Protect His Secretary, Abandon His Wife - Chapter 13: Chapter 13
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Accepting Marcus's dinner invitation sent shivers down my spine. I knew this was playing with fire, but his magnetic charm proved irresistible. His triumphant gleam and barely-contained excitement beneath that polished exterior both thrilled and unnerved me.
When the evening arrived, I stood trembling outside his Lamborghini, pulse racing. The door swung open to reveal Marcus in a tailored black suit, his intense gaze locking onto me. "Rosaline, you're breathtaking," he murmured in that rich baritone, offering his arm.
Electricity sparked where our skin touched as he guided me inside. The luxury hotel's dining room glowed with intimate lighting, heavy with the aromas of fine wine and gourmet cuisine. At our private table, Marcus poured wine, his fingers deliberately brushing mine. I forced myself to ignore the jolt of attraction - we were professionals, after all.
Our conversation flowed effortlessly, laughter filling the space between us. Yet beneath the surface, unspoken tension thickened with each passing moment. Marcus's smoldering gaze grew more intense, pulling me deeper until I feared drowning in those dark eyes.
Without warning, his hand closed over mine. "Rosaline," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin, "it's time I told you the truth."
My heart hammered. What dangerous game was this? But his hypnotic gaze held me captive.
Before I could respond, an icy voice cut through: "So this is where you ran off to?"
I whirled to see David's stony expression - with Cynthia smirking beside him. "If you're sleeping with Marcus," Cynthia sneered, "why fabricate stories about me and David?"
My fists clenched. "Fabricated? We both know the truth. My relationship with Marcus is strictly professional."
David scoffed. "What man takes a woman to candlelit dinners for business?"
"And what CEO spends nights alone with his secretary?" I shot back.
His eyes narrowed. "So you're admitting you're with Marcus like Cynthia was with me?"
I turned desperately to Marcus, but he merely sipped his wine, amused. Realizing no help would come, I met David's glare. "What if I am? Marcus means as much to me as Cynthia does to you."
David paled. "He orchestrated your kidnapping! How can you forgive that?"
"Cynthia destroyed your company. Yet here you stand with her." My voice turned glacial. "If you can forgive betrayal, so can I."
"Rosaline," David rasped, "I'll cut ties with Cynthia forever. Just leave Marcus. Come home."
When Cynthia grabbed his arm, he shoved her so violently she fell. I smirked at her shocked expression. "Empty promises, David. You said that last time."
"Have her arrested then!" he pleaded. "I'll prove my loyalty."
"Do it," I challenged. "Let me watch her face when the cuffs click."
David's face contorted as Cynthia scrambled up, snarling, "You'll regret this!" before storming out.
"She was just a pawn," David confessed, turning to me with desperate eyes. "Our home is waiting. Please."
I laughed coldly. "I never agreed to that. Marcus stays in my life - as my trusted partner. Your belated 'redemption' changes nothing. I don't love you anymore."
When David collapsed to his knees sobbing, Marcus finally stood. "You've heard her answer," he said calmly. "Respect it."
David's tear-streaked face lifted. "You're right... I've lost you." His broken whisper haunted me as he left.
A year passed peacefully as Marcus and I expanded my family business globally. Though tabloids speculated about our "romance," I dismissed the gossip - until New Year's Eve.
Drunk and vulnerable, Marcus quoted headlines about us: "Marcus Smith can't take his eyes off his partner... buys diamond ring..." His voice cracked. "Everyone sees how I feel except you."
My breath caught. "Marcus..."
"Have dinner with me," he whispered. "As my date this time."
Smiling, I teased, "Only if that diamond ring comes with it."
"I promise," he vowed, and my heart soared.
When the evening arrived, I stood trembling outside his Lamborghini, pulse racing. The door swung open to reveal Marcus in a tailored black suit, his intense gaze locking onto me. "Rosaline, you're breathtaking," he murmured in that rich baritone, offering his arm.
Electricity sparked where our skin touched as he guided me inside. The luxury hotel's dining room glowed with intimate lighting, heavy with the aromas of fine wine and gourmet cuisine. At our private table, Marcus poured wine, his fingers deliberately brushing mine. I forced myself to ignore the jolt of attraction - we were professionals, after all.
Our conversation flowed effortlessly, laughter filling the space between us. Yet beneath the surface, unspoken tension thickened with each passing moment. Marcus's smoldering gaze grew more intense, pulling me deeper until I feared drowning in those dark eyes.
Without warning, his hand closed over mine. "Rosaline," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin, "it's time I told you the truth."
My heart hammered. What dangerous game was this? But his hypnotic gaze held me captive.
Before I could respond, an icy voice cut through: "So this is where you ran off to?"
I whirled to see David's stony expression - with Cynthia smirking beside him. "If you're sleeping with Marcus," Cynthia sneered, "why fabricate stories about me and David?"
My fists clenched. "Fabricated? We both know the truth. My relationship with Marcus is strictly professional."
David scoffed. "What man takes a woman to candlelit dinners for business?"
"And what CEO spends nights alone with his secretary?" I shot back.
His eyes narrowed. "So you're admitting you're with Marcus like Cynthia was with me?"
I turned desperately to Marcus, but he merely sipped his wine, amused. Realizing no help would come, I met David's glare. "What if I am? Marcus means as much to me as Cynthia does to you."
David paled. "He orchestrated your kidnapping! How can you forgive that?"
"Cynthia destroyed your company. Yet here you stand with her." My voice turned glacial. "If you can forgive betrayal, so can I."
"Rosaline," David rasped, "I'll cut ties with Cynthia forever. Just leave Marcus. Come home."
When Cynthia grabbed his arm, he shoved her so violently she fell. I smirked at her shocked expression. "Empty promises, David. You said that last time."
"Have her arrested then!" he pleaded. "I'll prove my loyalty."
"Do it," I challenged. "Let me watch her face when the cuffs click."
David's face contorted as Cynthia scrambled up, snarling, "You'll regret this!" before storming out.
"She was just a pawn," David confessed, turning to me with desperate eyes. "Our home is waiting. Please."
I laughed coldly. "I never agreed to that. Marcus stays in my life - as my trusted partner. Your belated 'redemption' changes nothing. I don't love you anymore."
When David collapsed to his knees sobbing, Marcus finally stood. "You've heard her answer," he said calmly. "Respect it."
David's tear-streaked face lifted. "You're right... I've lost you." His broken whisper haunted me as he left.
A year passed peacefully as Marcus and I expanded my family business globally. Though tabloids speculated about our "romance," I dismissed the gossip - until New Year's Eve.
Drunk and vulnerable, Marcus quoted headlines about us: "Marcus Smith can't take his eyes off his partner... buys diamond ring..." His voice cracked. "Everyone sees how I feel except you."
My breath caught. "Marcus..."
"Have dinner with me," he whispered. "As my date this time."
Smiling, I teased, "Only if that diamond ring comes with it."
"I promise," he vowed, and my heart soared.
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