Chapter 961

Hailey froze, her eyes widening as she stared at him. “Jonah? What are you doing here?”
His voice was low, slightly hoarse. “Who did you think it was?”
“I thought it was Ms. Gomez she murmured, her words trailing off.
Then she realized Jonah’s hand was still resting on her waist, slipping lower in a far too intimate way. Her face flushed bright red.
When she had thought it was Felicia, everything had seemed perfectly fine. But now, knowing it was Jonah, her skin felt like it was on fire.
“Your hand! Take it off!” she shouted, her face burning with embarrassment. Jonah immediately pulled his hand back and straightened up.
Hailey quickly sat up, adjusting her clothes in a hurry. “Why didn’t you say something before coming in? I kept calling for Ms. Gomez!”
Jonah’s gaze lingered for a moment as she fumbled to cover herself. His lips tightened into a thin line. “Why are you so flustered?”
How could she not be?
She was a woman, and he was a man. Right now, the air between them felt heavy with unspoken tension.
“Mr. Pilsner, would it kill you to knock before entering? Honestly, that was unbelievably rude!” Hailey snapped.
Jonah reached out, gently cupping her chin and tilting her face up. He looked into her sparkling eyes and said, “Don’t worry, I have no ulterior motives toward you.”
Hailey blinked, her long lashes fluttering in disbelief. No ulterior motives?
“Am I just supposed to take your word for it, Mr. Pilsner?” she shot back.
“I already told you I won’t pursue you,” Jonah replied. “So trust me. Even if you were standing here naked, I wouldn’t feel a thing.”
Hailey was momentarily speechless. What woman wouldn’t be offended by that?
She met his gaze and asked, “So, even if I were completely naked, you’d feel absolutely nothing?”
Jonah gave a confident nod. “That’s right.”
Hailey’s frustration simmered beneath the surface. Kaia’s constant jabs had reignited her competitive spirit, and now it burned hotter than ever.
There was a time when Jonah couldn’t take his eyes off her. She hadn’t needed to say a word-just being alone with him was enough to spark his desire day or night.
But now… he seemed distant.
Was it because of Kaia? Had he already moved on to her?
Hailey made up her mind-she was going to test him.
A mischievous smile played on her lips. “Mr. Pilsner, you’d better remember your
words. How ironic… I’m starting to feel a little warm.”
As she spoke, she lifted her hand and deliberately slipped one strap off her
shoulder, revealing a delicate stretch of porcelain skin.
Jonah’s pupils contracted, his body responding instinctively to the sight.
Now meeting his gaze head-on, Hailey asked, “So, Mr. Pilsner… are you really sure you feel nothing for me?”
Jonah’s throat went dry. A wave of heat stirred in his chest, desire pressing just beneath the surface-but he held his ground.
“Yes,” he said. “None at all.”
Hailey bit her lip, genuinely irritated by his stubbornness.
Taking a chance, she whispered, “I’m still feeling pretty hot
She lifted her hand once more, slipping the other strap off her shoulder.
Jonah’s eyes instantly flared with desire. His breath hitched, and his entire body went tense.
Hailey felt shy-after all, she was
openly exposing herself in frontoret
him. Still she forced herself to stay composed and held his gaze. How about now, Mr. Pilsner?”
Jonah’s chest rose and fell quickly desire building to an almost
unbearable peak. Yet he stubbornly resisted, insisting, “I don’t feel
anything!”
“You”
Hailey’s anger flared, but then she abruptly stopped, noticing blood trickling from Jonah’s nose.
She quickly pointed at him. “Mr. Pilsner, you’re bleeding!”
Jonah hadn’t even realized it until Hailey’s words snapped him out of his daze.