MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

At the Davis mansion, Mr. Davis and Eric Bush sat across from each other in the old man's living room. Eric had just arrived, and he seemed genuinely happy to be there. It had been a while since they'd seen each other, and he asked, "How have you been feeling lately? You seemed so busy lately,"

Mr. Gate's smiled at him, "A bit better," Mr. Davis replied. "I received your gift, the premium Colombian coffee beans. Thank you." 

Eric smiled and said, "That's just the beginning." He nodded to one of his bodyguards, and the man retrieved a blue brocade box for him and handed it to the old man.

Mr. Davis smiled as he tested the weight.

"What is it?" he asked.

Eric motioned his hand, "Open it and find out. Hopefully, you'll like it,"

As the box opened, the old man's face lit up. Inside the box, there was an antique coffee maker. "This thing is older than I am!" Mr. Davis exclaimed. "If I'm not mistaken, this is a Rancilio Silvia brand. Thank you."

Eric nodded and said, "You're welcome."

Mr. Davis studied the parts on the coffee machine carefully and marveled at its good condition. "They sure don't make them like this anymore," he said reverentially. "You must have gone to a lot of trouble for this. Am I wrong?"

Eric chuckled and said, "Never mind that. Besides, that is not the kind of question you are supposed to ask after having received a gift!"

The old man put down the coffee machine, put his hand on his stomach, and laughed. "I watched you grow up." He said. "And I have never seen you as happy as you are now. Are you in love? Tell me, who is the lucky woman?"

Eric: "Is it that obvious?"

"It is," the old man replied. "And the timing is perfect. If you hadn't found a girl soon, I would have started looking for one for you!" 

Eric forced himself to smile. It was a touchy subject because even the old man was pleasant enough, he was dead serious. If Eric hadn't found someone soon, he would have eventually had the house packed with would-be future wife, and that would have been the last thing he needed. Eric chuckled, "Well then, I am glad I found someone," he said. "No offense, but I wouldn't have liked anyone you would have arranged for me. I wanted to choose my own woman, after all, this is my life,"

Mr. Davis was stunned hearing his words, "Oh? What kind of girl do you like? Is your girl better than the girls I know? The girls I know all come from royalty, or they are the descendants of aristocrats."

"That may be so," Eric admitted, "But no one can compare with the girl I've found." Of course, Crystal did not have the qualities that Mr. Davis looked for in a woman, but she was amazing in all the ways that mattered to him. And after getting to know Crystal, he knew that he could never love another woman. She's the one he wanted to be with. 

Unfortunately, as of yet, she did not return his feelings. The last time he'd seen her, she had given him the cold shoulder. 

Ultimately, though, that didn't matter. He would take her any way he could. All he wanted was to stay by her side and give her a lifetime of security.

Eric's words aroused Mr. Davis's interest.

"You were always such a player," he said. "I always wondered what kind of woman would have what it took to pry you away from those tramps you hung around."

Eric chuckled and said, "I've never been the player that people say I am. It's all fake news. Trust me!"

Mr. Davis: "Is this love of yours a good girl?" 

Eric: "Of course, she is! Didn't I just tell you that she's the best?"

Mr. Davis: "Do you love her?"

Eric's face turned red, and he didn't say anything for a couple of minutes. The word 'Love' was almost foreign to him, but now that it had been brought up, he realized that he did love her. "I do love her," he whispered.

When Mr. Davis heard that, he sighed and said, "Now if only Nathan could find a good woman. Helen is a good girl too, but... Nathan is such a heartbreaker, and all he does is hurt her. When I think about it, it keeps me up at night."

Eric: "I am sure he will do the right thing. Give him time."

Mr. Davis: "You are probably right. Forget I said anything. I'm thrilled that you met someone you love. We should focus on that for now. There is no point in spoiling this happy moment with gloomy thoughts!"

Eric: "Will you support me unconditionally?"

Mr. Davis: "As long as you've known me, I always have, so why wouldn't I now? Is there something that you're not telling me?"

"There might be," Eric admitted. He hung his head and said, "What would you say if I told you that Weasley and I both had a crush on the same girl?"

Mr. Davis: "If that happened, I would tell Nathan to back off. After all, he should be with Helen. Is this the situation, though?"

"Not at all," Eric replied. "I'm just kidding." Eric was satisfied with the old man's reply, but the question had just been a test. If it came to a fight, he needed to know where Mr. Davis's loyalties lay.

The old man gave Eric a serious look and said, "After what happened with Helen, it is hard for me to support Nathan. I ordered him to wait for four years before he got married or fell in love. During that time, he was supposed to seek atonement through repentance and penitence. He never listens, though, does he? Now that time has passed, he will be brought to hell. You'll see."

Eric: "That's good. It's been four years.. I am sure that Helen will be grateful for what you did for her."