Chapter 49 Next week's my engagement, Eleanor
Dawn was breaking, casting a soft light over the disheveled room.
Eleanor lay sprawled out on the disheveled king-size bed, her body unshielded by any blanket. The dim light from the spa pool painted a sinuous silhouette across her, highlighting the perfect curvature of her spine as it dipped and swooned toward the fullness below, boasting an impeccable waist-to-hip ratio.
Her skin was marked with a constellation of red marks—evidence of Aaron's insatiable desire. He had claimed her relentlessly throughout the night—from the hot springs to the tatami mats, the floor-to-ceiling windows, the bathroom, and finally, the bed. Eleanor had found no respite from his intensity.
A large hand, slick with sweat, encircled her waist as Aaron's towering, damp figure pressed down upon her. She jerked reflexively.
"No... stop..."
"Do you really want me to stop?" He amused with hishot breath lingering in her ear.
With a soft whimper, her eyelids fluttered, her tear-soaked eyes betraying a youthful vulnerability. She appeared as delicate as the freshest shoot on a willow in springtime—equally invoking the desire to protect her and to crush her fiercely.
Without asking, Aaron turned her face toward his, kissing her swollen lips vigorously, easily parting her legs before the dawn had fully broken to take her once more.
By the end, Eleanor was almost unconscious. Breathing heavily, Aaron whispered into her ear, "I'm getting engaged next week, Eleanor."
Her heart clenched with such pain at his words that she struggled to consciousness.
Panting, Eleanor sat up to find the room in total disarray and daybreak in full reveal. Aaron was gone.
Glancing at the time, it was already half-past nine. Her phone was ablaze with missed calls—some from Nora, some from Ulysses.
She quickly dialed Ulysses back, claiming she had overslept due to cold medicine. As she spoke, she realized the fever she'd had the day before had subsided.
The very thought of Aaron's method of 'curing' her cold sent a flush of heat across Eleanor's cheeks. Her body tensed instinctively, the soreness too pronounced, and she cursed under her breath.
A brand-new outfit in her size lay on a stool.
She got dressed in haste after freshening up and then checked out at the front desk.
Last night, she'd learned that the Hot Spring Resort had been acquired by Titan Infrastructure Group and Quinn Corporation, which meant Aaron was one of the developers.
Her heart fluttered. A fiancée, entangled with another on his own turf—if their affair became public, what would people say about Aaron?
In that moment, Eleanor felt a pang of hesitation, despising her own weakness. She wanted to get back at Vincent but couldn't bear to hurt Aaron.
If Grayson found out, he'd be furious with her.
Leaving the resort area, she drove to a nearby pharmacy and picked up some morning-after pills.
Last night, Aaron had neglected safer practices, and after multiple rounds, the chances of pregnancy were unsettlingly high. She couldn't afford to take that risk.
She arrived at the office just before eleven, stepping out of the elevator to see Vincent emerging from an office, clutching a stack of papers. Her appearance seemed off, the kind that hinted at a sleepless night.
Upon spotting Eleanor, with no one else around to vent to, she couldn't help but sneer, "Showing up just before quitting time, huh? Might as well start your day after lunch."
Eleanor clocked in and turned to face her, managing a half-hearted shrug. "Late is late, but hey, what can I say? I'm dedicated to my job."
Promoted to Deputy Director, Eleanor now had her own office, and Nora had become her assistant. Curiosity was written all over Nora's face as she saw Eleanor, "What on earth were you up to last night, Eleanor?"
Eleanor paused, unsure of how to explain.
Should she really admit to attempting some risqué photography, only to wind up compromising herself in the process?
"Kid stuff, don't worry about it," she brushed off Nora, gently pushing her inquisitive face away.
"You're just two years older than me," Nora muttered under her breath.
Once Nora left, Eleanor took out her phone and opened her photo gallery. The images weren't suitable for a public release to shame Vincent utterly, but she could still anonymously send them to the Quinn family.
She scrolled through her phone, frowning more with each swipe. Her fingers began to tremble involuntarily.
Shots and videos – she'd taken several.
All gone?
She’d had sole contact with her phone since the night before, and she hadn't checked the photos that morning; accidental deletion was out of the question.
Wait, no.
Someone else might have had access to her phone.
Eleanor's thoughts were in turmoil as she dialed a number she knew by heart without even looking through her contacts.
Three rings, then the call was disconnected.
She dialed again; this time it cut off after two.
A third attempt and it informed her the line was busy.
Eleanor refused to believe it. Slightly panicked, she opened Facebook.
Meanwhile, at the Municipal Conference Hall.
Aaron's phone, face down on the table, pinged with a notification from Facebook.
Without a word, he discreetly shifted his gaze away.
At yesterday's bidding conference, three contenders emerged victorious in securing the highly coveted rights to construct a large-scale, comprehensive rehabilitation center—Titan Infrastructure Group, Quinn Corporation, and the esteemed Thompson family enterprise.
Titan Infrastructure Group, notably, had once co-managed the lucrative Hot Spring Resort alongside Quinn Corporation. The Thompson family business, on the other hand, was steered by Vincent's uncle with a steady hand.
The top brass responsible for overseeing this round of bids was a prodigy of Jonah, who had since ascended to the role of Nan City's influential second-in-command. Although he ostensibly maintained a hands-off approach to the bidding process, the reality was crystal clear: a mere nod from Jonah could determine the beneficiary of the contract.
This project was unparalleled within the country, its potential benefits beyond measure.
Jonah, a titan himself, was Vincent's father, Aaron's father-in-law-to-be, and the younger brother of the Thompson family patriarch.
Thus, to those privy to the inner workings of the deal, Titan Infrastructure Group was essentially a mere formality; a sideshow. The true destination of the project hinged entirely on Jonah's preference.
As the conference disbanded, the Thompson family patriarch approached Aaron with an outstretched hand and a chuckle, saying, "Aaron, there's a world of opportunity for you young folks. Why bother to compete with us old timers?"
Aaron's lips curled into a wry smile as he shook the offered hand. "Who can say no to making money?"
A shift crossed the old man's features—Aaron had spoken with too much finesse.
Everyone knew Aaron to be the most formidable player in the business arena, with half of Nan City's profitable ventures falling into his lap. Under his guidance, the Quinn family's fortunes had swelled to unprecedented heights. Yet, despite his accomplishments, Aaron's ambition remained unsated—a testament to his boundless aspirations.
Stepping out of the conference hall with a purposeful stride, dappled light danced across his face, a glint of iciness passing fleetingly in his eyes.
Settling into his car, Aaron lit a cigarette from his case, allowing the smoke to unfurl around him, his piercing gaze slowly settling into a calm repose.
As the vehicle rolled away from the municipal buildings, cruising down a wutong tree-lined road, he took out his phone and launched Facebook.
Pinned at the top was a profile picture capturing a delicate hand clutching a bouquet of roses.
The roses were stunning, blazing like a sunset sky.
His hands were even more beautiful: slender, pale, and seemingly boneless—yet capable of leaving deep scratches on Aaron's back without any restraint.
Cigarette in his left hand, Aaron used his right thumb to tap open a chat. Even through the screen, he could feel the woman's rage burning.
"Did you delete my photos?"