Chapter 231: Cracking David's Shell

Holly’s POV

He took my breath away as well.

This is not good. So not good.

What if I end up in a bigger mess when this is over? What if I…No. I cannot. I belong to David.

He pulled back, already tapping away. Sent it to himself, set it as my lock screen wallpaper, then went into my contacts and changed his name to “My Baby” with three heart emojis.

I snatched the phone back, laughing so hard I almost snorted when I saw what he did. “You are trying way too hard for a fake relationship, don’t you think?”

“If I had my way, you would have moved in with me, Holly. I like giving my best in everything I do,” he said with a shrug and a wink. “Shall we?”

Something about the way he said the first part made my heart stutter, but I shut it off. I nodded quietly, biting my lip to keep myself from blurting out any nonsense.

Then, he turned the ignition and we rolled out.

The drive was easy…music low, easy banter, him resting his hand on my knee at red lights like it was the most natural thing even after I told him that there was no need for that since we were alone. But he insisted on it. Said he was practicing to be perfect.

When we pulled into the office complex, heads were already turning. Tyler parked, got out, and came around to open my door like a gentleman.

“I could walk you to the elevator, you know,” he offered, holding his hand out.

I took it, stepping down. “I’m good from here—”

But he wasn’t listening. He leaned in fast, cupped my face gently, and kissed me.

Not a peck. A real kiss…soft, slow, deep enough to make my knees weak. My brain shorted out for a solid three seconds before I remembered how to function and tried to pull back.

His hand slid to my waist instantly, holding me in place. Then, just as fast, he broke the kiss and leaned in to whisper against my ear, “David’s watching from the window. Thought we’d make him real jealous.”

I glanced up subtly…sure enough, there was a tall figure in the high-up executive window. Even from here, I could feel the stare.

I remembered his cold rejection yesterday, and how little it made me feel and smirked. “Oh yeah? If that’s the case…let’s sell it properly.”

Before Tyler could process what I meant, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him again…harder this time, quick and playful, pouring every ounce of “taken and loving it” into it. When I pulled back, his eyes were a little wide, lips curved in surprise.

I waved cutely. “Pick me up after work?”

“I’ll be right here waiting,” he said, voice a little rough.

I turned on my heel, skirt swishing, and walked into the building like I owned it. Took the elevator up, heart pounding the whole ride.

The second the doors opened on our floor, there he was.

David.

Standing right outside the elevator, arms crossed, looking like he didn’t sleep all night. Dark circles under his eyes, jaw tight, stare burning holes straight through me.

“Oh, this is gonna be so much fun,” I muttered under my breath.

I stepped out, chin high, and started walking toward him.

I stopped a few feet from him, close enough to smell his cologne…same one he’d worn back then, the one that used to make my stomach flip in the best way anytime I think about it. Now it just made me want to roll my eyes.

David’s arms were still crossed, his broad shoulders tense under that perfectly tailored suit. He looked like he’d been standing there waiting for the elevator doors to open just so he could pounce.

“Holly Rodriguez,” he said, voice low and clipped. “A word.”

I tilted my head, keeping my expression neutral. “Good morning to you too, boss.”

He didn’t return the greeting. His eyes flicked toward the elevators, then back to me. “What the hell was that downstairs? Kissing in the parking lot? You know bringing your private life into work is against the rules.”

I let out a short, cold laugh. “I wasn’t in the building yet, Mr Hunt. I was outside. In public. I can do whatever I want out there.”

His jaw tightened. “With Tyler? When did this even start? You and him?”

I shifted my bag on my shoulder, meeting his stare without flinching. “I don’t mix business with private matters, boss. Whatever’s going on in my personal life isn’t your concern…as long as I do my job. Which I always do.”

I stepped around him, heading toward my new desk in the closed area just outside his office. “Excuse me. I’d like to settle in.”

He didn’t move out of my way at first, just stood there like a wall, eyes burning into me. Then he stepped aside, but I could feel him right behind me the whole way.

I dropped my bag, pulled out my chair, and sat down. My phone buzzed on the desk…screen lighting up with a notification.

It was a message from Tyler: ‘Thinking about that kiss already. You looked way too cute this morning. Have a good day, girlfriend.’ And he even sealed it with a kiss emoji.

I couldn’t help it…I smiled, then let out a soft giggle as I opened the message and typed back a quick reply with a few heart emojis.

David was still standing there, right in front of my desk, looming like a storm cloud. I didn’t look up, but I knew he’d seen the screen. His voice came out tight.

“‘My Baby’?” he asked, repeating the contact name like it tasted bad. “That Tyler?”

I finally glanced up, all fake innocence with a sharp edge. “Who else? You think I have an actual baby I’m hiding somewhere?”

His eyes narrowed, a muscle ticking in his jaw. He opened his mouth like he wanted to say more, then closed it and stalked into his office, slamming the door harder than necessary.

Perfect.

The rest of the morning was pure subtle torture…for him, anyway.

I kept my phone face-up on the desk. Every time Tyler texted…and he texted a lot, I’d smile at the screen, bite my lip a little, type back something flirty. Nothing over the top…just enough. A heart-eyes emoji here, a “miss you already” there.

Around ten, Tyler sent a coffee order to the group chat for our floor…somebody was doing a Starbucks run. He added a separate text just to me. ‘Got you your favorite. Extra whip. Because my girl deserves to be spoiled.’

How did he figure out what my favorite was? Did I mention it in passing and can't remember?

Whatever, I'm just having fun anyway.  I grinned at my phone, thumbs flying. ‘You’re the best. Can’t wait.’

I felt David’s eyes on me from his glass-walled office. He was pretending to read reports, but his gaze kept flicking over.

Every time I laughed softly at a meme Tyler sent or sighed happily at a sweet message, or even pretended I was reading a message when there was nothing, David’s grip on his pen got tighter. I could practically hear the plastic creaking.

At lunch, I didn’t go to the cafeteria like usual. Instead, I took a call from Tyler out in the hallway…loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.

Especially my dear David.

“Yeah, babe, I can do dinner tonight,” I said, leaning against the wall, twirling a strand of hair around my finger. “I’ve got that dress you like…the red one.” I laughed at whatever he said back, low and flirty. “You’re bad. See you later.”

When I walked back to my desk, David was standing at the printer right outside his door, staring at me like he wanted to set me on fire with his mind.

“This was going smoother than I thought,” I muttered under my breath as I settled in.

But, a sudden movement from the corner caught my attention and I paused.