Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

Joanna Kennedy wasn’t buying his flimsy excuse. ”And going home with you would be safe?” she asked, her tone slow and unreadable.

”Simon Lockwood, we’ve known each other for less than a month.” Joanna Kennedy’s voice turned cold. ”I haven’t forgotten what happened last time.”

Hadn’t he had enough of taking advantage of her? Joanna Kennedy was so angry she had to laugh.

’I really don’t know what goes on in Simon Lockwood’s head. After what happened last time, how dare he even mention the word ”safe” to my face? Do I look like an idiot ready to walk into the lion’s den?’

Her undisguised sarcasm instantly transported Simon Lockwood back to that night in the car. He subconsciously rubbed his fingers, as if he could still feel that warm, soft touch.

His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his voice grew a little hoarse. ”I was in the wrong that day,” Simon Lockwood said apologetically. ”I forgot to charge my hearing aid, so I couldn’t hear what you were saying. That’s why I...”

”That’s why you what? That’s why you touched me? And scared me?” Joanna Kennedy pressed, clearly ready to go on.

Simon Lockwood opened his mouth to speak, his expression tense and the tips of his ears turning red. ”Joanna...” he said, his tone strained. ”Please don’t say things like that...”

Joanna Kennedy: ”...”

’So the creep is the one acting shy now? Making it seem like *I’m* the pervert.’ Joanna Kennedy was so angry she could just shut down. ’I never should have gone soft on him.’

She turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist. Joanna Kennedy instinctively tried to shake him off, but she felt his large hand trembling around her arm.

...

’Being soft-hearted and a sucker for a pretty face is a disease that needs to be cured,’ Joanna Kennedy thought. She stopped struggling, took a deep breath, and turned around. They were standing so close that she could smell a floral fragrance on him.

It didn’t smell like men’s cologne or laundry detergent. It was more like a scent he’d picked up somewhere—faint and barely there.

It was the kind of perfume a girl would like. ’He was with a girl. And they were close.’ The corners of Joanna Kennedy’s mouth drooped. She was annoyed, and if she was annoyed, she wasn’t about to let Simon Lockwood feel good. Expressionlessly, she spat, ”Simon Lockwood, you psycho.”

Simon Lockwood’s expression stiffened at her sudden cold words. Though he didn’t understand, he slowly agreed. ”Mm...”

”Simon Lockwood, you’re a pervert,” Joanna Kennedy continued.

This insult was even worse. Simon Lockwood hung his head lower, but still he agreed. ”Mm...”

”Something wrong in the head, silent as a clam, two-faced, shallow, scheming, a total womanizer.”

Joanna Kennedy rattled off the long list of insults without batting an eye, feeling the large hand on her wrist grow progressively stiffer and colder in her grasp.

”Why’d you stop talking?” she asked provocatively.

It felt as if he were being stabbed over and over, his heart a bloody mess. Hearing her words, Simon Lockwood still forced himself to answer, ”Except for the last one... I’ll admit to all of it.”

’He admits to everything except the last one?’ That was the one Joanna Kennedy most wanted to scold him for. He wouldn’t even argue about the rest.

His meekly accepting attitude didn’t match his cool, aloof appearance at all, which only made Joanna Kennedy angrier. It felt like punching a pillow—utterly unsatisfying.

She shook his hand off, and when he tried to take it again, she snapped in annoyance, ”Get in the car! Can’t you see people are staring at us?”

Couples’ quarrels were a common sight, and although Joanna Kennedy was wearing a mask, Simon Lockwood was so exceptionally handsome that plenty of people were already sneaking glances their way.

”You might want to be the center of a spectacle, but I don’t.” Joanna Kennedy walked around the still-frozen man and pulled open the car door.

As the door opened, her vision was filled with pink. The back seat and the front passenger seat were packed with pink bouquets, like a sea of flowers.

Joanna Kennedy stood frozen, not moving for a long moment. Only when she heard a passerby gasp in surprise did she snap back to reality, quickly hopping in the car and slamming the door shut.

The enclosed space was filled with the fragrance of flowers, the same scent that had been on Simon Lockwood. Joanna Kennedy couldn’t stop her face from burning, waves of heat rising from her cheeks.

When Simon Lockwood got in, she immediately lashed out in embarrassment-fueled anger, ”What were you thinking, buying all these flowers?!”

”There’s nowhere for me to sit!”

Though meant as a complaint, her words carried an unintentional, pouting charm. Her fair cheeks were flushed red, her glistening, almond-shaped eyes were wide in a slight glare, and her rosy lips formed a small pout as she spoke.

Simon Lockwood fought the urge to reach out and touch her, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. ”There’s more in the trunk,” he said, his voice raspy.

Joanna Kennedy: ”...”

The black Maybach cruised steadily down the road. No one would ever guess that the imposing black car was filled to the brim with pink roses.

After finally managing to cool her burning cheeks, Joanna Kennedy touched a rose and cleared her throat. ”Who are all these flowers for?”

’I think I know the answer, but I still want to hear him say it.’ It was a bit petty, but she just had to ask.

Simon Lockwood tilted his head slightly, his tone strange, as if for emphasis. His face was tense as he said, ”Only you.”

’Oh, so this is his response to me calling him a womanizer.’ Joanna Kennedy pursed her lips, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her, curling into a wide smile. ”Oh,” she said, feigning calmness.

It felt like little pink bubbles were slowly rising up inside her, sweet with a slightly tingly sourness. It was a feeling she’d never had before.

Joanna Kennedy figured there must be something wrong with her. Even after Simon Lockwood had bullied and deceived her, she was still uncontrollably drawn to him.

’Maybe... I’m a natural-born M?’

The thought sent a chill down Joanna Kennedy’s spine. She shuddered, shaking off the goosebumps that had erupted all over her skin.

”Cold?” Simon Lockwood had been watching her the whole time. He started to adjust the AC temperature.

Joanna Kennedy quickly stopped him. ”I’m not cold!”

”Stop fiddling around and drive properly!” Joanna Kennedy said, annoyed. ”Driving at night is dangerous!”

Being yelled at like that didn’t make Simon Lockwood angry. On the contrary, the corners of his lips curled up and his gaze softened. ”Alright...”

’Joanna Kennedy is worried about me. She cares about me. My sensible little Joanie.’

The dark cloud that had hung over him for days finally dissipated, and Simon Lockwood began to seem a little more like his old self. ’As long as I don’t give up,’ he thought, ’as long as my face stays the same, Joanna Kennedy will eventually fall in love with me again.’

’What began with looks can begin with looks again.’ He was once more grateful that Joanna Kennedy was a sucker for a pretty face.

He had bought so many flowers that moving them was a real chore. Thankfully, there was a direct elevator. As she carried a load, Joanna Kennedy pouted and mumbled, ”Why did you have to buy so many? It’s not like I even like flowers...”

Simon Lockwood couldn’t hear her very well. He took the flowers from her hands, his voice quiet. ”You go get the door. I’ll carry these.”

It took Simon Lockwood several trips to move the carful of flowers by himself. Seeing the fine sheen of sweat on his forehead out of the corner of her eye, Joanna Kennedy felt a little bad. ”Let’s just do it together...”

Joanna Kennedy’s voice was still quiet. Simon Lockwood, holding a huge bouquet of pink Elsa roses in one arm, bent down slightly, his voice low and gentle. ”What is it?”

His short black hair was slightly damp against his forehead. He looked down, his dark eyes calm and gentle. The veins on his well-defined arms bulged from the effort, creating a strangely sensual image.

Through the thick fragrance of the flowers, Joanna Kennedy thought she could smell his scent. Her face grew hot again. ”It’s nothing!”