Chapter 29
29:
He slid a hand through his drenched hair, his eyelids falling shut instinctively.
In the fleeting seconds that followed, Linsey’s radiant smile surfaced in his mind, her rosy lips vividly painted in his memory. The lingering, sweet scent of her seemed to envelop him still.
His eyes flew open, shock and disbelief painting his features. Bowing his head, he noticed that he was erect, which deepened the chaos swirling within him.
Could he be losing his mind? Was he devolving into some kind of lust-driven fool?
The cold water ran on, timeless, until it ceased, leaving behind the eerie solitude of his ragged breaths piercing the still night air.
The shrill ring of her phone jerked Linsey awake the next morning. As she blinked open her eyes, a fierce headache threatened to lure her back to the comfort of sleep.
With a groan, Linsey reached for her phone, her fingers brushing against the screen to silence the alarm that blared, “First day at work.” She shot upright, her mind snapping into alertness.
She had set this alarm just yesterday after leaving CR Corporation, a stark reminder of the orientation she was due for today. There was no room for tardiness.
She rapped her fingers against her throbbing temple, struggling to piece together her hazy return to her room last night.
There was no time to lose, however. With a sense of urgency, she darted into the bathroom, relishing a quick, warm shower before dashing downstairs to grab some breakfast.
Upon reaching the dining room, she caught sight of Collin seated at the table.
“Collin, when did you come home last night?” she inquired, settling into a chair and tearing off a chunk of bread. She bit into it, unaware of the shadow that crossed Collin’s face at her question. His features twisted into a grimace.
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“Don’t you remember anything from last night?” he asked, his voice laced with a tinge of irritation, as realization dawned on him.
This caught her off guard. She paused, bread halfway to her mouth, and met his gaze, her eyes swimming with bewilderment. It was clear she recalled nothing.
“What exactly happened last night?” she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
Her headache pounded mercilessly, obliterating any fragments of memory from the night before.
It seemed as though, from the moment she stepped back into the villa, her recollections had fogged over.
Collin hadn’t anticipated such a complete lapse in her memory, and his frustration mounted.
It was the first time in years that he had been played by a woman.
Seeing the deepening crease in Collin’s brow, Linsey slowed her chewing, hesitating mid-bite.
“What on earth happened last night? Did I sleep too long? I feel like I missed something,” she said, a hint of unease creeping into her voice.
Collin inhaled sharply, forcing himself to rein in his frustration. The memory of last night—the way he had almost lost control because of her—only made his irritation spike.
Without another glance in her direction, he turned his wheelchair away, rolling toward the study in silence.
“Forget it. I have work to do,” he muttered, his tone clipped.
Linsey blinked, watching his abrupt departure with confusion. What exactly had happened last night? Had she done something to upset him? He certainly didn’t look pleased.
Still, there wasn’t much time to dwell on it. She checked the time on her phone, quickly finished her breakfast, grabbed her bag, and left for CR Corporation.
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.
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