Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Elara snapped back to reality and said, "Mr. Hartley, I know you're trying to mess with me, but I seriously need your help. The Heaton family is way too powerful. You're the only one who can take them down.
"You're a lawyer for justice, right? They're straight-up abusing their power—"
"Shut it." Adrian's eyes turned ice-cold. "I'm not here for a sermon. And save the guilt trip. Either you sleep with me, and I'll help your boyfriend, or get lost."
Elara stared him down. 'So what if he's hot? He's just as much a jerk as Neil.'
She tried to hold back tears—she'd always been prone to crying, and even the smallest things could set her off. And right now, the last thing she wanted was to break down in front of Adrian. But the tears spilled anyway.
"So us regular people are just your playthings?" she shouted, her voice trembling.
Adrian sneered, "Playthings? It was a one-night thing. Mutual fun, no big deal. You were into it that night, remember? Still butthurt? Can't your guy get the job done?"
'That night... He thinks I'm that cheap?' Elara's throat tightened. Her shoulders shook as she stared at Adrian, her tear-filled eyes burning with silent accusation.
"Stop crying. You're making this really hard," Adrian said. He felt a hot rush inside but held back as he pulled back. He yanked off his tie and threw it aside. "Get out."
Elara didn't budge.
Adrian's tone turned lethal. "Leave now if you know what's good for you."
Elara recalled what Susan's said—he hated women and couldn't stand physical contact. After a brief pause, she challenged him, "You wouldn't dare."
"What?"
"I said, you wouldn't dare," Elara said, her heart pounding. "Your first love's been overseas three years, and you're still saving yourself for her, right?"
Adrian scoffed, "I won't hold back for anyone."
"Oh really? Then how many women have you slept with these past years?"
"You care?"
Elara couldn't give a damn about that. All she wanted was to delve into his inner world.
Adrian stared at her face, tearful but defiant, and felt an overwhelming urge to break her down.
"Of course I care. I need to know if you're still... untouched," Elara insisted.
Adrian flicked his half-smoked cigarette out the window, rolled up the car window, and locked the car doors with a sharp click.
Elara's heart skipped. She watched him undo two shirt buttons, exposing his collarbone—like a waking leopard ready to pounce.
In one swift motion, Adrian leaned over, grabbed her waist, and lifted her into the driver's seat.
Before Elara could react, she was sitting on his thick thigh, her miniskirt riding up as her legs splayed. She gasped and quickly yanked the fabric down.
Adrian swatted her hands away. With the tie he'd just thrown off, he bound her wrists behind the seat before pinning her against the steering wheel.
'I'm totally screwed this time,' Elara thought, her heart racing. Still, she kept her cool, acting like this was just another day.
"Listen up, Ms. Langton," Adrian whispered in his ear. "I don't save myself for anyone." His hand gripped her neck, pulling her into a kiss.
Elara was forced to feel his cool, thin lips, tinged with the faint scent of tobacco. It was rough and violent, more like a bruising bite than a kiss.
Elara went rigid, her mind screaming, 'This is my first kiss. I always pictured it with Alex—soft, sweet. But this jerk Adrian just stole it.'
"Ouch!" Adrian pulled back. "You bite like a stray dog."
Elara glared at him. "Let me go!"
"Can't take it? Didn't you say I wouldn't dare?" Adrian sneered.
With her wrists tied, and legs spread, Elara could only twist her body to struggle free.
Adrian's eyes deepened, his hands pinning her down as he warned, "Stay put unless you want me to finish this right here."
Startled by the look in his eyes, Elara froze on the spot.
"Last chance. Get out or stay," Adrian said, his voice hoarse. His eyes were bloodshot from the long day.
Elara didn't want to give up. "But Alex's case—"
Completely fed up, Adrian grabbed her waist, hauled her against him, and crushed his lips against hers in a forceful kiss.
Though inexperienced, Elara knew what was pressing against his pants. Her heart raced, and she quickly looked away, shouting, "Let me go. I want out of here."
Adrian released her, breathing hard, fighting to rein in his urge. "All bark, no bite," he sneered, voice hoarse.
Ten minutes later, Elara stumbled out of the McLaren and bolted toward the white Koenigsegg parked across the garage.
Even back in her ride, her heart was racing. She took deep breaths and pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm down. It took her ten whole minutes to finally catch her breath.
'Too close,' she thought. 'He didn't play by the book. Did my psych tricks flop? All that overseas training for nothing?'
In the McLaren, Adrian shot a glance at the bag on the passenger seat, opened it, and smirked, "Quite generous, huh?"
Desire still burning, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in the driver's seat. The garage was dead silent in the darkness. He closed his eyes, trying to calm down.
Suddenly, a sports car engine screamed. A white Koenigsegg blasted past, a blur of speed.
Adrian perked up. He tossed his cigarette and floored the gas pedal, speeding after the Koenigsegg.
Elara, planning to swing by her coffee shop, pulled up at a red light.
Adrian's black McLaren screeched to a stop next to her white Koenigsegg. The two cars—one pitch black, the other pure white—stood out like fire and ice.
Elara glanced at the McLaren a lane over, then looked away.
The McLaren was anything but chill. Its engine revved again and again, the hood like a coiled leopard ready to spring.
Elara had raced cars before. Challenges like this were almost routine for her. It was always the same game—a quick race to prove who was faster and size up the competition.
Adrian rolled down his window and shot Elara a challenging glance. She raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding his unspoken challenge.
The Koenigsegg's dark tinted windows concealed the driver, leaving Adrian clueless that Elara, the girl he saw as nothing more than a crybaby, was behind the wheel.
That old competitive streak flared in Elara. She revved her engine, flooring the gas in reply. The Koenigsegg's roar cut through the air, thick with tension.
Adrian's grin turned cocky. When the light turned green, the black McLaren shot off like a bullet.