CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60: HE’S COMING HOME TONIGHT

Zane Sterling slowly stood up and walked towards the hall.

She was already asleep, lying on the table, tears at the corners of her eyes.

This woman is crying over that man again?

He sighed, squatted down, and took off her high heels.

He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her, then lifted her in a princess-carry.

She opened her smoky eyes, hazily looking at his perfect contours.

"Zane?"

"Mm."

Hearing his voice, she nuzzled against his solid chest, wrapping her arms around his neck, resting her head on his nape.

She hiccuped, the strong scent of alcohol wafting onto his neck.

He couldn’t help but feel his legs weaken, nearly losing his hold.

"When did you get here?"

"I’ve been here all along." His deep voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Did you hear everything I said?" she asked, still fuzzy.

"Heard it all."

"Zane..."

"Mm."

She forced herself upright, hands on his shoulders, her little head leaving his neck.

She gazed seriously at the expression on his face.

"What do you like about me?"

Zane carefully put her down, waiting for the car nearby.

"I like hearing you call me ’husband’ in bed..."

His eyes were extraordinarily dark, his voice cracked and rough.

He cupped the back of her head, wrapped an arm around her thin waist.

He aggressively and fiercely kissed her alcohol-flavored lips.

"..."

Sophia Lowell had no time to think; her breath was blocked as heavy breathing came from her nose.

She desperately pounded on him.

He refused to let go, tightening the grip of his wrist even more.

Sophia, scraped of her high heels, was forced to stand on his leather shoes.

Butler Langley had just parked the car, exchanged a glance with Bianca White in the passenger seat, hurriedly retracting their gaze and raised the car windows.

The two tacitly immersed themselves in their own activities, one playing on their mobile and scrolling through TikTok, the other wearing earphones and listening to music, as if nothing was happening.

With so many years as a driver, Butler Langley truly saw it all.

Zane Sterling was truly full of surprises.

A man who strictly adhered to decorum, has a day like this.

When Zane finally let go, a silver string hung from her rosy lips.

Her enchanting eyes lightly lifted, with a satisfied look of desire.

Even he felt as if he were possessed; he believed his self-control was pretty good.

Yet here he was, helplessly captivated by her.

"You better not fall asleep halfway..."

"I won’t sleep..."

Her mind was in a daze, responding in a muddled manner, compounded by the effects of alcohol.

Halfway through the ride, she fell asleep in the car.

——

Zane Sterling stood by the bed, hands on his hips, looking at Sophia Lowell lying there, dead drunk and unconscious.

He gently placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Little enchantress..."

The next day.

She held her neck, climbing out of bed with a throbbing headache.

Her neck felt as if she had slept wrong, barely able to move.

The corners of her lips were numb, even her tongue was slightly numb.

She recalled last night’s events.

Every detail was vivid.

"**!"

She cursed aloud, covering her face with her hands.

Zane Sterling must think she’s so promiscuous!

What kind of woman says such things must be so flirtatious.

She checked herself, seemingly no unusual signs; nothing happened last night, right?

She looked around the room.

He wasn’t there.

Ears pricked up, there was no sound from the study either.

She looked at the phone charging on the nightstand, and a cup of honey water next to it.

She unplugged the phone, already fully charged.

As she checked her phone, she picked up the honey water and took a sip.

Zane had messaged her.

[Good morning, Sophia, had to leave for work, took leave for you, remember to drink the honey water.]

[The executive office needs disinfecting, staying home tonight.]

"!!"

He’s coming back to stay?

He’s coming back to stay!

Sophia stopped drinking halfway.

Her mind was filled with his words from last night: I like hearing you call me ’husband’ in bed, wrapping your legs around me.

She touched her lips, still numb.

The kiss last night was intense and enjoyable.

Sinning, she shouldn’t have said those dirty words to Aurora Rhodes.

And now he took advantage of them.

What to do?

She put the phone down, holding the cup in both hands, gulping down the water.

——

"Mr. Sterling, about the executive office..."

The office had new desks, comprehensive disinfection completed.

Yet he insisted on moving all computers and sofas down to the 29th-floor meeting room.

Even though it was all settled, he stubbornly wanted them moved downstairs.

Ethan Sinclair was quite puzzled.

"You got nothing better to do?" Zane Sterling.

"Huh?"

"Get lost."

"Yes."

He stood in the small suite, picking up two pieces of nail stickers from the bedside table, grinning.

Ethan Sinclair hadn’t been gone long before he returned.

"Mr. Sterling, someone downstairs is looking for you."

"There are no appointments today, not seeing anyone."

"You must see this person."

Upon hearing this, Zane turned to look at Ethan Sinclair, hesitating for two seconds.

"Send her up."

"She wants you to come down and get her."

Zane seemed to hear something incredulous.

"Ethan Sinclair, remember who pays you."

"It’s Spectra."

"Who?" he asked suspiciously.

"Spectra."

The lobby on the first floor.

A woman in knee-high boots sat cross-legged, the form-fitting jeans perfectly sculpting her figure.

Wearing a black mink coat, adorned with sunglasses, her sleek black hair exuded a fearless big-sister aura.

She took a sip of hot coffee, glancing at the Spectra magazine in her hands.

The elevator doors on the first floor opened, and Zane Sterling quickly emerged.

Seeing the woman on the sofa, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

This woman, she looked so familiar.

The woman took off her glasses, revealing a pair of phoenix eyes, rising slowly.

"Mr. Sterling."

"Professor Irving."

Zane Sterling then realized she was Hugh Irving, Sophia Lowell’s best friend.

The two shook hands and sat together on the sofa.

Zane glanced at the luggage beside her, then at Ethan Sinclair.

Ethan nodded, understandingly.

"I heard Mr. Sterling has been looking for Spectra."

"Yes."

Hugh Irving nodded gently, taking a contract from her bag, handing it to him.

"Take a look, if everything’s fine, you can sign it."

Zane paused for a moment before taking the contract.

"Are you Spectra?"

"No."

"Where is she?"

"I always submit her work; this collaboration is naturally my responsibility too.

She doesn’t like dealing with people, so she won’t appear in person later. You can sign if acceptable, or not if it isn’t."

Hugh Irving’s words seemed genuine.

She opened a platform software, logged into the account interface, proving it was Spectra herself.

She handed it to him for viewing.

He’d been searching for Spectra for three months, without a single lead.

Unexpectedly, she emerged through Hugh Irving.

"Professor Irving, won’t you need an assessment?"

"Sophia’s man won’t be that lacking, right?"

Ethan Sinclair sweat nervously beside them.

This woman dared to speak her mind with no reservations.

"I’ll give you a reply the day after tomorrow."

"Alright."

Hugh Irving picked up her Chanel bag, wearing her sunglasses, hesitating for a moment.

"Is this your assistant?"

She lowered her sunglasses, squinting at Ethan Sinclair.

Ethan felt a prickly sensation on his back, shivering slightly.

"Yes."

"Can I borrow him for two days?"

"Sure." Zane Sterling agreed without hesitation.

"Let’s go, Assistant Sinclair."

Hugh Irving lifted her long legs, heading towards the company exit.

"..."

Ethan Sinclair cast helpless glances at Zane Sterling.

Just short of having his face say: even if you’re selling me by weight, there should be a price, right?

Yet Zane Sterling paid him no mind, focused solely on reading the documents.