Take My Breath Away

Kasie was taken aback by Emmett's mischievous joke. She hastily explained to the middle-aged woman, "He's just kidding. He's only a friend."

Emmett smiled and waved at her. "I should get going. Bye Kasie."

"Hey, wait! Young man, don't leave!" the woman suddenly called out to stop Emmett.

Confused, Emmett turned around. The woman stepped forward, observing him from head to toe, and asked, "So how long have you two been dating? How old are you? Come inside, please. Have a drink. You can meet her father too."

'What? Meet her father? So this woman is Kasie's mother? Oh, Jesus!' Regret filled Emmett's heart. He shouldn't have made a joke like that! He had told this woman he was Kasie's boyfriend. 'Well, that's another fine mess you've gotten yourself into, Emmett.'

He straightened up, returning to his usual calm and serious self, just like at work. He said to the woman politely, "Oh, so you're Kasie's mother. Nice to meet you. I'm sorry for my joke. I'm actually one of her friends, but not a boyfriend. Sorry for the misunderstanding."

Despite his denial, Kasie's mother didn't mind it at all. Instead, a happy smile crept across her face as she studied his own. She was satisfied with the way he behaved and talked. He seemed quite respectful, and maybe her daughter might take up with him. He seemed to be a working man as well, and she could do much, much worse. "Never mind. Even if you're just her friend, you're welcome to come to our house and have a cup of tea too!" As she finished her words, she grabbed hold of his arm and led him into the elevator of the building. She didn't give him any chance to refuse.

Shocked, Kasie raised her hand but put it down immediately when she realized it was too late to stop them.

Watching the elevator door close, Emmett began to wonder how big a fool he really was. 'Now I'm really in it. All because I can't keep my big mouth shut. How could a fool like me become Carlos' personal assistant? I may have to thank Mr. Huo for not firing me all these years.'

But in fact, Emmett was pretty straightforward and effective in the office. He never made these sorts of stupid mistakes at work.

He would only play the bad boy in private, but unfortunately for him, each time he made fun of someone else, it backfired on him.

On the other hand, in New York, Debbie was leaning back, held in Carlos' arms. "What on earth happened? And how was Kasie involved?" she asked.

Carlos gently kissed her cheeks and said in a muffled voice, "Nothing happened."

'Nothing? Don't bet on it, ' she thought.

"Fine. Anyway, I should get up now. I may sleep until dark if I don't get up now." She had already missed out on breakfast. If she skipped lunch

ered enough, Tomboy. Cut it out. Have mercy on a single woman!"

Debbie chuckled. "Just deal with it. When you score a sweet boyfriend one day, I won't mind listening to all your stories."

"Sounds good. I should go out and find a boyfriend, then."

"I'm looking forward to hearing the good news!"

Kasie paused and then begged, "Okay, okay. You win! Don't make fun of me anymore. How are you doing in New York? Everything okay?"

"Not too bad. I'm not welcome here. Most of the Huo family members don't like me, especially Carlos' grandmother and father. I don't get why. This is my first visit, and I'm not sure how I offended them," Debbie said gloomily as she rolled to and fro in the bed.

"Eh? Really? Doesn't Carlos' mother like you?" Kasie asked, confusion in her voice.

"Yeah, but it doesn't help. She just keeps quiet. And she seems to be scared of her husband. It's too complicated for me to understand."

"Is it? I'm sorry, dear. Oh, let me tell you one thing—Emmett bought me a handbag yesterday..."

Debbie wasn't sure she heard her right. Confused, she asked, "Emmett bought you a handbag? Why?" She couldn't understand how all these things came together. 'Jeez! I go nap for a bit, and the world turns upside down.'

Then, Kasie told her everything that happened yesterday. She summed it all up by saying, "you weren't there to see this. My parents treated Emmett like their son-in-law. They're really happy with him. I was close to fainting from embarrassment!"

'Emmett and Kasie? Is there anything romantic going between them?' Excited, Debbie sat up and suggested, "I think Emmett is way better than Lewis Huo. Carlos said that he had an annual income of at least a million dollars. And he just can't seem to find a girlfriend. How about you give it a try and date him?"