CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: OFFICE RUMORS

After dinner, a few of them waited for their cars on the first floor.

"Mr. Sterling, can I borrow your car for a few days too?"

Hugh Irving really had a thick skin.

"Sure."

"Thanks, Mr. Sterling!"

Before long, Ethan Sinclair and Bianca White each brought their cars around.

Zane Sterling took the car keys from Ethan, and Ethan took charge of driving Hugh and Bianca home.

Once she got in the car, Sophia’s heart started pounding.

She hadn’t had any alcohol tonight, so there was no way she’d get drunk, and her period had just ended...

Thinking about what might happen later, her face started heating up.

She pressed her lips together, looking out at the glimmering city lights, her hands sweating nervously the whole time.

——

As soon as they got out of the car, he pinned her against the elevator wall and kissed her.

She couldn’t even recall when they finally made it back to the room.

"Relax."

That deep, magnetic, and husky voice sounded right by her ear.

——

After fooling around for hours, the room was filled with a lingering, sensual air.

She leaned against the bathroom door, patting her flushed cheeks with both hands.

If "once you have a taste, you can’t stop" needed a definition, this was it.

She always thought she was at least half well-behaved.

Turns out, she was no better than anyone else.

She bit her lip, hurriedly put on her bathrobe, not daring to look anywhere else.

When she walked out of the bathroom, her legs felt a bit weak.

She tried her best to walk as naturally as possible.

Back in the bedroom, he had just finished changing the sheets.

"Do you want something to eat?"

"No need."

Earlier, in order to stall before coming back, she managed to drag out a half-hour dinner into a full hour in the private room.

Even though they’d just burned some calories, she wasn’t quite hungry yet.

He took off his bathrobe, left with just a pair of long pajama pants.

Sophia quickly turned away, went straight to the closet, and picked a conservative set of pajamas to wear.

Then she started her skincare routine.

But she couldn’t help but replay just now in her mind.

He was dripping with sweat, both hands braced beside her.

He stubbornly kept asking, "When did you measure? That can’t be right, measure again."

But even by moonlight, she could make out the satisfied look on his face.

Sophia took a deep breath. She realized Zane Sterling was good at pretending.

He put on this aloof, untouchable act that even flies wouldn’t want to be near, but in private, he was a whole different guy.

You’d think he was uptight, but he wasn’t.

It was like he was two people.

What part of this was the cold, abstinent CEO trope?

Not at all.

Sophia covered her face with both hands, realizing her eyes were still kinda glazed over, her whole face flushed bright red.

She didn’t dare look at herself in the mirror—biting her lip, forcing herself not to dwell on what had just happened.

But her mind was honest—no matter what, she couldn’t shake Zane’s figure from her thoughts.

Even his satisfied voice still lingered in her ear.

She dawdled for a while, then finally turned the lights off and crept carefully back under the covers.

She thought he was asleep, but just as she lay down, he pulled her right into his warm arms.

Their eyes met up close.

She could feel their breaths mingling.

"Didn’t get enough?"

"..."

Which "full" was he talking about?

"If you’re full, go to sleep. If not, you’re welcome to wiggle around more. I can’t promise I’ll be able to hold back."

Sophia was so startled, she buried her head and shut her eyes tight.

Did he really have that much stamina?

After so many times, still not enough?

Zane pulled her closer, tightening his grip around her waist, dropping a kiss onto her hair.

The poor girl was exhausted—she could barely stand in the bathroom earlier.

He couldn’t be such a beast. If she got mad, it wouldn’t be worth it.

He chuckled—this girl was finally letting herself fall asleep in his arms willingly.

Sophia was tired, but her mind was wide awake. There was no way she was sleeping yet.

It had already happened, and she figured being together like this would just be the new normal now. Even just hearing him talk about ordinary things got her heart thumping like crazy when she thought about the next time.

Zane reached out and ruffled her hair, not wanting to let go.

Sophia’s heart fluttered, but she didn’t dare open her eyes.

Mainly, she was still spooked by what he’d just said.

After being together these days, Sophia realized he was an incredibly gentle man—at least, with her.

"Sophia, good night." He held her gently.

Sophia’s lips curled up into a smile, and she nuzzled closer into his chest.

"Good night..." she whispered in her heart.

——

The next morning, he got up early and left for the office.

He’d left a note, saying there was breakfast waiting in the kitchen.

This icy CEO, ever since being teased about it, would send her a message whenever he got the chance.

It made Sophia too nervous to log into WhatsApp on the office computer anymore.

Her alarm woke her up. She’d already taken two days off—couldn’t afford to take another.

Otherwise her coworkers would be bringing her a "get well soon" bouquet.

"Tch—"

She turned over, feeling like her bones were about to fall apart.

Last night had already been exhausting, but getting up today felt even worse.

Like she’d been crushed under a mountain for five hundred years.

Hugh sent a smirking emoji.

[Sis, worn out after last night?]

Years of being a "nun," and now she’d finally gotten her happy ending. Not easy.

Before she could think of a reply, a photo came through—Zane at work.

Even though every button on his shirt was fastened, you could still faintly see love bites on his neck.

Her face flushed instantly—she had no idea how to reply to that.

Showing off like that? And it’s winter—didn’t he feel cold, wearing just a shirt?

Shameless.

After finishing breakfast, she hurried to drive to the office.

"Ms. Lowell, nice car."

Chloe Vance glanced at Sophia as they waited for the elevator in the parking garage.

Sophia just smiled, not answering.

"This car must be at least a million, huh? Ms. Lowell, are you dating someone?"

They used to bump into each other on their way to and from work all the time, back when Sophia was still driving her old, ordinary car.

Suddenly showing up in a new car, of course people would be suspicious.

"Not dating."

Just married, that’s all.

28th floor.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, a faint sweet aroma hit her.

The department was buzzing with chatter.

Sophia stepped over to her desk, and she hadn’t even sat down before she spotted a familiar dessert on it.

’Tender Loving Care.’

"Mr. Sterling had these delivered first thing this morning—everyone in the company got one." Lily Ellison took a pleased bite.

"Who eats dessert this early in the morning..."

Sophia frowned, unable to figure out his logic.

"Doesn’t matter if people eat it or not. The point is, he sent it! I’ve been at this company for two years, and it’s the first time I’ve seen the boss so happy."

Well, of course he’s happy...

The [Eight-Million-a-Day] group chat was going crazy.

[First time I’ve seen a woman get out of the boss’s car—and Ethan personally picked her up, too.]

No need to guess, that woman had to be Hugh.

[Are those hickeys on the boss’s neck from her?]

[Don’t tell me she’s that rumored scatterbrain? Omg, this is peak gossip. Company’s been at a standstill, but if the "scatterbrain" takes action, won’t we take off?]

[The boss isn’t just sleeping with her for the "scatterbrain’s" contacts, right?]

...

The rumors were getting more and more ridiculous.

The whole office was talking.

Some were gossiping about Sophia and Ethan.

Others were spreading rumors about Zane and Hugh.