Chapter 2

After landing in New York, the entire team scrambled to prep for tomorrow's bilateral talks.

Only Trevor was busy causing drama.

"Valerie, this is my first time in Manhattan. Can you take me shopping?"

Right in front of me, he shamelessly wrapped his arm around Valerie's slender waist.

"There's a bespoke suit available only on Fifth Avenue. Come with me to buy it. You always say I look best in a suit."

I frowned. "We still have classified briefings to prepare."

He curled his lip with disdain.

"Aren't there plenty of people here to do the grunt work? Why does the lead interpreter need to handle busywork?"

"Valerie is one of tomorrow's primary interpreters. Her performance allows zero margin for error. Even if you two want to hook up, wait until the summit ends."

Trevor instantly turned on the waterworks and pouted at Valerie.

"Valerie, I just wanted to buy a suit. I never meant to disrupt your work. Why does Shane make our relationship sound so disgusting?"

"I know Shane hates seeing me here. I'll just book a flight back home right now!"

He pretended to turn toward the door.

Valerie grabbed his wrist immediately and glared at me with burning hatred.

"A dirty mind only sees filth! Shane Brooks, if you bully Trevor one more time, you're banned from tomorrow's summit!"

Several colleagues close to me were shaking with anger.

I signaled them to hold back.

I knew that the harder Valerie and Trevor played with fire, the more devastating their downfall would be.

Valerie retained a shred of sanity.

She didn't abandon the team right away, promising Trevor she would take him shopping after her prep was done.

Trevor grumbled inwardly, but agreed.

However, he didn't stay quiet for long.

At dinner, he claimed he couldn't stomach Western cuisine and demanded I cook him chicken broth porridge.

When I refused, he ran straight to Valerie to whine.

Valerie used her authority as team leader and wife to force me to cater to his demands.

When I carried the hot bowl back to the hotel suite, Trevor was wearing my silk pajamas, lounging on the couch with his arm around Valerie.

Seeing me, he flashed a smug, triumphant grin.

"Thanks for your hard work, bro."

"Oh, I forgot my sleepwear, so Valerie let me wear your pajamas. You don't mind, do you?"

"Though honestly, your style is so bland. No wonder Valerie has no interest in you. Once we get back, I'll buy you the sexy stuff Valerie actually likes!"

I swallowed the disgust rising in my throat and spoke flatly.

"No need. Keep them for yourself."

I held out the bowl of hot porridge.

He tilted his head, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.

"Valerie said your cooking is amazing. I've been dying to try it."

He stood up, reached for the bowl, and whispered in a voice only the two of us could hear:

"You piece of trash. You blocked me from getting hired at the bureau, so I'm taking Valerie from you. Consider it payback!"

The next second, he dropped the bowl.

Scorching porridge splashed all over my chest and arms, yet he screamed like he was the one who got burned.

"Valerie, it burns! If Shane didn't want to cook for me, he could have just said so! Why did he burn me on purpose?"

A sharp slap landed violently across my cheek.

"Shane Brooks, when did you become so venomous? Apologize to Trevor right now!"