Blind date turned proposal (Josie and Dexter)

She felt everything started spinning around her.

Josie's consciousness was nearly hazy. Everything there was familiar to her, including the person next to her, yet she felt a sense of discomfort.

This discomfort faded quickly as Dexter's large hand rested on her cheek, forcing her to look at him.

"Who?" he questioned.

She attempted to resist. "I didn't mean anything more than what I said."

The words Preston had spoken still echoed in her ears, "If you don't want to stay, don't torment him."

In the instant Dexter's body sunk down, Josie couldn't help but cry out in surprise. Her brows were tightly knit as she wondered who was truly tormenting whom.

In times like those, he never showed her any mercy. His actions were neither gentle nor harsh, causing her voice to break. Strangely enough, that only made him more excited, his veins bulging on the back of his hand.

Josie narrowed her eyes, striving to keep herself alert.

Suddenly, she asked, "Dexter, am I tormenting you?"

His actions halted abruptly, his voice deep and hoarse. "What?”

His pause made her instinctively shrink back. He let out a raspy sigh before softly admitting, "You are."

Dexter's throat bobbed, and he gripped her as he shifted their position, facing the neon-lit street. "I've decided on a surname for Grape."

He swept her damp hair to one side. "What's your surname?"

"Warren."

"Think it through. The Warren family has Justin. He will get married and have children in the future. This lineage won't end with you."

Josie strained to keep her voice steady. "The Olsen family also has Zach."

"He's not your parents' biological child. You are."

Josie's thoughts were scattered by his words. She had considered that issue before, but for the affluent Olsen family, the existence of Grape was insignificant. However, Paul had supported her for many years, and leaving him an heir was only right in her mind.

Thus, she claimed, "The Olsen family wouldn't have known about the existence of Grape, and I'm not obligated to tell them."

A moist, heated kiss fell on her neck. Dexter's movements were both gentle and light as if to comfort her. "I'll do as you ask, Jo. Choose a date, and I'll have Larry arrange it."

Suddenly, he exerted force, his movements were ruthless, and in the end, he pinned her down.

Josie's mind was a blank canvas, and she felt as if time itself had come to a halt. "Let's do it tomorrow."

When Dexter got going, there was no end in sight, which led to Josie not leaving Russell Group until ten o'clock at night.

At that hour, only a few scattered lights were still lit.

The Olsen Residence was brightly lit as usual, a testament to the extravagant lifestyle she had grown accustomed to. She carefully slipped through the door and as she looked up, she was met with the familiar figure seated in the living room.

Emily stood behind a certain person with a look of worry etched on her face, shaking her head at Josie.

Josie was taken aback. "Why are you still awake?"

That person was unmistakably Claudia. She had already consumed most of the coffee in front of her.

She calmly said, "I've been waiting for you. Come sit down."

Josie felt a sudden wave of unease for no reason, but she was already in her twenties. Thus, she thought she shouldn't feel uneasy.

In the past, whenever Josie worked late, Claudia would instruct the kitchen to leave her some late-night snacks, but the latter never personally showed up to intrude on her life. However, things seemed to be different that night. It appeared Claudia had something to say.

"If I drink this tea now, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight," said Josie.

"It's jasmine tea. It'll calm your nerves." Claudia poured a cup for Josie and set it before the latter.

For a moment, Josie didn't respond.

Leaning casually against the couch, Claudia looked at her and asked, "You've been to Russell Group, haven't you?"

"You were following me."

"You carry the scent of Dexter's sandalwood on you."

Silently, Josie blushed. Unable to argue against it, she turned her head, and instinctively lied, "It's for work."