“someone's not behaving, and I need to stay and deal with her"

Murray exited the bathroom for the third time, finally wrapped in a towel. 

The towel hung loose, revealing much of his smooth chest and lean waist. He casually brushed back the hair on his forehead, seeming to be in a good mood.

"What are you thinking about?" He walked to the bed and gently traced a finger down Emily's soft, luminous back.

He always seemed to have a cold touch despite just having engaged in an intimate encounter. His fingertips, as always, were icy, and even such a light touch sent a shiver down Emily's spine. She didn't want to speak and buried her face into the silk pillow, breathing softly in silent protest.

Murray knew he had gone too far earlier and uncharacteristically spoke gently: "Fiduinvest was your cheap brother's, to begin with anyway; I'll just give it to him."

Hearing the satisfactory answer, Emily composed her expression, turned over, and playfully kicked him with her foot, half-annoyed, half-coquettish, "Can't you phrase it more pleasantly?"

Murray chuckled lightly, glancing down at her foot. Her feet were beautiful, delicate, and smooth, with a faint pinkish pearl glow on the arch.

Her relaxed and boneless posture only accentuated her charm and allure. He grasped Emily's ankle and pulled her towards him, causing the satin robe to bunch around her waist, revealing her fair skin.

"Buzz." The phone rang. 

Murray glanced at his mother's call; he had better take it. Bracing his hands on the bed, he straightened up and answered.

"Where are you?" came the slightly anxious voice from the phone.

"I'm at the office dealing with some things..."

He got halfway through the lie before Emily sat up, pressed against him, and spoke into the phone in a business-like tone, "Sir, would you like coffee or tea?"

Murray laughed and continued, "There's still some follow-up work on the overseas projects; I'll head back after I finish here."

"You always prioritize work, and I usually don't complain, but do you realize what day it is? The whole family is waiting for you at the mansion; how can you be so inconsiderate?"

Georgia Adelaide's voice grew increasingly agitated, as if about to burst into tears.

Murray felt a surge of irritation - after his father had just passed away and they had no standing in the Gibson family, he understood being careful and respectful. But now that he held power, was there still a need to tiptoe around so cautiously?

"Boss, where should I put this file?" Emily asked while reaching down to grope him under his robe.

"Mm." Murray couldn't help letting out a low groan.

"Are you listening to me? When exactly are you coming back?" Georgia was still chattering away.

Turning his head, Murray glared at Emily, teeth clenched, "Mom, I won't be coming back today. There's a situation here, someone's not behaving, and I need to stay and deal with her."

With that, he hung up, one arm encircling Emily's waist and tossing her heavily onto the bed. "What, still not satisfied?"

"Ah!" Emily screamed, rolling to the side, narrowly avoiding his looming presence.

"Ah!" Emily shrieked, rolling to the side to barely dodge him. But the man was too elegant, stretching out his long arm to grab her back just as she rolled away.

They continued their play until dawn began to break, falling asleep in each other's arms. They slept deeply, and it was dark outside when Murray opened his eyes again.

He glanced down at the woman curled up against him. She liked to wrap her arms around his waist while sleeping, a gesture intimate to lovers. Initially uncomfortable with this closeness, he often pushed her away as she slept. But over time, he got used to it. He found his sleep restless during his month abroad without her clinging presence.

"I'm hungry," Murray gently nudged her forehead with his chin.

"I'm hungry too," Emily mumbled back.

"So?"

"You get up and cook us something to eat," Emily's hand roamed recklessly around his waist, pinching and kneading. "It was you who sent all the servants away."

Her hands were soft and warm, caressing like feathers, quite comforting on a winter's day.

Copying Emily, he pinched her waist a few times in retaliation, then actually got up and went to cook.

Hearing his footsteps downstairs, Emily opened her eyes, the darkness melting into her jet-black eyes. The corners of her lips curved up in a satisfied smile.

Emily wasn't sure if being a coquettish woman was good luck, but pushing the limits and raising his threshold for indulgence seemed essential within the bounds of a man's tolerance.

Like in the beginning with Murray - if she had dared suggest he cook, he would have made her eat shit. 

To train a scumbag into a man who now cooks for her that's an achievement in its own right.

She wasn't one for showmanship, yet she couldn't help but imagine the stir it would cause if she shared a photo of Sandviken's most affluent man busying himself in the kitchen for her. It would be akin to announcing an earthquake of magnitude eight in Sandviken.

This thought made her fingers itch with the urge to grab her phone. She opened her album, filled with intimate photos of her and Murray. A year ago, in a bid to secure Murray's investment in Fiduinvest, Emily had offered herself in exchange, expecting a struggle to stay by his side, especially considering Murray's well-known aloofness.

However, to her surprise, after just one meeting, he agreed to the arrangement.

When she first became his lover, every time they met, he would frisk her and confiscate her phone - treating her like a thief. Later, he let her move into his private residence, allowing her into his life, even willing to indulge in girlish games with her.

Emily sighed. No matter how high quality man, he wasn't immune to moments ruled by primal urges.

Still, she always kept his words in mind.

He had said, "Emily, I indulge you - privately, it's fine for you to fool around. But some things will never make it to the public stage."

Clever as she was, how could she not understand his reasoning? At twenty-six, he had reached his current stature, with status capabilities plainly evident. He could pamper her, but he would never marry her. 

The one he would marry was a young lady of the Zechariah family. Keeping her from the public eye was to avoid embarrassing his future wife. 

Emily understood. And because she understood, she was all the more at ease with him, certain their relationship was secure. 

She wanted to borrow his power, and he wanted her youthful body.

Mutually beneficial - each got what they wanted. 

Stretching lazily, Emily got out of bed, showered, and dressed casually in a robe before heading downstairs.