Filed To Story: Finding the Secret Daddy for My Baby Novel
Harmony’s mind whirred, recalling those two unexpected kisses. She hastily denied it. “No… nothing happened.”
Although Harmony’s answer made it seem as though the two were strangers, Sera was no fool. Instead, she was astute enough to understand that Ezekiel’s appearance here was undoubtedly linked to Harmony.
Otherwise, how coincidental could it be for him to end up in the room next door?
Ezekiel took out his phone in the adjacent room and dialed his assistant’s number. “Get me a spot on the red carpet for tomorrow’s Fashion Week”
“Mr. Weiss, are you also planning to walk the red carpet?”
“I’m taking someone with me,” Ezekiel replied.
After the passionate night between Catalina and Reuben in the luxurious confines of a five- star hotel, he devoted himself entirely to her as he lay in bed with her. Although he was merely deemed a useless man who had to use his body to climb up the ranks, he cared little for such judgments. Instead, he was driven solely by pursuing a promising future.
Catalina, somewhat content with Reuben’s performance that night, smiled and spoke, “Reuben, I can’t wait to see Harmony’s downfall. I have my Internet ghostwriters ready. Once her video gets back to Dansbury, we’ll spread it widely. With her ability, she won’t stand a chance against the public backlash, Let’s sit back and watch the entire Internet turn against her!”
Reuben, kissing her cheek, complimented, “You’re remarkable, sweetheart. Harmony is no match for you.”
“You should show some effort, too. Improve your acting skills so you can handle and won’t miss out on the roles I secure for you,” scolded Catalina.
Since Reuben was a gigolo, he had no choice but to endure her treatment with a grin. Even if he didn’t like hearing such words, he clung to Catalina playfully as he murmured, “Okay, I’ll improve my acting skills so I don’t disappoint my lovely wife.”
Catalina, a connoisseur of men, affectionately patted him with a smile. “Good. I’ll be waiting for the day you win the Best Actor award. On that day, I’ll be your true wife.”
The smile on Reuben’s face froze momentarily. The Best Actor award was still far from his reach, and he had no noteworthy works under his belt. On the contrary, Harmony had unexpectedly secured the Best Female award this year, casting him in the shadow of her apparent success. This made him look as incompetent as her boyfriend. This was one of the reasons Reuben held disdain for Harmony. She made him the subject of ridicule among those people who deemed him inferior to her.
Of course, he wouldn’t show these feelings before falling out with Harmony. However, when Harmony kissed and hugged another man in front of him that day, it was as if the darker side he had hidden all this while had burst forth.
He resented it all. He wanted Harmony out of the industry, forced back to the low-level status from which she had emerged, with no place to stand in this circle. Reuben fantasized about the day he would have a standing in the industry. Once that happened, Harmony, who was desperate for survival, would come crawling to him, much like a beggar seeking mercy.
Ever since she was orphaned and alone, she had no one in her corner with both parents gone. With a background like hers, wasn’t she practically destined to be a target for mistreatment?
As a second-generation star with parents of prominent status in the industry, Catalina initially had set her sights on clinching a prestigious jewelry advertisement. Yet, Harmony emerged out of nowhere, snatching the coveted brand from under her nose and turning her into a laughingstock within her social circles.
At this moment, Catalina’s viewpoint allowed her an unobstructed view of the colossal screen displaying the scrolling advertisement. As she observed Harmony’s graceful figure, Catalina tightly grasped her glass of red wine.
The spotlight of that advertisement, so dazzling in the eyes of the public, should have rightfully belonged to her. Reuben, emerging from the bed to encircle her waist, rested his face on her shoulder. “Let’s go to sleep.”
“I can’t sleep,” Catalina replied with a touch of indifference.
Reuben lifted his head to check her expression in response. His gaze followed hers to the distant advertisement screen, where Harmony’s silhouette appeared. The intense surge of passionate emotions he had just vented on Catalina rushed back. Reuben harbored a complex mix of love and unfulfilled desire towards Harmony.
Over the years, Harmony had firmly held her ground, refusing to give in. She insisted on reserving her first time for marriage. Now, Reuben couldn’t help but feel that he had been played for a fool. Why had he shown her so much respect?
Now that he had lost her, he realized that the platonic love affair they had had for five years was too much of a loss. Of course, he hadn’t been idle privately and had pursued several young models while she was busy with her career.
At that moment, Reuben silently contemplated, One day, I’ll make you beg to return to my side, Harmony.
In this life, I’ll only be content once I’ve slept with you. Sera had already succumbed to slumber as the night unfolded in the hotel. Meanwhile, Harmony found herself grappling with insomnia. With Ezekiel staying in the next room, the thought of him just beyond the wall made her wonder what he was doing.
Is he asleep?
Then, she unexpectedly caught a faint sound of running water from the adjacent room. The hotel’s soundproofing was poor, so the sound of someone showering next door had somehow seeped through the cracks.
A soft chuckle escaped Harmony’s lips. Then, she glanced at the time. It was already 1.00AM. Yet, this man was only taking a shower now.
What’s he doing? Could it be… A mischievous notion crept into Harmony’s mind. Her cheeks flushed with warmth as her mind ran wild. Still, she couldn’t halt the swirling thoughts and vivid scenarios that danced through her imagination.
Ah! Men and their antics were no mystery to her. This was also thanks to her early entry into the industry and acting career.
Can it be that this man is indulging himself?
Harmony quickly reined in her wandering thoughts as fantasizing about him in this way felt a tad inappropriate.
In the next room, Ezekiel was indeed taking a shower. He had just wrapped up a meticulous review of the latest investment plan. So, time had slipped through his fingers when he was immersed in his work. Before he knew it, it had already gotten this late.
As for Harmony, she wasn’t sure when she had finally drifted off to sleep. She was entangled in a dream, soaring through the air and eventually floating into Ezekiel’s window, peering in just as he prepared to shed his garments.
Just as she was about to see what Ezekiel had under the sheets, her soul was forcefully dragged back into her body. Sera had shaken her in an attempt to rouse her from her slumber.
“Harmony, wake up. It’s late. We need to head over for the photo shoot.”
How could Harmony bear to wake up just like that? Her eyelids remained shut as she pleaded, “Sera, give me another two minutes. Let me sleep a bit more, just a bit.” After that, she immediately plunged back into the fantasy, trying to return to that enticing scene.
Just as she teetered on the brink of once again reveling in the allure of that handsome physique, Sera, unsparing in her resolve, heartlessly shook her awake.
“You don’t have time to sleep! Get your butt out of the bed! My goodness! You still need to get dressed!”
Harmony blinked her eyes open, sitting up as disappointment overwhelmed her. She was somewhat baffled about her current surroundings as she tried to make sense of reality once more. That dream from last night really wore her out. It felt like she struggled all night just to glimpse Ezekiel’s physique- what an utterly absurd dream.
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted them. Sera blurted in confusion, “Could it be Mr. Weiss from next door?”
“Ah!” Harmony swiftly burrowed back into the covers and buried her face in the blanket. She urgently told Sera, “Whatever you do, please don’t let him in, Sera!”
She didn’t want him to see her in this ghastly state early in the morning.
Sera opened the door in amusement. Sure enough, the refreshingly charming Ezekiel was standing right there. She greeted him with a warm smile, “Mr. Weiss, good morning.”
“Good morning. I have something to attend to. Here’s my business card. Let Miss Mayo know I’ll see her on the red carpet at 3.00PM.”
“Of course, thank you so much, Mr. Weiss. Take care.” Sera happily accepted his business card and saw him off to the elevator. Then, she joyfully kissed the golden business card after watching him leave. Now, neither of them would face the embarrassment of getting chased off the red carpet.
Sera quickly scanned Ezekiel’s business card, a simple display of a Chinese company’s name with ‘Ezekiel Weiss’ in parentheses below it. Beneath it, a personal phone number added an air of significance despite its simple design.
Harmony naturally overheard Ezekiel’s words. His deep, magnetic voice resonated forcefully in her heart. As she reflected on her dream from the previous night, she couldn’t help but find her attitude inappropriate.
“Wake up, my lady! Look, Mr. Weiss personally gave you his business card. He’s looking forward to your red carpet journey with him this afternoon.” Sera dragged her off the bed. At this moment, Sera couldn’t help but wish she were 20 years younger. Ah, youth and romance!
Harmony took the golden card that felt more like lacquered gold than paper.