Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 55: Chapter 55

Hearing this, Elara's lashes fluttered in flustered surprise. "W-what?" She stammered, stunned.
Adrian leaned in, his voice husky with desire. "Let me have you, baby."
'B-baby? Seriously? Getting turned on in broad daylight?' Elara thought, stunned.
"Mr. Hartley, you—" Elara stammered. It suddenly dawned on Elara. The pink essential oil is the one with hallucinogenic and aphrodisiac effects. She'd just seen it on the surveillance footage. Jenna had indeed dripped the oil onto his neck.
But it's already been an hour. 'Is he seriously holding back for a whole hour?' Elara thought. She said, "Adrian, about that essential oil..."
Adrian met her gaze, his voice low. "I've been aroused for a while now. Just been holding back."
"Then keep holding back," Elara retorted defiantly.
"But I can't hold back anymore. I want you now."
'No way! Am I really supposed to throw myself at him on my very first day at work?' she thought. Adrian gave Elara no time to react. His lips descended upon hers once more. He held nothing back, letting his desire run wild.
Elara pushed Adrian away, meeting his lust-filled gaze with a solemn expression. 'Is he out of his mind? Or does he think I'm someone else?' she wondered. Steadying her frantic breath, she asked him, "Who are you?"
He gently nibbled at her slender neck. "Adrian."
Elara felt a slight tickle and, still a bit suspicious, asked him again, "Then who am I to you?"
"Elara," he said.
'Wait a minute, he's completely lucid?' Elara thought. She looked at him warily. "Do you even realize what you're doing?"
"I'm perfectly clear-headed, Elara. I want you. It's me, Adrian. I want you, Elara."
Elara had no more chance to fend him off. Adrian had reached the limit of his self-restraint, the desire burning inside him about to burst. His scorching lips ravaged hers, his breathing growing erratic as he desperately tried to possess her.
Elara tried to push him away, but Adrian effortlessly caught her wrists and pinned them above her head. She frowned, lips pressed tight, refusing to let his intrusive tongue in.
"Open up," Adrian commanded in a husky voice.
But Elara wouldn't. Adrian taunted her. "Your ex has probably already slept with Nancy. While they're rolling between the sheets, are you still playing the chaste virgin for him?"
Hearing this, Elara lowered her gaze. "That kind of reverse psychology doesn't work on me."
Adrian had no choice but to nibble at her lips, using his masculine strength to pry them open bit by bit. In the end, Elara's willpower crumbled under his relentless kiss. Their lips and tongues tangled as he drained every breath from her.
Elara was nearly suffocating when Adrian finally let her go for a moment. His heavy breathing burned against her ear; his deep, soft voice dripping with temptation. "Let me?" He whispered seductively.
Elara turned her face away, her voice icy and firm. "No."
Adrian heaved a rough sigh, his composure visibly strained. He murmured hoarsely. "Help me out, won't you?" Though his words sounded like a plea; his tone brooked no refusal. It was command, plain and simple.
He guided her hand to his waist, her pale fingertips coming to rest on the cold metal of his belt buckle.
"Undo it," he demanded. Thirty agonizing minutes later, Elara's face flushed crimson from head to toe, right down to her trembling hands.
Adrian's husky breath and low, seductive hums sent shivers through her, leaving every nerve in her body tingling. Elara snapped, "You, why do you bite me?"
Adrian let out a husky, testosterone-laced chuckle. "That bite? Consider it payback for last time."
'Oh, he's so petty. Just because I bit him in the VIP room last time,' Elara thought.
Adrian's head slumped weakly onto Elara's shoulder, his hot, ragged breaths ghosting against her neck, sending shivers down her spine. "Adrian, you owe me a new pair of stockings," Elara grumbled wearily.
"Compensation?" Adrian said with a playful glint in his eye. "Well, Elara, unless you can prove I ruined your stockings, I'm afraid you don't have a case. Got any evidence?"
'Shouldn't have tried reasoning with a lawyer,' Elara thought, then pushed Adrian away and headed to the lounge's restroom. She squeezed several pumps of hand soap and scrubbed her hands thoroughly, then rinsed them repeatedly under the running water.
Adrian watched, a smirk playing on his lips, and couldn't help but chuckle. "Is it that dirty?" He teased.
Elara smirked. "What do you think?"
Elara dampened a cotton pad and tried to wipe the black stockings, but the stain was too widespread and wouldn't come off. With a frustrated sigh, Elara peeled off the stockings and tossed them straight into the trash.
Adrian stepped straight into the shower stall and turned on the water, completely disregarding the fact that Elara was still in the room.
Elara couldn't bear to look. 'This jerk is he allergic to clothes or something?' she thought.
Elara tidied herself up, left the lounge, and dragged herself back to her little office. 'Continue working?' she thought. She let out a bitter, helpless laugh.
'I'm the one who got the raw end of the deal, and yet I still have to sit here and work? What kind of messed-up logic is that?' she thought.
That afternoon, after seeing Susan's Instagram post about heading back to her hometown, Elara thought, 'If I back out now, that'd be pretty unfair to her.'
Besides, Susan had already transferred her salary for the past few months in one lump sum of 450 thousand dollars just to make sure Elara wouldn't change her mind. After all, it's hard to say no one has taken someone's money.
She pulled the water bottle she had tucked into her bag back out and set it on the desk.
After showering, Adrian settled into sleep in his private lounge. The space, luxuriously appointed with every amenity, allowed him a deep and restful sleep. Meanwhile, Elara was stuck pulling an all-nighter at work.
It was already 9 PM. Elara was starving, thinking for the hundredth time, "That bastard Adrian." As she kept waiting, she eventually dozed off.
It wasn't until 10 PM that Adrian finally emerged, fully rested. He had changed into a crisp suit, looking sharp and completely refreshed. He walked into the small office and rapped his knuckles on the desk, rousing Elara from her nap.
He said, "I'm starving. Let's grab a bite."
Elara blinked, still groggy. "What do you want to eat?"
Adrian flashed a rare, genuine smile. "Since you've worked so hard today, how about I swing by your café and give your business a little boost?"
"Oh," she replied flatly. Elara thought, 'It doesn't seem like they see me working overtime hard.'
Today, Elara was behind the wheel of the black McLaren she had seen so many times before. Today, she sat in the driver's seat. It was equipped with a 4.0-liter V8 engine, boasting a whopping 1,275 horsepower.
Elara stepped on the gas. The intense rush of acceleration swept away the day's gloom, and in that moment, the self once shackled by love was quietly reborn.
At Tiffany Café, Elara ordered her favorite set meal and dug in the moment it arrived. Adrian was hungry too, but he still took his time, cutting his steak with his usual grace.
"Mr. Hartley, after that long afternoon nap, how are you going to sleep tonight?" Elara asked.
Adrian usually didn't like talking during meals, but today he made an exception for Elara, showing rare patience. "Can't sleep," he admitted.
"Then why'd you take such a long nap this afternoon?" Elara asked.
Adrian's sleep disorder has been around for a while. He just lets himself sleep whenever he can, never mind the time. "I can review case files just as well at night," Adrian replied.
Elara shook her head dismissively. "Mr. Hartley, you can't keep this up. You need a regular sleep schedule for proper melatonin production. Otherwise, you'll lose your mind. And seriously, if you keep this up, you'll end up with premature dysfunction."
Adrian chuckled in amusement. "Thanks for your concern, Elara, but didn't you just get firsthand proof of how well my body performs? Weren't you the one complaining about sore hands just now?"