hapter 102 Mobbed by Reporters
Matthew’s words prompted her to start calmly planning what to do. Composed, she said, “I was going to buy a place, but I lent the money I had to my father to use as funds. I’ll rent, for the time being, I guess.”
Matthew pulled Erin’s hand and said, “If you don’t mind, Erin, you can stay at my place! I have an apartment unit no one’s staying in. You can move in after cleaning up a bit.”
Now that Erin’s relationship with Chandler had deteriorated completely, and Holly was happily in love, Erin really had nowhere else she could stay. She could hardly live in a hotel forever. Besides, staying for even a week cost a lot.
Erin slowly pulled her hand away. Awkwardly, she said, “I know it’s difficult to find a suitable place to stay, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to stay at yours, right?”
Matthew eyed the flawless hand that had escaped his grasp. He knew that Erin’s relationship status was a little unique right now, so he couldn’t rush things. He suppressed the disappointment in his heart.
Smiling, he said, “What’s inappropriate about it? I’m your friend. Now that you’re having trouble, I should definitely help you! If you’re not going to accept my help, then I have to return the thousand dollars from ten years ago to you. Of course, I’ll be paying you back ten thousand times the amount. So, you have to either accept my help or let me return ten million dollars to you. Take your pick!”
Erin smiled at Matthew’s attempt at being domineering. “You’re so dramatic. What loan has such a high–interest rate?”
Deadpan, Matthew replied, “Let me help you then. Consider it as me returning the favor from before, okay?”
His sincere pleading finally made Erin give in. She nodded. “Alright. Thank you for helping me! I’ll find a suitable place to move into as soon as-”
Before she could finish speaking, Matthew put his finger on her lips to stop her. He said, “Enough. You can stay at mine for as long as you want! Don’t worry about that with me. I hope you consider me your family.”
Of course, being family could still mean that he had a chance to become her boyfriend, too.
Erin pulled his finger away, red–faced. “Thank you.”
“Erin, I noticed something. Your face turns red really easily! Is it because you have feelings for me?” Matthew said with a laugh.
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
At 3 pm, Matthew brought Erin to Chandler’s villa. He’d deliberately driven the kind of van used to ferry celebrities around. He was here to help Erin move but also to clarify the relationship he shared with Erin.
When Erin walked into the villa, she saw about a dozen black suitcases in the corner of the living room as well as the luggage that belonged to her.
Mr. Charleston went to stand before her and said, “Miss Lane, Mr. Frost said that you should take all of your belongings away if you came back for your luggage.”
Erin felt a wave of unease wash through her. Pulling herself together, she asked, “But Mr. Charleston, none of these things other than the luggage are mine.”
“Mr. Frost said that he bought all these branded clothes, shoes, and bags exclusively for you. If you don’t want them, they’ll be thrown away.”
Erin frowned, her expression dark. “But I’ve never used most of this stuff. Even the price tags haven’t been removed.”
Mr. Charleston nodded shallowly. “Miss Lane, please don’t make things difficult for me. I’m only following Mr. Frost’s orders.
Erin nodded. Although she didn’t want to take items that did not belong to her, it was still better than letting them be
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discarded. Impatiently, she called Matthew, asking him if the car could fit all of the things.
Matthew said they could try.
Half an hour later, all of the suitcases were moved. The car was completely filled to the brim.
Seeing that Erin was ready to leave, Mr. Charleston suddenly said, “Miss Lane, Mr. Frost is just in the study. Is there anything you would like to say to him?”
This stunned Erin. She thought Chandler wasn’t home.
Yet, the second she recalled the engagement party Quentin talked about and how Chandler now knew about her supposed relationship with Matthew, Erin shook her head. “No, I don’t have anything to say to him. This is it. Thank you for everything during this time, Mr. Charleston.”
After saying goodbye to Mr. Charleston, Erin left. Mr. Charleston watched as she got into the car and left the property.
On the second floor, the man who’d been watching all this while through the curtains finally turned and left as well.
Chandler had come straight back to the villa after leaving the hotel this morning. Once he arrived, expression dark, he ordered the maids to throw away everything in the closet belonging to Erin. Before five minutes passed, he suddenly changed his mind and told them to pack them all up in suitcases.
He was sure that Erin would come back to the villa because her laptop and camera were still there. Besides, her important documents were there as well.
He’d been waiting all this time for her to explain and apologize. After all, all he’d gotten before was Matthew’s word and Matthew’s word only. As long as Erin came to explain things to him, Chandler would certainly give her a chance.
Yet, she’d left with Matthew just like that….
Chandler swept all the documents from his desk in a rage. Then, he took a cigarette out and started smoking.
Right then, Kyle knocked lightly on the door to the study.
“Come in!”
Kyle glanced at the documents strewn on the floor and bent down to pick them up.
Chandler looked at him and asked, “What is it?”
“I’ve received news from the chairman. It seems that Miss Lane has accepted the fifty million.” Kyle’s expression was unpleasant. He had been in disbelief when he heard this piece of news as well.
A trace of hurt flashed in Chandler’s eyes. He laughed lightly and said, “She took the money….
Kyle remained standing to the side, silent.
“Send the word that there’ll be a meeting at the office at 6 pm!”
“Yes, sir.” Kyle already felt bad for the various department heads who would be attending the meeting this evening. The best- case scenario would be that everything would go off without a hitch. After all, Chandler would be going into that conference room already in a rage.
Once Erin and Matthew got to the neighborhood the apartment was in, the entrance to the building was already surrounded by reporters.
Once they saw the van coming to a stop nearby, they rushed up in a mob. In no time at all, cameras were flashing, and the reporters were shoving microphones forward, asking their questions in a frenzy.
“Good day, Mr. Burgess, is this your rumored girlfriend?”
“Matthew, Matthew! Are you living with your girlfriend before getting married?”
“Is your girlfriend really a divorcée?”
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“Will you marry her?”
Those are more questions that flooded them.
During this time, Matthew never got out of the car. He locked the door and cursed internally. Who knew who was the one who let the news out? He never told anyone but his manager about this!
Stuck in the car as well, Erin was currently at a loss for what to do, shocked as she was. She kept her bag in front of her face in order to prevent being photographed. The thing was, the car was surrounded by reporters…
Not too far off, Matthew’s manager and several staff were running over with the neighborhood’s security force to get the pair out of their pickle.
In no time at all, the crowd started to scatter. But in just five minutes, the security personnel had pretty much gotten the reporters under control.
Erin immediately said, “Matthew, what if these reporters keep showing up every few days? Even if security can chase them
away,
the reporters can always sneak back in disguises. This is a residential area and can’t be monitored so strictly. There’s no way I can keep living here!”
Frowning, Matthew said, “Erin, don’t worry just yet. Let’s wait until they get these pesky rats away before we talk.”
Erin watched as the reporters and security staff outside got into a confrontation. She said, “Let’s just drive off. I don’t want to live here anymore. Let’s make a plan after we leave!”
Seeing the discomfited expression on Erin’s face, Matthew couldn’t stand it anymore. Left without a choice, he drove off. Ten minutes after departing, Matthew suddenly said, “Why don’t you stay at my villa then?”
