However, instead of smiling back, Carlo stared straight ahead again and said coldly, “Don’t waste your energy flirting with me.”
Caramel blinked. “Huh?”
“I’m not interested in a woman like you.” The sentence was simple. Flat. Emotionless.
But for some reason, it felt like a challenge thrown straight at Caramel’s face. The girl slowly leaned back against her seat. A small smile curved her lips.
“Well, I’m not a tug-of-war rope, babe. So you’re not going to get pulled in.”
Carlo didn’t answer. Caramel glanced at his face once more, then giggled softly.
“You’re so handsome when you smile, Mr. Carlo. Especially when you smile in the morning after waking up and I’m lying beside you.”
“What are you implying?” Carlo looked displeased. He wasn’t even smiling.
“Make me your wife.”
Carlo glanced her way. “We don’t even know each other.”
Caramel only smiled even wider.
“In that case…” The girl extended her hand, as if introducing herself for the first time. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Carlo. My name is Caramel Louisa.”
Carlo didn’t take the beautiful girl’s hand.
Caramel slowly pulled it back, pushing out her lips, but before long she was giggling again.
“Relax. I’m not the type to give up easily.”
Carlo turned his gaze back to the road. “I don’t fall in love easily either.”
Caramel’s smile instantly widened.
“See? We’re perfect for each other!” She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes sparkling with challenge. “That makes it even more fun!”
At last, Carlo turned to look at her for quite a while.
Meanwhile, Caramel knew one thing. Frans had officially been demoted. Her new target was much more interesting.
“If you’re chatty enough to talk that much, your leg must not hurt anymore, huh?” Without waiting for Caramel to answer, Carlo turned to his driver. “Mr. Didi, forget the hospital. Turn back to the café we were at earlier.”
“Hey! Don’t do that, Mr. Carlo! My leg still hurts. Ouch… ouch… see? It’s hurting again.” Caramel clutched her leg.
“Don’t act in front of me.”
“I’m serious, Mr. Carlo… it really hurts. What if it’s dangerous? What if my leg doesn’t get treated in time? What if the doctor has to amputate it? Oh, God… the fate of a beautiful young girl, her future turned tragic because she was sideswiped by an old man who may be handsome, but…”
“Quiet!” Carlo cut off Caramel’s rambling just as his phone rang. The girl fell silent at once, understanding that Carlo had to take the call.
She watched the handsome man, whose age she had no idea about. Whatever. She was going to steal his ID—or his birth certificate while she was at it—so she could find out. Carlo looked serious as he spoke on the phone. After only a few minutes, he slipped the phone back into his suit pocket.
“I’m serious. I have to meet an important client right away. So I’ll take you home. If your leg needs treatment and you need help with the cost, contact me here.” Carlo handed her his business card.
Caramel took it quickly and smiled sweetly.
Carlo Diego. CEO of PT Dietrusted.
‘That guy probably thinks I’m some broke girl who needs his money! Okay, let’s play along!’ Caramel cheered silently.
“Where do you live?” Carlo asked.
“Near campus, Mr. Carlo. I rent a room. If you want, you can stay over.”
Carlo frowned and glanced at Caramel, but soon looked away again. “Thank you. I’m not a cheap man. Now, tell me the way.”
Caramel giggled to herself. The harder someone was to chase, the more she liked him. She then gave Mr. Didi, Carlo’s driver, directions to take her to the boarding house where Intan lived. She was totally bluffing!
“Intan! Where are you? I’m at your place. Hurry over—I’m bored all by myself.” Caramel called Intan while munching on her potato chips. She had already arrived at her best friend’s boarding house, and she knew where Intan kept her key, so she had simply let herself in and acted as if the place were her own.
“Ugh, you lunatic! You were with that older guy earlier, so why are you at my place now?” Intan sounded confused.
“Just hurry over. I’ll tell you all about it.”
Intan hung up immediately and headed for her boarding house, which wasn’t far from campus.
“Cara, don’t tell me you asked him to drop you off on the street earlier!” Intan immediately started complaining when she arrived and saw Caramel sprawled across her bed.
“Relax… I’m not that stupid. Come here, I’ll tell you the heroic tale of R.A. Caramel.”
“You’re insane!” Intan grumbled, but she immediately sat down beside her best friend.
Caramel quickly told her what had happened in Carlo’s car. Intan’s smile blossomed.
“This is the first time a guy has made me curious just by saying he’s not interested in me. And he’s so cold, too. Like a stalactite at the North Pole. Frozen and sharp!” Caramel clutched her chest.
“That’s more like it—chase someone worth chasing. So what’s your plan now?” Intan asked.
“Tomorrow, I’m going to show up at his office and tell everyone I’m his second wife.”
“You’re nuts! Say you’re his future wife! He’s a widower.”
“Huh? How do you know he’s a widower?” Caramel sat straight up.
“Uh… well… I was just guessing.” Intan looked flustered and grinned sheepishly.
“Whatever. If I’m not his future wife, then I’ll be his second wife. At least it’ll cause a scene.”
“You’re such a bum!”
“I’m not a bum. Nice to meet you—I’m an unhinged Gen-Z girl.”