All Chapters of Bound By The CEO's Deal: Chapter 41 - Chapter 49

The deserted marble corridor connecting the banquet hall to the VIP lounge was bathed in a quiet, amber glow. Aiden strode forward, his long, powerful steps carrying him toward the restrooms, his face a mask of absolute indifference.Suddenly, the paneled wooden door swung open. Edna stepped out, her scarlet-tipped fingers smoothing the folds of her silk dress when her stilettos came to a sudden halt. Tilting her chin up, she immediately locked eyes with the towering figure of the man approaching.The smile on Edna’s lips stretched wide. She took a step forward, planting herself firmly in the center of the hallway."Aiden, what are you doing all the way out here in the shadows?" Edna purred, her eyes narrowing with practiced affectation.Aiden stopped. A gaze as cold as a winter lake swept over the heavily made-up face before him. He didn’t speak, nor did he make any move to step around her. His motionless silence let the pressure heavy in the air slam right back onto her.Edna raised

"Alma?"The low voice abruptly cut through the darkness, accompanied by a warm hand settling on her slender shoulder. Alma flinched, pulling back slightly. Seeing Aiden standing before her, catching his breath, she quickly turned away, covertly wiping the lingering tears from her cheeks."What the hell are you doing out here?" Aiden snapped, his voice tight with suppressed frustration. He had clearly been running to find her. She, on the other hand, was nowhere near ready to face him after the horrific things Edna had just crammed into her head.When she remained silent, Aiden let out a sharp click of his tongue. His eyes darkened as they caught the glint of tears on her face. "Are you crying? What are you putting on a show for out here out of nowhere? Trying to play a ghost guarding the gate?"Alma regulated her breathing, pointed a finger toward the night sky, and replied indifferently, "I’m counting the stars. And getting some fresh air to clear my head. Is that a crime?"Aiden sco

Aiden’s question struck like a bolt of lightning in the dead of night. Alma bit her lip in shock, her eyes widening as she stared at the man in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat, and her fingers instinctively clenched beneath the hem of her vest, realizing she had just let something slip."No, that..." Alma stammered, her panicked gaze dodging his razor-sharp stare."Don't even think about lying to deceive me," Aiden warned in a stern, commanding voice, stepping closer until their chests were almost touching. His hand decisively cupped her chin, forcing her to face his terrifyingly tense expression. "And don't you dare try to evade it. Answer me honestly, Alma!"Alma’s chest heaved violently. Her head throbbed; Edna's insults throughout the evening felt like an invisible hand squeezing the last drops of her strength. Unable to fight back, she used every ounce of her remaining willpower to swat his hand away, crying out defensively:"Enough, Aiden! I'm tired. It's best if I just l

The man’s powerful heartbeat drummed steadily from behind, casting a wave of warm heat against Alma’s slender back. She lay perfectly still, her chest tightening as she held her breath until a sharp throb pulsed in her temples. Suddenly, the firm chest pressed against her back shifted. Aiden’s long eyelashes flickered, and his deep, dark eyes opened.The moment consciousness flooded back, Aiden’s pupils contracted. He realized his arm was wrapped fully around Alma’s waist, pulling her so tightly into his embrace that their bathrobes were tangled together. The bolster pillow meant to divide their boundaries since last night had been tossed to the foot of the bed at some point. The primal urge of possession that came with lingering sleep made him instinctively tighten his grip for a fleeting second. The scent of dew-kissed wildflowers from her hair drifted into his nose, sinking deep into his mind.How long had it been since he last slept this deeply? His agonizing condition and the rel

Aiden’s deep, muffled shout pierced the narrow space, slamming into the iron door before gradually dissipating, swallowed by the smooth jazz music drifting through the cracked door of room 2026 just next door. His chest heaved, his scorching breath fanning straight across Alma’s pale face. The intense pressure of his scrutinizing gaze left her borderline breathless.Alma turned her face away, her lips pressed firmly together. She stubbornly weaponized her silence to withstand the wrath of the man before her, covertly trying to read whether he had betrayed the agreement between them."Alma, look at me." Aiden’s long fingers dug into her shoulders, forcing her to face his dark eyes, which had narrowed dangerously. "You knew about it since yesterday, kept it to yourself, and then sneaked out here in the dead of night... Do you really think I would break my word for a woman like Edna? Do you have no trust in me at all?""Trust?" Alma’s cornered pride finally erupted. She snapped her head