Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: So Gross

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

Nina Halloway crossed her arms. She hadn’t even spoken to Leon Grant yet, but her eyes were already full of disdain.

"Ethan, maybe we should just go."

Ethan Austin stood beside her. Dressed in a black formal suit, his tall, sturdy build towered over the five-foot-seven Nina Halloway like a solid wall of muscle.

When he wasn’t speaking or smiling, he looked very stern and intimidating. He was genuinely imposing.

Seeing him stand there silently, putting on a cool front, Nina Halloway scratched her head awkwardly. "Fine. Watch for my signal later. If things go south, I’ll pretend to feel sick, and you’ll be in charge of carrying me out of here."

As soon as she finished speaking, she nudged Ethan’s arm with her elbow. "Mr. Cool Guy, you got all that?"

Ethan nodded. "Got it."

He escorted Nina Halloway into the coffee shop. Nina sat down across from Leon Grant, and Ethan stood ramrod straight beside her, his hands clasped behind his back.

Nina Halloway glanced around and saw that besides her and Leon Grant, there were no other customers in the shop. Sophie Shaw and Anne hadn’t come in yet. So, she simply took off her face mask and gave Leon Grant a gentle, polite smile.

Leon Grant silently put away his exquisite little mirror. "I thought you were going to stand me up."

"How could I!"

’If I didn’t come, Mandy Halloway would be after me with a feather duster again.’

"What would you like to drink?"

"Coffee."

Leon Grant raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

No one paid him any mind.

He cleared his throat and snapped his fingers again. This time, a waitress noticed—a young girl who rolled her eyes at him before walking over.

"A cup of coffee."

"What kind of coffee?"

"Just regular coffee."

"There are many kinds of ’regular’ coffee. Which one do you want?"

Leon Grant wanted to slap this waitress, whose face was a mask of world-weariness and impatience.

’But he was in front of the woman he was trying to woo, so he held back.’

He turned to Nina Halloway, a slight smile on his face. Just as he was about to ask her what kind of coffee she wanted, the listless waitress followed his gaze and noticed Nina.

Instantly, the waitress came to life. Her eyes lit up, and she clapped a hand over her mouth in surprise, as if afraid she would lose control and let out a shriek.

"You... you’re Nina Halloway?"

"And you’re my fan."

"I’m a huge fan!"

Nina Halloway gave a bashful smile. "Alright, my idol, I’m a fan of you too."

The waitress let out a shriek—"AHHH!"—then realized she’d gotten her words twisted and quickly corrected herself. "You’re my idol, I’m your fan! I’m such a huge fan of yours!"

"Thank you."

"Can I have your autograph?"

"You can."

"Can we take a picture?"

"No problem."

"Can I have a hug?"

"Of course."

The young girl was beside herself with excitement. She tossed her ordering device onto the table, immediately pulled her phone out of her pocket, and scooted next to Nina Halloway. First, she took a selfie with her, then got an autograph, and finally wrapped her arms around Nina, a look of pure bliss on her face.

"I’m really such a huge fan."

Nina Halloway patted the waitress’s back. "Thank you for your support."

Completely satisfied after hugging her beloved idol, the young girl picked up her ordering device again. When she turned back to Leon Grant, her expression instantly changed back to the world-weary look. "What kind of coffee?"

Leon Grant: "..."

"I’m asking you a question, sir."

Leon Grant jutted his chin toward Nina Halloway across from him. "It’s for your idol."

The girl turned to look at Nina Halloway, her face breaking into a smile and her voice becoming sweet and high-pitched. "What kind of coffee would you like, Nina?"

"An Americano."

"Okay~!"

The young girl keyed in the order and left.

Leon Grant took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "No wonder this place has no business. The waitress acts like she owns the place."

Just then, Sophie Shaw and Anne entered the shop.

The waitress went over to take their order, acting completely normal. She didn’t give them any attitude.

Leon Grant was confused. "Why was her attitude so bad toward me?"

Nina Halloway’s lip twitched. She raised a hand toward him and snapped her fingers right next to his ear with a loud SNAP. "Maybe because of this?"

Leon Grant laughed. "There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"Maybe she found it a little disrespectful?"

"Disrespectful?"

Nina Halloway gave an awkward nod.

The waitress brought the coffee. The number of creamers and sugar packets she gave Nina Halloway was triple what she gave Leon Grant.

After the waitress walked away, Leon Grant said, "See? She’s totally playing favorites."

"Haha."

Nina Halloway let out a dry laugh. "So, Mr. Grant, was there a reason you asked to meet me?"

"I miss you. I’m thinking of you every moment of every day."

"..."

"Nina, you know how much I like you."

Just as Nina Halloway was reaching for her coffee, Leon Grant seized her hand. He caressed the back of her fair, delicate hand with the pad of his thumb, unable to resist muttering under his breath, "Damn, your skin is so soft."

Nina Halloway: "..."

She tried to pull her hand back, but Leon Grant held it tight, even lowering his head to plant a kiss on the back of it.

’So gross.’

Nina Halloway pouted, almost losing the battle to resist picking up her coffee and splashing it in Leon Grant’s face.

Ethan could see she was unwilling and very uncomfortable. He took two steps forward and forcibly pried Leon Grant’s hand away. "Mr. Grant, if you have something to say, say it. Don’t get handsy."

"And who is this?"

Leon Grant looked up, sizing up Ethan.

’His shoulders are so broad, and he’s huge. Like a mountain.’

"My personal bodyguard."

Leon Grant nodded. ’So he’s just a bodyguard,’ he thought. ’For a second there, I thought he was a love rival.’

He breathed a sigh of relief and issued a command to Ethan, "You can wait outside."

Ethan retreated to Nina Halloway’s side and stood ramrod straight.

Leon Grant felt a complete loss of face. "I told you to wait outside."

Ethan completely ignored him.

Ever since Nina Halloway was kidnapped and fortunately returned safely, he had not left her side, no matter where she was or what she was doing, steadfastly adhering to his duty.

He was truly starting to take this job seriously.

"Mr. Grant, my bodyguard only listens to me," Nina Halloway reminded him kindly.

As she spoke, she held out the hand he had just kissed toward Ethan. "Wet wipe."

Ethan immediately pulled a sanitizing wipe from his pocket. He held Nina Halloway’s hand in one of his and gently wiped the back of it with the other.

Leon Grant’s face gradually darkened.

Meanwhile, at the next table, Sophie Shaw, who had been secretly observing, covered her mouth and leaned over to whisper in Anne’s ear, "Looks like Ethan is really getting the hang of his job."

Anne looked proud. "Of course he is. The little brother I trained is very responsible, you know."

"Nina, I’ve hired a famous chef to come to my house. Come over tonight, and we can enjoy a candlelight dinner together," Leon Grant invited.

Nina Halloway let out a small "ah," not expecting Leon Grant to invite her directly to his house.

"Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?"

"Nina, give me a chance. I really, really like you. I’ll be good to you, and I’ll prove to you that my love for you is one of a kind."

"But going to your house... Isn’t that a bit fast?"

"How is it fast? My parents have already gone to your family to propose marriage. Director Blackwood and Mrs. Blackwood are very satisfied with me."

"What does it matter if they’re satisfied? The important thing is that *I’m* satisfied."

"Then, Nina, baby... are you satisfied with me?"

Nina Halloway looked into the man’s dark, brooding phoenix eyes. Hearing him call her "baby," her mind suddenly flashed with the image of a man in a skull mask stabbing Sean Wright, and her stomach began to churn violently.