Chapter 168
Julie’s Point of View
When Robert asked in his gravelly voice about the two wine bottles and the two glasses, I felt like my heart was going to stop. I didn’t know what to say. I searched my scrambled brain for a lie to save the situation and stamred, "Olivia... it was and Olivia."
He looked at with surprise, his eyebrow arching in disbelief. "Olivia was here?" he asked.
"Yes," I said, trying to steady my voice. "She just left a mont ago. Didn’t you run into her?"
"I caught a glimpse of her getting into her car," he replied stolidly, recalling the mont.
I took a deep breath. "Yes, we were chatting, and you know how ti flies."
He stepped closer, lowering his head to the level of my face until I could almost feel the heat of his breath. "You haven’t been drinking," he said in a searching tone. "There’s no sll of alcohol."
I swallowed hard and justified, "You know that when I drink, I lose my mind. That’s why Olivia was the only one drinking."
A heavy mont of silence passed, then he spoke in a tone that suddenly lost its edge. "Fine. But put those shards down; you’ll cut yourself."
Suddenly, he leaned down and began picking them up himself. I couldn’t believe my eyes was Robert Cross actually picking up debris from the floor? I instinctively leaned down and started picking them up with him, but he shot a sharp look that made freeze. "What did I tell you?" he hissed.
I stood up imdiately and watched him as he carefully gathered every piece and placed them in the bag. Then he stood, dusted off his hands, and said, "Go to sleep. It’s late."
At that mont, mories of his kiss flooded my mind. Dammit, I wanted him to kiss now! But what could I do? He said he only punishes when I make a mistake.
"Robert," I called out in a faint voice.
"What?" he asked curtly, turning to .
Did he notice I called him by his bare na? I said with feigned embarrassnt, "I’m sorry, I should have said Mr. Robert."
"It’s fine. Go to sleep," he replied with a coldness that irritated .
The bastard! What do I have to do to get him to punish ? I thought recklessly. I changed my tone to a provocative one and said, "You’re just a an, pathetic bastard."
Yes, those words should definitely be enough for a punishnt. He looked at , his eyes blazing. "Are you insulting , Julie?" he asked slowly.
"Yes, I am," I challenged.
He moved closer and closer, and I braced myself, my heart pounding violently. Oh my God, he’s going to do it. He’s going to kiss again. I’m going to climb that cloud once more. He stood very close, pulling toward him with a force that made my body press completely against his hard fra.
I felt the heat erupt inside like fire. He tilted his head toward until his breath brushed my lips. I was just about to close my eyes to receive his kiss, until he whispered in my ear in a cold voice:
"I’m going to punish you, Julie."
Yes Robert, yes I’m ready... punish , co on, don’t keep waiting!
But he finished in a final tone: "I’m putting the electronic lock back on your door today... I’m locking you in."
I opened my eyes in disbelief. "What?"
He stepped away coldly and walked toward the door without looking back.
He slamd it shut behind him, and a second later, I heard the sound that shattered my hopes... the "click" of the electronic lock engaging firmly.
I couldn’t believe what had just happened.
He actually locked in! I slapped my forehead with my palm in despair and whispered to myself, "Are you happy now, Julie? Is this the punishnt you were waiting for?"
I started cursing myself and my scattered thoughts, gripping my arms tightly as if trying to wake up my brain. You were almost raped by Marcus a mont ago, and now you’re thinking about kissing Robert? A real anxiety began to gnaw at my chest.
My situation was not reassuring at all; I was supposed to be traumatized, repelled by n, but apparently, my case was completely hopeless.
I walked toward the bed with heavy steps, threw myself onto it violently, and buried my face in the pillow, rage eating at my insides.
My anger wasn’t because he locked the door and took my freedom it was an explosive rage because... he didn’t kiss .
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Robert’s Point of View
I exhaled in frustration as I walked down the hallway. Julie had really surprised when she directed those provocative words at .
At that mont, I wanted to punish her properly as I had this morning a punishnt that would leave her breathless. But Carlos’s presence in the club made uneasy; I was worried he might take it upon himself to go into Julie’s room, so I seized the opportunity to lock her door with the electronic lock so he would never see her.
I climbed up to my office with heavy steps and threw my exhausted body into the leather chair. My head was boiling with conflicts and worries: the never-ending "Don" problem, and now Natalia’s madness which put in an unenviable position with Mr. Harrington.
Everything around was pressing on my nerves, leaving drained.
My train of thought was interrupted by Carlos entering the office, wearing his jacket and straightening his clothes. "Are you finished with the tests?" I asked stolidly, without fully looking up.
"Yes," he answered, sitting opposite . "The doctor took a blood sample; the results will be out tomorrow."
Silence filled the room for a mont before Carlos leaned forward and asked in a searching tone, "I saw the electronic lock lit up on Julie’s room... did sothing happen?"
I looked up at him sharply, annoyed by his interference. "Do you even pay attention to her door lock, Carlos?" I asked sarcastically.
"Not at all... I just noticed," he replied quickly, trying to cover.
I looked away and said in a decisive tone to end the conversation, "Fine. Now, what are you going to do?"
"I’m going ho," he said, rising from his seat.
"Have one of the n take you," I told him, returning to my files.
"I will," he replied curtly, then left the office and closed the door, leaving alone with the whirlpool of my thoughts.
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Julie’s Point of View
I woke up with panic gnawing at my chest. I rushed to feed Axel, who was barking quietly, then dashed toward the door and tried to open it, but the handle wouldn’t budge... Dammit, Robert actually did it; he locked in! I started pacing the room like a madwoman, my thoughts clashing: Marcus... Max... what if Robert discovers Marcus is here?
Suddenly, the electronic lock "clicked," and the door opened to reveal the cook coldly wheeling in the food cart. I didn’t give her a chance to speak; I lunged at her like an arrow, shoving her with my shoulder so hard she stumbled, and I ran out into the hallway in my ssy pajamas and bare feet.
I heard her shouting behind in shock, "Stop! Where are you going?" but I paid her no mind. I had to reach Max imdiately.
I went downstairs, my breath coming in ragged gasps, and burst into Max’s room without knocking.
I froze for a second; Max had just co out of the bathroom, a white towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets trickling down his bare chest. I felt the heat of embarrassnt rush to my face at the sight, but my gaze quickly shifted to Marcus, who was sleeping on the bed shirtless.
"Where is his shirt?" I whispered frantically.
"It was soaked with water from the vase, so I took it off so he wouldn’t wet my bed," Max replied coldly, drying his neck.
"And you... where did you sleep?" I asked, looking at the only bed.
"Thanks to you, darling, I didn’t sleep at all; I stayed sitting in the chair all night," he exhaled in frustration.
"I’m sorry, Max," I said regretfully.
"Do you realize how much I had to hold myself back from killing him?" he interrupted sharply, glaring at Marcus.
"He wasn’t in his right mind!" I defended him instinctively. I stepped closer to the bed and asked anxiously, "Hasn’t he woken up yet?"
"No," he said.
"Is... is he breathing?" I whispered in terror.
"Yes, he is," he answered dully.
And at that fatal mont, the door burst open... and Robert walked in.
I froze as if struck by lightning, while Max’s hand froze on the small towel he was using to dry his hair. A terrifying silence filled the room.
Robert’s eyes, sharp as a blade, flickered between in my pajamas and the bare-chested Max, then settled on Marcus sleeping peacefully on the bed.
"What is going on here?" he asked in a voice that was terrifyingly calm.
"I’ll explain..." I stamred, my limbs trembling with a tension I couldn’t control.
"Why did you run away from your room?" he interrupted, stepping into the room, his eyes blazing with malice. "Why are you here? And why is Marcus in Max’s room? What are you hiding?"
I looked at Max; he was trying to feign strength, holding his head up, but his eyes betrayed him fear was clearly leaking from them.
I couldn’t risk telling the truth; Robert wouldn’t understand, and he’d kill Marcus right then and there.
"I’ll tell you," I said, my voice trembling but trying to sound firm.
He fixed his lethal gaze on , increasing my panic and fear, and said in a hiss, "Yes... what? I’m listening."
I took a deep breath, feeling my head spin, then I dropped the bomb that would change everything:
"Marcus... is Max’s boyfriend!"
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