Chapter 4

"I've finally found you." Chloe Hazel blinked once. She immediately turned around to see who the voice belonged to. Then not long after, her brow furrowed deeply. A tall man with an athletic body stood smiling right in front of him. The man's eyes flashed mischievously, even impressed a little seductive. 

Chloe, in particular, spends time every afternoon at L'Elysee Artisan Cafe and Patisserie. She usually reads a book at the cafe while sipping a cappuccino, eating a salad, or a tiramisu. She does this every day without ever feeling bored in the slightest. 

Because of this habit, with the help of Hans, Edward was able to find the woman's whereabouts. After nearly forty-five minutes of waiting in boredom, the woman he was looking for finally stopped by. 

"Why should you be surprised like that? Could it be that you are amazed by my good looks?" Edward brushed his hair with a smile when he finished speaking. 

"Sorry," said Chloe. Before continuing her sentence, Chloe shot Edward a scanned glance from head to toe. Pay attention to the appearance of the interlocutor, then speak again. "We didn't know each other before. You better get out of my way," Chloe said coldly. Since Edward didn't move an inch, Chloe took the initiative to walk past the man. She pointed his feet towards one of the empty tables in the cafe's left corner. 

Not wanting to lose track, Edward shamelessly followed. Even though it was clear that no one had asked him to sit down, he sat down. Confidently, he even spoke to Chloe again. 

"Why are you avoiding me?" Chloe tried to ignore Edward. She prefers to open the book he previously brought. Then it took some time to order food when the cafe waiter came. "I ordered the same as this lady." Edward joined in as the waiter was busy writing orders. When the maid had left, he spoke again to Chloe. "You, I came all the way here specifically to see you. We have a lot of things to work on." 

Chloe raised her head. She was staring flatly at Edward. Seen the man just kept smiling a naughty and seductive smile. "Sorry, Mr.Edward, you're interfering with my activities. Besides, we have no business to attend to." 

"Geez." Edward sighed softly. "We're not business partners, and there's no need to call me mister," protested the man. "But by the way, how do you know my name? Didn't I get to introduce myself at the hotel?" investigated the man. Chloe put back the book she was reading. I grabbed the cappuccino the waiter had just delivered. He chose to take a sip of his drink before answering. 

"All of London or perhaps the whole of Great Britain even knows who you are, Mr. Edward."

Edward cracked a smile. "My name is very famous in this country. I'm quite proud to hear it." 

Chloe replied. "Of course, who doesn't know a Playboy lizard-like you." 

"Damn!" Edward, who had just taken a sip of the cappuccino in his hand, suddenly coughed. The seductive grin he had initially displayed so confidently disappeared—replaced by a grimace expression. The man even unconsciously cursed in his heart. Oh shit! Why does this woman look like Nicholas? Sometimes he calls me a playboy. 

"It's up to you what you think of me. To be sure, I'm not the man you think I am." 

Chloe shrugged her shoulders. "I'm sorry, but I don't care about your defense. No matter who you are, I'll say again, I don't want to know." 

"I'm not defending myself," Edward said quickly. "After all, as I said before, the two of us had to sort things out yesterday."

Chloe snorted in annoyance. She lifted her face and looked at him disapprovingly. "How many times do I have to tell you. We're both fine. So---" 

"Wait a minute," Edward interrupted. "After you fucked me, you easily forgot about it?" Edward's loud voice suddenly attracted the attention of the other cafe guests. In the next second, Edward looked around, grinning at all the onlookers watching. It's his fault to speak without filtering first.

"Okay, I'll give you ten minutes to talk. Oh no," Chloe corrected. "Five minutes seems like enough."

Not wanting to waste time, Edward took the opportunity Chloe had given him to explain his purpose in meeting the woman. The man deliberately pulled the chair to advance his sitting position. "We both didn't know each other at first. But that night, you deliberately teased me and then forced a relationship ---" 

"Oh my ...." This time, Chloe cut Edward's sentence. "You're too wordy. Just get to the point. I hate people who talk too much."

Edward snorted in annoyance. Since the first meeting, he had tried to be sweet to attract Chloe's attention. 

If usually, other women looked at Edward with admiration. This woman completely ignored him. Even openly showing disapproval.

"I want to marry you." 

Chloe's eyes blinked after hearing those words. "I think after what we did yesterday, I have to take responsibility," said the man. 

"Moreover, you've lost your honor for giving it to me for free. I'm a jerk who likes to change partners. But that doesn't mean I'm an irresponsible man." he continued later. 

Chloe stared intently at Edward's hazel beads. Chose got up and grabbed the bag and books he had brought before. Moving on from there, remember to say softly but with emphasis. 

"You're not my type. No need to take responsibility. I've forgotten what we did before." 

The next second, Chloe left Edward without saying goodbye and excused herself. Because he was still curious, the man also got up and chased after Chloe, who had already disappeared from his sight. 

"God, what kind of woman are you dealing with, Ed."

***

Edward was mainly silent, not knowing how long, which must have been from arriving until the dinner began. A feast is being held at Jacob and Alma Grey's house tonight. Routine activities are usually carried out every weekend. Jacob, who realized his best friend was so gloomy, took a glass of wine and walked over to Edward sitting on the sofa. 

"You look like someone who lost a bet." Jacob's soft voice suddenly jolted Edward out of his thoughts. His eyes blinked reflexively, and then he reached for the glass Kenzie handed him. "What are you thinking about? Marriage problems?" Jacob narrowed his eyes. Curious to know what his best friend was thinking. 

"No. I wasn't thinking about that," Edward said. The man looks lazy. 

Jacob furrowed her brows, "So, what's bothering you." 

"At least stay away from women." This time it was Nicholas who spoke. The man's expression was, as usual, relaxed. 

Edward froze, imagining his misfortune this afternoon when he met Chloe. Until this moment, he always wondered. What caused the woman to look so displeased? 

"I think it's useless to tell you guys. It seems that the only one who can answer the question in my head is Alma." In the next second, the man instantly averted his eyes. He was looking for the whereabouts of Alma, who was standing not far from the minibar. The man then called. 

"Alma, please come here. There is something important I want to ask," he said thoughtfully. According to him, Alma approached and sat down right next to Jacob. "I wanted to ask you a question. As far as I know, of all the women out there, you're the only one who's not interested in a jet-set guy like Jacob, right?" 

Alma nodded. "Right, I was even sick of Jacob's behavior the first time we met." 

Hearing his wife's words, Jacob pulled the woman's body into his arms. "Gosh, why are you so vengeful, honey. When we first met in the conference room, I know you were impressed by how I looked." 

Alma glared. "You too confident!"

"That means Alma's personality is the same as Chloe's. The woman I'm after right now." 

Jacob looked questioningly after hearing Edward's words. Unraveling his embrace on Alma, he cast a questioning gaze at the man before him. 

"Have you met the woman?" 

Edward nodded decisively. "This afternoon. I was kind enough to wait for her. She was trying to show me the sweetest nature I have. I even offered to take responsibility for all my actions the other day. But that woman openly refused me." 

Jacob and Nichols chuckled at the same time. They did not expect Edward could have such bad luck. The man usually never experienced rejection. You could tell how frustrated he was now. 

"That means my fate is much luckier than the two of you," Nicholas spoke confidently. 

"You mean?" Jacobs asked.

"Yeah, because I've never chased women. But Kimberly was after me desperately." 

The next second, Kimberly, sitting next to Nicholas, immediately threw a hard pinch on her husband's arm until the man groaned. "Aren't you the only man crying over me?" replied Kimberly, not wanting to lose. "In case you forgot, who even begged Arthur's uncles to come to see me?" 

"Don't forget your memories, Nick. Who was crying in the apartment while chanting Kimberly's name?" said Edward. "Kimberly ... don't leave me," the man mocked, licking his lips. Nicholas raised his hands in surrender. When it comes to insults, Edward is number one. The man is sometimes unconscious when he sneers at others. Nicholas was often annoyed when he told a man a secret. 

"Okay, I admit defeat. You did drive me crazy, Kimberly Aurora." The room immediately laughed at Nicholas's behavior.

"Then, after that woman rejects you outright, will you keep looking for her?" Jacob resumed the conversation that had been delayed before.

"I want to marry that woman," Edward spoke with certainty.

Causing all eyes to turn to him. "Are you sure you want to marry a woman you didn't know before?" 

There was a note of surprise in Jacob's sentence. "I'm curious about this woman. Why is she not the least bit interested in me."

"That means you are ready to marry without love?" Jacob asked again. As a friend, he did not want to see Edward wrong in making decisions. Especially when it comes to marriage, choose a lifelong partner. Someone who will accompany you until you grow old. What Edward did next was nod. He looked as confident as ever. 

"Love can grow at any time, Jack. Besides, if I finally get married. Do you think my parents will wait for me to fall in love first? I think the choices are the same."

"If that's your choice, I can only wish you the best."

Edward fell silent again after hearing Jacob's words and thinking hard about what other way he should do to attract Chloe's attention.