could she have the nerve to get angry with me?'
