Chapter 81 A Romantic
Gesture For Her
“Brian White.” Rachel’s voice trembled with emotion as the name finally escaped her lips, carrying years of unspoken feelings.
The moment those words left her, she clenched her fists until her knuckles turned
white, struggling against the tide of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
Yet the tempest within her refused to be contained.
Brian stood motionless, as if time itself had frozen around him.
Joy coursed through his heart like a summer storm, powerful and unbridled.
His hands found their way to her face with infinite tenderness, his voice a gentle caress.
“Let me hear you say it once more.‘
“No…” Rachel’s head moved in fierce denial, her entire being rejecting the moment.
Unshed tears glistened in her eyes as her lips quivered, betraying her inner turmoil. “You made me a promise… you said you would let me go.”
The weight of his previous vow hung heavy in the air.
But circumstances had changed, and letting her go had become an impossibility he could no longer contemplate.
“Please, look at me properly–I am Brian White, standing right here before you.”
Rachel’s gaze remained distant, unfocused. “You’re deceiving me. You can’t be him.”
Her mind wrestled with the knowledge that Brian had departed with Tracy. His presence here defied all logic and reason.
“But I am! Rachel, please look at me.” His fingers gently guided her chin upward.
The moment their eyes met, fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “Release me!”
Instead of complying, Brian’s arms tightened around her slender frame as he lifted her,
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carrying her determinedly toward the bathroom.
“What are you doing?” Panic flashed across Rachel’s face as she noticed their
destination.
In her attempt to retreat, fate intervened as her lips accidentally brushed against his.
That fleeting contact ignited something primal and unstoppable between them.
Neither could later recall who moved first. Their next clear memory was of water cascading around them from the shower.
Droplets scattered against the bathroom door in a steady rhythm.
Warm water traced intimate patterns across their skin.
Rachel’s natural grace, enhanced by the falling water, proved irresistible. Reason abandoned her entirely.
She surrendered to Brian’s embrace, allowing him complete dominion over her heart and body.
Her half–lidded eyes shimmered with passion, her form melting into his as though they were created to fit together.
Brian’s heart constricted at the sight of her flushed cheeks and delicate features, nearly
undoing him completely.
When consciousness returned, every muscle in Rachel’s body ached with a sweet
soreness.
The events of the previous night existed only as hazy fragments in her mind, refusing
to form a complete picture.
Glancing down, she discovered the evidence of their passion painted across her neck in
tender bruises.
Her face flushed crimson as she realized the marks weren’t confined to her neck alone -they traced a telling path across her entire body, each one a reminder of his ardent
attention.
The sight proved too much to bear.
Mortification washed over her in waves.
Only one truth remained crystal clear in her mind: the man who had claimed her so
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thoroughly had been Brian.
The question of how they would face each other now loomed large in her thoughts.
Rationality suggested maintaining composure.
After hastily dressing, Rachel made for the door with swift determination, unwilling to linger in this charged atmosphere.
Just as her fingers brushed the handle, strong arms encircled her from behind.
Brian’s embrace claimed her waist with practiced familiarity, his body pressing against hers in a way that spoke of intimacy and possession.
Though he remained silent, his hold conveyed volumes about his intentions.
“I…” Her voice faltered as words failed her completely.
After an eternal moment of mental scrambling, she managed to piece together a weak
excuse. “I… I need to eat something. I’m hungry.”
A low chuckle rumbled through Brian’s chest, his voice rich with amusement. “Hungry?”
Playful suggestion colored his tone as joy danced beneath his words. “It seems I failed to wore you out last night. You still have the energy to walk now. Should we continue…”
Rachel’s hand flew up to cover his mouth before he could continue.
She turned to face him, her beautiful eyes flashing with embarrassment as she attempted a glare. “Just drop that idea.”
“But you really like it last night. You were the one clinging to me, pleading…”
Once again, her hand rushed to silence his lips as her cheeks blazed scarlet. “I remember nothing from last night. I must have been intoxicated. If I behaved inappropriately, please accept my apologies.”
Displeasure darkened Brian’s expression. “Do you truly believe a simple apology can compensate for all my devoted attention last night?”
His head dipped to her neck, teeth grazing the sensitive skin as his warm breath sent shivers down her spine. “Rachel,” he murmured against her flesh, “everything in this world comes at a price. As a businessman, I ensure every decision yields favorable results. Losses are not part of my vocabulary.”
Guilt threaded through Rachel’s conscience. “Then… what would you have of me?”
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“Release your anger toward me. Return home. My grandma really misses you.”
—
“I harbor no anger.” The truth was simpler – disappointment had led her to surrender hope. “Once the project reaches completion, I’ll consider returning.”
“Then I shall come to collect you when that time arrives.”
“We can talk about it later.”
Brian recognized the softening of her resistance and wisely chose not to push further.
“Join me for lunch. I’ve made reservations and will send you the details.” His chin rested atop her head as playfulness crept into his tone.
“My afternoon is occupied. Dine without me.”
“In that case, I’ll share the meal with Jeffrey.”
Rachel’s surrender came with a resigned nod. “Fine!”
She recognized the futility of resistance. Brian knew how to make her surrender.
When Rachel arrived at the branch office, Samira rushed to meet her, concern etched
across her features.
“Rachel, Trey hasn’t come in today. I’ve tried calling repeatedly, but there’s no response. Did something happen yesterday?”
Yesterday?
The word triggered fragments of memory. She recalled drinking with Kern, the alcohol proving stronger than anticipated, eventually pulling her into unconsciousness.
Logic suggested Trey must have escorted her back to her room afterward.
Yet when consciousness returned, she had found Brian beside her instead.
The sequence of events refused to align properly in her mind, like pieces of a puzzle with crucial sections missing.
Brian appeared to be the only one holding all the answers, leaving her little choice but to accept his lunch invitation today.
As the clock struck noon, Rachel arrived at the address Brian had provided, her bag
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clutched close.
The venue before her was renowned as an exclusive sanctuary for the elite, a place where even substantial wealth couldn’t guarantee entry.
Yet surprisingly, an unusual stillness permeated the space as she entered.
Following the server along a crimson carpet, she suddenly found herself immersed in an ethereal display. Rose petals descended from above in a mesmerizing cascade, transforming the moment into something out of a dream.
Countless petals drifted through the air, settling gently in her hair and across her shoulders, their soft touch like whispered promises.
The entire restaurant had metamorphosed into an enchanted garden, petals dancing
through the air in an endless waltz of crimson and pink.
From the sweeping spiral staircase, Brian descended with measured grace, his commanding presence softened by the romantic setting. He paused before her, the consummate gentleman, and extended his hand with deliberate slowness.
“Rachel…” Her name emerged as a caress from his lips.
In all their time together, she had never witnessed this side of him.
The thought that he would orchestrate such an achingly romantic gesture for her
seemed impossible until this very moment.
Denying its effect on her heart would have been futile.
Yet she despised how easily her resolve could crumble in the face of such gestures.
“Come on, stay strong. Don’t let this momentary romance erase everything that’s happened!” Her inner voice rallied against the sweetness of the moment.
She spun around, her feet carrying her instinctively toward the exit.
She couldn’t allow her heart to soften. This beautiful moment couldn’t erase the image
of Jeffrey’s suicide attempt.
“Rachel…” Brian’s voice followed her retreat, his footsteps echoing behind her.
Her pace quickened with each step he took, their dance of pursuit leading them to the
overpass.
In her haste, her heel betrayed her, slipping against the smooth surface and sending
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her lurching forward.
Terror seized Rachel’s heart as her hand desperately reached for the railing.
But distance and gravity conspired against her–the barrier remained just beyond her
grasp.
She squeezed her eyes shut, sending up a silent prayer that the fall wouldn’t prove
severe.
A resounding thud split the air
