CEO’s Seduction Trap

Mason didn’t mention that he had already acted or about the issues between Leila and Darren. He brushed off Caleb’s concern and ended the call.

After hanging up, Mason sat quietly for a moment before calling Leila. She didn’t answer.

Mason texted her again: [Leila, are you close to your uncle?]

Still no response from Leila.

Mason, knowing she wasn’t asleep, sent another message: [We’ve found a lead in the Ramirez Family kidnapping case. It’s connected to your uncle Darren. Interested in hearing more?]

Leila wasn’t asleep. She had just come out of the shower when she saw Mason’s messages. As she toweled off her hair, she paused.

Darren involved in the Ramirez Family kidnapping case?

She thought back to Darren’s behavior in the past few years, trying to find any clues. But after thinking for a while, she found nothing.

Just as Leila was about to give up, she suddenly remembered something. A few years ago, something unusual did happen with Darren. That year, he had bought a Passat with his own earnings. This might seem normal for others, but for Darren, it was as strange as finding an oasis in the desert.

As Leila was thinking about this, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Shirley:[ Caleb is such a freak, making me get fried chicken for him in the middle of the night.]

Leila’s lips twitched: [Does he do this often?]

Shirley replied, [He’s a total freak, I’m telling you. A purebred freak.]

Before Leila could respond, Shirley sent another message: [I seriously doubt if Caleb is your benefactor. With his personality, he wouldn’t help anyone.]

Just as Leila was about to reply, there was a knock at the door.

She hesitated for a few seconds before opening it.

The door didn’t have a peephole, so she could only see who was there after opening it.

Mason stood there, his suit jacket draped over his arm, his shirt half tucked into his pants and half hanging out, looking relaxed and casual. “Miss Patel, may I stay for the night?”

Leila didn’t want to answer.

“Mr. Ramirez, you’re overstepping.”

Mason gave a playful smile. “Am I overstepping in action or are you overstepping in thought?”

Before Leila could respond, Mason turned serious. “Don’t worry, I just need to ask you some questions.”

Leila immediately thought of the message he had sent earlier.

“About my uncle?” she asked directly.

“Yes,” Mason admitted.

Leila thought about letting him in but then paused and blocked the doorway again. “You can ask from here.”

Mason noticed her hesitation.

“Right here at the door?”

“It’s late. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to be alone inside,” Leila said calmly.

Mason leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms. “Alright, we’ll talk here.”

He continued, “I’ve been investigating the kidnapping case for years. Recently, my men found evidence linking your uncle Darren to the case.”

“What did he do?” Leila asked.

“The place where I was held was an old house of the Galang family.”

Leila frowned. “An old house?” She had never heard of such a place.

“Yes,” Mason confirmed.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“I don’t keep useless people around,” Mason replied confidently.

Since Mason was so certain, Leila didn’t argue further. She thought for a few seconds and shared what she knew.

“I don’t know about other things, but a few years ago, he suddenly had a lot of money and bought a car.”

“Wasn’t that the $500, 000 your dad gave him?”

Mason’s casual tone surprised Leila. She stared at him in shock.

“Wondering how I know?”

There was nothing to wonder about. Given Mason’s resources, there was no way to hide anything from him if he wanted to investigate.

Seeing that Leila wasn’t going to ask, Mason’s smile deepened. He leaned in closer, his voice low and husky, “Leila, you’ve lived so tenaciously.”

Leila looked up, “So have you.”

Mason teased, “Is this what they call soulmates?”

Leila replied coolly, “I don’t deserve it.”

Mason responded, “You do.”

With every word Mason said, he moved a little closer, until their noses were almost touching. Then he suddenly stopped, “Why aren’t you backing away?”

“I’m twenty-six years old, and I’ve never seen someone so eager to be a third party,” Leila retorted.

“Mm, what if I wanted to be, would you take me?” Mason shot back.

Just as Leila was about to respond, he abruptly leaned in and kissed her. His large hand pulled her out of the door and into the hallway, pinning her against the wall as he kissed her. Between kisses, he murmured, “If I were you, I’d accept and make good use of it.”

Mason’s tone was seductive, with a hint of bewitching charm. Before Leila could struggle, his hand pressed hers, his long fingers forcefully interlocking with hers.

Leila, in a moment of panic, tried to bite him. Sensing her intention, Mason leaned back slightly, pressing his forehead against hers and rasping, “I’m offering to be your lover, and you’re still not satisfied?”

Leila was breathless.

They stared at each other, neither willing to back down.

Mason spoke first, “Are you sure you don’t want to give us a try?”

Leila tilted her head up, “What do you like about me?”

Mason teased, “Why? You planning to change it?”NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

Just as Leila was about to respond, her phone on the coffee table rang.

“Let go,” she demanded.

Instead of loosening his grip, Mason tightened it, asking meaningfully, “Do you think it might be your boyfriend?”

It was Shirley calling. As soon as Leila answered, Shirley started ranting about Caleb.

“I’ve never met such a picky man in my life.”

“He’s so fussy about food.”

“He just called me to buy him fried chicken, and now he wants bubble tea. A grown man, drinking bubble tea!!”

Leila glanced at Mason, who had stepped inside, took a deep breath, “I tried calling your brother earlier, but he didn’t answer.”

Shirley, still fuming, reflexively asked, “Why were you calling him?”

Leila, calculating that Mason wouldn’t be able to hear Shirley from their distance, said, “Do you think your uncle and aunt would be satisfied with me?”

Shirley was stunned, “What?”

“After spending time with him, I think your brother is a good person. A good choice for marriage,” Leila continued.

As soon as Leila said this, she heard a sudden sound of sudden braking.

Leila, thinking Shirley had encountered some accident, asked, “What happened?”

Shirley had pulled over to the side of the road. Shocked by Leila’s words, she stammered, “Leila, you’re joking with me, right?”

“Do I sound like I’m joking?”

Shirley had many things to say but didn’t know where to start. Finally, she squeezed out in a very troubled tone, “Leila, you and my brother aren’t a good match.”

Hearing no response from Leila, Shirley assumed she was truly interested in Samuel. After some internal struggle, she lowered her voice, “Leila, my brother… he’s… you know what I mean, right? He is a gay. ..”

Leila paused, suddenly understanding. No wonder Samuel had never succeeded in any matchmaking.

Leila hadn’t expected the conversation to develop this way…

Shirley waited anxiously for Leila to respond, and after a while, she asked cautiously, “Leila, are you… are you angry?”

“No.”

“Then, are you upset?”

“No, I’m not.”

Shirley sighed deeply, “I really didn’t think you’d take a liking to my brother. Mason is so outstanding and you didn’t go for him, but you like my brother?”

Shirley was genuinely puzzled.

Leila quickly said, “It’s late, let’s talk later.”

Without waiting for Shirley to respond, she hung up.

After the call ended, Leila let out a sigh of relief.

But then, Shirley sent a voice message.

A slender, handsome finger suddenly reached over. Before Leila could stop him, Mason had already pressed the play button.

Shirley’s apologetic voice echoed from the phone: “Leila, I’m sorry, sorry, sorry. I really should have handled this better. I didn’t explain it to you in advance, but I never thought you’d fancy my brother.”

Leila, “…”

Mason chuckled deeply, “What does Shirley mean by that?”

Faced with Mason’s question, Leila gripped her phone tightly and didn’t look up.

After a moment, Mason lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, “It seems I’m not the third party?”

“Don’t tell me, you’re truly in love with Samuel, even if he doesn’t like you, you’ll still like him.”

“Why so silent?”