The Day I Kissed An Older Man

"When you say 'responsibility', what is it that you're referring to?" Sherman asked. "I recall explaining everything in vivid detail to you back then, and I left only after I ensured Rita's safety. Why are you now presenting this surveillance footage to me and demanding I shoulder some form of responsibility?"

He shrugged and stared at Vince, unable to fathom his intentions. "Did you even seek Rita's consent before coming to my place today?"

"No, of course not," Vince retorted, a wry smile playing on his lips. "I purposely refrained from doing so because I know she'll try to stop me. I'm sure you're aware of how much damage gossip can inflict upon a young woman. That is precisely why I am asking you to take responsibility. I believe she'd be a suitable match for you."

Sherman could not help but be entertained by Vince's audacity. He lounged on the sofa and glanced at the shameless middle-aged man before him. "And what makes you believe that?"

Though Sherman never intended to disparage Rita, her father's coercion left him little choice but to push back.

Vince's expression soured. "You can look down on me right now, but once the surveillance video makes its rounds, you'll still have no choice but to marry her."

"Are you trying to force me into marrying her?" Sherman asked callously as he tapped his fingers lightly on the sofa's armrest.

"That's right. Consider it a means of forging ties. Besides, it's not as though you don't have any feelings for Rita, right? Why else would you go all the way to the hotel from your company just to rush to her aid? Young people tend to have a lot of shared interests, so nurturing a relationship after marriage will probably come very easily."

Sherman chuckled softly. "Only you could make such a request, Mister Vince. The Russells' fortunes must've gone through a tremendous decline lately, and you seem to be rather anxious to try and turn things around."

Though Vince had sensed Sherman's reluctance, he remained steadfast in his mission to get Sherman's approval. If that remained out of grasp, then Vince would happily reach out to Sherman's family, and he believed that Sherman's elders would not stand to see Sherman act that way.

"This isn't about my company's

plummeting stocks," Vince

countered. "I simply want you to embrace the responsibilities that a man should bear. If this video surfaces, it won't just be our

company's stocks that will plummet. In this day and age, integrity and morality are necessary

in power. The shareholders will be sorely disappointed if the president of the Parr Group displays such blatantly irresponsible behavior."

characteristics of ummet.

Vince's words carried a weighty threat that aimed squarely at Sherman, not that Sherman was moved by it anyway.

"Feel free to play your hand and post

this video online," ShermanNôvelDrama.Org is the owner.

challenged. "'d be interested to see if that tiny bit of affection your daughter still has for you will

continue to remain after that. No. father in their right mind would exploit their daughter for personal gain, would they? And besides, you now have a second wife and a stepdaughter. I'm sure your image as a father will be laid bare for all to see."

Truer words had never been spoken. Sherman knew that Vince was simply trying to intimidate him.