Chapter 83: Chapter 83: A Kiss in the Office
"Tristan Sterling, you’re despicable!"
Holly Sinclair’s eyes were bloodshot, her chest surging with a hatred that laced every word.
"What did you say?"
Tristan Sterling took a drag from his cigarette, his dark eyes narrowing dangerously.
The cold glint in them was a sharp blade, stabbing at her face.
"Whatever is between us, what right do you have to take it out on Brandon?"
Holly Sinclair was seething, her hands clenched into tight fists.
At the mention of Brandon Sterling, Tristan’s already dark expression instantly turned glacial.
"What did he say to you?"
He crushed his cigarette butt into the ashtray, then advanced on her step by step.
"He didn’t say anything to me!"
’I was the one who forced Nell to tell me. Brandon never said a single bad word about him from beginning to end.’
"Then why are you here, throwing a fit?"
Tristan Sterling sneered, standing before her. His tall frame loomed over her like a mountain.
Dangerous and oppressive.
"Tristan Sterling, what gives you the right to suspend him? That was a project he nearly died for! How can you just snatch it away?"
Holly Sinclair was overwrought, her small face tilted up as she roared at him in indignation.
"Is that what he told you?" The man laughed, but it was a laugh of anger.
The mirth didn’t reach his eyes at all.
"Why do you always have to target him? He’s your own brother—"
"He deserves to be called that?!"
Tristan Sterling scoffed.
A vicious glint appeared in his eyes, his handsome face terrifyingly grim.
"Tristan Sterling!"
Holly was both furious and hurt, her eyes welling with tears.
’I feel so useless.’
’I got Brandon into this mess, and I can’t do a thing to help him.’
She gave a sad smile, as if suddenly exhausted. Her tone softened with a hint of compromise. "Aren’t you just mad that I hit Vivian Linton? If you’re not happy, take it out on me. This has nothing to do with Brandon. Give him the project back."
"Take it out on you?"
Heh.
’She really is devoted to Brandon Sterling!’
A raging fire surged within Tristan Sterling. He abruptly seized her by the chin, lowered his head, and brought his face close to hers.
"Holly Sinclair, you’re that desperate to protect him?"
His every word was ice-cold, sending a chill down her spine.
Her heart tightened, but she straightened her back defiantly. "I’m not protecting anyone! It’s your behavior—mixing business with personal matters—that’s despicable!"
"Despicable to whom?"
He roughly caressed her crimson lips with the pad of his thumb, making her tremble in pain.
But instead of easing up, the pressure of his hand increased, as if he wanted to make her lips bleed. "Holly Sinclair, you are my wife, Tristan Sterling’s wife, yet you so brazenly care about your own brother-in-law. Between you and me... who is more despicable?"
’Is he seriously trying to turn this around on me?’
"Do you think everyone is as filthy as you?" Holly sneered, seething as she slapped away the hand tormenting her lips.
"I’m filthy? What, you think Brandon Sterling is so noble?" Tristan’s eyes were filled with scorn as he yanked off his tie and tossed it aside.
Without thinking, Holly shouted, "At least he’s better than y—MMPH..."
Before she could finish, he sealed her lips with a kiss.
The man’s large hand gripped the back of her head, pressing her firmly into his embrace.
The kiss swept over her like a raging storm.
Holly could barely breathe.
’Is this his twisted way of getting revenge for Vivian Linton?’
’When I choked Vivian Linton, she couldn’t breathe.’
’Now he’s kissing me so violently, and I can’t breathe either.’
Useless tears streamed from the corners of her eyes as she began to beat against him frantically.
"AH! Don’t touch me! Tristan Sterling, you bastard! Bastard!!"
She screamed and cursed, hysterical.
Tristan Sterling’s last shred of patience evaporated.
"Then I’ll show you what a bastard I can be!"
His gaze was deep and predatory, like an approaching storm that inspired terror.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he seized her by the waist and lifted her up.
He laid her down on his desk and his hand reached for her collar.
SLAP!
Panicked, Holly Sinclair swung her hand and landed a hard slap across the man’s face.
The crisp, loud sound echoed through the spacious office.
The air froze.
Tristan Sterling’s face was ashen.
He pushed his tongue against his stinging cheek, looking at the audacious little woman who didn’t seem to fear death. He laughed in anger.
"Holly Sinclair! Are you that eager to die?"
He ground his back teeth, letting out a sinister sneer.
He was thoroughly enraged.
"Go on, then! If you have the guts, choke me to death! Avenge your precious darling!" Holly’s eyes were red, but she stubbornly refused to let another tear fall.
She craned her neck toward him, looking like she had nothing left to lose.
"Do you really think I can’t bring myself to teach you a lesson?"
A vein throbbed on Tristan Sterling’s temple, and his teeth ground together audibly.
He never knew that this woman, who had always been so obedient and docile, could one day be so infuriating.
’Can’t bring myself to...’
At his words, Holly felt a wave of anger and derision.
"Can’t bring yourself to? Heh... Tristan Sterling, don’t disgust me!"
She made no effort to hide her disgust for him, her every word dripping with sarcasm.
Tristan Sterling found Holly’s mouth incredibly infuriating right now.
Not a single word she spoke was something he wanted to hear.
Because once, he had heard so many sweet nothings and coquettish pleas from those same lips. He couldn’t accept her now, with her sharp tongue and words laced with contempt.
Tristan decided it was time to teach this arrogant woman the price of provoking him.
’His Mrs. Sterling hadn’t fulfilled her duties in a long time.’
"Disgusted, are you? Well, you’re just going to have to endure it!"
Tristan laughed in his fury. As the last word fell, he kissed her lips again.
He pinned her firmly beneath him, kissing her with reckless abandon.
"Tristan Sterling, you... MMPH..."
She struggled, roaring in protest.
But her voice was completely muffled by his mouth.
Their lips and teeth clashed, their breaths mingling.
The difference in strength between a man and a woman was too great; Holly couldn’t break free from his hold at all.
His scorching lips trailed fire everywhere they touched.
Seeing him go further and further, Holly suddenly brought up her knee...
"Ngh..."
Tristan cried out in pain and involuntarily released her.
Holly seized the opportunity, grabbing the coffee on the desk and splashing it hard in his face.
"Tristan Sterling! You need to cool off!"
She jumped off the desk and quickly straightened her disheveled clothes.
After shouting, she bolted out the door.
By the time Tristan recovered from the sharp pain, he saw Holly running into the elevator without a backward glance.
His face was thunderous.
...
Tristan Sterling was in the private lounge attached to his office, taking a shower.
Holly hadn’t just doused him in coffee.
She had also stirred up a fire in him.
He didn’t know if it was because it had been too long since his last release, or if his self-control had simply deteriorated.
Whatever the reason, every time he touched Holly, his body would roar with desire...
This feeling of wanting something he couldn’t have was pure agony.
Tristan stood under a cold shower for a long time before he finally managed to suppress the fire within.
He stepped out of the bathroom, roughly drying the water from his hair with a towel. When he looked up, he saw a pretty figure in the lounge.
His first thought was that Holly had realized her mistake and come back.
A hint of softness unconsciously appeared on his cold, hard face.
"Tristan."
