Chapter 90: Chapter 85

Note:

First week of 2025 and a devastating tragedy hit California. My heart goes out to all those who suffered directly or indirectly in the LA fire breakout. Please stay safe; the aftereffects are just as dangerous. Sending love and prayers to every one of you.❤️

Enjoy the chapter. Please vote and comment.

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Song: 'Please Forgive Me' by Bryan Adams

It still feels like our first night together

Feels like the first kiss

It's getting better baby

No one can better this

Still holding on

You're still the one

First time our eyes met

Same feeling I get

Only feels much stronger

I want to love you longer

Do you still turn the fire on?

So if you're feeling lonely, don't

You're the only one I'll ever want

I only want to make it good

So if I love you, a little more than I should

Please forgive me, I know not what I do

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you

Don't deny me, this pain I'm going through

Please forgive me, if I need you like I do

Please believe me, every word I say is true

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you

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HANNAH’S POV

“I don’t think this is working out.”

“It might,” he said lowly, standing behind me a little too close. Ignoring the thumping of my stupid heart, I turned my head to the side and looked up at him, “If you would just change its focal point from this wall to the window side. Add a couple of Berger chairs; that should do it.” Looking at the Mac Desktop, he efficiently took my tablet's pen from my hand and made the changes he demonstrated.

As he leaned across the table by my side, I got down to work too, i.e., checking him out.

My eyes gazed at his bulging biceps restrained by the barrier of his designer suiting as he focused on the task, symbolizing his unwavering dedication to attention to detail as his hands and mind worked their magic.

It’s been almost two weeks since he publicly asked me to be his assistant, and I still can’t take my eyes off of him when he’s fully concentrated on his work. It’s a shame that it’s the only thing he’s doing all the time, bloody workaholic!

How can one look so sexy while just working, or is it just me being drawn to literally his every freaking action like a creepy weirdo?

Well, can’t blame you; he’s one hell of a view! I mean, look at the perfect butt…

“This should work. What do you think?” He straightened up, but his voice dropped dead on my ears because, for some reason, my train of thought was still stuck on his ass, and so were my eyes. I wonder why I didn’t notice this particular feature of his before.

“Ms. Evans. Are you listening?” His deep, dark, and emotionless voice echoed.

“Umm, yeah, of… of course, I’m listening, totally.” To say I was embarrassed would be an understatement.

Being caught objectifying my boss wasn’t on my agenda for the day.

“Well, what do you think?” He crossed his arms, challenging my blatant lie.

“About what?” It doesn’t help being absent-minded and clueless when you’re trying to save face.

“About the changes, Ms. Evans. Pay attention,” he uttered in his absolute boss voice.

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry,” I said sincerely. What was I thinking? “It looks brilliant, definitely more put together.” I complimented honestly.

He’s an interior aficionado. He’s equally good at designing as he is an architect, which is nothing less than exceptional.

“Be attentive next time,” he said coldly and walked away.

I took a breath of relief and leaned back in my chair.

I know we decided to keep things professional at work, but it’s bothering me now how cold he becomes with his employees. And the fact that we fought nine days ago doesn’t make things any better. I can’t let my fear of judgment get the best of me; otherwise, we’ll keep having these fights.

Pulling off this double life isn’t as easy as I thought. The worst thing is that it was my idea. I couldn’t wrap my head around the ongoing gossip, so I asked, no, forced him to keep things to the point. He didn’t oppose either.

I know it was the right thing to do, but now as the days are going forward, it’s troubling me. And this jerk is just too good at his commitment. His soulless communication actually scares me, like I don’t know the other side of his, one that’s outside this workplace.

The other side that I’ve gotten to see recently, his compassionate and emotionally present side, the side where his emotionless eyes spoke volumes and weren’t like a quiet ocean keeping deadly secrets inside but were raging, ready to spill out all that they’d held close in their core.

They weren’t exactly warm, but at the same time they weren’t cold; they were approachable.

Would I be a hypocrite if I said I missed it?

“Snap out of it, Hannah; he’s gone,” Margaret broke the chain of my thoughts. “And so is his butt,” she whispered from across the table.

It’s just the two of us, well, since Elijah left.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear and tried focusing back on the screen.

“Honey, this is my office. If the tension between you two is this palpable in front of a third person, I wonder what happens on the floor; you both literally have it to yourselves. Woof, I don’t even want to know.” She winced with cringe.

“Oh my God, Marge. Nothing, nothing happens on our floor!” I said defensively.

And disappointingly too.

“Only Elijah calls me Marge,” she pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize; I think him saying it rubbed off on me and stuck in my head. I apologize.” Ugh, where am I lost?

“It’s okay; I didn’t mind. It seems like a lot of other things of his are rubbing off on you too.” I can feel the heat on my cheek. “I don’t care whatever is going on between you two, but I won’t let that slide. He took my best assistant from me.”

“Whatever happens, Marge,” I said boldly and dramatically too, “You will always be my favorite boss,” I winked at her.

“I better be,” she said sternly yet playfully. “Now get out!”

“Aww, that’s the Margaret I love.” Fluttering my eyes, I smiled at her innocently.

“Flutter your eyes at him; maybe that’ll get you results, though I think things have gone way beyond that,” she teased, and the smile from my face vanished. “Out, please.”

“Okay, okay, I’m leaving,” I pouted and left. “See you on Monday.”

Yay, weekend! Here we go.

I’m going over to Jay’s family vacation house in the woods on the outskirts, so it won’t be my ideal weekend of sleep and laying around, but it’ll be fun nonetheless. Nick is in town too, so it’ll be the four of us together after a long time, and I’m really looking forward to this getaway with them.

I wish Mike was here too; the group feels incomplete without him. But if he needs space, he gets space; it doesn’t mean we won’t miss him.

Nick will be picking me up in the next few minutes, and as for now, I’m outside Elijah’s office before I take off. I need to inform him I’ll be out for the weekend.

Well, not that I am obliged to inform him, but I feel as roommates it’s just common courtesy, you know.

“Come in,” said his deep, authoritative voice.

“So, I’ll be leaving for the day,” I said as I entered.

No matter how many times I’ve seen him with his reading glasses, my heart still skips a beat every time at how it adds more to his aura, making him look a thousand times more sexier.

“Okay,” his eyes never left the document he was reading.

“Do you need anything before I go?”

“No,” ugh, this monotonous, dry voice of his.

“Alright then. I’m out for the weekend; I’ll be back Sunday night.” I waited for him to say something, anything. Maybe ask me where I’m going, show some concern, you know.

“Pass me the Sanders group file on your way out.” Is he for real?

Taking a deep breath at his passive tone, I looked for the said file on the shelf and took it to his table but lost it at how unbothered he was acting. Like, come on, drop it already and talk to me at least.

“That’s it!” I banged the file aggressively in front of him, “Are you angry at me?” that finally made him give up on his precious file and look at me.

“Excuse me?”

“What is your problem? Why are you acting like this?” I walked to his side of the table. He turned a little in his chair so we were facing each other.

“Like what?” he said calmly while I was screaming like a madwoman.

“ignoring me,” my raging eyes met his hard ones.

“I’m just doing what you asked.”

“I never told you to ignore me.” I don’t know why I am being loud.

“You said, scratch that, you insisted that I treat you like any other employee. And I ignore my employees unless it’s work.”

This arrogant piece of shit!

“Yeah, I said it, and I don’t like it!” I crossed my arms.

“Not my problem,” he almost shrugged. “In fact, I think you were right. I quite like it this way,” he turned his chair back.

“You’re so rude and arrogant and cocky and…” He held my wrist all of a sudden and pulled me towards himself. He was reclined in his chair, and the unexpected pull made me lean over him, my hands laid flat on his chest as I tried to keep my balance.

“And?” He challenged me to continue, a small hint of playfulness persistent in his eyes.

“And a jerk!” I said confidently. Pushing him lightly, I rested my hips against the table in front of him.

“I know.” With controlled facial muscles, he smirked, almost.

“It’s all too amusing for you, isn’t it? Look at you fighting off a smirk.” I called him out.

Ain’t no way I’m not throwing him under the bus just like he threw me.

“Why are you being so worked up?” This man surely knows the art of diverting the conversation.

“Because I thought we were getting somewhere, but you’re back to being awkward and painful. What are you, a child?” What am I saying?

“Where are we getting, Hannah?” he intrigued.

“In a comfort zone to be around each other, I thought we were becoming friends,” I whined almost.

“Whoa, wait a minute, who said we’re friends?” He straightened in his chair as if I offended him.

“We can be; it’ll make things less awkward now that we are on the same page, you know, more communicative. I think we’ll make great friends; also, it’ll be a natural cover for our story.” I said thoughtfully.

It’s something I’ve been thinking about lately. I think this way we can work things out.

“I don’t want to be your friend.” Ouch! Be more direct, you jerk.

“That’s offensive.” It really is.

“Instead, I want to hold you and kiss you until we’re both out of breath.” He put his hands on either side of the table, rolled his chair forward, and whispered, making my heart flutter. His dark eyes pierced mine as he stared deeper and deeper, “Too bad. We’re in the office. And there’s no one we need to put on a show for.” Saying this in his normal voice, he moved back a little, but his hands stayed in place, encasing me. When I finally realized what he was doing, I tried to convey my displeasure at his lame teasing, but what I saw instead melted my heart.

Lo and behold, I saw a breathtaking smile plastered on his face.

And my God, he's gorgeous! Even his smile is so dreamy and classy, just how I like it.

I know he’s teasing me, but I couldn’t care less. It’s the first time he’s let an expression fully take over his stone-cold face, and it was worth it.

I have never seen it ever in his thousands of paparazzi-clicked random pictures available on the internet. Him smiling is like the ninth wonder of the world; the man literally has no expressions whatsoever, or so I thought.

No wonder he doesn’t do it that often. Women are already all over him with his expressionless face; God forbid if he ever smiled at them, their ovaries might explode.

Just like yours right now.

Not going to lie, the butterflies in my stomach are having a blast; they are all drunk somersaulting all at once.

“I thought your facial muscles must've paralyzed but my God, you look hot when you smile.” Nope, no regret saying that.

“Are you flirting with me?” I am, aren’t I?

He pulled my hand, making me lean down, my face nearing his. He intensely gazed into my eyes; the smile wasn’t there anymore, but there were other things that I could read clearly.

Want and desire.

“I don’t know; do you want me to flirt with you?” Just like in movies, I slowly reached for his specs and wore them as I tried to sound seductive, which, to be honest, wasn’t difficult given how fired up the situation was already. “Just being truthful.”

Taking encouragement from what Marge said earlier and what I’ve seen Mila do to Jake a thousand times, it always worked like a charm; I batted my eyes innocently at him and bit at my lips seductively. I heard him suck in his breath.

I know I must be looking really funny, but I don’t care; why does he always get to intimidate me? And since he’s sitting in a chair and I’m towering over him for once, it definitely gives me an edge.

I don’t know what came over me, but it’s been a while since I’ve felt so confident, especially in front of him.

I think there’s the relaxation in his eyes that’s putting me at ease. Besides, if he can tease, so can I; we’re both having fun.

“Don’t do that, princess,” came his raspy yet restrained voice as he twirled a strand of my hair around his finger.

I know he’s joking, but his endearment is bringing my heart into a frenzy for real.

His flirting game is much better than mine.

What is up with me? I started this game, so how is he winning it?

“Why, are you being seduced, Elijah?” My words barely came out.

“No, but your lip is bleeding,” he whispered amusingly in my ears.

“Yes, it is,” I said in a daze, feeling lost in his expressive eyes. “Wait, what?” I came back to my senses.

“Your lip, it’s bleeding.” I lightly touched my bottom lip, and sure enough, there was a teeny tiny, insignificant droplet of blood present, though enough to spoil the moment.

Hannah, you animal, you were supposed to tease him, not start a bloodshed.

Ugh, so embarrassing; he must have been laughing at me inside.

He offered me a piece of tissue paper, but when I tried to take it from him, he stopped me, “Let me.”

He dipped a corner of tissue paper in his glass of water and gently dabbed the wet paper on my lip. I shivered at his sensitive touch, and I know he felt it too.

I gulped as his hands and eyes lingered on my lips for longer than needed. I know this because there was no blood picked up on the paper and no stinging sensation on my lips other than those delicious ones left by his magical hands.

Curious what other magical things his hands are capable of doing?

“I think it’s done, Elijah,” I said when his hand stopped but his ravishing eyes didn’t.

I gripped the edge of the table, my hands aching to touch him, but I held back.

The sexual tension between us is growing stronger and stronger, and I don’t know how long I can hold back or if I should hold back at all.

“Ahem,” the sound of him clearing his throat echoed in the office. “Right,” he blinked a couple of times, distorted.

I instantly felt my skin losing the warmth that his long and firm fingers provided when he lifted them from my lips.

Before my mind could intervene, my erratic heart took over, and I held his hand, stopping him.

“Kiss me,” came a vulnerable whisper from my lips.

His eyes widened a little at my weak demand.

“Kiss me before I ch…” My words were muffled as he placed his lips on my desperate ones; I didn’t have to ask him twice to kiss me.

And to say that he kissed me like a starving kid would not be wrong; I can’t say I was any different either.

It’s been way too long since we kissed, more than what I care to count. To say I’ve missed, no, craved his lips on mine would be an understatement. I was an idiot to think it would be that easy to stay away from him. I’ve never felt more blissful to be this wrong as I am at this moment.

His mouth skillfully devoured mine, tasting every corner that I didn’t know existed; he sucked in on my tongue so seductively, leaving me weak in my knees.

The last straw of control left my body when his strong, muscular arm wrapped around my waist possessively. An erotic gasp left my body when he pulled me down on his lap, his lips never for once letting go of mine.

I moaned as things got more heated from there onwards; our bodies touched, fitting each other’s curves perfectly. His hands roamed all around my back as he lowly groaned in the kiss. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a sexier sound than this before in my life.

I was straddling his legs when I felt something hard pressing up between my legs. My face further reddened at the realization, and more heat pooled between my legs. I didn’t feel dirty or indecent; it rather intensified every sensation my body was feeling. I know what an erection is; I’m not a nun, but the fact that I could do it to him made me feel weirdly accomplished in myself. And extremely hot too, so much so that my mind started wandering off to the place I’d restricted myself from, but to hold myself back wasn’t an option now.

His hand made its way to my covered thigh sending shivers down my whole body at his slightest touch. I’ve never hated a piece of fabric this much before that provided a barrier between our skins. He rubbed his muscular hand up and down, a little too close to my inner thigh, making every thought leave my body except for one: this is what heaven must feel like.

And that I never want this to end.

It wasn’t a normal kiss; it was rough and demanding, and we matched each other’s pace perfectly. Our mouths did all the talking without saying a word, only the sound of our rugged breathing could be heard, or the moans and groans that we had no control over, our bodies exploring new highs together.

We just couldn’t get enough of each other.

When it finally got too hard to breathe, we stopped for air and parted our lips, still breathing into each other’s space.

“Friends, huh?” I can sense an arrogant smirk in his voice, but I’m too damn deep in the moment to care.

“With benefits,” I whispered before claiming his lips again. My hand held the nape of his neck while the other one held his collar to keep him close.

He responded without wasting a second. I don’t know how long we were at it because I don’t think breathing was a necessity currently; just the passion and desire for each other was enough to keep us going.

“Elijah, we need to g…” Someone stopped midway and gasped when the door opened.

A voice I’ve come to know too well.

Eva.

Not now, bitch, not now!

Elijah opened his eyes and tried tilting his head to look at the intruder, but I stopped his movement. Feeling bold and territorial, I readjusted myself on his rather aroused body for more effect and wrapped my arms around his neck, possessively once again connecting our swollen lips together.

I can sense it stunned him, but he didn’t object; I think he understood what I was trying to do and took over expertly. This kiss was different; it had a thrill attached to it and a purpose, yet it didn’t change the quality of it but rather intensified it. It was a small kiss but enough to send a message.

Thinking, I got the point across, and not trying to turn things into exhibitionism, we parted lips this time for good. Also, if we hadn’t stopped now, I would’ve definitely passed away from the lack of air in my lungs.

When my vision finally cleared from a literal breathtaking makeout, my eyes met his.

He smiled knowingly at me as a proud look settled in his eyes, appreciation evident in them at the stunt I just pulled. I gazed at him, still in awe at how beautiful his smile is.

I returned his smile wholeheartedly, for the first time not feeling shy or intimidated by him after we made out.

Getting up from him after a knee-weakening kiss, I stood up and turned towards a shocked and furious-looking Eva. Picking up my bag from the table, I walked towards her with confident strides and stopped only while crossing her.

“Hope you enjoyed the show.” Trying to fix my shirt, I smirk at her before leaving her seething with anger.

Once I was out of the room and had a chance to breathe and think properly, it completely dawned on me what I had just done.

No, still no regrets.

In fact, for once I’m actually proud of myself for what I have achieved, well, with Elijah and Eva, both.

And I feel extra boastful now that I know how he felt about it too.

I should wash my face before Nick loses his mind at my very affected and telling state of what just happened. I don’t want to gross him out.

Shit!

Nick.

I totally forgot about him.

He must be getting mad waiting for me outside; he said he’d be here in five minutes when I entered Elijah’s office. I checked my wristwatch and realized that it had been a good thirty-five minutes of us only kissing. I brushed off my blush before I got caught up in the rather fresh memories and got more late only to be killed by Nick to make him wait this long.

What a good and pathetic way to die.

Let me just drop him a quick text to ease my way in. I searched for the phone but didn’t see it; I searched my table and bag when it dawned on me that I must’ve left it in Elijah’s office.

I walked towards his office, my steps halted at what I heard through the half-ajar door.

“Oh, honey, don't blame her. You know she’s just a girl. I can take care of it for you,” she purred seductively. “Don’t I always?” her hand rested near his crotch, and the other reached its way to unbuckle his belt.

My heart dropped at the scene in front of me, my victory feeling momentary and short-lived. I can feel my eyes starting to sting.

That’s what happens when you let go of yourself and let the moment take over you. You knew all along that this would happen, yet you went ahead with it and see, what happened. Are you happy now? Are these pangs of hurt enough for you, or do you need more humiliation?

I’ve already made a fool out of myself once; I don’t want to be pathetic by keeping standing here and giving them the satisfaction of crying.

I knocked lightly on the door, getting their attention as I walked inside the room, my eyes plastered on the floor, refusing to meet his, the ones that were setting my heart in a frenzy a while ago. I can’t stand the thought of them mocking me now.

“Excuse me, I forgot my cellphone,” my voice betrayed me, “I’m sorry for the interruption.” Picking up the phone, I hurried out of his office, finding it hard to hold back my tears.

“Hannah, wait!” He jerked her hands away, making her whine, “Fuck!” I heard him curse loudly.

I heard footsteps behind me, and I fastened my pace to get out of there as soon as possible.

“Dammit, Hannah! Listen to me!” He held my arm and pulled me before I could enter the waiting elevator. “Trust me, it’s not what it looks like.” His breathing was a little heavy.

“It’s exactly how it looks,” I wiped the traitor tear that dropped down my cheek, “No, don't come near me,” I stepped back when he tried to reach out to me. “This is not a movie or a cheap novel where such misunderstandings happen. It's real life”

Author’s note: Oh Hannah, it’s exactly that novel 😝

“Then unlike those movies and novels, why are you reacting to things that you half saw and reaching conclusions?” He paused and stepped closer to start much more calmly this time, “I know you’re angry, but if you’d just let me explai…” I cut him off.

“I’m not angry, Elijah, I’m stupid.” He was taken aback. “I knew this would happen; I knew this was too good to be true. This is exactly why I wanted to stay away from you; I knew everything, and yet I let go of myself and did the exact thing I’d prohibited from to protect myself. Guess I just became a toy for you. And don’t worry, I don’t blame you; you always made your intentions clear. I looked him in the eyes, refusing to cry but unable to hide the hurt. “You don’t need to feel guilty. You didn’t lead me on.” I hardened my eyes.

“You know what? I don’t feel guilty,” he said calmly, looking at me with perseverance. “I don’t feel guilty because, despite how it may seem, I’m not in the wrong, not this time at least. And if you think I was toying with you, then there’s no point in all this,” he pointed between us. “Because it’s not about what you saw; it’s about what you wanted to see. No matter what I say, it won’t change anything because you have already made up your mind.”

What he said hit a nerve inside me; surely what he’s saying can’t be true, right?

It’s absolutely about what I saw and not what I feared all my life. I’m not trying to chicken out and deal with hurt with my coping mechanism of ‘I knew this.’?

You know you’re doing it; you’re saying it; you just don’t want to believe it because it will validate what he’s saying.

“You’re too overwhelmed and not thinking straight,” I sensed care in his voice. “Come on, I’ll drop you home,” he pressed the elevator button.

“Please,” I held my hand to stop him, “Stop acting like you care.”

I entered the elevator, and he didn’t make any further effort to stop me again. He stared at me standing outside as it closed on his face.

I rested my head against the cold metal wall, trying to process everything that happened in the past hour. I closed my eyes tiredly for a few seconds. I opened them again and looked at my reflection on the stainless steel wall only to realize I was still wearing his glasses.

When I touched it, it somehow replicated the feeling of having him near me.

His eyes flashed in front of me. Thinking back to it, I don’t see malice in them.

Was he telling the truth? Was I too quick to jump to a conclusion?

Also, why did he lie to me and try to explain it to me?

After all, we’re in an open marriage, and it’s not like we have a commitment towards each other except for the one we have towards our business.

I tried clearing my head as it was getting too much for me and beginning to cause a headache.

Taking off his glasses, I folded them and kept them inside my bag to return them the next time I would see him.

Trying to leave what happened behind and get in the spirit of enjoying a weekend getaway from all this, I walked out of the office building and walked towards Nick, who was waiting for me outside his car.

“What the fuck, Hannah, I’ve been waiting… Whoa, who wronged you, dude?” he asked as soon as he saw me.

“Don’t talk to me!”

….…………………………………………………..

Author’s Note 2.0:

A very long, progressive, and extremely sexy chapter.

It had flirting, romance, making out, misunderstanding, and drama.

Phew! Their burning chemistry is one of the causes of global warming, one that I don’t mind going down with.

And what’s a good novel without a cheating misunderstanding? Or is it the truth?

Sometimes realistic people are stuck in unreal dramatic situations too; it only spices things up.

Team Hannah or Team Elijah?

For me, it would be Elijah, totally unbiased, of course (nothing to do with his dreamy face).

Vote for your pick.

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