Klein shook his head, his expression cool and composed. “No need, my driver isn’t here. I drove myself.”
He surveyed the group, his gaze lingering on each person. “Did everyone indulge in some drinks tonight?”
Calvin nodded, “Yes, we had a few earlier. We should probably arrange for a driver for all of us.”
Whitney had been smart enough to avoid driving that night, having accepted a ride with Ivan instead.
Klein’s eyes shifted to her, his tone steady. “Ms. Moore, you didn’t drive tonight? It can be quite difficult to find a cab in this area.”
He glanced at her phone, noticing the ride app open. “Don’t bother with a cab. Allow me to give you a ride home. The rest of you can call for your drivers. I’ll ensure Ms. Moore gets home safely.”
Inside, Whitney screamed, ‘No, Uncle Klein! Can’t you just pretend you don’t know me for once?’
The reactions from the others were priceless, their expressions a mix of surprise and intrigue.
She shot a glance at Ivan, who met her gaze with a long, meaningful look. “I’m headed the same way as Whitney, so I’ll give her a ride,” he said, trying to interject.
Klein’s voice cut through the air, cool and unwavering, “Didn’t you have a few drinks tonight, Mr. Walton? It won’t be easy to get a driver out here. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Ms. Moore gets home safe and sound.”
And just like that, Whitney found herself following Klein as they made their way to his car.
Hubbard observed them, a sly grin creeping across his face. “Mr. Walton, Ms. Moore is quite the character.”
He mused to himself, ‘Mr. Harris is the kind of man who keeps women at arm’s length, and now he’s letting her into his car? This is unbelievable.’
Calvin, though puzzled, maintained his composure for Klein’s sake. “Hubbard, don’t be ridiculous. Mr. Harris is simply being courteous, offering a client a ride. Is that really so unusual?”
Hubbard rolled his eyes internally. ‘Seriously? You think that’s normal? Are you even listening to yourself?’
He turned to Ivan with a knowing smile. “Well, Mr. Walton, do swing by the office sometime. We can really delve into that merger case.”
Ivan’s emotions were a whirlwind. The contract seemed to be within reach, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that Klein was about to snatch away his promising apprentice right from under his nose.
*****
As they settled into the car, Whitney broke the silence, her tone serious. “Uncle Klein.”
Klein wore a faint smile, one that seemed almost indifferent, his sharp features lending an air of cool detachment. “Why have you stopped calling me Mr. Harris?”
Whitney found herself momentarily speechless, grappling for the right words.
“Uncle Klein, my boss thinks I’m just a regular person from an ordinary family. I don’t want any special treatment at the firm,” she explained earnestly.
Klein remained silent, allowing her words to hang in the air, their weight palpable.
“Well,” he finally said, his eyes drifting to her cheek, “when did you learn to drink?”
Whitney focused on her knees, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I picked it up during my first month at the firm.”
“Just one month? Impressive,” Klein thought, a hint of admiration creeping in.
He clenched his jaw, a mixture of concern and pride swirling within him. “You really are something.”
Whitney felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. ‘What am I supposed to do if I can’t handle alcohol? All their clients are top executives from major companies. Am I expected to sip juice every time like tonight?’
The atmosphere in the car turned awkward, thick with unspoken thoughts.
Whitney sat there, her cheeks puffed out in frustration as she glumly stared out the window, lost in her own world.
Klein, on the other hand, was a storm of thoughts, his mind racing in different directions.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at her place, the car coming to a gentle stop.
“Uncle Klein, thanks for the ride,” Whitney said, unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching for the door handle, only to find it locked.
She tilted her head, studying Klein’s profile, confusion etched across her face. “Uncle Klein?”
“Girls shouldn’t drink too much at night. If someone pressures you to drink, just mention… Carter’s name,” Klein advised, his tone serious yet caring.
Whitney couldn’t help but chuckle. “Uncle Klein, his name doesn’t carry nearly as much weight as yours.”
The moment the words left her lips, she realized her mistake.
Klein’s voice was cool and low, yet there was a warmth beneath it. “Then just use my name, understood?”
Whitney felt a surge of frustration bubbling inside her. How she wished she could just silence herself, perhaps even bite her tongue off to erase the foolishness that had just spilled from her lips.
With her gaze fixed firmly on the ground, she awkwardly chuckled, trying to ease the tension. “Uncle Klein, I was just joking,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Klein’s dark, penetrating eyes remained locked on her, observing the way her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. The slight movement of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed was almost hypnotic. “I’m not joking, Whitney. You’re engaged to Carter. You’re practically family to me. I really don’t mind,” he replied, his tone deep and serious.
“But I do mind,” Whitney thought, her heart racing and her mind swirling.
In truth, they weren’t really family at all. The impending breakup with Carter loomed over her like a dark cloud, and soon enough, she would be a stranger to Klein and the rest of the Harris family.
With a click, Klein unlocked the car door, his voice carrying an even huskier timbre than before. “It’s getting late. Just go home,” he said, his words carrying an air of finality.
“OK,” Whitney mumbled, her voice barely audible as she stepped out of the car, her mind still reeling from the encounter.
As she wandered back to her apartment, she felt as if she were floating in a daze, the world around her blurring into a haze. It wasn’t until she crossed the threshold of her home that she finally felt her heartbeat begin to steady.
Just as she was about to process the whirlwind of emotions from the evening, her phone buzzed to life. It was Ivan.
“Hey, Whitney, are you home yet?” he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of concern.
Whitney couldn’t help but smile, her spirits lifting slightly. “Yeah, I’m home. You and Frank made it back too, right?” she replied, eager to hear about their evening.
“Yeah, I got a driver to take him home. I’m still on the road,” Ivan responded.
There was a brief pause, and then he asked, “Whitney, Mr. Harris didn’t do anything weird in the car, did he?”
Whitney froze, heat flooding her cheeks once more. “Of course not! Boss, what are you even thinking? Mr. Harris just saw I couldn’t get a ride and offered to drive me home, that’s all,” she insisted, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her tone.
Ivan let out a sigh of relief, the tension easing from his voice. “Good. But Whitney, did you know Mr. Harris before today?”
She had no intention of delving into the messy details of her relationship with the Harris family, so she firmly shook her head. “Nope, never met him before.”
“It was my first time meeting him today,” she added, trying to keep her voice steady.
Ivan nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Alright, I get it. Whitney, I don’t know Klein well, but don’t let that pretty face fool you. He’s not someone you want to mess with.”
“Mr. James Harris skipped over his eldest son and put Klein in charge of the entire Harris Group. That alone should tell you how powerful he is. People like him? We’re better off staying out of his way,” Ivan warned, his voice low and serious.
Whitney pressed her lips together, catching the underlying message in Ivan’s words. She smiled it off, trying to ease his worry. “Relax, Boss. Just because someone gave me a lift doesn’t mean I’ll start thinking he’s interested in me.”
“And I’m not the kind to chase after someone just because they come from money,” she added, her tone light but resolute.
Ivan sighed softly again. “Don’t blame me for being nosy, but in their circle, it’s all about being from the right family. I just don’t want you to get played.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t get fooled again,” Whitney assured him, her resolve hardening.
After being burned once, there was no way she would allow herself to be played twice.
Deep down, she believed Klein was merely being a gentleman, offering her a ride out of simple courtesy, nothing more.
The following day at the law firm, Ivan chose not to mention the previous night’s dinner, and Whitney remained tight-lipped as well, both of them seemingly agreeing to let the matter rest.
Valerie, ever the inquisitive one, leaned in closer and asked, “So, how did the dinner go yesterday?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.