Chapter 2

 

The lit phone screen on the nightstand only flashed for a moment, but the name Victor displayed there was enough to make Noah's blood run cold. The deadly smirk that had just formed on his lips was immediately hidden when Valerie suddenly dipped her head sharply, crashing their lips together and completely ignoring her phone.

The woman was completely unaware of the murderous aura that had just erupted from the man beneath her. To cover up her own nervousness from Noah's previous touch, Valerie bit the base of the man's neck, hard enough to leave a mark on his tanned skin.

Noah only let out a low groan from his throat. He let the woman's nails grip his shoulders, using the sting from Valerie's bite to suppress his urge to kill Victor that very second.

"You are mine tonight," Valerie whispered against Noah's lips, her breath racing.

Yours, Noah thought, amused. If Victor knew that the man currently being ridden by the CEO of V-Corp was the former business king he was desperately hunting, all of Valcrest would surely have been leveled to the ground tonight.

Without waiting for an answer, Valerie took over the game. Noah quietly observed the woman's breathing, which began to turn ragged from forcing her dominance. Every time Valerie's movements slowed down due to fatigue, Noah's large hands on her waist would press harder—subtly taking over the rhythm, guiding her, and pushing the woman's body to its maximum limit without her realizing it.

On this bed, Valerie might feel she was conquering a hired slave, but Noah knew exactly that he was the mastermind in control of the CEO's sanity that night.

Morning light pierced through the gaps in the penthouse curtains. Noah had already showered and dressed neatly. His black shirt wrapped around his broad body perfectly, and his dress pants draped perfectly over his legs. His face was fresh, as if he hadn't exhausted his energy all night. He entered the room carrying a tray with a cup of black coffee and a glass of water, once again putting on his flawless robotic assistant mask.

He looked at Valerie, who was sitting while rubbing her disheveled face. Noah could see the look of annoyance in the woman's eyes upon seeing his calmness.

"Good morning, Miss," Noah greeted formally, placing the tray on the nightstand.

"Come here," Valerie ordered coldly.

Noah stepped closer. Valerie got off the bed, letting the silk blanket slide down to the floor. The woman's hand reached out as if to straighten Noah's shirt collar, then suddenly forcefully yanked open his top two buttons.

At the crook of Noah's neck, the reddish-purple bite mark was clearly imprinted.

Valerie smiled cynically. Her red nails traced the mark. "Good. Don't button your shirt all the way to the top today. Let everyone out there see this and know that you are already taken."

Noah looked down, staring at Valerie's fingers. There was no feeling of humiliation in his mind. This order was actually very advantageous to him. The more he looked like an actual pet property, the more perfect his disguise would be from the radar of Victor's hitmen.

"If that is your wish, Miss," Noah answered calmly, looking straight into Valerie's eyes. "But I suggest you drink your coffee immediately. You have a board of directors meeting scheduled this morning, and you need time to cover up the red marks on your own chest."

Noah caught a flash of shock in Valerie's eyes as the CEO reflexively looked down, seeing the dark red marks on her own chest. Before the woman's anger could explode, Noah had already bowed his head slightly, giving a highly professional gesture of respect.

"I will wait in the car, Miss," Noah said casually, then turned his body and stepped out of the room.

V-Corp Lobby. Noah walked right behind Valerie. As the CEO strode in her sharp white blazer, Noah noticed the stolen glances of the female receptionists and employees directed toward his unbuttoned shirt. He ignored those adoring gazes, his eyes busy scanning the locations of surveillance cameras and blind spots in this building for his own strategic security.

However, he saw Valerie's jaw clench in front of him.

"Stop drawing attention, Noah," Valerie reprimanded coldly as they entered the exclusive executive elevator.

Noah folded his arms casually. He knew this woman was overcome with a jealousy she was reluctant to admit. "I am just walking behind you, Miss. And I am only following your orders regarding this shirt."

Valerie clicked her tongue in annoyance. When the elevator doors opened on the 40th floor, Valerie walked quickly toward her office. Noah followed her in, then shut the door tightly.

Valerie threw herself into her oversized leather chair, closing her eyes while massaging her temples. The tight schedule seemed to be taking a toll on the CEO. Noah stepped closer, standing right behind the woman's chair. He placed his fingers on Valerie's shoulders, pressing into her stiff neck muscles with the perfect precision of a massage. He felt the CEO's body instantly relax and melt under his touch.

"Stop," Valerie suddenly ordered in a harsh voice, as if she had just come to her senses and hated looking weak in front of her hired man.

Noah immediately withdrew his hands and took a step back, bowing his head slightly. "I apologize, Miss."

Valerie spun her chair around, staring sharply at Noah. "Lock the door."

Noah complied. He pressed the lock button until a soft click echoed.

"Come here," Valerie pointed at the thick carpeted floor right in front of the tips of her high heels. "Kneel."

For any man, it would be a humiliation that crushed one's pride. However, Noah's face remained flat. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and folded his legs, kneeling right between Valerie's slightly parted legs.

However, as his face leveled with Valerie's desk, Noah's sharp eyes reflexively scanned the documents scattered there. His gaze immediately locked onto a thick folder containing the CEO's work agenda, complete with a schedule memo attached to its front: Board of Directors Meeting & Quarterly Evaluation – 09:30 AM.

Noah glanced at the watch hidden beneath his suit sleeve. It was 09:25 AM.