Chapter 31: Unravelling

Selene

John’s in the shower, steam curling beneath the bathroom door, while I sit on the edge of the bed wrapped in his oversized shirt, staring at my phone.

Adrian’s voicemail plays on a loop in my mind.

I open a new message.

" I heard your voicemail. I can’t talk now. I’ll call you later."

I stare at the screen for a long second before hitting send.

The moment it disappears, a wave of guilt washes over me—followed quickly by relief.

The bathroom door opens. John steps out, towel around his waist, water glistening on his chest. He runs a hand through his damp hair and gives me a slow smile.

“You okay?” he asks, walking over.

I nod. “Yeah. Just figuring out the day.”

“Come see the office,” he says. “You’re in New York. Might as well see where the magic happens, once we are done at the office , maybe the opera and dinner ?.”

I smile, grateful for the playful tone.

“Sure,” I say. “Show me your empire, but I don’t have a dress for the Opera.”

John pauses and says “don’t worry we will go shopping , speaking of which" he walks over to his pants and pulls out a box, he comes over to me and sits down ,openning the box , There is a beautiful bracelet in it, it’s Cartier , and has diamonds and rubies wrapped in silver. “ I got you this , something sparkly for a beautiful woman”, he says reaching for my wrist and slipping it on . I lean in and kiss his cheek and thank him.

John’s office is every bit as sleek and intimidating as I imagined—floor-to-ceiling windows, steel and walnut finishes, minimalistic art that screams money. His assistant greets me with wide eyes and a barely disguised smirk.

I ignore it.

John gives me the tour, showing me where deals are made, where power is wielded, and finally where he kicks his feet up—a private lounge with a bar and leather couch.

“Drink?” he asks, already pouring two glasses of something amber and expensive.

“Just one,” I say, settling onto the couch.

We talk and he makes me laugh at his antics as we drink .

By the time dinner time rolls around, we decide against the opera and opt for just dinner. I’m warm and relaxed, the alcohol in my veins softening every sharp edge inside me. We dine at a private table overlooking the city. The view is breathtaking. So is John, in his element—confident, charming, attentive.

I forget, for a while, that there’s anything outside except this moment with him.

The elevator ride back to my suite is thick with a sexually charged silence.

John stands close behind me, his hand brushing my lower back, his lips trailing down my neck . I can feel my body starting to respond to his touch .

When the doors slide closed, I turn—slowly—and look up at him.

He’s watching me with eyes hooded with raw desire.

“You sure this is a good idea?” I whisper, but my hands are already on his chest.

“No,” he says. “Not at all.”

Then his mouth is on mine—urgent, hungry, rougher than this morning. I gasp as he presses me against the mirrored wall, hands sliding up my thighs, lifting me up.

The elevator dings open.

He carries me through the door without breaking the kiss, and I’m already pulling at his shirt, already wet. I slide down his body . And step back as I start undressing slowly , and he watches me with his eyes dark with desire. He tears off his clothes when I’m standing before him in my birthday suit. He frees his glorious cock, and I can’t resist kneeling in front of him and taking him in my hand , my hand barely able to close around him, he is thick and heavy . My tongue starts flicking the head of his cock that is glistening with precum, as I slowly lick the length of his cock from the base to the tip . And he moans while he watches me. I stand up and he kisses me again his tongue wrestling with mine for dominance .

We fall into bed again—hot, tangled, insatiable. The second time feels deeper, probably because I push him down and impale myself with his cock. It wilder then before and I ride him till I cum screaming his name and he follows me filling me again.

Afterward, I rest my head on his chest, still catching my breath, fingers tracing the lines of his abs.

His phone rings abruptly .

He glances at the screen and mutters a curse. “Sorry—I have to take this. Just a minute.”

He slips out of bed, grabbing his clothes as he answers. I hear his voice grow sharper, quieter, then I hear him say "ok give me ten minutes, I’ll call you back", he puts his phone down and walks over to me and kisses me, “ I’ve got to go , there’s an issue at one of my plants in Europe , I need to leave right away . I’ll be back in a few days , can I convince you to stay here and wait for me? “, “John , I think it best I head back , I’ve got work to do “, I respond thinking about the shitshow waiting for me .

“I understand , but let me book your ticket for lunch time tomorrow and my driver will be here to take you to the airport “, he kisses me again and pushes me down and i instinctively open my thighs , to my surprise he is hard again . I laugh “ you’re insatiable, besides you said ten minutes”, he sucks on my nipples as his hand finds its way down between my thighs . “They can wait , I want you Selene, you turn me on like no other woman has and I can’t get enough “. He thrusts himself deep into me and I arch my back and scream his name shattering around him almost instantly, he speeds up and empties deep inside me again. He pulls away and gets up and gets dressed , I lay there spent watching him. “Ill call you tomorrow beautiful."he whispers and kisses me and turns and walks towards the door , then the door clicks shut behind him.

I reach for my phone. One new message from Adrian.

I’m flying back to California tonight. I wanted to see you before I left, but I guess that’s not happening. Please call me.

My fingers hover over the screen.

Then I dial.

He picks up instantly.

“Selene?”

His voice is raw with exhaustion.

“I’m here,” I say softly. “I got your messages.”

“I didn’t touch her,” he says immediately. “I was drugged. I can prove it. There’s security footage, facial recognition—someone posed as hotel staff. They delivered something to my room and let Bianca in as well. It wasn’t just a misunderstanding. It was a setup.”

My throat tightens. “Why would anyone do that?”

“Because she knew the only way to get you away from me was to make you believe I slept with her."

Silence.

Then I whisper, “I don’t know what to believe.”

“I get it. I just—I need you to hear me out. I didn’t want you thinking I’d… do that to you. To us.”

I close my eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Because I woke up and was dealing with that and then you were gone. I couldn’t reach you. I even tried to call John—he hung up on me and I called again and left a voicemail.”

I freeze.

John never told me Adrian called.

“Selene,” Adrian says, his voice gentler now, “I have to go. My flight leaves soon. But I’m coming back this weekend. I want to see you. If you’ll let me.”

I don’t answer right away.

“I’ll think about it,” I say finally.

“Okay,” he whispers. “That’s all I ask.”

We hang up, and I sit in the silence, wrapped in warm sheets that smell like John, with Adrian’s voice echoing in my head.