Lucas did not care about Gloria's attitude. With an indifferent smile on his face, he said, "Wounds should be treated. Leaving it will only make things worse."
"It's none of your business," Gloria said coldly. Then she remembered that she had just received 20 thousand dollars from Lucas, so she adjusted her tone and continued, "Mr. Norman, please don't kiss my forehead again."
Lucas looked at Gloria suggestively. He said gently, "Then can I kiss you?"
He quickly pecked at her lips after finishing speaking.
Gloria lowered her head. A hint of disgust flashed across her eyes, and Lucas did not see it.
Gloria asked, "Mr. Norman, the kiss is included in the money, right?"
Lucas wasn't offended. Instead, he was very satisfied with the prey he had his eyes on. As he expected, Gloria was not as timid as she let on.
"The money includes the kiss on your forehead," Lucas said, feeling pleased. Then he left Gloria's room and stood in the doorway, saying, "Miss Carter, you don't have to see me off. I'm very happy today. Thank you for the food."
Gloria closed the door when she saw Lucas disappear into the corridor.
She raised her hand and touched her forehead. He could still feel pain from her wound, but the doctor had said it was almost healed.
Gloria entered the bathroom and took off her clothes one by one, revealing the body beneath the layers. Her body was utterly bony, covered in titillating hickeys.
She rubbed her skin with the bathtowel till it was chafed, trying to make the hickeys go away. Yet it seemed that they had become part of her, and she couldn't get rid of them.
Downstairs, Lucas did not leave right away. He looked up at the bright window.
He took a handkerchief out of his pocket, wiped his mouth over and over again as he walked, and finally threw the handkerchief into the trash can in disgust.
Mike once said that Lucas was asking for it. Lucas felt sick whenever he kissed someone on the lips, yet he still insisted on doing so with each new prey he had his eyes on.
In others' eyes, Lucas was rich and handsome, and many women threw themselves at Lucas. Yet for many women, Lucas was someone else. They knew how paranoid, playful, and cold-blooded he was.
Lucas opened the door and got into his car. He stepped on the accelerator and left Gloria's dorm.
The next day, Gloria came to Christine's office to give her the check from Lucas.
Christine glanced at the check. Then she looked at Gloria and said, "Gloria, you know Lucas has more than one agenda for you, right?"
"Yes," Gloria said.
Christine frowned and said, "If so, you should stay away from him."
"Christine, you know how it is for me," Gloria said calmly.
"There's not much time left, Gloria." Christine didn't want to bring it up, but she knew how Gloria craved freedom, so she still felt the urge to remind Gloria.
"I know. That's why I want to give it another go," said Gloria.
"Gloria, just give up." Christine felt very bad because Patrick didn't allow her to arrange any job for Gloria. Thus, she knew it was almost impossible for Gloria to be free. However, she dared not to tell Gloria. She could only remind Gloria in such a way.
"I won't," Gloria insisted.
"Gloria, do you hate Mr. Hammond that much?" Christine wanted to say that Patrick was not that mean to Gloria.
Christine wanted to tell Gloria everything. When Gloria was sick, it was Patrick who carried Gloria to the hospital. When Gloria fainted at work while ill, again, it was Patrick who called the pack doctor to treat her. Moreover, Patrick didn't allow Christine to tell Gloria any of that.
Christine did not know the history between Gloria and Patrick. From what she knew, she supposed that maybe Gloria didn't have to be so afraid of Patrick.
Gloria did not know how to explain it to Christine. Things between Gloria and Patrick were not only about feeling "disgusted" or not.
"Tell me. How are you going to give it a go? You've got only one week left. I have helped you do the math. You only have less than 200 thousand dollars now. What about the remaining 800 thousand dollars? Can you have it in seven days?"
Christine rubbed her eyebrows helplessly. How she wished she could just tell Gloria, "Stop dreaming. Mr. Hammond has already told me not to arrange any job for you. Why do you think you haven't had a job these days?"
"I must try. It's not the end yet."
"With whom? Lucas? The one who goes to your place for some food once in a while and gives you a check for 20 thousand dollars? Even if he goes to your place every night, the best you can do is 140 thousand dollars."
Christine wanted to help Gloria, and what she could do was help Gloria hide the money she made till this point from Patrick for as long as possible.
Yet it was also crystal clear to Christine that only a miracle could help Gloria reach Patrick's goal in the remaining time.
Christine was looking forward to a miracle.
"Also, Gloria, Lucas is a dangerous man," Christine said.
Gloria smiled. She said, "To me, Mr. Hammond is the most dangerous one. Alright, Christine, I'll get out of your hair now. Who knows? I might get lucky and have a job."
Christine did not stop Gloria. She looked at the back of the woman who walked strangely on her feet with pity in her eyes.
Christine thought, 'Gloria, your luck has nothing to do with the fact that you don't have a job. It's because I received Patrick's order. I am not allowed to give you any work to do, and the same goes for Emily.
There's nothing you can do if Patrick doesn't admit the money when the time comes. Gloria, once you know that, will you be able to handle it?'