Chapter 321

When Verena shut the door, silence instantly swallowed the office whole.

Miranda was the first to gather herself,her expression serene, the same mischievous smile still dancing on her lips.

Her slender fingers skimmed along the edge of Luis 'open collar as she leaned closer, her warm breath whispering against his ear. "Well, it looks like Verena just caught sight of something she never should have."

Luis' gaze sharpened at once, the haze in his eyes clearing. Though his voice carried a hoarse undertone,he kept his tone even. "Miss Brown, this is an office.Conduct yourself properly."

Yet Miranda seemed bent on ignoring that line.Instead of moving away, she nestled closer into his arms, her arms sliding around his neck. Triumph curved her mouth. "With your shirt already halfway undone, isn't it a little late for reminders, Mr. Sampson?"

She arched her brows in playful challenge, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Luis' lips formed a faint, unreadable smile, his dark gaze steady on her. "You were the one who wagered that if I kissed you willingly within fifteen minutes, I'd accept your earlier proposal. Time's up, Miss Brown.You've lost."

Unruffled, Miranda tilted her chin toward the wall clock, her red lips bending upward. "Isn't there still a minute left?"

A faint crease formed on Luis' forehead, confusion flickering in his eyes.

As he considered what ploy she might try next, a firm hand suddenly gripped the back of his neck and tugged him close.

His body stiffened, an instinctive urge to resist flashing through him, but before he could act, Miranda's breath was already mingling with his.

The distance between them vanished, their quickened breaths colliding in the charged space.

Luis' lashes quivered, his lips parting to speak-but Miranda silenced him with a kiss.

For an instant, his mind went blank, thought and reason frozen.

Then, like floodgates breaking, memories long buried surged back, drowning him in recollections of that reckless,fevered night.Everything replayed in his mind as vividly as if a reel of film were spinning before him.

Dazed only for a heartbeat, his gaze soon darkened,depth and danger interwoven.

He swallowed hard, one hand cupping the back of her head,his fingers weaving into her hair.

From that moment, control was an illusion.

The once-quiet air of the office seemed to flare into flame.

Documents slid from the desk, strewn across the floor like leaves in the wind.

The world outside ceased to matter.

Luis' tie pooled at his feet,several buttons gone from his shirt.

Miranda's hair tumbled loosely down, strands clinging to her flushed cheeks, enhancing her allure.

Meanwhile, Verena waited neither too close nor too far from the office, perched on a high stool with the city spread out below. Her eyes looked vacant, her thoughts adrift.

For the fifth time, she glanced at her watch-just as the office door clicked open.

Turning,she spotted Miranda approaching.

Miranda's hair was slightly tousled, her once-polished outfit a little undone, though her lips curved into a smile that betrayed her satisfaction-like a cat fresh from mischief.

Verena's lips tugged into a knowing smile as her gaze swept Miranda up and down.

After a moment, she reached out and brushed at Miranda's cheek, her tone playful. "You've got a touch of lipstick smudged there."

Crossing her arms, she tilted her head, her eyes dancing. "So, Miss Brown, care to explain what's going on between you and my brother?"

Miranda showed no hint of shame. Instead,she looped an arm casually around Verena's neck, her grin lighthearted. "Darling, shouldn't you be warning me not to meddle with him unless I mean it?"

Verena laughed softly, shaking her head. "We're all grown-ups. He knows whether you mean it or not.Why should I step in?"

Admiration flickered in Miranda's eyes. She arched a brow. "As perceptive as ever. No wonder I like you so much."

She released Verena, smoothed her hair, and waved a careless farewell. "Well, I've got errands to run. See you,darling."

Her heels tapped a steady rhythm as she left.

Verena watched her slip into an elevator,shaking her head with an amused smile.

The office, in contrast, bore the look of a storm's passing.

Papers once stacked neatly were scattered across the floor,bent and jumbled.

Luis' chair sat at an awkward angle, its cushion askew.

A delicate crystal ornament had toppled, shattered into fragments that gleamed shaply in the light.

Nearby, a coffee cup lay overturned, its dark stain spreading across the desk and dripping down in crooked trails.

Luis stood before the desk, hands braced on his hips.The creases in his collar betrayed the disarray.

His hair, usually groomed to precision, now fell in untamed strands over his forehead, lending him an air of roguish abandon.

Blood tinged his eyes, his chest rising unevenly.

The office brimmed with warmth and static, as if the air itself pulsed.

He tilted his head back, eyes closed, drawing in a deep breath.

The floral trace of Miranda's perfume lingered,mingling with the woody note of his cologne-a dangerous mix pulling him back toward their heated encounter.

His brow twitched, as though the scent itself was a provocation.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to steady himself.

When he opened his eyes again, confusion and yearning flickered in their depths.

Pulling himself together, he reached for the intercom,his voice rougher than usual. "Send someone to clean up my office."

He hung up and strode toward the shower in the rest area.