Chapter 30 William Held Down Thalia's Nape and Kissed Her Lips
"What's that smell?"
"Is that Tom Ford's Oud Wood? Mr. Brown, have you been up to something?"
Thalia's nose was as sharp as a bloodhound's. As soon as she got close, she caught the faint scent on William.
"And why is that any of your business?"
"Isn't it? If you touch me, Mr. Brown, don't you have to take responsibility?"
"Mutual contact, Ms. Smith. Don't try to pin this on me," William said, pushing Thalia away and sitting back in his chair.
Thalia leaned lazily against the car, eyeing the always proper William. Ever since their school days, he had been the teacher's pet, the top student no one could reach. Now, in the real world, he was still as untouchable as ever, like a saint who didn't indulge in earthly pleasures.
But the more he restrained himself, the more Thalia wanted to pull him down to earth.
Make him submit to her.
"Mr. Brown, legally speaking, can a woman be charged with raping a man?"
William: ...Thalia's thoughts were anything but ordinary.
"Thalia..." William was holding back.
"Because some other guy said he'd bully me, so you stepped in. Should I take that as you protecting me? Or maybe you're jealous?"
"Thalia..." William's voice was clearly strained.
"If that's the case, does it mean there's still a chance for us? Maybe we could pick up where we left off..."
William grabbed Thalia's head and kissed her.
He didn't want to hear her talk anymore; she was giving him a headache.
"Can you shut up now?"
William let go of her chin and gently pushed her away.
Thalia blinked, looking at William. "If I don't shut up, will you keep kissing me?"
William raised his hand and delivered a quick chop to Thalia's neck.
That shut her up completely.
"To Sunset Grove Villas."
"What?" Finn was surprised. Looking at the unconscious Thalia, he seemed to understand.
...
The next morning, Thalia struggled to wake up, clutching her neck and groaning in bed.
"Why are you making such a fuss this early?"
Evelyn sat beside Thalia, hugging a pillow and looking at her with admiration. "You've got some nerve, making William bring you back."
Thalia: ...That jerk.
"My neck hurts. Help me out."
"Shouldn't your back be hurting in this situation? Why is it your neck? Did you play that wild?"
"Did you kiss?"
"Can you shut up? It's too early for this. Are you trying to disgust me?"
"It's just that you look so strange."
After freshening up and preparing for breakfast, Thalia found Evelyn sitting at the dining table, gossiping on her phone.
"William's really something. He got Matthew locked up."
Thalia took a sip of water. "Locked up where?"
"Are you serious or just pretending not to know?"
"William got Matthew into jail, and he did it legally, keeping himself and you out of it," Evelyn said, shaking her head. "No wonder so many people in Emerald City want to know him! He's an incredible lawyer."
Too incredible.
Thalia wasn't interested in hearing about William when she couldn't get to him.
"Any plans today?"
"No plans, just visiting my dad," Thalia said absentmindedly while eating.
"What's there to see? He's practically on his deathbed..."
Thalia: ...
...
As soon as Thalia drove out of Sunset Grove Villas, she felt like she was being followed.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw not just one, but several cars tailing her.
So, she turned sharply and headed straight for William's law firm.
"Ms. Smith, Mr. Brown has ordered that you're not allowed in," the receptionist said.
"What?" Thalia was stunned, almost laughing. "Did you drink my afternoon tea?"
The receptionist nodded sheepishly, feeling a bit guilty.
"Sweetie, I won't make it hard for you. Just go to the bathroom and pretend I wasn't here."
"What?"
"Go now, go now," another girl signaled an OK to Thalia and pulled the receptionist away. "Are you dumb? Ms. Smith is the boss's future wife. Offending her won't do us any good. If Mr. Brown asks, we'll say we were in the bathroom and didn't see her."
Thalia went to the top-floor office. Everyone's eyes lit up when they saw her. Who wouldn't like someone who always treated them?
In their eyes, Thalia was a bona fide rich lady!
William's office was bustling, so Thalia didn't rush in. She leisurely leaned against the wall, fiddling with her nails and holding her expensive Hermès bag.
Her casual, yet haughty demeanor was unmistakable.
A few minutes later, the office door opened, and William was seeing a client out.
William didn't notice Thalia standing by the wall.
Thalia raised an eyebrow. Ignoring her?
She quickly stepped forward, patted William on the shoulder, and when he turned, she grabbed his neck and kissed him on tiptoe.
William: ...
People in the hallway: ...Is this really happening?
...
William dragged Thalia into the office break room, a small space with a one-bedroom layout, clearly a temporary resting place.
Having been in high society for a long time, Thalia was no stranger to this kind of office setup.
Usually, it was a secret base for the boss and the secretary.
"A secret room? Mr. Brown, you're not so clean after all?"
"Thalia, if you keep this up, don't force me to break your legs."
Thalia laughed. "Mr. Brown, everyone in Emerald City knows we're close. What I'm doing is just what any couple would do. How is this inappropriate?"
"Are you testing my patience?"
Thalia's fingers traced circles on William's chest, her seductive gaze locking onto him.
Determined to tease him?
Fine, fine. There's no one she couldn't get if she set her mind to it.
Relentless pursuit was her forte.
"You've been in the entertainment industry too long. Have you no shame?"
"As long as I have Mr. Brown, shame doesn't matter. But Mr. Brown, you're my life!"
William grabbed Thalia's hand and squeezed. For a moment, Thalia felt like her bones might shatter.
"If Ms. Smith's hands are broken, can you still touch men?"
"William, you're so tough. Does it know?" Thalia pressed herself against William.
Her face changed instantly. He was... actually...
"You think I don't know what you're up to? Clinging to me, entangling with me, using me as your shield. So even if your dad dies, you have me to protect you. Thalia... your tactics are too clumsy."