Chapter 29 Choosing a Gift
Bianca felt it instantly—the way Terrence's body went rigid beneath her, the sharp movement of his Adam's apple against her lips, the sudden roughness in his breathing.
She jerked her head up, colliding with the dark depth of his gaze. The sunglasses he wore did nothing to soften the impact. Behind those dark lenses, his eyes burned with undisguised dominance.
"I… I didn't mean to," she stammered, her cheeks flushing hot. "My foot slipped."
His hand tightened abruptly around her waist, the pressure enough to draw a faint line between her brows. His voice was low, hoarse, and laced with restrained danger. "Bianca, you're playing with fire."
The sunglasses might have concealed his eyes, but she could still feel the weight of his gaze—hot, deliberate, and threaded with a danger that seemed to burn straight through her.
She forced herself to remain composed, muttering under her breath, "My ankle's still not healed. I forgot to put weight on my left foot. And it's not like you've never been kissed before… you didn't lose anything."
Terrence studied her for several long seconds before a cold, humorless laugh escaped him. His fingers slid to her chin, applying just enough pressure to tilt her face upward into his unyielding gaze. "Lose? You think taking liberties with me is that easy?"
Bianca pressed her lips together, unwilling to answer.
His Adam's apple shifted again as he drew in a slow, deliberate breath, forcing down the heat that threatened to undo his composure. He released her, masking the tension in his body.
Watching him wrestle with his restraint stirred something in her chest. Staying home to build a bond with him wasn't enough. She wanted more. She wanted to step into his world.
She settled herself back beside him, looping her arms around his solid arm, her voice soft and tentative. "Terrence… I've been feeling a little bored at home lately. Could I come with you to the office tomorrow?"
She added, "You don't have to worry. I won't steal company secrets. I just want more time with you. Even if it's just catching a glimpse of you from across the room."
He lowered his head, the sunglasses a barrier to whatever flickered in his eyes. Silence stretched between them, and just when Bianca thought he would refuse, his deep voice broke through. "You can."
Her face lit up. "That's great! Are you going to the office this afternoon? Take me with you?"
Terrence rose to his full height, his presence filling the room with quiet authority. He started toward the door, but when he noticed she wasn't following, he stopped, turning his head slightly.
His tone was cool, edged with command. "Didn't you say you wanted to go to the office? Or should I carry you there?"
Bianca beamed and hurried after him, slipping her hand into his without hesitation. "I thought you meant tomorrow. Let's go now."
They arrived at the office together, their joined hands drawing immediate whispers from the staff.
"Did I just see Mr. Anderson bring a woman to the office?"
"You did. And they were holding hands. Could she be his fiancée?"
Rumors spread like wildfire.
Inside his private office, Bianca noticed the meticulous arrangement of furniture and the expansive space—every detail befitting the man who ran the company.
"Stay on the sofa for now. I'll join you when I'm done. If you get bored, you can leave. If you need anything, Barry will get it for you."
"I'm fine. You go ahead."
Without further comment, Terrence immersed himself in work.
Bianca propped her chin on her hand, watching him. The way he moved through documents, the sharp focus in his expression… she couldn't help but think how lucky she was. A man like Terrence—successful, handsome—was the kind you married and never regretted.
Samuel, on the other hand… he was the kind of man who might sell his wife to save his failing business. She shuddered at the thought.
Shaking off the dark memory, she walked over to Terrence's desk and began organizing the scattered files.
He glanced at her, brows drawing together. "You don't need to do that. Someone else will handle it."
"I'm just passing the time," she replied, sorting the papers into neat stacks.
She pointed to the piles. "The ones in the yellow folders are the ones you've already reviewed. The blue folders are pending. You can start with those."
He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "You know how to do this?"
"I've never worked here, but I can figure it out."
She grinned. "Why don't you hire me as your personal assistant? I could help you every day, be with you all the time, and even get paid. Perfect arrangement, right?"
The corner of his mouth twitched—so quickly it was almost imperceptible—before he returned to his paperwork. "Keep dreaming."
When lunch arrived, Barry brought their meals to the office. After they ate, Bianca moved behind Terrence, gently massaging his temples.
For once, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to enjoy the touch. Her scent lingered in the air, subtle but intoxicating.
"They say the higher the position, the heavier the workload. I finally see how busy the legendary Mr. Anderson really is. You haven't stopped since you walked in."
If she hadn't insisted on coming, she would only see him at meals or in bed.
"I have several meetings this afternoon. I may not be able to spend time with you."
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek black card and handing it to her. "No password. It's a secondary card. Go shopping. Buy something you like."
Her eyes sparkled as she took it, slipping it into her pocket. She leaned down, kissing his cheek. "Thank you, darling."
The word seemed to hit him somewhere deep, though his face remained composed. He gave a faint nod.
By two o'clock, he was ready to leave for his meetings. He glanced at her. "Be safe. Come back early."
"Got it!" she said, waving.
Once he was gone, Bianca headed to the luxury mall near the Anderson Group headquarters, the black card burning a pleasant weight in her pocket.
She wandered for a while before a display caught her eye—a high-end menswear boutique. Inside, she browsed carefully, searching for something Terrence could use.
Her gaze landed on a pale blue striped tie, the fabric rich and smooth. She could already picture it against his crisp shirts.
"This pale blue striped tie would suit me perfectly, Bianca. Are you buying it for me?"
The warmth drained from her face. She set the tie down and turned, meeting Samuel's smiling face.
"Why do I keep running into you? Or did you put some kind of curse on me?"
Samuel stepped closer, still unwilling to let her go. He hadn't gotten what he wanted yet.
"If you didn't care about me, why are you here picking something out for me? Isn't this tie for me?"
Bianca laughed without humor. She picked up a black tie with subtle gold embroidery, its craftsmanship understated yet luxurious. "I have a fiancé. Naturally, it's for Terrence."
"You think you can compare me to him?" Her tone was ice.
"Bianca, can't we talk? All these years, you've never treated me like this.
"If it's about money, Terrence has it, but so do I. I can give you whatever you want.
"If you're worried he'll retaliate when you leave, we can go to him together, beg him to let you go. We could be happy."
Samuel's desperation was palpable, but his words carried no real action.
"Shut up. Are you following me? Otherwise, how would you be here right now?"
A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. His grip on his phone tightened.
Bianca refused to waste more breath. She took the tie she'd chosen and headed for the register.
Samuel followed, his frustration boiling over. He reached out, grabbing her wrist.
And at that exact moment, Terrence walked in and saw everything.