Illicit Attraction

13. THE CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

Era

My gaze roamed from the grayish flooring in the broad hall to the white walls. The dark wood that replaced the ash color and the edge of a massive canvas I could glimpse in what I assumed would be another huge space. Maybe it's the living room.

Oh, God. I felt like I was lost in a king's castle!

"Y-you rent this unit?" I asked, failing to hide my amazement. My apartment was a rabbit's burrow compared to this place!

"Why would I rent?" he laughed, tucking his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "I own this. The whole building belongs to Andersens."

"N-no way."

He walked towards me and cupped my cold cheeks. "This is who I am, Baby. And it's going to be yours too."

"But I don't want any of this, Henry! I just needed you."

I turned my back on him but he grabbed my arm and flipped me to face him.

"I know, Era, and you have no idea how I needed you more.

It was the next evening but I was still awake, trying to surf the net. The connection here in Andersen Tower was miles away faster than in my apartment, one thing that made me insanely blissful.

I was supposed to be opening Facebook, but here I was... typing Henry's name in the Google box! I pressed the enter button and these headlines made me raise an eyebrow.

"Henry Andersen awarded Georgia's most successful entrepreneur of 2017."

"Andersen opens new branches in twenty more cities."

Wow. I never knew Henry was like this. Seeing the news about him was just intimidating.

I laid on the bed with my chest pressed on the mattress. And then as I surfed deeper, the sites made me furrow my brows.

"What the heck!"

I was about to type another keyword when suddenly, a sweet but masculine voice stopped me from breathing.

"Are you done Google-ing me?"

I closed my laptop brutally. What the hell? How long has he been watching me?

"Oh, Henry." I turned around and rested my back on the headboard, pulling my blanket up to my waist. I didn't mind myself wearing only panties, I just covered myself because I felt so guilty stalking him through the internet.

"I um... j-just interested to know more about you so..."

"What?" Henry chuckled and stepped into the bed. He loosened his necktie and removed his shoes then laid beside me. "Why not just ask me personally, hmm? Net articles can't be trusted."

How I wish he was right.

Because just by seeing his name linked to women made my heart squeeze. It was also happening when Henry's female business pals flitted around him. Yes, he was ignoring them, yet I couldn't prevent myself from feeling jealous.

"Hey, where are you going?" he asked when I raised him from the bed.

"To my closet, get in pajamas." It's a whisper, but I think he sensed the irritation in my voice. Of course, that news was still annoying me!

"Come here."

The next thing I knew was me laying in bed with him straddling me. "What?" I gulped, feeling a bit nervous. His masculine perfume mixed with his office's mint scent was intoxicating. He's the man in the net with exploding flying colors and being with him was really intimidating.

Henry took a deep breath, brushing my cheek with his hot breath. "I don't understand why you need to put your pants on. I'm gonna take it off from you anyway."