Take My Breath Away

After carefully observing Carlos' routine for several days, Debbie had become familiar with his pattern. When it was time, Debbie would come downstairs with her dog just at the time when Carlos would walk his dog.

Moreover, each of their "chance encounters" took place when Stephanie wasn't home.

It was the same today. Carlos was walking his white Bichon Frise, Millie, as usual, when all of a sudden, he heard another dog barking behind him. The barking came nearer and nearer. Then a woman called, "Harley, slow down."

Harley was the name of Debbie's dog.

When Harley saw Millie, he quickened his pace towards her and jumped excitedly around her.

Debbie quickly picked Harley up before Carlos became angry. She turned to Carlos apologizing, "I'm sorry, he got off the leash."

"He breaks off the leash every day?" Carlos said bluntly.

'Humph! This man isn't nice at all, ' Debbie thought to herself. She ruffled Harley's fur playfully and retorted, "That's right. Opposite sexes attract each other. It's normal for him to behave that way. Mr. Huo, why would you be angry at a dog?"

Carlos' face darkened. He ignored Debbie and continued walking with Millie.

While holding Harley in her arms, Debbie quickened her pace and caught up to him. "Mr. Huo, I haven't seen you for a few days. Where have you been?" she asked with a fawning grin.

"On a business trip," Carlos answered abruptly. He didn't want to talk to her, but through past encounters with her, he had learned that this woman wouldn't give up until she got what she wanted. To shut her up, he had decided to answer her question

'Oh, a business trip. I've missed you so much, ' Debbie thought to herself. "Did your girlfriend go with you?" she asked.

Carlos shot her a cold glare. "Is there something you want to say?"

"Of course." Debbie stood in front of him with the dog in her arms. "I can go on a business trip with you. You'll be lonely on your own. I can eat with you and keep you entertained." 'If you want, I can even sleep with you.' Unfortunately, given their current relationship, it would be too bold to say that out loud.

Carlos sneered scornfully, "How much for one night?"

Debbie's feelings were hurt. However, since it was Carlos, she took a deep breath and replied, "If it's with you, then it'll be free of charge. I'm willing to pay you instead. Don't be too expensive, though." She wouldn't do that with anybody else.

If someone else were to hear their conversation, they would be forgiven for thinking that Debbie and Carlos were both escorts.

Carlos furrowed his brows into a gloomy expression and kept walking. "If you're lonely, I can send you to a place where you belong."

Debbie knew what he was referring to, and yet again she didn't get angry. "Old man." Debbie seemed to realize something. She stepped closer to Carlos, and as she did, Harley got excited and jumped out of her arms and began to play with Millie.

"Have you slept with your girlfriend?" she asked in a low voice while ignoring the dogs.

Carlos' expression suddenly turned very dark at her provocative question. 'This woman is pushing my buttons.' "I'm warning you for the last time. Get out of my sight!"

Debbie smiled awkwardly. "Are you embarrassed? You don't need to be. I was only asking. Can your girlfriend satisfy you? You used to be so— Mm—" Carlos grabbed her by the throat. "Ugh... murder..."

"Are you going to go away or not?"

It was only then that Debbie realized that it was too frivolous of her to ask Carlos that kind of question since they weren't that close anymore. Debbie glared at him with panicked wide eyes and shook her head, but then she remembered his question and nodded. "I am, I am."

As soon as he released his grip on her throat, Debbie gasped for air. However, while they were distracted, Harley had made the situation even worse for her.

He was humping Millie

and Millie wasn't happy about it. When Carlos realized what was going on, his face twisted with rage. Debbie quickly ran over to pick Harley up, but the dog tried to resist.

He wasn't pleased about someone interrupting him at this moment, even if it was his owner. "Harley, be a good boy. Gotta run, or we'll both be dead!" she said to the dog in a low and desperate voice. Debbie knew that Carlos was seething at her and Harley right now.

She had finally managed to pry Harley off of Millie and was about to take off when Carlos grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

His grip was so tight that she began to fret. 'Crap! He's furious.

What shall I do? What shall I do?'

Debbie thought with her mind racing. Then she got a brilliant idea. Before Carlos could say anything else, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. "Old man, don't be mad. I'll keep Harley on the leash from now on," she appeased him in a soft voice.

Playing hardball never worked on Carlos, while appeasing him in a coquettish way worked every time. At this critical juncture, it was Debbie's last resort. She had to try.

"You—" Carlos fumed with daggers in his eyes, but before he could say anything else Debbie interrupted and said, "If you snap at me, I'll kiss you again."

"I—"

"You what? If you don't keep your mouth shut, I'll get Harley to hump Millie again."

"Damn it!" Carlos was determined that this time he was going to teach this woman a lesson the hard way. He released his grip on her wrist and began to move his hand to her throat again.

However, Debbie took the opportunity to twist herself out of his grip. With Harley, the troublemaker in her arms, she ran away as fast as she could.

She left Carlos behind, feeling as though she had molested him, and her dog had humped his bitch. Both stood glaring at them with discontent.

Debbie went back to Z country to see their daughter shortly after that episode to avoid any more confrontations with Carlos.

She had only spent one day with her daughter, when Ruby, her agent, put her on an entertainment program.

Fortunately, she only needed to sing one song at the beginning of the show and then do some activities with the other celebrities.

The show went well, and it was late when she had left the TV station. Debbie started her car when suddenly Decker showed up on a motorbike in front of her vehicle. She hadn't seen him in quite a while.

"Decker," she greeted him while getting out of the car.

Decker had yellow hair and wore huge stud earrings. There were big holes in his jeans, and he had a brand-new motorcycle. On the back seat was a woman with flaming red curls.

One only had to look at them to know that neither of them was a decent person.

Debbie felt an instant headache when she looked at her older brother. "I told you not to hit bars anymore."

Decker got off his motorcycle and stood in front of her like a scumbag. "It's none of your business. Why were you gone for so long? Are you avoiding me? You wouldn't see me again if I hadn't come here to bust you, would you? I'll tell the press how ungrateful and cold you are. You don't even bother to take care of your brother."

Debbie's head was about to explode. She closed her eyes in disappointment as she took a deep breath. She said nonchalantly, "You're a healthy man. Why should I take care of you? I've been busy lately, and I will be out of Z Country for a few days. Get yourself a job."

"I'm too busy to get a job. So you're working, hey? Well, okay, I get it. Then give me fifty grand, and I'll stay out of your way."

'Fifty grand.' Debbie realized she didn't have a brother. She was keeping a leech.