Take My Breath Away

After James finally finished his rant, Carlos said calmly, "She's not just some random woman I plucked off the streets. I have the final say in my marriage, Dad. As for the Li family, go explain to them yourself. This has nothing to do with me!"

His words caused James' blood pressure to surge. Hearing the noise on the other end of the line, Carlos shut his eyes and inhaled deeply. He knew that his father was rummaging through the drawers, looking for his medicine. He patiently waited on the phone.

After downing the pills, James gradually got a hold of himself. When he was able to speak again, he yelled, "Divorce! You have to divorce her!"

In a colder voice, Carlos asked, "Anything else?"

"Last month, I talked marriage with Stephanie's grandfather. You and Stephanie grew up together. You're 28 years old, and she's 27. If you guys can tie the knot before you're both 30..." James just wouldn't stop. He kept urging Carlos to marry Stephanie Li as if Carlos weren't already married. But he was. To Debbie. It had already been arranged, and Carlos found himself continually surprised by, challenged by, and head over heels in love with Debbie. He didn't want anyone else.

"Seems like you're quite fond of her, Dad. How about you marry Stephanie yourself? That way Mom can relax too."

"You asshole! Goddamn ungrateful..." The call was cut all of a sudden. Carlos figured that James must have thrown his phone against the wall or something. That was just like him, and it wouldn't be the first time.

James had broken a number of phones over the years. If he'd kept those phones in decent shape, he could have opened his own phone store.

From experience, he knew what James would do next: find someone to vent his anger at. And the target was probably... Leaping into action, Carlos quickly dialed Tabitha's number. He waited a long time for her to pick up.

"Carlos, what's up? It's late. Haven't you gone to bed yet?" Tabitha asked, though she had guessed what had happened. She heard the man hollering a few rooms away, and heard the unmistakable sounds of a phone shattering against the wall.

"Mom, I'll get my assistant to pick you up. Please pack a few things and move into my villa. I'm flying to New York soon, two days before the Spring Festival. I can bring you back home then." Carlos had several houses in New York. If she stayed in one of his estates, James wouldn't be able to do a thing to her.

Wiping her teary eyes, Tabitha forced a smile and said, "I'm okay, Carlos. Don't worry about me. I'll just stay in my room. Just take care of Debbie, okay? You have your own life now."

Fretful, Carlos

assionate look in his eyes, Debbie instantly understood what sort of payment he was asking for. She struggled to sit up. "No, no. I'll dry it myself."

"Think you can run away?" Carlos asked without stopping her. He slowly followed Debbie into the bathroom again.

In the bathroom, when Debbie found the hair-dryer, she saw Carlos come in too. She swung the hair-dryer in front of him and urged, "I'm going to dry my hair, seriously. Just go back to bed."

Instead of leaving, he grabbed the hair-dryer from her hand. Debbie assumed that he was really intending to help her dry her hair. She remembered he had done this for her before. Without thinking too much, she turned around, back against him, and reminded him, "The cord is short. Maybe move closer to the outlet."

Putting the hair-dryer aside, Carlos clung to her and whispered in a husky voice, "The cord might be short, but you know, a certain part of my body isn't..."

Debbie's face flushed bright red. She patted him on his hand, trying to drive him away. "Go away. Don't bother me."

However, it was too late. The man's lust was triggered. Unable to constrain himself anymore, he turned her around and pressed her against the sink. His hands ran up and down her body, driving waves of pleasure through her again and again, before they both surrendered to love's embrace.

The next morning, Carlos had gone to work while Debbie still slept soundly in the bed. Her phone jarred her awake. It was Kasie, asking her out on a shopping trip. As the Spring Festival was just around the corner, Carlos had given the yoga teacher and dancing teacher a holiday at Debbie's request. She also wanted to enjoy a relaxing holiday without any lessons. She could just sleep, eat and play all day long!