Chapter 190 The Detestable Capitalist
Night.
A tallAs night fell, a towering figure loomedcast a long shadow over the office desk.
Sam’s Sam, with his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, hiswas the epitome of intense concentration. His eyes fiercely concentrated, fierce and unblinking, were fixed on the fluctuating data displayed on the screen, capturing every minute detail with hawk-like precision.
Knock,A soft knock echoed through the room—two gentle taps on the door.
“ "Still busy? I’veI've made you some lotus seed soup to have before you continue,” Layla said," Layla's voice floated in, carrying the warmth of the soup inside.
“with her."Hmm.”," Sam pulledresponded, pulling her onto his lap, embracing her and wrapping his arms around her, all while his hands kept navigatingcontinued their dance across the computer.
keyboard.Seeing thishis dedication, Layla offered, “"Let me feed you.”
." She spoonfed him the lotus seed soup slowly, occasionally wiping his lips with a napkin, “. "Is it good?”
“?" she asked."Hmm.”
She couldn’t help but."Her smile. “You’re was radiant. "You're not even looking., n Not scared I might poison you?”
Sam’s?"Sam's movements slowed, his gaze briefly leaving the screen to kissmeet hers. He kissed her lips tenderly, his smile disarmingly handsome, “. "Now I’m not afraid.”
“.""Stop it.”
Layla licked," she protested, her lips, tasting still tingling from the kiss. The sweetness lingered—the flavor of love.
After finishing the bowl of soup, she stayed snugnestled comfortably in his embrace a while longer.. Noticing Sam stretching his neck, she offered, “"Neck sore? Let me give you a massage. You just keep on working.”
." She worked her waymoved behind him, her hands kneading his shoulders vigorously.
“with vigor."Does that feel good?”
“?""Is the pressure okay?”
?" "Mmm."
Samuel tappedWith the final keystroke and, Sam pulled her hand back into his embrace, his gaze softening in a way reserved just for her. "You've been so thoughtful today. What's on your mind? What do you want?"
Layla pouted, a playful hum in her voice, "That tone of yours, as if someone being nice has to have an ulterior motive. I don't love hearing that."
"Ah, did I misunderstand my girl? It seems she wants nothing from me."
"Well... there is one tiny thing I wanted to talk to you about," Layla said, sticking out her tongue endearingly.
Samuel couldn't help but laugh and teased her by flicking her nose. "Unsolicited kindness can spell only one of two things: mischief or ulterior motives."
"Come on, I'm always gentle and caring with you, alright?"
"Alright. Out with it."
"This weekend, the Eilish Group has invited our team to a resort..."
"No," he cut her off firmly before she could finish.
"I don't really want to go, but skipping it might make me look like an outsider. You know our team is new, we need to build good relationships."
"You're there to work, not to socialize."
"Yeah, but getting along with coworkers is part of the job too. What if they start making things difficult for me at work?"
"Who?" Samuel's voice turned stern, his expression clearly stating: troublemakers will be dealt with.
"Me, I mean, just in case," Layla quickly clarified, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling all the charming tactics she had, "Honey, it's just for two days. Let me go, please? I'll be back Sunday evening. And you don't trust me even when I'm with a bunch of colleagues?"
"I don't feel at ease unless you're by my side."
"You can't just keep me tied to you all the time. Let me go, please."
"Leaving me alone at home, off having fun – doesn't your conscience hurt?" Samuel nibbled at her ear, making his point.
Layla felt a twinge of guilt, "Isn't Mr. Morris going to be here?"
here?""What's the fun in hanging out with a father figure?"
"..."
"..."Layla persisted from eight in the evening until ten, and as soon as Samuel came out of the shower, she was right there waiting, "Honey, I—"
Her words were suddenly silenced by a kiss.
In an instant, her petite figure was scooped up by Samuel and placed on the bed.
"I haven't finished... talking..." Layla gasped, her body arching involuntarily as he kissed and nibbled her ear, sending ants of sensation marching over her skin.
"Don't you know you should"Shouldn't your pleas be pleading withexpressed through actions?" Samuel's Samuel murmured, his lips trailedtracing a path down to her neck, then her collarbone.
His hands intertwined, entwined with hers, pressingpressed them downfirmly into the mattress on either side of her head.
"Let's make up for the next two days first..."
Ultimately In the end, as Layla lay beneath him, trembling and whispering beneath him, she finally heard him relent.
Waking upyield. Awakening to a faint sound in the early morning, Layla felt the griplingering grasp of sleep still holding her as she opened her eyes to find the man already immaculately dressed in a sharp black suit.
"What time is it?" she mumbled.
"Seven o'clock."
"That early?" Layla yawned, stretching languidly. "YouDo you have a meeting today?"
"I'm off onleaving for a business trip."
"A trip? When was that decided?"
"Last week." Samuel came overmoved to her side of the bed, leaningbending down for a habitualcustomary kiss.
"So, you knew you'd be leaving today and yet you accused me of abandoning you? That's just wrongunfair; I felt guiltyspent all of yesterday feeling guilty for nothingno reason." Layla felt likeas though she was on the losing end. Ifat a disadvantage. Had she hadn'tnot planned that weekend getaway, she would be the one left at home.
behind. "You're so cunning."
devious." "I'm a businessman," Samuel teased with, a smile. "All is fair in playing on his lips. "In love and war."
"Dreadful, all is fair." "Terrible capitalist."
"Don't gohave too wildmuch fun without me, and remember to miss me. I'll be missing you a lot."
greatly." At his sincere words, Layla's irritation melted awaydissolved instantly at his earnest words, leaving her with , replaced by a sweet, lingering sentiment.
...
...By half-past nine-thirty in the morning, Layla arrivedwas standing early at the doorstepentrance of the Eilish Group, ready to sign in and then boardedbefore boarding the 20-seat shuttle bus.
Lost Engrossed in her music, she was interruptedjolted from her reverie by Mr. Smith waving his hand beforein front of her eyes.
"Mr. LeeSmith," Layla quickly took offremoved her wireless earbuds.
"Do you mind if I sit next to you?" WhileEven as Mr. Smith was askingasked, he was already taking a settling into the seat, causingleaving Layla to lookglance helplessly at Alice, who had just boarded the bus. She had reserved this seat for her.
"Miss Adkins, is it too formal to calladdress you thatas such? May I call you Layla?"
She nodded.
"Layla, you're twenty years old?"
"Twenty-one."
"Still in school?"
"Yes, a senior. I'm graduating this year."
"Oh, to be a student again! I miss those days," Mr. Smith sighed. "Once upon a time, I was just as youthful as you."
Out of courtesy, Layla repliedresponded: "You still look very young."
"Do I?" Mr. Smith seemed pleased with the compliment. "People often tell me I don’t look a day over thirty. I wouldn't want to seem too old next to you; someone might think I'mmistake me for your uncle."
Layla let outoffered an awkward chuckle.
"Besides sketching, do you have any other hobbies?"
"I likeenjoy watching movies and listening to music."
"Me too. MaybePerhaps I could take you to a movie sometime?"
"There doesn't seem to be any good new releases lately. Maybe another time," Layla replied, offering a polite smile before attempting to put her earbud back in, but. However, Mr. Smith took it and put it on himself. "I like this song too. See? No generation gap here. I'm still young at heart."
All Throughout the way therejourney, Mr. Smith had been desperately grasping for topics oftrying to engage Layla in conversation, trying to cozy upattempting to Layla who secretlyingratiate himself with her. Secretly, Layla wished she could tossthrow him out the window,. B but she just bore with withstood it, chattingconversing intermittently while enduring the disdainful looks from Gioanna and Jane—her silent grievances piling upmounting within her.
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