Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Seduction Clause: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Celeste watched as Julian looked around the restaurant, his gaze sweeping over the intimate tables and soft lighting before his eyes finally landed on her in her quiet booth. A small, weary smile touched his lips as he began to walk towards her, moving with a subtle reluctance. He slid into the booth across from her, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly as he sank into the seat. "Hi," was all he said, his voice quiet, almost a sigh. "Hi," Celeste replied, her own voice soft. "I wasn't sure you were going to make it." Julian let out a small, mirthless laugh. "I wasn't sure if I was either," he admitted, meeting her gaze, "and I'm still not entirely sure why I'm here now." "You're here for the best Thai in town," Celeste responded smoothly, a subtle, confident glint in her eyes. Just as the server arrived to take his order, Celeste cut him off. "He'll have what I'm having," she told the server, her voice decisive. The server nodded with a knowing smile and turned quickly to leav

The Belvedere Room, a posh Midtown lunch spot, buzzed with the subdued clinking of cutlery and the murmur of discreet conversations. Sunlight filtered through tall arched windows, illuminating the crisp white tablecloths and gleaming silverware. It was the kind of place where privacy was assumed, and discretion paramount, ensuring Julian wouldn't suspect a clandestine meeting if his PI was still watching Vivienne. Celeste sat opposite Vivienne at a corner table, their pleasant smiles betraying nothing of the sharp edges of their impending conversation."So, an update on Julian?" Vivienne prompted, her voice silken, her gaze unblinking as she gestured for a waiter. "Any progress at the roundtable? I trust he was... amenable?"Celeste took a slow sip of her sparkling water, allowing a carefully constructed half-truth to settle on her tongue. "Julian wasn't interested in sleeping with me, no," she stated plainly, watching for any flicker in Vivienne's cool facade. "He seemed distracted,

Celeste stepped through the heavy black curtain behind the small reception area, and her breath hitched. Elias had been right; it was truly spectacular. They weren't just in a restaurant; they had been transported. Before her eyes unfolded a meticulous recreation of a small, lively street in Paris.The floor beneath her feet was cobblestone, worn smooth in places as if by centuries of foot traffic. Live trees, their leaves a vibrant green, rose from planters nestled between charming storefronts. And these weren't mere facades; they were actual, functional stores. She could see delicate pastries glistening in the window of a patisserie, cured meats hanging in a rustic delicatessen, and elegant scarves draped in the display of a French clothing boutique. Above, the ceiling was a breathtaking canopy of deep indigo, a perfectly rendered night sky twinkling with countless tiny lights, and in the soft, ambient distance, the iconic silhouette of the Eiffel Tower glowed faintly. The air itsel

Elias bent, his lips hot against her neck, then trailed down to the exposed tops of her breasts. While his mouth worked its magic, his free hand deftly unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. Celeste, not to be outdone, slid her hand into his trousers, her fingers closing around his hard cock, still sheathed in boxer briefs. Elias groaned into her neck, a deep, guttural sound of raw pleasure. He yanked down the front of her dress, exposing both breasts, before drawing one nipple into his mouth, tugging hard, while his large palm enveloped the other.With a swift movement, Elias reached into his pocket with his free hand, pulling out a condom. He stepped back for a moment, his eyes, dark with desire, watching Celeste as he freed his erection. It sprang upwards, thick and ready. He grasped it, stroking himself in rhythmic motions, his gaze never leaving hers. Celeste followed suit, pushing her lace thong to the side, her fingers stroking herself in time with his movements. His growls and moa

Celeste's grip on the phone tightened, a cold dread replacing her professional focus. She took a deep, steadying breath, her mind immediately switching to crisis management mode. "Mom, listen to me," she said, her voice a calm, firm anchor in the panicked tide. "I need you to take a deep breath. Just one. Tell me everything. Where is she? How far along is she? What are the doctors saying?"Her mom's voice, though still shaky, became more coherent under Celeste's direction. "She's at St. Jude's in Charleston. She's only thirty-two weeks, Celeste. The doctors are saying... they're saying they can try to stop it, but they don't know if they can. It's happening so fast."Celeste's mind went into overdrive, a flurry of rapid-fire calculations. Charleston. Not a quick trip. The meeting with Elias was tomorrow morning at nine. There was no way she could fly home and back in time. Her presence wouldn't change the outcome; it would only provide emotional support she couldn't give. Her sister w