CHAPTER 012 ADRIANSPOV Anamazingmeal,wasntit?I asked,wipingmymouthwithanapkin,mytonecalmyetsatisfied.
Ibelieveso,Jamesreplied,stretchingslightlyashestoodfromhis seat.
Doraremainedsilent,dabbingherlipsbeforeplacingthenapkingentlyonthetable.Hergazelingeredonmeforamomentbeforeshefinallyrose,adjustingherdressslightly.
TheatmospherebetweenuscarriedanunspokentensiononethatneitherJamesnortherestaurantstaffdaredtoacknowledge.
Aswepreparedtoleave,therestaurantownerhesitantlyapproached,holdinganeatlyfoldedbillinhishands.Clearinghis throat,hefinallyspoke.
Sir,Ihopeyouenjoyedyourmeal?Hisvoicewaslacedwithrespectandcaution.
Asalways,Jamesansweredin mystead casually,shovinghishandsintohispockets.
Theownernoddedbeforecarefullyextending the billtowardme.Thisisthetotalbillforthisweek,Mr.Westwood,headded,barelyaboveawhisper.
1tooktheslipofpaperandunfoldeditslowly.Myeyesscannedthetotal.
$150,000 Asmallsmirktuggedatthecornerofmylips.ThenumberdidntfazemeIhadspentfarmoreontrivialthingsbefore.Still,seeingthisamount,asumthatequaledthesalariesofsomanyworkers,writtenneatlyin frontofmewasanamusingreminderofmyinfluence.
Ineverpaidpervisit.Theownerknewthearrangement.I ateherewheneverIwanted,hostedwhoeverI pleased,and onlysettledthebillonceaweek.ItwasaconvenienceIenjoyed,andnoone dared toquestionit.
Illhavemyaccountantforwardeverythingtoyoubythisevening,Isaidcoolly,foldingthepaperbackandtucking itintomysuitjacket.Straighteningmycuffs,Iheadedfortheexit.

James and Dorafollowedcloselybehind.
Outside,thecrispnightairgreetedus,carryingthefaintsoundsofthebustlingcity.Mydriverhadalreadypulleduptothecurb,waiting.JustasIwasabouttogetin,Jamesphonerang.Heglancedatthescreenbeforeturningtome..
Ihavesomewheretobe,hesaidSuccessfullyunlocked !backintohispocket.
Igaveaslightnod.Sure.
Hehadntcomeinhisowncar,soheordered an Uberandstood offtotheside,waiting.
1/3 CHAPTER012 Dora,ontheotherhand,haddrivenherselfandtrailedbehindmeaswe bothheadedbackto myestate.Iwonderedwhyshewasfollowing mehomethislate.
Thedrivehomewasquiet.Thecitylightsblurredpast,but insidethe car,theairwasthickwithanticipation.Dorahadbeeninmyhome numeroustimes,buttonightfeltdifferent.TheabsenceofOliviamadethehousefeel…lighter.Freer.
Andshelikedit.
Whenwearrived,Isteppedoutfirst,mymovementssmoothanddeliberate.Dorafollowed,herheelsclickingsoftlyagainstthemarbledriveway.
Inside,thegrandfoyerwassilent,saveforthe distanttickingofanantiqueclock.DorainhaleddeeplytherewasnotraceofOliviaspresence.
Looseningmytie,Iglancedatherbriefly.Havea seat,Isaidbeforedisappearingupthegrandstaircase.
Dorawalkedintothelivingroom,takingintheluxuriousdecorwithease.Mymaidapproachedher,bowingslightly.Wouldyoulikeanythingtodrink,maam? Sheshookherhead.No,thankyou.
Themaidbowedagainbeforeretreating,leavingDoraalonein thevast,elegantspace.

Follow new episodes on the CrushnovelS.Com

Afteronlyafewminutes,Iheardthesoftcreakofmybedroomdoor.Ididntturnrightaway,knowing exactlywhoitwasDora.
Standinginfrontofthefulllengthmirror,Iunbuttonedmyshirt,shruggingthefabricoffmy shoulders.Mygazeflickeredtothereflectionbehindmeasshesteppedinside andclosedthedoor.
Ithoughtyou weresupposedto waitdownstairs,Imurmured,myvoicelow.
Sheleanedagainst thedoor,watching me.Igotbored.
Asmirktuggedatmy lips.Theresnofun uphere.
Idontknowaboutthat,she mused.
Ichuckledundermybreath.IdidnthavetoaskwhatshemeantIalreadyknew.
Shewalkedtowardthe bedandsatdown,restingherhandsonthesilksheets.Hergazeneverleftme.
Thelasttimeyouwerehere,Iwasunconscious,andyouwerehalfnaked,Imused,finallyturningtofaceher.
Dorasmirked.AndwhyamIstillhere? Itooka stepcloser,mypresencecommandingasalways.Hereyesheldsomethingdark,somethinginsatiable.
Youreherebecauseyouwanttobehere,Isaidsimply.
Shebitherlip,playingintothetension.How about Ilockthedoor? 2/3 CHAPTER012 Without waitingforananswer,she turnedbacktotheentrance,twistingthelockintoplace.Asatisfyingclick echoedthroughtheroom.
She facedmeagain,aslow,knowingsmilecurvingherlips.Isatontheedgeofthebed,watchinghereverymovementwithquietamusement.

Youknow,Imurmured,ifyouwantedsomeofme,allyouhadtodowasask.
Shedidntreply.Instead,shereachedforthestrapsofhergown,lettingthemslideoffhershoulders.Thefabricpooledatherfeetasshesteppedcloser.
MygriponthesheetstightenedslightlyasIwatchedher.
Formonths,Ihadentertained her,takenheronlavishvacations,andspentnights.drinkinginherpresence-butIhadnevertouchedher.Notlikethis.
PerhapsbecauseIwasmarried.PerhapsbecauseapartofmestillheldontosomethingIrefusedtoacknowledge.
Buttonight,therewere nobarriers.
NoOlivia.
Noguilt.
Justmeandthewomanwhohadalwaysbeen waiting in theshadows.
Dorareachedme,placingherhandsonmyshoulders.Ididntresist.Grabbingherwaist,Ipulled hercloser.Andwith one swiftmotion,Itossedherontothebed.
Theworldoutsideceased toexist.Forthefirsttime,Iwasallowingmyselftoindulgeinwhathadalwaysbeenrightin front of me.
AndforDora,thiswasexactlywhat shehadbeenwaitingforallalongbutforme?Iwasjustsatisfyingmyhumandesires.
3/3