Chapter 47: Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Emeli’s steps felt unbearably heavy as she passed through the automatic glass doors of the design department that morning. Every time her inner thighs brushed together, a sharp sting shot up her spine, forcing her to walk with an awkward and slow rhythm. She winced softly, gripping the edge of a cubicle desk to steady herself.

"Damn you, Ken," Emeli cursed inwardly, staring blankly at the still-dark computer screen.

She carefully pulled the rolling chair closer before lowering herself onto it slowly. The moment her hips touched the cushion, a throbbing ache between her legs made her eyes squeeze shut. Her sensitive skin felt swollen and sore from the intensity of the wild struggle on the carpet and bed last night. That man had truly gone overboard, demanding ownership without pause as if there were no tomorrow.

“Focus, Emeli. Focus,” she whispered to herself, trying to push away the image of Ken’s broad, sweat-covered chest.

She took a deep breath, her fingers beginning to move across the keyboard to open the clothing design draft that had become part of her internship project. However, her concentration shattered every time her body shifted even slightly. The stinging pain constantly reminded her of the reddish marks now hidden beneath the high collar of the cream blouse she was wearing.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, a luxurious black car passed through the gates of a colonial-style mansion. The old Alexander family residence.

Ken stepped out from the back seat in a perfectly tailored formal suit and walked into the high-ceilinged family room. There, an elegantly dressed middle-aged woman and a young man were already seated on the velvet sofa waiting for him. The young man was Victor Valdes.

“So you finally came, Ken,” his stepmother greeted him with a forced smile.

Ken did not sit down immediately. He stood tall with one hand tucked into his trouser pocket, his gaze as cold as ice. “Get straight to the point. I don’t have time for small talk.”

Victor chuckled softly, leaning back casually in a way that seemed mocking. “Relax a little, Brother. Mother just wanted to make sure you’ve signed my appointment letter as Vice Director of Alexander Group.”

Ken glanced sharply at his stepbrother. “The document is already on Juna’s desk. You can start working next Monday.”

Hearing that, Victor’s smile widened in satisfaction. “Thank you, Brother. I promise I’ll make frequent visits to every division in the company, especially... the design department. I heard the team there has been very productive lately.”

Victor imagined Emeli’s face, the college student he had secretly admired back when he was still a lecturer. His mind filled with plans to approach the girl again within the office environment. On the other hand, Ken merely considered Victor’s words as amateur arrogance. Neither Ken nor Victor realized that the woman occupying their thoughts at this very moment was the same person: Emeli Catrine.

Ken let out a quiet scoff, glancing at his wristwatch with an irritated expression. “You forced me to come to the old house just for this?”

“Of course. This is a big step for our family, Ken,” his stepmother replied, trying to mediate.

“For me, this is just a waste of time,” Ken cut in sharply before turning around without another word. “Juna, we’re leaving.”

“Yes, Sir,” Juna answered promptly from beside the door. They strode out of the room quickly, leaving behind a cloud of resentment on Ken’s stepmother’s face, while Victor merely smiled mysteriously, waiting for his first day at the office.

Back in the design department, the cold air from the air conditioner could not ease the heat burning through Emeli’s body. The phone placed beside her keyboard suddenly vibrated, displaying a name on the screen.

Aric Anderson.

Emeli slid the green button and lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello, Ric?”

“Hey, Em,” Aric’s gentle voice came through the line, mixed with the background noise of the hospital. “It’s your lunch break already, right? I happen to be free at the moment. How about I pick you up for lunch near your office?”

Emeli bit her lower lip, glancing beneath the desk where both of her legs felt terribly weak. “Ah... I’m really sorry, Ric. I don’t think I can go this afternoon.”

“Why? Is your workload piling up?” Aric asked, his tone sounding slightly disappointed yet still caring.

“Yeah, my design draft has to be finished this afternoon before the manager reviews it,” Emeli lied while massaging her suddenly throbbing temple. “I’m really not in the mood to leave the room right now, Ric.”

“Alright then. Don’t forget to eat lunch at your cubicle, okay? Don’t let your gastritis flare up again,” Aric reminded her before ending the call.

“Yeah, thank you, Ric.”

After the call ended, Emeli set her phone down with a heavy sigh. She leaned back against the chair helplessly.

“I’d die of embarrassment if I forced myself to walk around with Aric,” Emeli muttered with flushed cheeks.

How could she possibly walk normally in front of her first love when her core felt painfully sore and raw? Every time she tried to walk, she would definitely wince in pain, and that would surely invite suspicious questions from Aric, who was a doctor. The thought of having to explain why her inner thighs were swollen made Emeli want to bury herself alive beneath the office marble floor right then and there.

An hour passed, and the office gradually became quiet as most employees left for lunch. Emeli chose to remain in her seat, lazily chewing on the sandwich she had bought that morning.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy and authoritative dress shoes echoed from the main corridor. Emeli looked up, and her heart instantly dropped before racing wildly.

Alexa Ken walked into the now-empty design department. His black suit jacket had been removed, leaving only a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing the defined veins along his arms.

Ken stopped right in front of Emeli’s cubicle, towering over her. “Why didn’t you go out to eat?” he asked, his voice low and heavy.

Emeli turned her face away and scoffed irritably. “You don’t have to pretend to ask. This is all because of your outrageous behavior last night.”

Ken raised one eyebrow before slowly leaning forward, bracing both hands against Emeli’s desk until their faces were only inches apart. “Because of me? Weren’t you the one begging for more faster last night, hmm?”

“Ken! Watch your mouth, we’re at the office!” Emeli whispered panic-stricken, her eyes widening as her gaze darted around the room, afraid another employee might return early.

Ken did not move back even a step. Instead, his gaze lowered, staring intently at the opening of Emeli’s blouse. “Which part hurts? I’ll check it again tonight.”

“Are you insane?!” Emeli shoved Ken’s chest angrily, but the man did not budge at all. Instead, a faint victorious smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

“After work, Juna will pick you up at the back entrance,” Ken said as he straightened his tall frame once more. “Don’t try to run away or make excuses again, Emeli.”

Emeli could only clench her fists beneath the desk, staring at Ken’s broad back as he walked away from the room, leaving her with emotions tangled between anger and the strange trembling feeling that kept disturbing her heart.