CHAPTER 012
ADRIAN’S POV
“An amazing meal, wasn’t it?” I asked, wiping my mouth with a napkin, my tone calm yet satisfied.
“I believe so,” James replied, stretching slightly as he stood from his seat.
Dora remained silent, dabbing her lips before placing the napkin gently on the table. Her gaze lingered on me for a moment before she finally rose, adjusting her dress slightly.
—
The atmosphere between us carried an unspoken tension one that neither James nor the restaurant staff dared to acknowledge.
As we prepared to leave, the restaurant owner hesitantly approached, holding a neatly folded bill in his hands. Clearing his throat, he finally spoke.
“Sir, I hope you enjoyed your meal?” His voice was laced with respect and caution.
“As always,” James answered in my stead casually, shoving his hands into his pockets.
The owner nodded before carefully extending the bill toward me. “This is the total bill for this week, Mr. Westwood,” he added, barely above a whisper.
1 took the slip of paper and unfolded it slowly. My eyes scanned the total.
$150,000
A small smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. The number didn’t faze me – I had spent far more on trivial things before. Still, seeing this amount, a sum that equaled the salaries of so many workers, written neatly in front of me was an amusing reminder of my influence.
I never paid per visit. The owner knew the arrangement. I ate here whenever I wanted, hosted whoever I pleased, and only settled the bill once a week. It was a convenience I enjoyed, and no one dared to question it.
“I’ll have my accountant forward everything to you by this evening,” I said coolly, folding the paper back and tucking it into my suit jacket. Straightening my cuffs, I headed for the exit.
James and Dora followed closely behind.
Outside, the crisp night air greeted us, carrying the faint sounds of the bustling city. My driver had already pulled up to the curb, waiting. Just as I was about to get in, James‘ phone rang. He glanced at the screen before turning to me..
“I have somewhere to be,” he said Successfully unlocked! back into his pocket.
I gave a slight nod. “Sure.”
He hadn’t come in his own car, so he ordered an Uber and stood off to the side, waiting.
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CHAPTER 012
Dora, on the other hand, had driven herself and trailed behind me as we both headed back to my estate. I wondered why she was following me home this late.
The drive home was quiet. The city lights blurred past, but inside the car, the air was thick with anticipation. Dora had been in my home numerous times, but tonight felt different. The absence of Olivia made the house feel… lighter. Freer.
And she liked it.
When we arrived, I stepped out first, my movements smooth and deliberate. Dora followed, her heels clicking softly against the marble driveway.
Inside, the grand foyer was silent, save for the distant ticking of an antique clock. Dora inhaled deeply – there was no trace of Olivia’s presence.
Loosening my tie, I glanced at her briefly. “Have a seat,” I said before disappearing up the grand staircase.
Dora walked into the living room, taking in the luxurious decor with ease. My maid approached her, bowing slightly. “Would you like anything to drink, ma’am?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
The maid bowed again before retreating, leaving Dora alone in the vast, elegant space.
After only a few minutes, I heard the soft creak of my bedroom door. I didn’t turn right away, knowing exactly who it was Dora.
–
Standing in front of the full–length mirror, I unbuttoned my shirt, shrugging the fabric off my shoulders. My gaze flickered to the reflection behind me as she stepped inside
and closed the door.
“I thought you were supposed to wait downstairs,” I murmured, my voice low.
She leaned against the door, watching me. “I got bored.”
A smirk tugged at my lips. “There’s no fun up here.”
“I don’t know about that,” she mused.
I chuckled under my breath. I didn’t have to ask what she meant – I already knew.
She walked toward the bed and sat down, resting her hands on the silk sheets. Her gaze never left me.
“The last time you were here, I was unconscious, and you were half–naked,” I mused, finally turning to face her.
Dora smirked. “And why am I still here?”
I took a step closer, my presence commanding as always. Her eyes held something dark, something insatiable.
“You’re here because you want to be here,” I said simply.
She bit her lip, playing into the tension. “How about I lock the door?”
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CHAPTER 012
Without waiting for an answer, she turned back to the entrance, twisting the lock into place. A satisfying click echoed through the room.
She faced me again, a slow, knowing smile curving her lips. I sat on the edge of the bed, watching her every movement with quiet amusement.
“You know,” I murmured, “if you wanted some of me, all you had to do was ask.”
She didn’t reply. Instead, she reached for the straps of her gown, letting them slide off her shoulders. The fabric pooled at her feet as she stepped closer.
My grip on the sheets tightened slightly as I watched her.
For months, I had entertained her, taken her on lavish vacations, and spent nights. drinking in her presence -but I had never touched her. Not like this.
Perhaps because I was married. Perhaps because a part of me still held on to something I refused to acknowledge.
But tonight, there were no barriers.
No Olivia.
No guilt.
Just me and the woman who had always been waiting in the shadows.
Dora reached me, placing her hands on my shoulders. I didn’t resist. Grabbing her waist, I pulled her closer. And with one swift motion, I tossed her onto the bed.
The world outside ceased to exist. For the first time, I was allowing myself to indulge in what had always been right in front of me.
And for Dora, this was exactly what she had been waiting for all along but for me? I was just satisfying my human desires.
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