Chapter 48: Episode 48

Chapter 48

The clock hands on the marble wall of the design department had passed five in the afternoon, signaling the end of operational hours at Alexander Group’s headquarters in London. One by one, the blonde-haired and blue-eyed designers packed up their sketches, exchanging friendly smiles before hurrying home through the chilly English autumn air.

Emeli deliberately slowed her movements. She pretended to stare intently at the monitor screen, aimlessly moving the cursor around just to wait until the room was completely empty. She did not want a single coworker to see the mess of a way she was walking that afternoon.

After the final footsteps disappeared behind the sensor doors, Emeli let out a long trembling breath. She braced herself on both arms to straighten her body.

“Awhh...” Emeli hissed, clenching her teeth tightly as her inner thighs brushed together.

The sharp stinging pain instantly spread through her body, making her eyes water. Damn it. The pain refused to compromise at all. While gripping her handbag tightly, Emeli slowly stepped out of her cubicle. She limped awkwardly, dragging her right leg slightly to minimize the friction against her swollen and chafed skin.

“Selfish, cruel man with no feelings,” Emeli grumbled under her breath along the empty corridor.

Every tap of her low heels against the granite floor sounded like a rhythm of curses aimed at Alexa Ken. That man had truly acted like a wild beast last night, completely ignoring how different their body sizes were. Emeli continued cursing inwardly, lamenting her fate of having to bear the consequences of the billionaire’s madness and desire.

It took nearly fifteen minutes for Emeli just to reach the underground basement, a private parking area reserved only for the company’s top executives. A gust of cold air from outside immediately pierced her skin as she stepped into the gray-painted area.

A black luxury sedan bearing the logo of a prestigious German manufacturer was already running, its headlights cutting through the darkness of the basement. Juna, who had been standing beside the back door, immediately stepped forward the moment he saw Emeli’s silhouette.

“Good evening, Miss Emeli,” Juna greeted politely with a respectful nod as he opened the car door for her.

Emeli tried hard to hide her limping steps as she approached, although she was certain that observant as Juna was, he had already noticed something unusual. She quickly slipped into the warm cabin heated by the car’s engine, sinking into the soft leather seat.

She turned toward the right side of the back seat, only to find it empty. Emeli frowned, looking at Juna through the rearview mirror as the assistant settled into the driver’s seat. “Where’s your master, Juna? Wasn’t he the one who told me to come here?”

Juna slowly turned the steering wheel, guiding the car through the streets of London as a light drizzle began to fall. “My apologies, Miss. Mr. Ken was suddenly required to attend an emergency meeting with the board of commissioners from the Euro-Group faction. He asked me to take you back to the apartment first.”

Emeli fell silent, resting her head against the window that had begun to fog up. An overwhelming sense of relief washed over her chest. At least tonight, she had time to rest her battered body without having to endure that man’s intimidation again.

The car stopped smoothly in front of Ken’s luxurious apartment tower located in the elite district of One Hyde Park. After thanking Juna, Emeli stepped into the two-story minimalist modern penthouse.

The moment the three-meter-tall teakwood door locked automatically behind her, Emeli immediately kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot across the thick fur carpet. However, the soreness between her legs only became worse.

“Argh, why does it hurt this much?” Emeli muttered in frustration as she sat on the edge of the king-sized bed.

She recalled the memory from several months ago. During their forced first night together at the hotel, it had not hurt or swollen this badly. Last night, Ken had truly lost control, taking her in various positions across the rough wool carpet until her sensitive skin had become severely chafed.

Bzzz... Bzzz...

The phone inside her bag vibrated loudly. Emeli reached for the slim device and saw an incoming video call from a very familiar name.

Victor Valdes.

Emeli slid the screen open, revealing Victor’s handsome face against the backdrop of city lights beyond the glass walls of a tall building. He was wearing a casual shirt without a tie, looking very relaxed.

“Hi, Emeli,” Victor greeted with a charming smile spreading instantly across his lips. “Have you gotten home from work?”

Emeli forced a faint smile, adjusting the camera angle so it only showed her from the chest up. “I have, Victor. I just arrived home. What’s up?”

“I’m at a restaurant in the Mayfair area right now. I happen to have a private dinner voucher here,” Victor said, his eyes gleaming hopefully through the screen. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight? I can pick you up right now.”

Emeli hesitated for a moment. She remembered what Juna had said in the car earlier about his boss’s schedule.

Juna said Mr. Ken won’t be finished until eleven tonight, Emeli thought quickly. She glanced at the wall clock, which still showed six in the evening.

Not bad. Better than dying of boredom while dealing with this pain alone, she thought again.

“Alright, Victor. Send me the address, and I’ll head there by taxi,” Emeli finally replied, agreeing to the invitation.

“Good. I’ll be waiting for you in the private room on the second floor, Emeli. See you,” Victor said cheerfully before ending the call.

After hanging up, Emeli hurried toward the bathroom. She opened the cabinet drawer and found a special antiseptic ointment for sensitive skin that she had bought some time ago. Slowly and with a slight wince, she applied the cool cream to the inflamed area of her inner thighs.

Miraculously, the burning pain gradually faded away, replaced by a soothing cooling sensation. Emeli let out a relieved breath. She decided to dress simply—just a light touch of lipstick, a soft layer of powder, and leaving her long hair flowing naturally. She wore a loose maroon knitted dress so it would not press against her chafed skin, then quickly headed out toward the location.

The luxurious Victorian-style restaurant in the Mayfair district seemed incredibly quiet when Emeli stepped inside. A waiter dressed in a formal suit welcomed her in the lobby before leading her up the winding staircase toward the dimly lit second floor.

The moment the private room door opened, Emeli froze in the doorway. The room was very spacious, yet there was only one round table in the center decorated with rose-scented aromatherapy candles. Fresh flower petals were scattered across the polished wooden floor, creating an overwhelmingly romantic atmosphere.

Victor was already standing beside the table, holding a single red rose with a smile that never left his face.

“Victor, what is all this?” Emeli asked with a confused expression, her eyes sweeping across the decorations that looked far too intimate for an ordinary dinner between friends.

Victor did not answer immediately. He stepped closer, gently taking Emeli’s cold fingers into his hand. His attentive manner made Emeli feel cherished as a woman, a stark contrast to Ken’s rough treatment last night.

“Come with me for a moment,” Victor whispered softly, guiding Emeli toward the balcony area overlooking the dazzling nighttime view of Big Ben and the River Thames.

The cold autumn air instantly surrounded them, yet the warmth of Victor’s hand holding hers seemed to chase away the chill. Victor turned to face her, staring deeply into Emeli’s eyes with overwhelming intensity.

“Emeli, I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. Ever since I first saw you sitting in my class back then,” Victor said, his voice trembling yet filled with sincerity.

He lifted Emeli’s right hand and placed it against his chest, allowing her to feel the wild beating of his heart. “I don’t want to be just a man who watches you from afar anymore. I want to protect you for real.”

Deg.

Emeli’s heart seemed to stop beating for a full second. Her eyes widened as she stared at Victor’s face so close before her.

“Will you be my girlfriend, Emeli Catrine?” Victor asked in a low pleading voice, offering the red rose toward Emeli’s chest.

Emeli stood frozen in place, her tongue suddenly tied as though locked shut. Her thoughts instantly became a tangled mess. On one hand, Victor’s gentleness was everything she had always longed for. But on the other hand, the image of her one-year contract with Alexa Ken, along with the heated struggle they had shared just last night, suddenly replayed over and over inside her mind, leaving her utterly confused about how she should answer.

To be continued.