Chapter 252
“Don’t say thank you.”
Lyman looked at Effie. A faint blush swept across Effie’s face and she answered shyly, “Alright, I know.”
At that moment, Nita hopped down from the bench and landed gracefully on the floor.
“I’ll stop playing third wheel,” she said with a grin. “Time for me to make myself scarce.”
Effie called after her, “Nita, wait up—let’s go shower and change together.”
Nita glanced briefly at Lyman, about to refuse, but Effie had already linked arms with her and pulled her away.
Before long, the two of them reappeared, freshly dressed.
Just then, the door to the neighboring men’s changing room swung open, and a man emerged wearing nothing but a pair of black swim trunks. His gut bulged so much he looked almost nine months pregnant.
“Miss Nita?” The man’s face lit up with surprise. “Well, would you look at that! What are the odds we’d run into each other here? Fate works in mysterious ways!”
Nita’s expression soured instantly, her brows knitting in frustration. Just my luck, she thought. Of all people, I had to bump into him here.
Effie noticed the change in Nita’s face and leaned in to whisper, “You know him?”
Whether she did or not, Effie’s instincts screamed that this guy was trouble. She tightened her grip on Nita’s arm, ready to whisk her away.
Nita gave a weary nod and murmured, “His name’s Hanley. He’s a creep-always getting handsy when we talk business.”
Effie’s eyes narrowed. Was Nita ever alone with this guy? She hoped not.
Reading Effie’s mind, Nita added, “Don’t worry. My company knows what he’s like. We always send men to deal with him. Clearly, he hasn’t given up.”
“Let’s go,” Effie said.
“Yeah,” Nita agreed.
But Hanley had already noticed Effie standing beside Nita, and his eyes gleamed with interest.
If Nita was a knockout, her friend was something else entirely.
Effie’s looks and figure were top-tier. Hanley’s mind raced with possibilities, convinced that a night with her would be unforgettable.
He lumbered over, surprisingly nimble for his size, and stepped in front of them, blocking their way. “There’s an old saying,” he announced with a smarmy grin, “fate brings people together from a thousand miles apart.”
Effie and Nita exchanged a glance, both silently gagging at the thought. Who needed fate when it brought creeps like this?
They tried to slip past him, but despite his bulk, Hanley moved fast. He reached out and grabbed the hem of Nita’s shirt. “Miss Nita, is this how you treat your guests? No greeting, no hospitality?”
With no choice, Nita turned to face him, forcing a stiff smile. “Mr. Hanley. What a coincidence.”
Hanley leered, inching closer, his grip on her shirt tightening. He was so close, Nita could barely breathe; every cell in her body recoiled in disgust.
“Let her go!” Effie shouted.
Hanley’s gaze flicked to Effie, lingering far too long on the way her chest heaved with anger. He looked mesmerized.
“Sure,” he said, lips curling into a sleazy smile, “come over here and I’ll think about it.”
“Try me—I’ll call the police,” Effie snapped, voice cold as steel.
Hanley just shrugged, unfazed. “Go ahead. I’d love to see whether the cops believe me or you two.”
Nita’s eyes blazed with fury. “She’s Lyman-Mrs. Etheridge. Do you really want to mess with Mr. Etheridge’s wife?”
For a moment, Hanley froze. But then, he just laughed.