Chapter 96 Bright Red
Marks
Rachel turned swiftly, a warm smile appearing on her face as she approached.
She reached out gracefully and greeted, “Nice to meet…”
However, the moment her eyes landed on Andres’s face, she froze in place.
It felt like she had suddenly lost the ability to move. After what felt like an eternity, she finally found her voice, filled with surprise. “It’s you.”
“Good morning, Ms. Marsh.” While Rachel stood in shock, Andres remained as composed as ever.
“I never imagined you’d be the president of Synergy Group,” Rachel said, masking her surprise with a polite
smile as she reached out her hand again.
“Fate works in mysterious ways, doesn’t it? Maybe we were always meant to cross paths,” Andres remarked, shaking her hand with firm confidence.
Maybe it was the chill in the meeting room, but her hand felt startlingly cold.
And yet, there was something strangely soothing about its coolness.
“Turn the heating up,” Andres instructed his assistant with a casual authority.
The small act of consideration sent an unexpected warmth through Rachel’s chest.
She scanned the contract briefly before signing her name without the slightest hesitation.
Andres followed, his signature bold and effortlessly confident.
“Ms. Marsh, I look forward to our collaboration.”
“Thank you for this opportunity. If it’s alright, I’d love to treat you to a meal–I still owe you one for saving my life during that car accident.”
Andres didn’t give an immediate answer. Instead, he gracefully lifted his wrist and checked his watch.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I have an important meeting later, so I’ll have to take a rain check on that meal.”
“In that case, I’ll extend the invitation another time.”
“Of course.”
Once the contract was signed, they stepped into the elevator together.
The moment Rachel stepped out, her phone rang. It was Brian. “I’m waiting for you at the entrance,” he said.
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Chapter 96 Bright Red Marks
“Okay.”
Rachel walked out of the building and headed straight for the familiar car.
To her surprise, Brian was already outside, standing beside it. He leaned casually against the vehicle, his tall. refined figure effortlessly commanding attention. Under the golden sunlight, his sharply sculpted features radiated a sense of nobility and charm.
Without a second thought, she hurried toward him.
Brian took her hand, and together, they got into the car.
The engine rumbled to life, and in the blink of an eye, the sleek black vehicle melted into the lively stream of
traffic.
No one paid attention to Andres as he stepped out of the building. He halted mid–step, his long, pale fingers curling into a tight fist. His eyes remained locked on the spot where Brian’s car had just disappeared.
After all these years, Brian’s face remained etched in his memory–impossible to forget. Watching their closeness, it wasn’t difficult to piece together their relationship.
Andres motioned to his assistant, his voice low and deliberate. “If I’m not mistaken, Brian White is engaged,
isn’t he?”
“Yes. But it hasn’t been officially announced yet.”
Andres nodded, his expression becoming even more serious.
So, Rachel was engaged to him.
Some ties ran deeper–and far more complicated–than he had expected.
That night, Rachel lay beneath Brian, her body trapped under his.
Her eyes held a soft, inviting look, and her long hair fanned out across the bed like silk.
Brian’s gaze burned with unrestrained intensity. His lips moved gently from her nose to her neck, then down to
her chest before stopping at her abdomen.
The sensation made Rachel tremble, nearly driving her crazy. “Brian…” she whispered, her chin tilting upward as his name escaped her lips without thought.
Her voice was soft and sweet, completely enchanting.
Unable to resist any longer, he pulled her into his arms, his desire just as strong.
The next morning, Rachel woke up feeling as if she’d been hit by a truck. Every inch of her body ached.
Faint red marks adorned her shoulders and neck. To hide them, she opted for a high–collared blouse before leaving for work.
The moment she stepped into the office, she was notified about a meeting.
Wasting no time, she gathered her materials and made her way upstairs.
Inside the conference room, Brian was nothing like the man from the night before.
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Chapter 96 Bright Red Marks
Now, he was sharp and commanding, his analysis precise and his decisions firm. Every word he spoke and every move he made radiated confidence and authority, leaving everyone impressed.
During the break, Rachel headed to the break room.
A familiar voice called her name.
She turned around, already expecting who it would be. Sure enough, it was Tracy.
Tracy was dressed in a crisp white blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt, her wavy hair falling effortlessly
down her back.
“Rachel, you must be tired. I brought you a cup of coffee,” Tracy said with a smile as she approached, her tone casual but her eyes betraying something more.
“No thanks. Coffee keeps me up at night. I’ll just have some water,” Rachel replied coolly, rejecting the gesture
without hesitation.
She had no intention of engaging with Tracy beyond work.
“I have water too,” Tracy said lightly, stepping closer and grabbing Rachel’s arm.
Rachel’s instinctive dislike for unnecessary physical contact kicked in. She sharply pulled away.
The abrupt motion caused the top button of her blouse to loosen slightly.
From where Tracy stood, a red mark on Rachel’s neck became plainly visible. Her eyes stayed fixed on it,
staring intently.
Were Rachel and Brian really that intimate behind closed doors? She had always believed Brian to be reserved
and controlled.
For a fleeting moment, jealousy consumed Tracy. She poured a glass of water and extended it toward Rachel
insistently.
“I don’t need it!” Rachel snapped.
“There’s still a long meeting ahead. You should stay hydrated,” Tracy coaxed, nudging the glass closer.
Feeling frustrated, Rachel finally lost her patience.
She tried to push the glass away from her but water splashed all over her.
Tracy quickly stepped forward, pretending to be concerned. “Oh no, Rachel, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to. I have a spare outfit–why don’t you change into it?”
Rachel’s lips curled into a cold smirk.
She saw through Tracy’s trick in an instant.
But instead of brushing it off, she decided to play along and followed Tracy back to her office.
Tracy theatrically pulled out a fresh set of clothes from a drawer.
“Rachel, you should put this on…”
But before she could even finish, Rachel unbuttoned her blouse, revealing a camisole underneath.
Chapter 96 Bright Red Marks
Tracy’s fists tightened, and her face turned pale.
Her eyes landed on Rachel’s neck, and what she saw made her stomach drop. Bright red marks were scattered all over, standing out starkly against her skin.
There were more than she had expected and far worse than she had imagined.
“You two…” Tracy’s voice wavered, her body shaking with barely contained rage.
Rachel let out a cold sneer. “Drop the act. You went through all that trouble just to confirm it, didn’t you? Well then, let me give you a good look.”
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