Love in the Limelight novel Chapter 2

"Ha! You dare hit me?" Simon's head took a heavy blow and blood spattered everywhere. Pain shot through him as he clutched his head, collapsing onto the bed.

"Damn right I did!" Astrid snatched up an ashtray from the floor and hurled it at Simon's crotch. Simon curled up in pain, yelling for help. "Help! Where the hell is everyone?"

His bodyguards outside heard his cries and immediately started pounding on the door. Astrid squinted her eyes and gave Simon a few more kicks before she strode over to the door and yanked it open. The moment she opened the door, the people outside lost their balance and tumbled onto the floor.

Seizing the opportunity, Astrid bolted out the door.

Simon shouted, "Grab her, what the hell are you guys doing?"

As one of them tried to chase her, she launched a roundhouse kick and sent him sprawling. She flipped her middle finger at the people in the room, "You guys are all garbage."

Humming a tune, Astrid headed toward the elevator. She saw a man and a little boy entering the elevator and hurriedly called out, "Wait!!!"

She quickly caught up to the elevator just in time.

Meanwhile, the people behind her had already began a chase!

"Hold it, where do you think you're going?" The man barked menacingly at the elevator. But the moment he saw the man inside the elevator, his face drained of color.

Erm...Mr. Lampard?

The crowd seemed spooked and quickly scattered.

Astrid retracted her ready fist and turned to look at the man. She froze.

His glossy hair lightly fell over his forehead, his eyes were clear and piercing. A face of chiseled features, thick eyebrows, sensuous lips, and a hint of arrogance in his eyes. He radiated an aura of power.

Noticing Astrid's gaze, Elio slightly averted his eyes.

Astrid was dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, her long, wavy hair cascaded down her back. Her eyes were cool, her face was like a painting, and her skin smooth as silk. She was beautiful.

When she looked up at him, a ripple stirred in his calm heart. This unfamiliar sensation made his heart flutter.

"Miss, are you a fairy?" A soft voice broke the delicate atmosphere between them, Astrid looked down to see the little boy standing next to the man.

The little boy was chubby with big eyes, very adorable.

He reminded Astrid of her child who was stolen just days after his birth. She felt a pang in her heart, "Sweetie, I'm not a fairy."

"You're not?" The little boy bit his finger in confusion, "Then why are you so pretty?"

Astrid squatted down happily and ruffled the boy's hair, "What a sweet compliment, you adorable little thing…"

The boy clearly enjoyed her touch, looking very pleased.

After a while, the boy tugged at the man's clothes, "That's her."

Elio stiffened and gave Astrid a once-over, and then said, "No."

Their conversation left Astrid puzzled. What did he mean by "no"?