Chapter 3 Mistaken for a Creep

• Although Finnley wanted to explain things to Madeline, she was fuming with rage at the moment. If he stopped, she'd definitely beat him black and blue. And right now, he had more pressing matters—like stopping the ridiculous wedding at the Eastport Royale. If she bruised his handsome face, how would he make a grand entrance?!
• "Stop chasing me! I'll come back and explain after I'm done with my business!"
• Alas, his promise only enraged Madeline further. It was as if he was adding insult to injury.
• Just then, she spotted a familiar face and shouted, "Noelle! Quick, catch that creep! He was harassing me on the train!"
• "What? Unforgivable!" Noelle, who was in far better shape than Maddie, sprinted after Finnley with incredible speed.
• "Hey, you! Stop right there!"
• Finnley was stunned. He had already put some distance between them, but Noelle was catching up fast. When did Maddie's stamina get this good? She used to get tired after just a few steps during hide-and-seek!
• Finnley glanced back, only to be stunned into momentary silence. He had seen countless beautiful women in his life, but Noelle—she left him speechless.
• She had a tall, commanding presence, her police uniform highlighting her impressive figure. Under the sunlight, her fair skin seemed to glow. Her small, delicate face was set with sharp eyebrows and wide, almond-shaped eyes. Her cheeks were flushed from the chase, giving her an innocent yet fierce look. She was a true beauty.
• Finnley swallowed hard. "Wow, you're gorgeous!"
• Hearing that, Noelle fumed. "You're definitely a creep! Surrender now!"
• It finally dawned on Finnley that Noelle was wearing a police uniform, meaning she was an officer. There was no way he was going to let himself get caught, though—getting dragged into the police station for questioning would delay him.
• "I didn't harass anyone, officer! You can't arrest me without evidence."
• "Why are you running then?!"
• Madeline had already accused him of misbehavior. Noelle wasn't about to doubt her sister's word.
• "You're chasing me, so of course I'm running! What do you expect me to do? Stand still and get caught?"
• "Ridiculous!"
• Seeing that Noelle wasn't about to give up, Finnley reluctantly kept running. But Noelle's stamina was impressive—she had been chasing him for miles and showed no sign of slowing down.
• This isn't going to work, Finnley thought, scanning his surroundings. They had run into a construction area with lots of obstacles. Perfect. I can lose her here!
• With the grace of a cat, Finnley darted through the construction site. But no matter how fast he ran, Noelle kept right on his heels, determined not to let him escape.
• "Stop chasing me! I don't have any cough syrup!"
• "You perverted creep! I'll make sure you face justice—ahh!"
• Suddenly, Noelle mis-stepped and tumbled into a sewage pit.
• Finnley skidded to a stop and cautiously backed up, grinning as he looked down at Noelle, half-submerged in the filthy muck. "Oh dear, Officer. How did you end up in there? Weren't you watching where you were going?"
• The pit reeked, and the sludge at the bottom was thick and soft, making it impossible for Noelle to move. Furious and embarrassed, she realized she had fallen for Finnley's trick.
• Finnley squatted by the edge of the pit, looking down at her with a mischievous grin. "You better not move. The more you struggle, the faster you'll sink."
• "You jerk! If I get out of here, I'll make sure you regret this!" Noelle growled through gritted teeth, glaring up at him.
• "Oh no, now I'm scared. I have a weak heart, you know. I think I better get going while you're still stuck in there," Finnley teased as he stood up, preparing to walk away.
• "Hey! Come back here!" Noelle's panic spiked. She had noticed the area was deserted—the workers had likely gone for lunch. If Finnley left her, she'd be stuck in the smelly pit for who knows how long.
• "Please come back! I won't arrest you!" Noelle's fear grew, hearing no reply.
• "Really? My grandpa always said the prettier a woman is, the more you can't trust what she says. You're so gorgeous, how can I believe you? Especially when you just called me a creep and threatened to arrest me." Finnley's eyes twinkled with feigned innocence as he looked at her.
• The soft, mucky bottom of the sewage pit gave Noelle no traction, making it impossible for her to climb out. D*mn it, she thought. I have no choice.
• "I promise! I'm a police officer—I keep my word! Just pull me out, and I won't go after you."
• Noelle's words sounded sincere, but in her heart, she was already plotting how to beat Finnley senseless once she got out.
• "Your attitude isn't great for someone asking for help. Maybe try saying something nicer, and I'll consider helping you out."
• "Don't push your luck!"
• "See? You're being mean again. How can I trust you like that?" Finnley shrugged and turned to leave.
• "Wait! Fine, fine! What do you want me to say?" Noelle gritted her teeth, seething with anger but knowing she had no choice.
• Finnley rubbed his chin thoughtfully before snapping his fingers. "How about you call me 'darling?' That sounds fair, right?"
• "Ugh, you wish! Look at you—barely grown, and you want me to call you that?!"
• "Well, if that's how you feel, I guess this is where we part ways. I'm sure someone will come along eventually to pull you out." Finnley hummed a tune, clearly ready to leave her in the pit.
• "Alright, I'll do it! I'll say it!"
• "See, that wasn't so hard, was it? But after how you've been acting, I think 'darling' just won't cut it anymore. You'll have to call me something even better."
• Noelle glared at him, her mind racing. What's this jerk trying to pull now?
• "Just pull me out first, and then I'll call you whatever you want!"
• Finnley found a sturdy stick and held it out to her. Noelle grabbed onto it like a lifeline, but her feet were still slipping in the soft mud.
• "Pull harder!" Noelle demanded, her frustration building.
• "You haven't called me anything yet. You've gotta say it first, and then I'll pull you up. How about 'darling husband'? It's a fair trade, don't you think?"
• Noelle's eyes widened in outrage. "You shameless jerk!"