Summer froze but couldn’t hear properly what he had said. She clasped her hand, fearing he had sensed she had just slapped him. The last thing she wanted was a scene.
"Alright, get up now."
She tried to pull him up but failed. He was too heavy for her.
"Come on, Gideone," she muttered. "If you don’t want to spend the night here, you need to get up."
She tightened her grip and gave another hard tug, managing to make him stir.
The force caused him to open his eyes. Through the haze, he saw a woman leaning over him. The outline of her face seemed familiar to him. Then the faint scent of wild meadow perfume reached him.
Summer always liked to wear it.
"Summer?" He squinted at her. He was unsure whether he was seeing it correctly or if it was just an illusion.
"Finally, you see me," she scoffed. "Someone called me to come over and take you away. So, here I am. Now, can you get up?"
So it was real, not his imagination. Gideon’s hand moved up toward her, but the sharp pain in his skull made him press his temples.
"Uh," he groaned, "my head..."
"If you want to get drunk, bring someone with you, okay? Don’t call me at night. It’s not my duty..."
He grabbed her arm and pulled her down.
"Ah!" Startled, a shriek escaped her mouth. Before she could understand what was happening, she found herself pressed against the sofa, Gideon’s heavy body over her.
"Gideon?"
He squeezed her jaw. "As my secretary, you have to come to my service whenever I call you. Understood?"
She tried to protest, but he squeezed her harder. Her words died down in her throat.
Gideon’s emotions stirred as he watched her. He had longed to see her, hold her in his arms, and tell her how much he missed her. He wanted to confess that he still loved her even though she had cheated on him. Finally, the moment was there.
She was right there with him, trapped under him.
The desire to claim her arose, tightening his chest. Every cell of his body wanted to give in to that pull. His grip around her jaw loosened, his breathing growing uneven. He lowered his head, intending to kiss her. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Summer pushed against his chest. "Mr. Woods, you are crossing your boundary."
Her cold voice snapped him out of his reverie.
"Take a proper look at me. I’m Summer, your secretary, not your wife."
"Huh," he snorted, his chest twisting painfully. "Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not interested in you." He rolled to the side.
Summer scooted to the far end of the sofa. Though she didn’t want to do anything with him, his last sentence still slashed her heart. Why would he be interested in her?
To him, she was a liar who had cheated on him. He hated her. How could she expect tenderness from him? She muttered a curse under her breath, disappointed with herself.
’Why did I come here?’
"I am tired. Drive me to the hotel." He pushed himself to his feet. He swayed, about to tumble down, his head spinning.
"Careful." Summer quickly stood up and wrapped an arm around his waist, stopping him from falling.
Gideon looked down at her, his heart aching. It was the same woman who used to love him, care about him. But she was also the one who had given him the unbearable pain.
’Do you still care about me?’ he wondered.
Summer looked away. "Don’t think I care about you," she muttered as if she had heard his inner voice. "I’m doing this because I want to forget the bitterness from the past. Let’s not trouble each other, Gideon. You live your life, and I live mine. Okay?"
He snorted inwardly but said nothing. ’Oh, you mean you can live peacefully with that guy,’ he muttered to himself. ’In your dreams.’
He put his arm around her shoulders. "Are you going to keep talking here all night?" he hissed. "Or do you have any plan to take me out of here?"
Summer wanted to smash something on his head. "Let’s leave. Just keep walking."
She guided him out of the club.
Matthew watched them leave from a distance but didn’t make a move to help her, even though he could see her struggles to keep Gideon upright.
"Seems like she still cares about him," he murmured.
After some time, they arrived at the hotel where Gideon had been staying. Summed led him into the presidential suite, her back aching from supporting Gideon’s weight. Her dress clung to her damp skin, strands of her hair sticking to her flushed face. Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
She guided him to the bed, nearly stumbling as she helped him lie down. A deep sigh escaped her mouth as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Gideon sprawled across the bed, pressing his hand on his throbbing forehead.
Summer glared at him, muttering under her breath, "Ungrateful." He didn’t even thank her for bringing him safely to his room. "Why am I expecting anything from him?"
She shook her head and turned to the door, ready to leave this man and the chaos.
"I need to take a bath." His voice from behind stopped her.
Summer turned back to him, frowning with disbelief. "You want me to bathe you?"
"Or else?" he groaned, eyes red-rimmed and heavy with fatigue. "Do you see anyone else here? Ugh..." He winced in pain as he tried to sit up, his head pounding. "My head is killing me. I need to freshen up."
"Then call someone. I don’t do that."
"I’ll pay..." He bared his teeth, desperation seeping into his voice. "Fifty thousand. Is that enough?"
Fifty thousand? For a bath?
Summer’s eyes widened. That amount could cover Hope’s medication for the next month. She didn’t waste time thinking much. Turning around, she stormed into the bathroom.
"Hey, wait..." Gideon tried to push himself up, but the room spun violently. A wave of dizziness forced him back onto the bed. He grimaced, closing his eyes. "At least, help me take off my clothes."
With a tug, he removed his tie and tossed it aside. Then the suit jacket followed, crumpling onto the floor. He struggled with the buttons of his shirt, his movements sluggish and unsteady. It took longer than usual for him to remove his shirt.
"I prepared the water for you." Summer stepped out of the bathroom in the meantime, but her words faltered when her eyes landed on his bare torso. Her gaze followed the firm lines of his body despite herself.
He was still strong and incredibly hot. Heat flooded her cheeks, her mind rushing back to the moments when they used to love each other. A few scenes of their intimate moments flashed before her eyes.
’Summer, what are you thinking?’ She instantly looked away, yet her heart took a tiny leap.
Gideon turned to her with a squint. "What are you doing standing there?" he muttered hoarsely. He acted as if it were the most normal thing to do. It was as if the years apart hadn’t faded his authority over her.
"Take me into the bathroom."