novelxo Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Newman’s voice dripped with sarcasm, “Athena, the way you’re ripping into me makes me think you’re just peeved ‘cause you can’t have me.”
Athena thought, “Why is Newman so full of himself?”
“Calling you Beast Newman is only giving you what you deserve!” she retorted sharply, with a hint of spite in her tone.
When Athena lashed out, Newman didn’t get mad. Instead, he narrowed his long, deep–set eyes, a defiant arrogance simmering beneath the surface.
They hit a red light, and the car gently came to a stop.
Newman turned his head to meet Athena’s cat–like, cunning gaze.
“In front of others, call me Norman. If I ever hear someone like Leonard calling me Newmie again, I’ll have his tongue cut out!”
His tone was domineering and final.
Athena’s gaze fell on the amethyst bracelet at Newman’s wrist. Her voice was somewhat coy, “I thought you were all about self–cultivation and devout Buddhism, a no–kill kinda guy.
Newman was cool to the core, “I don’t take lives, but there are hundreds of ways to leave Leonard tongueless!”
Athena kept quiet, catching through the rearview mirror how animated her little expressions were. She probably feared having her own tongue snipped off, now reduced to cursing him in her head.
Athena’s lashes drooped as she noticed a message from her secretary Zora.
[Mrs. West was lured into a trap by Miss Vivian, who rolls with Nancy’s crowd.]
Athena scoffed disdainfully. Nancy got a whole lot of hurt at Belinda’s birthday bash and she still hasn’t learned?
Nancy and Anna were besties, and Anna was at the Sunrise Building; she must’ve known Athena was going to see Mr. West.
A cold glint passed through Athena’s eyes. Little did Nancy and Anna know that their clever plan backfired, actually pushing the Dempsey Group and Nossen Energy closer together.
Just then, more surveillance screenshots popped up on Athena’s phone, courtesy of Zora.
They showed Anna leaving the Sunrise Building and hopping into Zoey’s car.
Athena discovered something intriguing. Her lips curled into a smile, keeping this little secret under wraps for now. Soon, she’d have a surprise for Newman!
The black luxury car pulled into Mystic Ridge Villa. After parking, Newman glanced down at his
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waist.
“Athena, what’s that smell in your hair? It stinks!”
Athena’s face flushed.
She’d wiped her hair with wet wipes, but the stench of rotten egg lingered.
Newman couldn’t smell it from a distance, but he had pressed her head close earlier, and her hair had brushed against his clothes.
“Some jerk threw rotten eggs at me.” Zora had dropped her at the hospital before heading back to the office, so Athena had to call Newman for a ride back home to wash her hair and change before returning to the office.
Through the mirror, Athena saw disgust filling Newman’s brooding eyes.
It was a look she knew all too well.
Newman, usually so composed and reserved, reserved all his loathing and distaste for a silly girl.
A vengeful desire surged within Athena. She teased with a sweet smile, “Newman, come on in and help me wash my hair.”
Newman was speechless.
He thought Athena was spouting nonsense!
Once out of the car and seeing Newman not budging from the driver’s seat, she stood by the window, grinning. “Since you agreed to be at my beck and call, you’d better hop to it and get it done perfectly, okay?”
She just wanted to ruffle his feathers a bit.
His gaze toward her was indifferent, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll twist your head right off?”
Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “I’m too valuable to you, Newman. You wouldn’t dare.”
“Hurry up and help me wash my hair, and then you can head to the market to do some grocery shopping.”
Newman was desperate. The days of playing housekeeper for Athena were back!
Athena, with only one hand free, struggled to take off her coat.
She placed a soft cushion on the edge of the bathtub, which was dry, and laid down inside.
Newman stood by, dressed to the nines, suddenly unsure of what to do.
He thought, “What on earth am I doing?”
Athena pointed to the shampoo and conditioner on the shelf, instructing him to soak her hair thoroughly before applying the shampoo.
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With no choice, Newman shed his jacket, loosened his gemstone cufflinks, and rolled up his shirt sleeves above the elbow, revealing his well–defined forearms.
Newman suppressed the hostility in his eyes and the urge to wring Athena’s neck.
As Athena lay in the tub, her gaze met Newman’s sternly handsome face, with his tense jawline and furrowed brow. She couldn’t help but giggle, a proud triumph sparkling in her eyes.
“Don’t splash water on my face. I’ve got a scratch and the doc says to keep it dry.”
Athena reminded him.
With a flick of his tongue against his teeth, Newman asked, “You got into a fight?”
Athena pouted innocently. “I was beaten up!”
He snorted. He’d seen Athena’s moves; even professional fighters couldn’t just beat her up one–sidedly.
She clearly didn’t want to delve into the injury, but her silence wouldn’t stop Newman from digging around.
Warm water soaked her scalp, steam rose, and Athena instinctively closed her eyes.
Newman poured shampoo on his hands, spread it through her hair, worked up a rich lather, and then gently massaged Athena’s scalp with his fingertips.
He wasn’t awkward at all, quite the opposite – he had some serious skills. It was crystal clear this wasn’t his first rodeo shampooing someone’s hair. That scalp massage technique? Definitely had some training there.
“Newman, have you washed other people’s hair before?” Athena was all wide–eyed and curious, bracing herself for the possibility of losing a few strands while letting Newman wash her hair.
“Mhm.”
Athena snorted, “And here I thought I was the first one to ever get a shampoo session from
you.”
His voice was deep and cool, “You’re the first one bold enough to actually ask me to do it!”
Newman’s fingers, well–defined and strong, pressed down on the pressure points from her head. to her neck, making Athena hum in comfort.
She opened her eyes, shimmering like a galaxy under the light.
“Who else have you washed hair for, Newman?”
Newman didn’t reply.
Athena went on, “As your boss, I’m super curious about your hair–washing mojo. If you were to be a shampoo boy, there’d be a line from Stardale City to Everglade City just waiting for you!”
Newman picked up the showerhead and rinsed the suds off his hands.
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He admitted freely. “I’m not just good at washing hair, I’m also pretty good at giving people
baths.”
Athena’s eyes went wide. She just couldn’t picture him giving someone a bath.
With a mischievous smile, she teased, “So, Newman, you wanna give me a bath?”