Chapter 194: Mr. Harrison, Is It Done?
Emma cried out as her body suddenly slipped, falling directly into a warm embrace.
Her heart jumped as she caught the familiar scent of cedar on him.
"Nicholas, what are you doing?"
Nicholas's low voice sounded beside her ear, edged with a faint threat.
"Why did you barge into my private lounge? You've got some nerve."
Emma hurried to explain, flustered. "It's a misunderstanding! 001 has a problem and needs your authorization. That's why I came to find you."
His face darkened, the atmosphere around him dropping several degrees, clearly displeased.
"You broke my 001?"
Emma shook her head frantically, eager to defend herself, "It wasn’t me! I swear! It was suddenly attacked by a virus. I didn’t touch it."
Nicholas looked at her earnest expression, secretly amused but still maintaining his stern facade, pressing the issue.
"It broke down at your house regardless, so that means you are responsible for compensating me."
Emma's heart sank.
"How… how am I supposed to compensate you?"
Nicholas leaned closer, warm breath brushing against her ear. His voice carried a dangerously seductive tone.
"Give yourself to me as compensation."
Emma froze for a second before realizing what he meant. This man had been waiting for her here all along. Highway robbery!
She pushed him away forcefully, breaking free from his embrace and standing straight.
"Nicholas, you did this on purpose!"
Nicholas spread his hands with an unapologetic rogue expression, standing up. His tall figure advanced toward her, radiating pressure.
"What? Don't want the authorization anymore?"
Emma was so angry she laughed.
"I don't want it! 001 is your property—fix it or don't, I don't care!"
She turned to leave, reaching for the door.
But his large hand slammed against the door panel with a dull thud, blocking her path.
His other arm wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her back against him as he rested his head lightly on her shoulder.
His tone shifted, becoming soft again.
"Don't be angry. I'll take responsibility for fixing it, but you have to give me some benefit in return."
Emma's body stiffened as she said coldly, "Let go. I want to leave."
The hand blocking the door moved away, but not to let her go. Instead, he swept her up in his arms.
Emma's feet left the ground, startling her. "What are you doing? Put me down!"
In a few steps, he reached the large bed in the lounge and gently laid her down.
Then he leaned over her, bracing his hands on either side of her body, trapping her beneath him. Dangerous signals flashing in his deep eyes.
"Nicholas, get away!"
She turned her head, unwilling to look into those eyes that seemed capable of pulling a person in completely.
But Nicholas wouldn’t allow it. He reached out and gently turned her face back toward him.
His gaze was terrifyingly serious.
"Emma, stop being angry, okay?"
Emma met his eyes, looking back at him just as seriously.
"Nicholas, what you've done is unforgivable. You've completely lost my trust."
His repeated indulgence and deception had shattered her heart.
He immediately began explaining, his tone urgent. "That night at Stellar Soiree, she was the one who hugged me first, I pushed her away. I've never had an intimate relationship with her. From beginning to end, you're the only woman I’ve ever been with."
Emma didn't want to hear his explanations.
"Nicholas, for four years, you gave her your best love. What you've given away—can you take it back? She's Ms. White now. You’ll see her often in the future. I don’t want to stay entangled with you anymore."
As she finished speaking, her eyes instantly reddened.
Those lost four years… how could they ever be recovered?
Nicholas was stunned, his large hand gently stroking her silky hair with careful movements.
He spoke seriously, his voice carrying a solemnity she had never heard before.
"No matter who she is, she has no place with me anymore. From now on, there's only you."
"Those missing four years—I'll spend my lifetime making up for them, okay?"
Seeing the tears in her eyes, his heart ached.
"Don't cry. Your tears make my heart hurt." He pressed his hand against his heart.
Her heart also began to ache densely, her voice trembled. "Nicholas, even if a broken mirror is repaired, the cracks remain."
The crystal tear in her eye could no longer hold on and was about to fall.
Nicholas felt a sharp pang in his chest. Only now did he realize how deeply those wounds had cut her.
He coaxed her softly, as if speaking to a fragile treasure.
"Emma, I'll repair those cracks. I'll spend my lifetime repairing them. I'll fill them with love, okay?"
She didn't respond.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips.
Unlike his earlier forceful kisses, this one was gentle and light, carrying a power that could soothe hearts.
Emma's tears finally broke free.
"Nicholas, let me go, I don't want..."
Nicholas grew anxious, his voice revealing suppressed madness.
"Emma, don't push me away anymore. I'm going crazy."
He lowered his head to kiss her again, deeper this time, desperate and consuming.
But the deeper his kiss became, the harder she cried, her entire body trembling slightly, the wound in her heart seeming to tear wider and wider.
Nicholas panicked. He stopped all movement and quickly sat up, holding her tightly into his arms.
"Don't cry, I won't touch you, I won't touch you anymore. Don't cry, okay?"
His chin rested on top of her head as he coaxed her gently.
Now he cherished her like the apple of his eye—how could he dare to take by force?
Especially after learning she was his savior, he wanted to lay the entire world at her feet.
His voice was infinitely gentle. "Stop crying. I'll have someone fix 001 in a bit. You can repay me whenever you want, okay?"
She sobbed in his embrace, responding in a muffled voice, "But I don't want to repay it."
"Fine, then don't repay it. Whatever you say."
No one had ever seen Nicholas so gentle.
Only love could turn a man of steel into something so tender.
"Stop crying, be good."
He continued coaxing softly, his large hand happening to rest on her lower abdomen.
Thinking of the baby in her belly, Emma gradually stopped crying, her emotions stabilizing considerably.
Finally, she pushed him away and stood up, preparing to leave.
Nicholas hugged her from behind once more, asking softly by her ear, "Do I still have my gift?"
Her heart shook. After a moment of silence, she said quietly, "After we return from Empire City."
He instantly brightened, his eyes lighting up.
"Okay!"
This meant she was beginning to forgive him—she was softening.
At the recognition banquet, when he confessed to her publicly, his chances would be much higher.
A few minutes later, Emma walked out of the CEO's office with reddened eyes.
Charlie, who was waiting outside, instinctively glanced at the $168,000 watch on his wrist.
It had been less than ten minutes.
His heart jumped as he quickly entered the office, just in time to see Nicholas emerging from the lounge, calmly buttoning the top two buttons of his shirt.
Charlie asked nervously, "Mr. Harrison, mission accomplished?"
Nicholas glanced at him with a satisfied expression.
"What do you think?"
Charlie felt unsettled.
No wonder Emma had come out crying—that was way too fast!
He ran out of the office and immediately made a phone call.
"Send me the latest research products to headquarters, fast, and make it the most effective version!"
The person on the other end was shocked, asking tentatively, "Charlie, did you finish that last batch already? How about we add a little something... for better effects."
Charlie cursed harshly, "Screw off!"
He hung up with a sharp click.
Before long, rumors began spreading throughout the company about Charlie's erectile dysfunction...
When Emma emerged from Harrison Group, a black car pulled up smoothly in front of her.
The door opened and Nina jumped out like a cheerful magpie, gesturing enthusiastically at her.
Emma understood.
Tomorrow was Ethan's birthday.
He was throwing a birthday party on the company's top floor, and Nina wanted her to come along to pick out a gift.
Emma nodded, got in the car, and they headed straight to HG Mall.
They browsed several luxury stores before Nina's gaze settled on a tie.
Blue-gray with subtle patterns, understated yet textured—it would indeed suit Ethan's cool, refined temperament perfectly.
The price, however, was steep; over twenty thousand dollars.
Nina had emptied all her piggy banks for today.
She hadn’t touched a single cent of the allowance Daryl gave her. That money represented the Jackson family’s kindness, and she wanted to rely on herself.
But when the cashier calculated the total, she was still seven hundred dollars short.
Without hesitation, Emma pulled out her phone to cover the difference.
Nina carried the elegant gift bag, her face blooming with a smile as pure as a child's.
They were about to go upstairs to the restaurant when a man approached from the opposite direction.
Dressed in black with a baseball cap pulled low, he looked nervous as he hurried toward the restroom, carrying a child.
The child appeared to be only two or three years old and wasn't moving at all.
Emma's heart lurched—something felt wrong.
Just then, her phone rang.
She stood in place to answer—it was Leon calling.
"Ms. Rodriguez, the patient's anesthetic trial was incredibly successful. Surgery can be arranged soon."
The voice on the other end contained barely suppressed excitement.
"I'll probably head to Empire City in about three days to conduct pre-surgical examinations for the old gentleman."
Emma nodded, responding softly, "Alright, I should be leaving around the same time."
Today was the 1st, the recognition banquet was set for the 6th—leaving in three days would be perfect timing.
After hanging up, she saw the same man walking out of the restroom.
He had somehow changed into a beige trench coat.
The child was gone.
Instead, he carried a medium-sized black suitcase.
Emma's heart pounded.
She quickly gestured to Nina, telling her to find security immediately.
The next second, she was already rushing forward.
"Stop!"
The man turned around, his expression clearly nervous. "What's the matter?"
Emma blocked his path, her gaze calmly falling on the suitcase by his side.
"Sir, I suspect your luggage contains illegal items. Please open it for inspection."
The man was stunned, then flew into an embarrassed rage. "Who the hell are you? Mind your own business!"
"I'm the manager here," she said without changing expression. "Please open the suitcase."
The man completely ignored her, grabbing his suitcase and breaking into a run.
"Stop!" Emma immediately gave chase.
The man suddenly whirled around and shoved her with all his strength.
Losing her balance, Emma was about to fall backward.
Suddenly, a broad, warm embrace caught her steadily.
"Are you alright?" His voice was deep and pleasant.
She instinctively looked up, meeting a pair of profound eyes.
It was a completely unfamiliar face.
He was exceptionally handsome with refined features and deep-set eyes. His perfectly tailored custom suit emphasized his upright posture, and he carried the unmistakable aura of someone long accustomed to authority.
Four black-clad bodyguards stood behind him—quite a formation. Clearly wealthy or powerful.
He looked down at her strikingly beautiful face, momentarily stunned for three seconds.
Suddenly, his pupils contracted—she looked so much like Olivia!