Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 119: Chapter 119

Adrian, who had been spoiling Elara to the point of having no temper left, said, "Alright, so during this time, can I ask you for a promise?"
Elara looked up curiously. "What promise?"
"Don't go looking for other men."
"Why can't I?"
Adrian let out a laugh, exasperated.
"You're the one chasing after me, so why should I be the one waiting around for you? We should be on equal footing, remember?"
Even though Elara wasn't really in the mood to look for another guy right now, she hated being restricted like this. It wasn't like she was the one begging Adrian to make things official.
She added, "What if you keep me hanging for years, and then when I turn thirty, you just go off and marry Josie instead?"
Adrian played with her hair. "Alright, I'll do it your way."
Elara froze for a second at his words. She didn't expect him to agree to it so readily. Elara blinked, thinking he might not take it seriously. He wouldn't give up his status. Maybe he found it acceptable that he agreed.
Elara felt a weight lift off her shoulders, and before she knew it, her expression relaxed a little.
Adrian noticed her expression and brushed her nose with his finger, teasing, "What are you plotting? Why are you so happy?"
"Nothing much, just thinking about where to have fun tomorrow since I don't have to work." Just the thought of having a day off tomorrow put her in an even better mood.
"That's all you're thinking about? Nothing else on your mind?"
"What else?"
Adrian let out a laugh, exasperated. "I just laid on all that sweet talk, and you didn't feel a thing?"
She recalled what Adrian had said just now. She wasn't made of stone, so she was indeed moved.
Adrian pressed her, "Huh? That was the mushiest thing I've ever said, and you seriously didn't feel anything?"
Elara shot him a look. "If you think it's too cringey, then just don't say it."
"As long as you don't mind, do you like it? If you do, I can say it more often."
"It's... whatever."
"Either you feel something or you don't. What's with that answer?"
Elara was locked tightly in his embrace, with no way to escape, and his hands were anything but well-behaved, sending shivers all over her body. "I don't feel a thing."
Adrian smirked, "Oh, is that so?" His burning palm slid up Elara's fair thigh. Her skirt was so short that with just a gentle lift, a world of temptation was right there for the taking.
Adrian's movements were unhurried and teasing, but he was lighting a fire all over Elara, stoking her every nerve. His voice was low, magnetic, dripping with masculine allure. "Not feeling anything? Then let me make sure you do."
After what just happened, Elara's desire was still smoldering. With Adrian barely even trying, she was already letting her guard down, ready to bite the hook he dangled. When feelings took a back seat, the body never lied.
Adrian took advantage of the moment, catching her earlobe between his teeth. "Baby, feeling something now?"
A low, helpless moan slipped from Elara's throat, but she still managed to say, "No." Her mouth said no, but her body was already melting in his arms.
Adrian let out a teasing laugh. "Oh? Elara, you really don't want to go another round?"
Elara's mind went completely blank with pleasure. "You wicked man," she muttered. Things quickly heated up after that, but this time, Elara took matters into her own hands. She was giving as good as she got.
When Elara was all hazy and out of it, Adrian buried his face in her chest. "Elara, don't try to weasel out of what you promised tonight."
Elara kept feeding him lines, teasing, "I'll believe it when you actually pull it off. Then you can come talk to me about all this." The price of going for a second round was that her wrists were so sore.
The clock read 3 a.m. They lay face to face on the couch, the only thing left in the room was the long, drawn-out sound of their ragged breathing. The balcony lights in the building across the street had gone dark ages ago.
She pushed herself up from the couch, tugged her rumpled skirt back down, and then headed to the bathroom to wash her hands again and again before grabbing some water from the kitchen.
Adrian didn't bother getting up. He lay there on his back, staring up at the ornate crystal chandelier, his mind completely blank. "So, when can we finally have sex?" Looked like he was really getting pent up. After all, this just wasn't enough for him.
Elara grabbed a few wet wipes and started scrubbing the couch. "You tell me." Adrian had almost gotten his way a couple of times just now, but Elara managed to keep her guard up.
Things between them were already far from innocent, but if she just let him take it to the next level so easily, Adrian would be getting off way too easy.
Adrian sat up slowly, the heat of unfulfilled desire still lingering on his face. He only looked halfway decent again once he'd put his clothes back on.
He lit a cigarette, lounged back lazily, and openly stared at Elara without even trying to hide it. "What were you talking about with Noah earlier?"
"Just small talk."
"Small talk? Like what?"
"He said he sold the club."
Adrian hadn't expected Noah to tell her that. "Did he say why he sold it?"
Elara shook her head. "Julian told me it was because of mismanagement. The club had always been kept afloat by Kalmien Group's money, but this year, Kalmien suddenly pulled out."
"Do you know why Kalmien stopped funding him?"
"Not a clue."
Adrian half-lowered his eyes, the smoke from his cigarette blurring his now-cold face. He kept the reason to himself.
Elara wasn't all that curious. When it came to big money, it was all just about profit. Nothing worth sticking her nose into.
Suddenly, Elara remembered, "Didn't you get into Josie's car? So why'd you end up here with me? Did things not go so well when you were catching up?" If things had gone smoothly, Josie wouldn't have been calling Noah in less than half an hour.
"Did your fiancée piss you off, so you came running to me for comfort?"
Elara was just mocking him, but Adrian still caught a whiff of jealousy. "Oh? You really care what we talked about?"
"Why would I care? I'm just curious about this whole love triangle of yours."
"Love triangle?" Adrian snorted. "You mean me, you, and Noah?"
Elara rolled her eyes at him. "I mean you, Josie, and Noah. Hate to break it to you, but there's nothing between me and Josie. You're making it sound like Noah and I are a thing or something."
Adrian said, "Don't tell me you never thought about it. You just never got the chance. From that photo of you two, you looked like you were about to make out."
Elara fell silent.
Adrian's phone suddenly rang. He flicked his cigarette butt into a nearly empty water bottle and then pulled out his phone from his pocket. It was Victor. He'd sent his driver to pick Adrian up. Adrian hadn't planned on staying the night anyway.
He grabbed his suit jacket from the arm of the couch, buttoned it up with his long fingers, and said, "I'm heading out. Be at work at nine sharp tomorrow."
Elara felt relieved. But the moment she heard she had to be at work on time tomorrow, her heart nearly stopped. She hurried after him to the entryway, blurting out as he grabbed the doorknob, "Didn't you say I could have the day off?"
Adrian turned to her with a mischievous grin. "Consider this a lesson. Never believe what a man says in bed."
"But we didn't even sleep together!"
"Couch bed. Still counts."
Elara fell silent.
The door swung open and Adrian strode out, his long legs making quick work of the hallway. He glanced back to see Elara standing there, dark circles under her eyes, looking completely wiped out.
Adrian put on a straight face and called out to her, "Elara."
Elara frowned at him. "Now what, boss?"
"I just broke off my engagement with Josie in the car," Adrian said. The door clicked shut, leaving Elara standing in the entryway, completely stunned.