Chapter 79
Chapter 79:
“He came to discuss business,” she replied.
“Business?” Austin scoffed, his tone even colder. “Does business require bringing pastries? And that look on his face—as if he were acting out a tragic love story for everyone to see p>
Brinley couldn’t help laughing softly. “Wow. Your jealousy is really something p>
“Jealous? Me?” Austin looked taken aback. He scowled and let out a short, dismissive snort. “I am not p>
Brinley studied him, amused by the contradiction between his words and his behavior. She was just about to tease him further when the elevator suddenly chimed and came to a stop.
The doors slid open, revealing an empty hallway.
It was obvious someone had pressed the button and left before the elevator arrived.
Austin narrowed his eyes. Then, in the next moment, he stepped forward and pinned Brinley lightly against the elevator wall.
His hand braced beside her ear, his chest so close that his clean, crisp scent surrounded her.
“Austin! What are you doing?” Brinley’s heart jolted, but she fought to stay calm as she lifted her gaze to meet his.
𝖳hо𝘶ѕ𝗮n𝘥𝘴 of 𝗋𝗲a𝗱e𝗋𝘴 𝗈n ѕ.соm
His breath brushed her forehead, warm and steady. His eyes—swirling like a deep vortex—held a hunger for control she recognized, along with a trace of nervous tension he rarely revealed.
“Brinley,” he said in a low, husky voice, “what do I mean to you p>
The question caught her off guard.
So close to him, staring into those eyes and seeing that rare earnestness, she suddenly didn’t know how to answer.
Her silence stretched as the elevator doors slid shut again.
In the enclosed space, only their breathing filled the air, and a subtle tension hovered between them.
Austin’s gaze dropped to her lips. He noticed the faint trace of cream left from the cake she’d eaten earlier, and it drew him in like something irresistibly sweet.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he instinctively leaned closer.
Brinley’s heart pounded, but she didn’t close her eyes. Instead, she held his gaze, watching his face approach.
Their lips were just about to meet when the elevator chimed again.
The doors opened slowly onto another floor. Brinley was still pressed lightly against the cold wall, and Austin hadn’t backed away. They stood close enough to feel each other’s breath.
“Mr. Moore?” A surprised voice shattered the moment.
Brinley turned and saw Melany Cooper, the marketing director from the neighboring company, standing outside the elevator with a cup of coffee in hand. Her eyes flicked from Austin to Brinley, lingering with thinly veiled curiosity.
Austin stepped slightly to the side, giving Brinley a little more space, yet he kept an arm around her, holding her close as if to shield her from any jostling passersby.
Brinley could feel Melany’s scrutinizing gaze sweeping over them, as if silently telling her she understood exactly what she had walked in on. The look made Brinley uneasy, but she didn’t let it show.
Melany didn’t linger. With a quick excuse, she walked off, leaving Brinley and Austin alone again.