Joan jumped up and down in excitement, celebrating her victory like a child. Dustin had originally been disappointed with his loss, but his mood lightened up the moment he saw Joan looking all electrified.
“Your team played decently, I guess. I can’t believe you just won a volleyball match.” Dustin patted her shoulder approvingly.
“That’s Joan Watts for you!” the woman exclaimed, tilting her chin proudly.
Dustin lifted her off the ground, happy and content to see her happy.
“What are you doing! Put me down!” Joan shrieked in panic.
Larry, who had just arrived at that moment, caught sight of them from afar.
“Let’s have a barbecue to celebrate,” Dustin suggested, ruffling her hair affectionately.
As soon as they turned, they bumped right into Larry.
“Larry! What are you doing you here?” Joan asked, startled.
“Why can’t I be here? Am I interrupting something between you guys?” Larry asked back coldly.
Is he angry? Joan looked at his face searchingly, trying to figure out why he was pissed.
“So glad you graced us with your presence, Mr. Norton. Is everything well taken care of at your company yet?” Dustin asked sarcastically.
Larry spared him a cursory glance before he turned to look back at Joan sternly.
The woman knew that look on his face far too well.
She quickly made her way over to him and wrapped her arms around his hand. “Why not we go out for a meal together?” she questioned.
Instead of replying to her question, Larry growled, “You’re leaving with me.” He grabbed her arm as he turned to leave.
Dustin quickly interjected, “Larry, she hasn’t eaten anything. She’s worn out.”
At that remark, Larry turned and looked at the other man, exuding a patronizing air.
He badly wanted to throw Dustin into the sea and let the fish eat him up.
“I get to decide what I’m doing with my woman, so get out of my way.” He spelled out every word authoritatively, shooting daggers at Dustin as he did so.
“Did something happen, Larry?” Joan asked cluelessly, pulling on his sleeve.
She really had no idea why Larry looked so disturbed.
“Are you seriously asking me that question? Come with me. Now!” Larry bellowed.
He dragged her to his room and stared her down as soon as she was inside.
“So, tell me. Have you been happily spending time with Dustin these few days?” he interrogated as he cornered her against the wall.
“What are you trying to get at? You’re the one who asked me to leave the country,” Joan answered quietly.
She could not believe how Larry had changed his mind in just a split moment.
“I asked you to relax and unwind abroad. I didn’t say you could come here with Dustin!” Larry retaliated.
His blood boiled violently as he recalled the pictures he saw. He could not believe they had the audacity to go hiking and go to the beach together.
“There must be some misunderstanding, Larry. I didn’t know Dustin would be here,” Joan explained.
He must be jealous now.
While men were generally more forgiving than women, this was clearly not the case when they got jealous.
“A misunderstanding? You were with him all the time! Were you happy when you two went hiking? Were you having an amazing time playing volleyball together? Do you want him to stay with you instead?” Larry grabbed her shoulders as he lambasted her with angry questions.
Joan’s brows furrowed when she felt a pang of pain shoot through her body.
“I told you that I’ll come looking for you once I’ve settled everything at the company. What are you doing here? You didn’t draw a clear line with that man. Is this the way you plan to treat me?”
Disappointment and anger were written all over Larry’s face.
“Do you even know what you’re going on about, Larry Norton?” Joan lashed out.
Since when was he so impulsive? Anger rose in her heart as she looked back at him dead in the eyes.
