ENTANGLED AFFAIRS のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

The first sliver of sunlight, a traitorous spy, pierced through the gap in my curtains, landing squarely on my eyelids. I groaned, batting it away with a lazy swat of my hand. Grounded. Seriously? I was practically an adult, yet here I was, confined to my childhood bedroom like some delinquent teenager. All thanks to my disastrous attempt at playing the dutiful date at that damn art auction.My eyes fluttered open, and the memories flooded back, hot and insistent. Julian’s office, all sleek lines and muted colours, suddenly seemed like a hazy dream. But the feel of his lips on mine, the sharp intake of his breath as I nipped at his lower lip… that was no dream. That was a full-blown, Technicolor reality I was replaying in excruciating detail, and it was doing very, very inconvenient things to my body.My stomach clenched, a mixture of nerves and something akin to… excitement? I hadn't expected Julian to be so…forward. Or that I would enjoy it so much. The way he had looked at me, not

The next morning, Jasper found himself standing before the imposing mahogany doors of Mr. Hemmings' office. He smoothed down his perfectly tailored suit, a subtle shade of grey that suggested understated power, and adjusted the perfectly knotted tie. He took a deep breath, channeling Julian's focused intensity, and stepped inside.The office was exactly as Julian had described: a shrine to Hemmings' golfing achievements. Trophies gleamed under the recessed lighting, each one a testament to a bygone victory on the green. Hemmings, a man whose age was etched into every wrinkle of his face, rose from behind a large oak desk, his eyes narrowed in what Jasper assumed was his default expression."Mr. Davenport," Hemmings greeted him, extending a hand. His grip was surprisingly firm, the kind that wanted to prove something. "To what do I owe the pleasure? I thought we'd covered everything in our last discussion."Jasper flashed a practiced smile, the kind that reached his eyes but didn't qui

"Vacation home?" I repeated, the words feeling hollow in the face of such extravagant reality. "This… this is your vacation home?" My ideal apartment barely qualifies as a permanent residence, let alone a place to escape to.Julian chuckled, a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine. "One of them. I find the city stifling sometimes. I need space... and quiet." He glanced at me, his eyes intense. "And sometimes company."I swallowed, trying to regain my composure. "Right. Well, thanks for… inviting me."He took my hand again, his touch sending a surge of electricity through me. "Come. Let me show you around."The mansion was a masterpiece of modern architecture, all clean lines, glass walls, and open spaces. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating art pieces that probably cost more than my entire family’s net worth. We walked through the living room, which opened onto a massive terrace overlooking the ocean. The view was stunning – an endless expanse of turquoise water s

The helicopter blades whirred to a stop, dust swirling around us as Julian helped me unbuckle. Stepping onto solid ground after a night at his ridiculously lavish vacation home felt surreal. The air, even in the city, had a crispness I hadn’t noticed before. Maybe it was the change of scenery, or maybe it was the way Julian’s hand lingered a little too long on my lower back as he guided me towards the waiting car.The chauffeur, impeccably dressed in a dark suit, held the door open. Julian slid in after me, the leather of the seats cool against my skin. “As discussed, James,” he said, his voice a low rumble.We rode in comfortable silence, the city blurring past the tinted windows. I was still trying to process the weekend: the sprawling estate, the private beach, the way Julian had looked at me across the dinner table, a possessive glint in his eyes that sent shivers down my spine. My initial plan felt flimsy, almost childish, compared to the complex game I was now playing.The car p

The tires of my beat-up Corolla screeched slightly as I took the last turn, pulling into the pristine, almost offensively modern parking lot of Davenport Enterprises. A smirk played on my lips. "Let's see if Mr. Always-Too-Busy-For-Clara is too busy for a little unannounced visit from yours truly," I muttered to myself, cutting the engine.The audacity of it all made my heart pound a bit faster. I hadn't told Julian I was coming. Hell, I hadn't told anyone I was coming. Mom and Dad would have a conniption fit if they knew I was within a mile of Davenport Enterprises without Clara glued to my side, ready to snag a stray crumb of their fortune. Clara, well, she'd probably just cry. Again.The lobby was predictably sterile and imposing, all polished chrome and hushed tones. I swaggered up to the reception desk, trying to exude an air of confidence I definitely didn't feel. The receptionist, a woman whose face looked permanently sculpted into a polite frown, raised a perfectly shaped eyeb