Sinful Pleasures: In Bed With His Best Friend のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

DANTE As soon as I pushed through the revolving door at Echelon House, the sleek glass panels spun around me. My eyes darted to the biometric scanner embedded above the doorway. Seconds later, the scanner blinked green, confirming my identity, and a robotic female voice chimed through hidden speakers. “Welcome to Echelon House, the pinnacle of discreet luxury and elite connections.” My jaw tightened at the stiff tone. I hated it. Stepping into the vast lobby, the smell of oud wrapped around me.The marble floor glimmered beneath my polished shoes, reflecting the soft glow of the chandeliers above. A concierge, standing at the side in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, stepped forward. “Welcome back, Mr. Devereux,” he said with a crisp nod. Before I could react, another attendant had already taken my coat. “Shall I have your usual brought to the balcony?” the concierge asked. I gave a small nod and moved further inside. Soft music drifted through the lobby, mingli

DANTE Of course. It was his ego and pride that kept him talking. That was what drove him, what fed his belief that what I said was impossible. Deep down, he didn’t really think I could have slept with Olivia. I was his best friend, the one who stood beside him long before the spotlight, before the money, and before her. He held onto our so-called friendship, the one that was supposed to be untouchable and unbreakable. And that was exactly what made it so pathetic. Because two years ago, he had taken something from our friendship and pretended not to know what he’d done. He had no idea the pain of the betrayal I carried when he dropped to one knee and proposed to the only woman I had ever looked at twice. He enjoyed stealing her from me. He had no idea about the rage I buried. No idea how it felt to watch from a distance while the one thing that was real to me slipped into his hands. And the worst part? He still couldn’t accept it. He couldn’t accept that he had ruined i

OLIVIA A knot tightened in my stomach, making me queasy. I motioned for her to answer, silently praying this wouldn’t turn into yet another setback. She swiped the screen. “Hello?” “I’m terribly sorry for the confusion,” Hailey said. Her voice was softer now, almost like she was using kindness to mock us. “But I’ve just been informed the unit has already been paid for.” My mind reeled. What the hell? She’d just said it was available and now, it wasn’t? My shoulders slumped, all the air rushing out of me. Lilian’s eyes narrowed. “Paid for? By who? And when? Because a few minutes ago you told us the unit was open. Did this mystery tenant appear out of thin air?” There was a pause on the line, Hailey hesitating. After a short pause, she said, “I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused.” The call ended immediately. I stared at Lilian in disbelief, Hailey’s words echoing in my ears. Why was this happening to me? I shut my eyes tight, fighting the burn of tears.

OLIVIA My stomach growled, the sound loud in the quiet room. Lying on my back, I pressed a hand against my abdomen with a sigh. I hadn’t eaten all day, not because I didn’t want to, but because everything had spun so far out of my control. And the thought of going downstairs and pretending nothing had happened after the way I lashed out at Dante felt impossible. A knock at the door cut through my thoughts. I froze, my head snapping toward the sound. Dragging myself up from the bed, I ran a hand through my tangled hair and tucked a few strands behind my ear as I crossed the room. When I opened the door, a middle-aged woman stood there smiling at me. She was the housekeeper, I guessed. “Mr. Devereux would like to know if you’ll be joining him for dinner.” The woman’s hands fell neatly to her sides. I bit my lip, my stomach turning as the memory of my outburst at Dante came rushing back. Shaking my head, I murmured, “No… thank you.” Right on cue, my stomach growled, lou

DANTE I watched as she stepped into my room. I didn’t know why she came or maybe I should have known, but after what my confession did to her, I never expected this. She lingered by the door, her hair tousled and her eyes clouded with uncertainty. For a second, I forgot how to breathe. The thin, silky robe she still wore from dinner clung to her in all the ways that tested my restraint. It did nothing to hide her curves, especially the ones I thought about too damn often. Her scent carried across the room, hitting me like a punch to the nose, and my eyes nearly closed as my head tipped back. I forced myself upright, careful not to startle her, though my body wanted to leap forward and close the distance. My gaze betrayed me as I skimmed from her face, down to the swell of her chest, holding her there. I swallowed hard as her fingers slid to the knot at her waist…slowly tugging it loose. She slipped the robe off slowly, like every second of delay was a punishment she knew I