Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Resolve things for her
"Thank you. Give it to me."
Alana reached out to retrieve her phone.
Stephan suddenly raised the phone, preventing Alana from reaching it.
Alana looked at him in confusion. "What are you doing?"
He stared intently into her eyes.
“Your eyes...why are they so red?"
They were damp and slightly swollen, as if she’d been crying.
Alana froze. Had she been crying that obviously?
Her eyes were red?!
She instinctively rubbed her eyes, only to feel a dampness.
Stephan continued to stare at her. "Were you...crying just now?"
Alana felt a lump in her throat. "None of your business. Give me back my phone!"
“I won’t return it until you tell me."
“You!"
Alana’s nose stung again.
Being bullied by her boss was one thing, but why was Stephan picking on her too?
Stephan saw the misty haze gathering in her eyes once more and couldn’t help but
frown.
“Is it because of me? I wasn’t bullying you just now, was I?"
He’d merely asked if she’d consider being his girlfriend, how was that bullying?
Alana replied in a muffled voice, "It has nothing to do with you."
Stephan pressed, "Then whose fault is it?"
Alana remained silent, merely pouting her small lips. Her beautiful eyes were now crystal clear, like a pool of clear spring water, glistening with moisture, pitiful and endearing.
Stephan felt an inexplicable pang in his chest.
He reached out, his warm, calloused palms cupping her exquisitely delicate face.
Make her face him.
He stared into her moist eyes, his voice low.
“Tell me, who’s been bullying you?"
Seeing the heavy mist in her eyes, he couldn’t help but lower his head, kissing the corner of her eye as he coaxed gently, "Now, sweetheart, speak. I’ll see justice is done."
As Alana listened to the man’s gentle tone, the grievances she’d endured earlier surged back unbidden, rushing forth in a torrent.
Her eyes filled with more mist, the damp vapour condensing into a droplet that slid down her cheek.
This single tear was caught by Stephan.
It tasted salty, tinged with a hint of bitterness.
His heart ached with a throbbing pain.
He stared at her, his voice low and husky.
“If you don’t speak, do you want me to kiss you?"
Stephan’s long-fingered hand pinched her delicate, pale chin. "I’ll count to three. If you haven’t confessed by then, I’ll kiss you!"
What?
Alana’s eyes widened in shock. What kind of twisted logic was this?
Had she consented to him kissing her?
Yet the man had already begun counting.
His burning gaze locked onto hers, as if she were a tempting morsel of confectionery, ready to be devoured at any moment. "One."
"Two."
"Three..."
“I...”
Before she could utter another word, the man cupped her delicate face and pressed his lips firmly against hers.
“Mmm..."
Alana’s damp eyes widened once more, astonished by the man’s swiftness.
She’d only just been about to speak, how could he...
How outrageous, kissing her without warning.
Stephan pressed his lips against hers, parting her tongue with his own, savouring her sweetness without restraint.
The desire he’d restrained all night erupted violently.
One hand cradled her face, the other involuntarily slid down to her slender waist, gripping it, tightly.
His plundering grew more frenzied.
The girl in his arms seemed unable to withstand his forcefulness, struggling slightly.
Yet he pinned her firmly against the wall, seizing her delicate hands and raising them high above her head.
Had anyone passed by this spot, they would undoubtedly witness a tall, broad-shouldered man pressing a girl against the wall, kissing her with a passion that was both intense and sensual.
His imposing frame enveloped her petite form completely, leaving no space between them.
One hand clasped her wrists high above her head, while the slender fingers of the other hand dug into her slender waist, as if trying to pull her deep into his body, to merge them into one. Faintly, one could still hear the girl’s helpless, delicate whimpers.
Alana was kissed until her legs went weak, her entire body trembling.
“Enough... enough..."
His breath was scorching hot, showering her face.
Her cheeks burned fiercely, igniting a feverish heat throughout her body.
Stephan pressed his forehead against hers, his gaze dark and hungry, his breath ragged.
“Will you speak?"
“If you don’t, I’ll keep kissing..."
Fearing she’d go weak at the knees from his kisses again, Alana’s eyes glistened red as she conceded weakly, "I’ll tell you...I’ll tell you..."
Biting her swollen, chapped lips, the girl recounted to the man the grievances she had endured through Dane, leaving no detail untold.
She complained bitterly about how she’d worked tirelessly to secure the deal, yet received no credit for her efforts, not even recognition for her hard work, and had to endure harassment from her superior.
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, and tears welled up once more. Was it because she was a bit prettier?
Did being a little prettier mean she deserved to be bullied?
Was being pretty some sort of crime?
She hadn’t stolen or robbed anyone; she only wished to live a peaceful, ordinary life.
Why was that so difficult?
Stephan’s eyes darkened.
He cradled her face in his hands and gently kissed her rosy lips. "Don’t worry, I shall see this through for you!"
Alana gazed at him through tear-filled eyes, her expression seeming to ask: how did he intend to resolve this for her?
Stephan gently wiped away her tears with his fingertips.
“Don’t forget, Jules is my friend. If they wish to sign a contract with Jules, they must ask me first."
Alana bit her lip. "Why...why are you helping me?"
Stephan’s gaze deepened as he asked, "Would you like to know?"
Alana nodded instinctively.
He said nothing, instead lowering his head once more to press his lips against hers.
His actions spoke volumes.
Thus, Alana was kissed again and again by the man.
Unable to bear it any longer, she pushed him away while he was lost in passion and snatched her phone back.
“I’m going back to work!”
Her cheeks flushed crimson from his kisses, her expression radiant with desire.
She shot him a look that was half-angry, half-playful, clutched her phone tightly, and turned to run.
Fearing he might chase after her and seize her for another kiss.
Stephan did not pursue her further. Instead, he watched her retreating figure, his fingertips lightly brushing his own lips.
Against the lingering sensation.
*********
Alana returned to her desk at the project office, where, unsurprisingly, a group of colleagues bombarded her with questions about the incredibly handsome man she’d just been with and what their relationship was.
Alana lowered her head, unconsciously biting her lip as she stammered, "Just... just ordinary friends. Nothing special..."
She kept her head bowed low, terrified her colleagues might notice the moist, swollen lips left by the man’s kiss.
“So you’re just ordinary friends? We thought you were a couple!"
“Yeah, you’re both such a good-looking pair, you’d make a perfect match!"
Alana whispered, "No, no, don’t get the wrong idea..."
Another female colleague asked, "Does he have a girlfriend?"
“If he doesn’t have one, I’d love to pursue him! He’s so handsome, I wish he were my boyfriend. I’d wake up every morning to his face and smile!"
“Oh, stop dreaming. A man that handsome must have countless admirers. How could he not have a girlfriend? Don’t get your hopes up..."
The group chattered on in a jumble of voices.
Alana quietly slipped away from the huddle.
Her mind was in turmoil, filled only with thoughts of that reckless, frenzied kiss she’d shared with him in that deserted corner.
The more she thought about it, the hotter her cheeks grew.
Stop it, forget it, forget it right now!
As for the man’s offer to stand up for her, she hadn’t given it a second thought.
The little emotions she’d just poured out to him were merely venting into him like a dustbin. And after that release, she did feel a little better.
*********
Since Alana had upset Dane, he naturally wouldn’t be taking her to sign the contract.
He took Vera along instead, heading to the hotel to meet Jules.
The meeting was scheduled for ten o’clock in the morning.
They arrived at a private room in the hotel.
As Dane and Vera entered the private room, they discovered Jules was already
inside.
Dane promptly ushered Vera to Jules’ side. "Miss Jules, hello! Hello!"
“Apologies for our tardiness!"
In truth, they were neither early nor late.
The appointment was for ten o’clock, and they had arrived over twenty minutes early, only to find Jules had been waiting inside all along.
Jules ave them a cool glance. "You are indeed late. Had you arrived a minute later, I’d likely have left already."
Dane immediately bowed his head in apology, "My apologies, my apologies!"
Jules inquired, "Did you bring the contract?"
“I did. Please take a look first."
Dane shot Vera a look.
Vera promptly presented the contract she held in her hands to Jules with both hands,
saying politely;
“Miss Jules, please."
Jules lanced at Vera but did not take the contract. "Why is it you? Where’s my Lala? Why didn’t she come?"
Hearing this, Vera shot Dane an awkward glance.
Dane knew Jules held Alana in high regard and had prepared his response beforehand.
“Alana isn’t feeling well today, so I didn’t bring her along."
Jules replied coolly, "Oh, is that so? What exactly is wrong with her?"
Vera offered a supportive explanation, "She’s caught a cold. She didn’t want to risk passing it on to you, so she declined to join us."
“Indeed."
Dane nodded and added, "Miss Jules, let’s not dwell on her. We should focus on the collaboration between our two companies."
Jules observed the pair’s well-rehearsed duet. Had she not known a thing beforehand, she might well have been taken in by their act.
Comments