Chapter 145 Let them in
But her strength was no match for his; her delicate wrists were seized by his burning palms. Keeping his mouth away suddenly, William's deep eyes blazed with a sanguine fury, towering over Hayden, his words ground out between clenched teeth, "Do you really have no fear of hurt, Hayden, or do you truly believe that I, William, can't live without you?"
"I’m sorry, I was selfish, I wronged you. But do you think I wanted it this way?" Hayden's tears broke free as she yelled back at the man who seemed almost murderous with rage.
"If you didn't want it, then why are you here now?" William's anger grew as he stared at the woman whose face was quickly streaked with tears.
"I'm here to beg for your forgiveness, to tell you that from the very beginning, it has always been only you I've loved. Don't you understand?" Hayden's voice rose, her tears flooding out like a breached dam, an emotional deluge she had never experienced before.
"The only person you love is me? Forgive you?!" William sneered as he glanced at the woman sobbing uncontrollably in his arms. His eyes caught a glimpse of a fancy club through the car window. Without hesitation, he growled at the driver, "Pull over!"
The driver, already terrified by the intense aura of the duo behind him, flinched at William's command and immediately slammed on the brakes, pulling the car over to the side of the road.
As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, William opened the door and dragged Hayden out.
"What are you doing?" Hayden challenged, bewildered, attempting to pull away.
"Shut up!" William thundered, forcefully yanking her out of the car and marching toward the club.
After a brief struggle, Hayden surrendered, following him as he strode into the club.
At the entrance, the security and staff were taken aback to see their boss hauling a woman along but quickly composed themselves, respectfully greeting, "Good afternoon, Mr. Bennet!"
Ignoring everyone, William pulled Hayden across the lobby under their astonished gazes and headed straight for the elevator.
The elevator attendants promptly pressed the up button as he approached. As soon as they neared, the doors slid open.
Inside the elevator, William pushed the button for the club's top floor and impatiently the close door button. Before Hayden could even process his intentions, he pressed her against his broad chest and the elevator wall. Lowering his head, he captured her lips in a fierce, devouring kiss.
Facing his furious but handsome visage, Hayden's will to struggle dissolved, letting him vent his passion unrestrained.
When the elevator chimed softly, signaling their arrival at the club's top floor, William quickly pulled her out, and then into a suite, slamming the door shut behind them. He then dragged her into the bedroom.
"Ah!"
The moment they entered the bedroom, William tossed her onto the bed with such force that Hayden let out a startled cry as she fell into the mattress.
"William, what the hell are you doing?" Suddenly angered, Hayden flipped over on the bed, glaring up at him and demanding an answer.
His eyes gleamed predatorily as he stared down at her, swiftly pulling off his tie and tossing it aside before shedding his suit jacket, "Hayden, what do you think I'm doing?" he retorted with a predatory grin.
"William, you...” “Ah!”
Before Hayden could finish her sentence, William lunged forward, pinning her underneath him without an atom of mercy, his hands ripping her dress...
...
"Why haven't my brother and Hayden arrived yet?"
Seated in the restaurant's private dining room, the waiters had already started serving, yet William and Hayden were nowhere to be seen. Teresa wandered over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, peering outside, and murmured to herself.
Gabriel walked over, gently guiding her back to the dining table and sat her down, his lips curling into a teasing smile. "I guess they won't be joining us. Let's start without them."
"Why not?" Teresa squinted suspiciously at him, and then, almost immediately, she inquired, "Gabriel, do you know something? Spill it!"
"What would I know?" Gabriel feigned ignorance, blowing on a spoonful of silkie chicken soup before offering it to her, "Here, have some soup."
As he did so, Teresa sipped it obediently, then, not letting go, persisted in her questioning, clutching his arm, "You definitely know something. Out with it."
"They're your brother and your best friend. If you don't know, how would I?" Gabriel teased, raising an arch of his handsome forehead.
"Are you going to tell me or not?" Teresa glared at him, her face suddenly drooping in disappointment.
Gabriel laughed, looking at her, "Is my dear lady commanding me, or is she begging?"
Gazing at him, Teresa bit her lip, then abruptly softened her demeanor and cooed, clutching his arm, "Honey, please tell me!"
"Say that again."
The word "honey" seemed to send a delightful shiver through Gabriel.
Teresa blinked innocently, "Honey, is there a problem?"
Gabriel chuckled contentedly, leaning in to lightly peck her lips, "Let's finish our meal, and I'll tell you on our way back."
Teresa was speechless.
...
"Can you tell me now?"
Having finished their meal and settled into their car, Teresa was once again tugging at Gabriel's arm, eager for him to divulge what was happening between William and Hayden.
She had sensed something odd between the two before lunch when they left the company, and she knew, after all these years, that William never took much interest in anyone, nor did he bother with a girlfriend because he had someone special in his heart.
Now, all she wanted was to figure out if Hayden was indeed the one William cherished.
If so, that would be awesome!
"Sweetheart, I'm beat after that meal. Let's take a quick break, and I'll fill you in once we're back at the office," Gabriel said. With that, he pulled Teresa into his arms and hugged her tightly, resting his chin gently at the top of her head, pretending to sleep with his eyes shut.
Teresa glanced up at him but said nothing.
Fine, it's just over ten minutes away anyway.
What Teresa hadn't expected was that as soon as they returned to the office, Gabriel would slam the door shut and then, with a swift move, scoop her up in his arms.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Teresa asked, bewildered, struggling a bit in his embrace.
"Sweetheart, let's move this to the bed. I’ll fill you in about your brother and Hayden.” Gabriel leaned in and stole a kiss before she could respond.
Teresa glared at him. As soon as she processed what was happening, she dodged his lips. "Stop it, you jerk! Put me down!"
"Put you down, or hear the juicy gist about your brother and Hayden?" Gabriel's playful voice teased as he carried her straight to the bedroom.
The bedroom was tidied up, with a few of Gabriel's outfits hanging in the open wardrobe.
"I don't want to know anymore. I'll just ask Hayden myself," Teresa continued to struggle.
"If Hayden were willing to tell you, she wouldn't have tried to become your BFF first for your brother's sake, my naive dear..." Gabriel gently laid her on the bed and leaned down to silence her protests with a kiss...
