Chapter 294: Chapter 294: Craving Her Scent
Chapter 294: Craving Her Scent
Her tone was more serious than before, leaving no room for argument.
Tristan Sterling’s dark eyes were fixed on her.
After a moment of silence, he said gently, "Alright, then. I’ll listen to you."
His sudden submissiveness made Rachel Royce falter. She couldn’t tell if he had actually taken her words to heart or was just placating her.
"If there’s nothing else, I’m heading back," Rachel Royce said, reaching for the car door.
Tristan Sterling suddenly grabbed her hand. As Rachel Royce turned back, he reached out, turned to his side, and forcefully pulled her up.
Rachel Royce jumped in surprise. "Tristan Sterling, what are you doing?"
Tristan Sterling settled her onto his lap. In the face of her panic, he remained remarkably calm and composed, his arms wrapped tightly around her. A smile touched his handsome features as he looked at her, his voice low and sensual. "Just for a little while."
He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply as if greedily drinking in her scent.
Rachel Royce’s entire body tensed. Her fingers dug into the cashmere sweater beneath his overcoat. At such close proximity, she could clearly feel the pounding of his heart and even his all-too-strong reaction elsewhere.
His breathing grew heavier, hot puffs of air fanning across her neck.
Rachel Royce frowned as a wave of nausea suddenly washed over her.
Sensing that something was wrong, Tristan Sterling slowly released her.
"What’s wrong?"
Rachel Royce turned away from him, her face pale as she covered her mouth and gagged. Tristan Sterling quickly reached out to rub her back.
His expression darkened as he remembered her pathology report.
"I’m sorry. I was too forward."
Rachel Royce reached to open the door and get out.
Tristan Sterling didn’t press her further. He opened the car door for her, and as the cold wind rushed in, Rachel Royce felt much better.
Tristan Sterling got out of the car after her. Seeing that the color had returned to her face, he said, "In three days, let’s take Melissa to Kaelen. What do you think?"
Rachel Royce glanced up at him but didn’t answer. Just as she was about to turn back, she saw an Audi slowly approaching.
The Audi pulled to a stop, and Peter Preston and Thomas Sterling got out.
Tristan Sterling turned to look at them.
Peter Preston strode over.
He had just seen them both get out from the same side of the car. He anxiously looked Rachel Royce up and down, and seeing her pale face, his brow furrowed. "Rachel, are you not feeling well?"
"I’m fine, Peter. Don’t worry."
He shot a wary glance at Tristan Sterling.
Tristan Sterling took the initiative to explain, "There’s no need to worry, President Preston. I was just having a word with Rachel."
Seeing that nothing seemed amiss between them, Peter Preston silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"It’s cold out here. Rachel, hurry inside before you catch a chill. Have the housekeeper prepare some soup to help with the hangover."
Rachel Royce could smell the alcohol on Peter Preston. He must have been drinking with Thomas Sterling tonight, which explained why they were back so late.
"Thomas, you head inside with Rachel."
Thomas Sterling walked toward the villa with Rachel Royce.
After the two had gone, Peter Preston and Tristan Sterling said nothing more and walked back toward the cars.
Through the iron gate, Tristan Sterling could see Rachel Royce and Thomas Sterling walking away side-by-side. Thomas took off his jacket and draped it over Rachel’s shoulders. From a distance, their retreating figures looked so harmonious together.
He watched until their figures disappeared from sight.
"Is Melissa home today?"
Rachel hummed in affirmation. "She’s already asleep."
Thomas Sterling nodded. The image of her and Tristan getting out of the car together flashed through his mind, bringing a dull ache to his heart. He wanted to ask something, but in the end, said nothing.
Back inside the villa, Rachel Royce went to the kitchen to prepare the hangover soup. She brought it out to the living room and handed a bowl to Thomas Sterling.
Peter Preston was on the phone; from the sound of it, the call was from June Jennings.
After he hung up, Rachel Royce asked, "Peter, when does your vacation start?"
Peter Preston replied, "I’m afraid we won’t be able to take an early break this year. We’ll probably have to wait until the day before the New Year."
Because of the original high-stakes agreement, they had taken on quite a few projects. Even with Tristan Sterling’s new contract, the collaborations they had already committed to still had to be completed.
Rachel Royce nodded. "And what about you, Thomas?"
Thomas Sterling said, "About the same. We have a mobile game launching in March that’s about to enter the testing phase. I might even have to work overtime during the New Year holiday."
"Wow, you’re both really busy."
"Rachel, you’re on break now. Do you have any plans? You haven’t had much of a rest this year. Why don’t you take Melissa on a trip somewhere to relax? June mentioned she wants to take Stella to the beach. You two could go together," Peter Preston suggested.
Rachel Royce thought for a moment, then nodded.
Rachel Royce chatted with them for a little while longer before Thomas Sterling also had to leave to get some rest.
Back upstairs, Rachel Royce received an invitation from June Jennings.
「The next day.」
Rachel Royce went to the hospital to bring Julian Jennings his lunch.
Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she came face to face with a beautiful young woman standing in the hall. The woman carried herself with a dignified air, her posture ramrod straight. Her long hair was pulled back in a bun, revealing a stunningly elegant profile and adding to her sharp, competent look.
When Rachel Royce saw her, the woman outside the elevator saw her too. Bianca Lowe smiled faintly and called out in a well-mannered, cultured tone, "Evelynn."
Rachel Royce stepped out of the elevator. The year she had graduated, Bianca Lowe became one of Professor Michael’s students. Later, during the two years Rachel interned on Wall Street, Bianca was there too. In a way, they had studied under the same mentor.
Bianca Lowe came from a wealthy family, but she lacked the typical spoiled, hedonistic, and idle nature of a rich heiress. On the contrary, she was exceptionally hardworking, humble, and level-headed.
Rachel Royce acknowledged her. "Long time no see. When did you get back?"
Bianca Lowe replied, "I just came back last month. I’m currently working as an assistant to the president at Cedarwood Group. I just started, so I’m still in my probationary period."
Rachel Royce said, "With your skills, securing a permanent position at Cedarwood should be a piece of cake."
Bianca Lowe gave a small smile. "I’ve only just started, but President Sterling’s standards and the workload are much higher than in any of my previous jobs. I’m not so sure I’ll be able to meet his expectations."
"Well, good luck then."
Rachel Royce didn’t say much more to Bianca Lowe and continued down the hall. Bianca stepped aside, watching her walk away before turning to enter the elevator.
Rachel Royce knocked before entering the hospital room.
Only Mrs. Jennings was in the room.
"Mrs. Jennings."
Mrs. Jennings stood up to greet her. "Rachel, you’re here. Thank you for going to the trouble of bringing Julian lunch again."
Rachel Royce said, "It’s no trouble at all. My mother made a special crucian carp soup today and packed a little extra. If you don’t mind, Mrs. Jennings, please have some."
Mrs. Jennings thanked her profusely and took the thermal food container from her hands.
Rachel Royce helped set up the overbed table. Julian Jennings’s color looked much better today.
"Have you eaten, Rachel?"
"I already ate," Rachel Royce replied.
She sat down on a nearby stool and made small talk with them.
"June said she invited you on a trip to Corhaven," said Julian Jennings.
Rachel Royce nodded. "I’m still thinking about it."
"You’re on vacation now," Julian Jennings said. "If you don’t have anything else going on, there’s no harm in going to relax and have some fun."
