Chapter 46Richard's Pov PIt’s been over a week since the incident with Lily. I lay in bed, trying to sleep, but I couldn’t shake the image of her face from my mind. The frustration in her eyes when the financial department rejected her request for funds to buy some much-needed tools still lingered in my thoughts. She didn’t show it, but I saw through the mask. She was upset, and that bothered me more than I cared to admit.I couldn’t let it go. Lily, in just a few months with the company, had proven herself more than capable—more than most of my managers who had been here for years. She understood the work. She knew how to get things done. She was good at what she did. And yet, they couldn’t see that.I rolled over on the bed, pulling the covers over my face, but sleep wouldn’t come. The thought of her, frustrated and helpless, gnawed at me. I had to do something. I had to make it right.And then there was the other issue. Lily. She’s my woman. Someone I trust. Someone I love more t
Chapter 45Lily's Pov “Get out of my office right now, Mark. You and I are through, and I don’t understand why you won’t mind your own business. Do you see me poking around in your relationships? Get out before I have my bodyguard throw you out." I barked, my words sharp with fury.Mark stood there, unmoving, his face a mixture of disbelief and anger. "You are making the worst mistake of your life, Lily," he sneered, his voice dripping with venom."Get out, Mark," I snapped again, more forcefully this time. "I don't want to see you, nor do I want you near me."He glared at me, his fists clenched, but he turned and walked out of my office without another word. The nerve of him to talk to me about regrets.I slammed the door behind him and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me.The anger still burned within me, but then Richard walked into my office, and all that frustration seemed to evaporate the moment I saw him."Hey, sunshine," he said, his smile softening the air
Chapter 44Lily's povI woke to the soft rays of the morning sun filtering through my curtains. The warmth touched my skin, coaxing me out of the sleep I didn’t want to leave behind. I stretched, feeling the familiar ache of yesterday's energy, and got up to greet the new day. Today was Monday—another week, another chance to move forward. I let out a long breath, gearing myself up for the day ahead.I walked to the shower, letting the lukewarm water rush over me. I closed my eyes, letting the water cascade over my body, washing away the remnants of sleep. As I stood there, I couldn’t help but think of Mia’s cheeky grin when she asked about Richard. “Is he good in bed?” she’d asked, her voice full of curiosity.I smiled at the memory. I had given her an answer, of course, but I’d gone into detail. Richard was far better than Mark—better in bed and in every other way. The thought of him brought a rush of warmth. I remembered the way his hands had felt on my skin, the intensity of our co
Chapter 43Lily's pov. Just when I thought I was going to die out of pleasure, Richard bent me over and gave it to me real hard through my back. The sensation hit me like a bolt of lightning, sending shockwaves through every part of me. It was blissful, like being in orbit, floating somewhere between heaven and earth.I moaned, struggling to keep my composure. But the intensity of it all made me lose myself. He didn’t slow down, pushing me further, and I felt like I was being consumed. Then, just as I was about to fall over the edge, he took me to cloud nine with him. My body trembled as waves of pleasure rocked me, and just before I thought I couldn’t take anymore, he came inside me.For a moment, everything around me vanished. It was just us—lost in that moment. The world didn’t matter. Nothing else seemed real except the warmth of Richard’s arms around me and the intense connection between us.We both collapsed into the bed, breathless, barely able to move. We managed to shower to
Chapter 42Lily's PovI couldn't believe it. As soon as Richard stepped into the house that evening, he handed me the keys to a brand-new Lamborghini. My hands shook as I took them from him, and my heart skipped a beat.“Wait, what is this?” I asked, almost in disbelief.“This is for you,” he said, his eyes soft but serious. “And these two men here…” He gestured to the men standing beside him.I didn’t even notice them at first. Jason was a tall, muscular man with a cool, composed expression, and Ken, a quieter man, stood by his side.Jason stepped forward. “I’m here to protect you, Miss Lily. From now on, I’ll be with you wherever you go.”Ken, standing just a bit further behind, added, “And I’ll drive you anywhere you need to go.”The words barely registered. My thoughts were still stuck on the Lamborghini. My mouth felt dry, and I struggled to find the right words. But as I looked back at Richard, I saw something in his eyes that made everything fall into place.He loved me. He car
Chapter 41Lily's PovI shouldn’t have picked up this call. No, not now. And definitely not here. What am I supposed to tell Richard? How do I explain this to him? These were the thoughts that rushed through my mind as I stared at the phone in my hand. My heart was racing.Richard was waiting for an answer, his eyes filled with concern, but his calmness only made the fear rising in my chest worse. How do I explain this call without adding more worry to the already overwhelming pile he was carrying? He was already under so much pressure—how could I burden him more?“Lily, talk to me,” Richard said softly, his voice filled with that persistent concern. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost. Don’t tell me it’s nothing because, clearly, you would be lying about that.”I swallowed hard, trying to steady my nerves. I couldn’t lie to him. Not when everything felt so off-balance. Taking a deep breath, I moved to the chair and sat down there. His presence, calm and reassuring, somehow settle