The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 74: Stepped into a landmine

Chapter 74: Stepped into a landmine

"Goodness." Fil let out a weak chuckle, shaking her head as she marched in Marcus’s direction. When she was three steps in front of him, she mildly complained, "You should have told me you’re here already."

"I was about to, but then I saw you talking to them." Marcus chuckled. "Why? Did they tease you? You look flustered."

Fil touched her blushing cheeks. "They thought you were my boyfriend," she humored, showing him her ring. "I couldn’t tell them it wasn’t you. Now it feels embarrassing."

"Oh..."

"Sorry." Fil smiled apologetically. "Don’t worry. I’ll clear up the misunderstanding later. After all, I didn’t ask you to come just so others misunderstand our relationship."

"It’s fine," Marcus humored back. "Don’t bother, Fil."

She furrowed her brows. "Are you sure?"

"Mhm. I mean, they can think what they want to think. It’s not the truth," he reasoned out. "Not to mention we’re friends. What others think doesn’t matter. As long as we know the truth."

"But it’s still embarrassing on your part."

"And why would that be?"

"Well..." Fil shrugged, blinking innocently. "... because you’re Marcus Arkwright."

Marcus wanted to respond, but he couldn’t. He felt a little... flattered. He didn’t know this was how high she viewed him. All this time, he thought Fil never cared about everyone else aside from Vincent. It was probably one of the qualities why their group of friends didn’t like Fil. She might’ve made an effort to help them, but she never made an effort to look at them as equal to Vincent. For her, Vincent was like her god. It was almost envying to have someone see you as important as God.

"That’s just a name," he laughed awkwardly. "It’s not as impressive as it sounds."

"It’s impressive to me," she quipped. "Anyway, thank you for coming. I thought you’d be busy, so I was about to tell you to forget about it."

"What?"

Fil maintained a smile as she shrugged. "But you made it." Her eyes softened, and so was the entirety of her face. "I need your help with something."

"What is it?"

"I wanted to ask you if you could let me see the construction of the new department store you are building in Henson Prefect," she requested ingeniously. "I heard it’ll be the longest one your company has built yet. It’ll be a huge help to see the materials used."

Deep lines appeared between Marcus’s brows. "That’s... the help you want from me?"

"Mhm!"

"You could’ve just asked on the phone," he remarked. "I could’ve sent you the samples you needed as your study material."

"I know." Fil nodded. "But I also want to buy you lunch as a repayment."

"Huh?"

"It’ll be easier if I repay the debt as quickly as possible," she explained. "Also, you might refuse over the phone. I have a high chance if I asked in person."

"..."

Marcus was rendered speechless, looking at her in disbelief. This could almost trigger him. Driving for a straight two hours was no joke. He had to put down some work just to see her. And this was all she had to tell him?

"I also want to apologize about that night," she added after a moment of silence. "I’m not stupid. You and Vincent... I didn’t want you to fight over such a misunderstanding."

"It’s not me who misunderstood."

"I know. Vincent was wrong." She pouted. "That’s why I’m going to buy you good food. Anything you like!"

Marcus assessed the adorable pout on her face, which squashed down the unpleasant feeling rising in his heart. In the end, he only sighed and laughed weakly.

"Since when did you become so mischievous?" he remarked, and out of habit, he pinched her cheek mildly. When he did, he froze and drew his hand immediately. "Ah. Sorry about that. Just a habit."

Fil touched her cheeks mildly and smiled. "I’m not Valerie. And I’m not being mischievous. I’m trying to be a good friend."

Friend... right.

"Of course." Marcus forced another smile, keeping his hands in his pockets. "I saw a restaurant on the way. If you’re hungry, we can grab something to eat while I contact my people to send you study materials."

"I have to drive around town with the chief," she said with hesitation. "I’ll have to tell them first before we go. Is it alright with you to wait a little longer?"

"How about I come with you?" he cocked his head to the side. "Don’t worry. I won’t steal your ideas and add them to our company."

"You don’t need to steal. All you have to do is ask me. I always got your back, remember?" she joked with a wink.

"Get in." Marcus tipped his head to the car behind him. "I’ll drive. I don’t think we should ride your truck."

"I didn’t bring my truck."

"What?"

"I left my truck to the repair shop," she explained. "I commuted here."

"Oh." Marcus rocked his head in understanding, looking at her.

Fil didn’t seem bothered by commuting from the city to this town. Well, she was used to it. Even so, if she would survey the area, it would be nighttime for her to finish. That would be unsafe for her.

"Should I... wait for you to finish?" he blurted out without thinking, making her tilt her head. "If you’re not bringing your truck, I’d be worried if you have to commute home."

Fil pressed her lips into a thin line, hesitation evident in her eyes. "Are you sure? Don’t you have other important things to do?"

"I do." He smiled. "But I’ll just keep thinking about you if I leave you behind. I’ll end up not doing any work. It’s the same."

Fil and Marcus held each other’s eyes for a moment. His last remarks didn’t bring in any malice or other intentions other than offering help for a friend. However, that wasn’t enough for her.

’Slowly,’she told herself. ’Slowly and carefully, Fil. In the future, he’ll just keep thinking about you, not because he was worried about a friend.’

"Sure," she smiled gracefully. "I’ll have to bother you then."

"You don’t bother me."

"But it would be nice if I do."

Marcus arched a brow, following her figure as she marched toward the front passenger seat. ’It would be nice if she did?’he wondered, running his tongue across his inner cheek. ’She probably means it differently than what it sounded.’

Marcus shook his head mildly, hitching inside the driver’s seat to accompany her for the day. Unbeknownst to him, he had just stepped into a landmine, and moving forward could cost him more than he could afford.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on fre(e)webnov(l).com

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.