Chapter 46 Did I Make You Happy?
Emma smiled faintly as she spotted Rosalind approaching from a short distance away.
“What a coincidence.” She stepped forward.
Rosalind ignored her.
“Don’t rush off.” Emma gestured toward a quiet corner.
“What’s this? Running low on cash and looking for business?” Rosalind sneered.
“Ha. After finally dragging myself out of bed, I need something decent to eat. Otherwise, tonight’s going to be another miserable ordeal.”
“Spit it out.” Rosalind grew impatient, shooting a glance toward the nearby private room.
Emma reached out and tugged Rosalind’s collar higher, covering the exposed skin.
“Don’t drink too much, or you may not even know where you wake up tomorrow.”
She smiled as she spoke.
Rosalind brushed her hand away disdainfully.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re smart.” Emma didn’t elaborate and turned away.
⸻
After dinner, the group waited for their rides on the first floor.
“Could I borrow your car for a few days, Mr. Hayes?” Claire asked earnestly.
“Sure.”
“Thank you!”
Soon after, Ryan and Anna drove off.
Liam took Anna’s car, while Ryan drove Claire and Anna home.
⸻
Once seated in the car, Emma stared at the flickering city lights outside the window, her heart racing.
The moment they stepped out and the elevator doors slid shut, he pinned her against the wall and kissed her.
The kiss was heavy and urgent, his tongue forcing its way in, carrying a faint hint of smoke.
Her mind went blank. All she could hear was her own pounding heartbeat as her fingers clenched his suit sleeve.
Her back pressed against the cold elevator wall while her chest met his burning heat, the contrast sending shivers through her entire body.
He stripped her of her clothing as they stumbled from the doorway toward the bedroom.
Then he pinned her against the bedroom door.
He panted, pressing his forehead against hers, his breath hot against her face.
The air was thick with the scent of sweat and something deeper.
“Don’t be nervous,” he murmured hoarsely. His hands gripped her shoulders, his thumbs smoothing over them.
She relaxed slightly and lifted her eyes to meet his.
He kissed her again—slow, coaxing—before his tongue slipped inside, tangling with hers.
He deepened the kiss, stealing her balance with deliberate intent.
His hands slid from her shoulders down her back, hot even through the fabric.
When his mouth trailed to her neck, she couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her.
Then he pressed her beneath him and drove himself against her in one decisive, breath-stealing motion.
Before she could react, a deep, molten ache unfurled inside her, followed by a slow, relentless rhythm.
It lasted for hours before finally coming to an end.
The scent of love lingered in the room.
⸻
Leaning against the bathroom doorframe, she pressed her palms to her flushed cheeks.
Standing before the mirror, she slipped off her bathrobe and examined herself.
The marks on her chest were just as numerous as the first time. Worse still, there were marks on her neck this time. Below her waist, his fingerprints were clearly visible against her skin.
She hurriedly pulled the robe back on and stepped out.
Back in the bedroom, he had just finished changing the sheets.
“Want something to eat?” he asked.
“No, thanks.”
He slipped off his bathrobe, leaving only his pajama bottoms.
Emma quickly turned away, walked into the walk-in closet, and began her skincare routine.
The images from earlier refused to fade.
Taking a deep breath, she turned off the light and carefully slipped back under the covers.
She was caught off guard when he pulled her into his warm embrace the moment she lay down.
She could feel their breaths mingling.
“Did I make you happy?” His voice was hoarse.
“Want more?” Liam asked.
“I’m so tired…” Emma murmured.
“Fine. Good night. Or I might not hold back.”
She flinched and quickly tucked her head back, squeezing her eyes shut.
He tightened his arms around her waist and chuckled softly.
…
The next morning, Liam left for the office early.
Emma was jolted awake by the alarm.
“Ugh…” She rolled over, feeling as though her body might fall apart at any moment.
Opening her phone, she saw a message from Liam:
\[Breakfast is ready. Don’t forget it.\]
Claire sent a smirking emoji.
Claire: \[You must’ve been exhausted last night, right?\]
Before Emma could react, another photo arrived.
It was Liam at work. Even with his shirt buttons fastened, the faint love bite on his neck was unmistakable.
Emma’s face flushed as she froze, unsure how to respond.
Is he doing this on purpose?
⸻
After breakfast, she hurried to the office.
“Nice ride, Emma,” Ivy remarked as they waited for the elevator in the parking garage, eyeing her car.
Emma smiled but didn’t respond.
“That’s gotta be worth over a million bucks, right? Are you dating someone?” Ivy pressed.
“No, I’m not dating anyone,” Emma replied.
Just married, that’s all.
⸻
Floor 28.
The moment the elevator doors opened, a sweet aroma filled the air.
A ripple of excitement spread through the department.
Emma walked to her desk and spotted a familiar dessert box.
“Mr. Hayes had it delivered first thing this morning—one for everyone in the company,” Iris said, taking a satisfied bite.
“Afternoon tea? It’s morning,” Emma frowned.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen the boss this happy.”
⸻
A message popped up in the group chat.
Unknown: \[First time seeing a woman get out of the boss’s car, and Ryan personally picked her up.\]
Unknown: \[Could the hickey on the boss’s neck be from her?\]
Unknown: \[Could she be the rumored ‘Muse’? Every time the company’s in trouble, she appears.\]
Unknown: \[Did the boss hook up with her to get Muse’s resources?\]
…
The rumors grew increasingly absurd.
⸻
At quitting time, the front desk called Emma to pick up her things.
She grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.
“These are flowers Mr. Hayes ordered for you, Emma.” The two girls at the front desk smiled as they handed her a bouquet of tulips.
“Thank you!” Her eyes lit up as she accepted them carefully.
Cradling the flowers, she stepped into the elevator bound for the underground garage.