Meanwhile, inside the car, Linsey experienced a surge of relief. She turned to Collin with a soft smile. “Thank you for getting here so fast. I’m not sure what I would have done without you.”
When she finished, she noticed Collin hadn’t replied.
Surprised, she leaned in, giving him a puzzled look. “Collin, is something wrong?”
He appeared to be deep in thought.
At her voice, Collin came back to reality. His brow creased slightly, and his usually reserved and calm demeanor shifted to something more troubled.
Turning to Linsey, he pressed his lips tightly and asked softly, “Linsey, why did you kiss me just now?”
Color rose in Linsey’s cheeks as she turned away, flustered, trying to explain, “Uh… Felix wouldn’t believe I’m really married. I wanted him to stop, so I just kissed you.”
She paused, then looked at Collin with a softer expression. “Please don’t misunderstand. If it bothered you, I promise not to do it again,” Linsey quickly added, worried that Collin might be upset.
She had kissed him spontaneously without any warning.
If Collin was a man of strong personal boundaries, he might be upset by her actions.
Despite this, Linsey felt somewhat relieved that Collin had arrived so promptly. She didn’t want to jeopardize the delicate bond they were beginning to establish because of her.
Linsey had never been so close to a man before. She instinctively leaned back, trying to create some distance between Collin and her. Yet, in the next instant, Collin extended his arm and firmly encircled her waist.
A chill ran through her, causing her skin to tingle and her eyelashes to flutter as her eyes slowly closed. Her ears and cheeks grew warm, the heat spreading uncontrollably across her skin.
Why was Collin so close all of a sudden? Was he about to kiss her?
The gap between them narrowed progressively, the air thickening with tension. As Linsey’s heart pounded, on the verge of bursting, she sensed a soft touch near her ear. His hand gently moved her hair from her face to behind her ear.
Linsey’s eyes snapped open and she caught Collin’s gaze. She noticed a subtle glint of amusement in his eyes.
“Your hair was a mess,” Collin remarked softly, his deep voice resonating as he relaxed his grip on her waist.
Linsey straightened up as he did, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. She blurted out, “You pulled me close just to fix my hair?”
Collin raised an eyebrow, his tone playful and teasing. “What else would I do?”
He continued to gaze at her flushed cheeks, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He felt a flutter in his chest but kept his tone light. “Were you expecting something else just now?”
Linsey’s face grew even redder, and she quickly looked away, stuttering, “Of course not!”
She nervously bit her dry lip and muttered, “Thank you.”
Linsey took a deep breath and awkwardly smoothed her hair, which Collin had already arranged. This gesture seemed to mask the turmoil inside her.
Collin observed her every move, his lips curling into a slight smile before he decided to let the moment pass without further comment. The driver was still present, and Collin didn’t want to embarrass Linsey further.
After a pause, Linsey looked out the window, noticing they had already traveled a significant distance.
“Could you let me off somewhere up ahead? I need to return to work. If I’m found out, my pay will be cut,” she explained.
Collin replied, “Where do you work? I’ll take you there.”
Numerous companies populated the area, including CR Corporation, which Collin had established, situated nearby. Linsey felt uneasy and desired some time alone.
“There’s no need. You have your own matters to attend to. I’ll walk,” she said.
Acknowledging her firmness, Collin conceded. He instructed the driver to find a place to stop.
After expressing her gratitude, Linsey quickly opened the car door and glanced back. “See you tonight.”
The moment she spoke, Linsey realized the potential implications of her words, as if she and Collin had a clandestine understanding. This thought only added to her discomfort. She exited the car rapidly without waiting for Collin’s response.
Rushing, she nearly stumbled but regained her balance swiftly, acting as if nothing unusual had occurred. She closed the door and departed at a brisk pace.
From the car, Collin observed her departing form, cracking the window open slightly. A subtle smile appeared as he watched her perturbed expression.
Only when Linsey was no longer in view did his expression shift to one of seriousness. He rolled up the window, his look turning stern. Had Linsey not reached out to him that day, he would have remained unaware of Felix’s continued harassment.
Moreover, Felix had audaciously attempted to touch her.
This realization caused Collin’s face to take on a menacing seriousness. He directed the driver to continue on and pulled out his phone to call an aide.
“Deal with Felix immediately. If he can’t control himself, ensure he understands clearly. I want him nowhere near Linsey again,” he commanded.
“Yes, Mr. Riley,” came the reply.
On her way back to the office, Linsey was preoccupied with thoughts of her recent encounter with Collin. Her cheeks still felt hot, and it took a considerable amount of time for the warmth to fade.
Annoyed, she held the cool back of her hand against her face. “Why did I even think Collin was about to kiss me? How embarrassing!” she mused. Yet, she couldn’t help but think it was Collin’s fault for being so misleading.
Now that she wasn’t near him, Linsey found it easier to fault Collin for her misplaced thoughts.
She was convinced Collin had been trying to seduce her. Didn’t he understand his own striking attractiveness?
After some self-reassurance, Linsey managed to settle her nerves. Previously, she had been with Felix for five years and never experienced such a spontaneous attraction. Clearly, Collin’s charm surpassed Felix’s!
Once, she harbored feelings for Felix, but now, seeing his true nature, she recognized he lacked any redeeming traits. Indeed, Collin was a far superior choice.
Her thoughts wandered briefly, but she soon regained her professional demeanor upon arriving at the office.
Entering the office, Linsey noted the absence of several colleagues from their usual places. She discovered why as she walked past the break room.
The first voice she heard was Cynthia’s. “I just saw Linsey step into a luxury car earlier. That must be the guy who picked her up, right? And calling him her husband? Come on, that’s clearly just to disguise that he’s her sugar daddy.”
Another colleague sounded unsure. “No way! Is Linsey really being supported by someone? You never can tell, can you?”
Linsey recognized the voice as belonging to a colleague who had recently become Cynthia’s devoted follower after receiving an expensive gift from her.
A few other coworkers were also there, whispering about Linsey. Without hesitation, Linsey quietly activated the recording app on her phone.
“I didn’t see that coming either.”
“But perhaps he really is her husband. Linsey is quite attractive-she could easily end up with a wealthy man.”
Cynthia sneered, “It’s one thing to marry rich, but marrying some dubious old man would be laughable.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.