Before Naomi could even reply, Belle added enthusiastically, “I can show you around town, Naomi! I know plenty of fun places!”
The look on her face was that of glee and excitement, as though she forgot all about needing to go home.
A vein throbbed on Dylan’s forehead. He stepped forward, shoved Belle into the car, and snapped to the driver, “Call me once you bring her home.” The driver nodded. “Yes, sir.”
The driver started the car. Belle wound down the window and called out to Naomi, “Please give me your number, Naomi, so I can call you!”
However, the next moment, the car peeled away before Naomi could even respond.
Naomi watched as the car disappeared in the distance, then turned to Dylan.
Dylan heaved a sigh of relief. “Finally she’s gone.”
Naomi glanced at the time. “It’s already nine o’clock. Shall we get going?”
“Yes, of course!” Dylan finally went back to his carefree, cheerful self. He and Naomi got into his car, and he brought her to the place he told Scott on the phone that afternoon-Sicily Pub.
Naomi did not even ask where they were headed. Just as Dylan promised, he would not kidnap her or sell her to a brothel, so there was nothing she had to worry about. Instead, she spent the entire car ride thinking about work and was already beginning to forget about Belle.
Dylan, on the other hand, could not stop talking about Belle. He even thanked Naomi profusely for saving him. “Belle is obsessed with me and likes to follow me wherever I go. I know she means no harm, and she’s just a naïve little girl. It’s just annoying sometimes when she insists on following me around.
“It’s embarrassing too, to be seen out in public with a child tagging along. That’s why I keep trying to hide from her, and thank God you were there just now, Naomi. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to escape her.
“Although this reminds me-Belle was supposed to be on a field trip of sorts. What is she doing back so soon? I didn’t know she’d be back.” Dylan was puzzled by this.
Naomi, who tried to brainstorm some ideas for work, was inevitably drawn out of her thoughts and forced to listen to Dylan ramble about Belle.
Although it would appear that he was complaining about Belle, the tender and soft tone he used when talking about her proved otherwise. Naomi could not help glancing at Dylan. He had one hand on the steering wheel, and his brows were furrowed in deep thought.
Naomi stared at him for a long time before finally turning away.
Some things were oblivious to the people inside them. She could tell that Dylan cared very much about Belle, and perhaps even liked her back, although he tried his best to conceal it.
The car finally arrived at Sicily Pub after twenty minutes. Even from afar, Naomi could see that they were arriving because of the neon lights that illuminated Sicily Pub’s front entrance. “We’re here!” Dylan chirruped as he leaped out of the car. He was grinning from ear to ear as he stared at the twinkling building before him.
They were finally here! They finally broke through the challenges and would soon reap the rewards!
Dylan could feel his heart soar in excitement.
Naomi got out of the car and watched the people coming in and out of the building. The men were all dressed in immaculate suits, and the women had on flawless dresses and makeup. This was a place reserved only for the elite.
“Let’s go, Naomi.” Dylan glanced at the time. It was 20 minutes past nine now, and if Scott wanted to come, he would have arrived in Herland by now. He would not call to remind him again. Dylan smiled as he offered his hand to Naomi.
“Alright.” Naomi nodded and began to walk toward the building, but all of a sudden, Dylan called out, “Wait!”