Chapter 12
12:
He had lost a billion-dollar tract of land because of her.
Even the slightest contact with her fractured the self-discipline he had long cherished.
It seemed increasingly clear that distancing himself from Linsey could be the wisest decision.
Collin was lost in contemplation, his face a mask of inscrutability.
Suddenly, a knock echoed through the silence of his study.
He was annoyed by the interruption, his brows knitting together. His tone was cold as he demanded,
“Who’s there?”
Any intrusion during his work hours was unforgivable.
A tense silence hung in the air, broken only by Linsey’s soft, soothing voice responding from the other side.
“It’s me. I heard you haven’t had a bite since last night, so I’ve brought you something. Mind if I step inside?”
Why had she come?
Collin’s deep-set eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion clouding his features. A smirk, tinged with mockery, flickered across his lips.
What was she up to this time?
A low, mocking laugh rumbled from his throat. Turning his attention to the screen, he addressed his subordinate with a casual command.
“Let’s put the meeting on hold.”
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The subordinates, having overheard Linsey just moments before, were visibly stunned after hearing Collin’s command.
Their boss despised being disturbed while working. But today, he found himself breaking his own rule—for the wife he had wed in the most unlikely way.
Their curiosity piqued, they wondered what was about to unfold.
But they were aware that Collin wouldn’t allow them to stay as onlookers. Halting the meeting was surely his method of ensuring the conversation remained private.
“Yes, Mr. Riley,” they responded, their voices carrying a formal tone.
With a measured grace, Collin snapped his laptop shut, the click echoing subtly through the quiet room. He allowed a brief pause, his expression unreadable, before saying,
“Come in.”
The door creaked gently as Linsey entered, her arms balancing a laden tray. Her eyes immediately darted to the chaotic sprawl of documents engulfing his desk.
Though she had been aware of his relentless toil since last night, the actual sight of such an overwhelming pile of work made her pause, her brow furrowing in concern.
“You’re really buried under all this work?” she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and disbelief.
Collin rested his hands on his lap with nonchalant ease, his eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and challenge.
“Why, Linsey, what did you expect? That I’ve just been sitting here doing nothing?” he teased, the corner of his mouth tilting up in a sly smirk.
“No, of course not,” Linsey responded quickly, a flush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. She hastened to add, “I just didn’t picture the scale of it. That’s all.”
Given that Collin had been wheelchair-bound for years, she was aware that he could take offense if she probed too deeply into his capabilities. After a brief moment of contemplation, she opted to steer clear of the topic, hoping to avoid any potential discomfort.
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.
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