Lahat ng Kabanata ng On Thin Ice With You: Kabanata 151 - Kabanata 160

He leans past her, opening the freezer. He pulls out a bottle of sports drink and pours himself a glass, then reaches into the ice bin. He scoops a handful of cubes, the clinking sound sharp in the quiet kitchen. He drops them into his glass, then takes a long, slow drink, his eyes never leaving hers."Better?" he asks, his voice dropping an octave."Much," she whispers."Good. Because I'm not planning on letting you go again until it's time for that plane."Before she can respond, he sweeps her off her feet, her glass clattering onto the counter as he carries her toward the bedroom, his eyes promising a night that would burn far hotter than any victory.Inside, the moon is a voyeuristic spectator, hanging like an oversized bulb in the Toronto sky, casting a silver glow over the bed.Elias pulls a single cube of ice from the glass. Without a word, he pops it into his mouth. The shock of the cold is instantaneous, numbing his tongue as he rolls it against the roof of his mouth, prepari

Even without looking at her phone, Mia can practically feel the shock radiating from Alice across the ocean.Being kissed like that in front of a room full of academics and her own parents via video call sends a treacherous heat crawling up Mia's neck.The "Elias Weston Show" concludes its brief, high-voltage intermission as Mia's segment of the ceremony wraps up. She uses the massive bouquet as a floral shield, ducking her head and retreating to her seat with a pace that borders on a sprint.Elias doesn't stay long. Despite his desire to linger by her side, the Raiders have summoned their star player back for an emergency team matter. He fights it, stalling until the very last second, but eventually, even he has to concede.Mia, along with her parents on the small screen, gives him a little wave as he departs. She watches his broad shoulders disappear through the oak doors before turning her attention back to the stage, though her heart is still thumping a frantic rhythm against her

The blue-grey flicker of the computer screen reflects in Elias's eyes, a sharp contrast to the dimly lit study.Elias leans back in his chair, the weight of the Weston empire pressing against his shoulders more heavily than any defender on the ice ever could.He checks the participant list one last time before his executive assistant gives the nod."The board is assembled, Mr. Weston. You may begin."Elias looks up, his gaze narrowing as the faces of his European executives fill the screen.These are the titans—men who have spent twenty years entrenched in the Weston hierarchy, veterans who see the young heir as little more than a golden boy with a hockey stick. They have spent the last hour meticulously crafting a "localized" strategy for the Italian market expansion, their words polished, their smiles thin and experimental.They are testing him. He can feel their skepticism like a physical weight."Joseph," Elias interrupts, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "Clarify your reporting

The summit had done more for Mia's standing at the institute than six months of excellent work had managed on its own.Her supervisor has been measurably warmer since the presentation. The referrals have been coming in from departments that previously seemed unaware she existed.One day, when Mia's finishing the last of her session notes, her colleagues appear in the doorway."Mia." Federica leans against the frame. "We're going to that place on Via Torino. You're coming too?""I'm coming," Mia agrees, shutting her laptop.They walk out together into the early evening. Federica is mid-forties, the kind of colleague who notices everything and comments on roughly half of it. The younger one, Chiara, has been at the institute for eight months and is still in the phase of finding everything interesting."By the way," Federica says, as they wait near the entrance for their car, "I was going to ask you about Marco from the third floor. He asked about you."Mia looks at her. "He's only twent

Words are a luxury neither of them can afford right now.The quiet apartment is suddenly loud—the desperate hitch of Mia's breath, the wet, rhythmic friction of their lips, and the low, hungry growl vibrating deep in Elias's throat.Elias cinches his grip, his fingers digging into the soft curve of her hips as he hauls her flush against him."Finally," he breathes. "I finally have you.""Mm-hmm," Mia murmurs, her body feeling like liquid gold.A sudden gust of cold air from the still-open doorway cuts through the haze.Mia shivers, the chill snapping her back to reality. In a blur of movement, she detaches herself from his embrace, her face flushing a deep, vivid crimson as she realizes they've been putting on a public display of affection right in the hallway.She grabs him into the apartment. She peeks left and right, checking the silent corridor for any nosy neighbors before slamming the door shut with a definitive thud."Why so jumpy? It's not like we're a secret," Elias says. He