Chapter 60\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thomas\u2019s face went pale as he turned toward the sound. Then I saw Ridley approaching with that characteristic stride of his.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At one\u2013thirty in the afternoon, what was the CEO of Sterling Group doing here?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thomas shot me a quick, meaningful glance\u2013almost like he was trying to tell me something urgent. Before I could decipher what he\u00a0<\/p>\n
meant, I noticed Ridley\u2019s expression shift dramatically. His eyes turned cold, dangerous, as they fixed on the space between Thomas and\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThomas Coleman, Ridley said with deliberate calm, \u201cyou\u2019ve done commendable work at Nest Design.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thomas\u2019s face flushed red as he lowered his head. \u201cNot at all, sir. There\u2019s still much room for improvement\u2026\u201d His voice came out strangely\u00a0<\/p>\n
high\u2013pitched, and I could see a thin sheen of sweat forming at his hairline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNest Design is merely one subsidiary of Sterling Group. Your talents aren\u2019t being fully utilized,\u201d Ridley continued smoothly. \u201cStarting\u00a0<\/p>\n
tomorrow, you\u2019ll be Regional General Manager based in Milwaukee, overseeing operations for our three subsidiaries there. You can report\u00a0<\/p>\n
to your new office this afternoon.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thomas froze completely, his mouth slightly open as if the words hadn\u2019t quite registered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations, Mr. Coleman!\u201d I offered sincerely. Thomas had been nothing but professional and supportive during our brief time\u00a0<\/p>\n
working together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. \u201cThank you for the opportunity, Mr. Sterling.\u201d The words sounded hollow, and I noticed\u00a0<\/p>\n
his hands trembling slightly at his sides.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe district office is an hour\u2019s drive from here. You should head over now,\u201d Ridley said coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thomas nodded quickly and practically fled the office, leaving me alone with Ridley and a growing sense that I\u2019d just witnessed something far more complicated than a simple promotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Thomas left, I kept my eyes fixed on Cedar, feeling a touch of displeasure despite the cold smile playing at my lips. \u201cThomas has a wife. Were you aware of that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She visibly stiffened, her delicate brows furrowing. \u201cExcuse me? What exactly are you implying, Mr. Sterling?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMarried men are best kept at a distance,\u201d I replied, my voice deep and cold. \u201cI don\u2019t want to see something like this happen again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She instantly bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, squaring her shoulders and glaring up at me. \u201cSo, Mr. Sterling believes I\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 60\u00a0<\/p>\n
was deliberately getting close to Mr. Coleman? If you\u2019re so convinced there\u2019s something inappropriate between us, why not just fire me outright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned. Had I said that?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d only intended to warn her to keep her distance from other men. When had I expressed distrust?\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I didn\u2019t trust her, I would have sent Thomas Coleman packing much earlier. It was precisely because I knew there was nothing inappropriate between them that I\u2019d merely reassigned Thomas and kindly reminded her to stay away from married men.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This woman was so ungrateful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar bit her lip, stubbornly maintaining her posture. \u201cWhether you believe me or not, I\u2019m innocent, as your tech department has already proven. I have work to do this afternoon, so I won\u2019t waste any more of your time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned to leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStop right there,\u201d I commanded, displeasure evident in my tone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d driven all the way over here, and I certainly hadn\u2019t come to be on the receiving end of her attitude.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A man of my position had no reason to tolerate insolence from an employee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t comment on your innocence,\u201d I said coldly, \u201cbut giving attitude to your superior\u2013do you still think you\u2019re in the right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped forward, blocking her path.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, I need to get back to work. Please move aside,\u201d she said, clearly annoyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar gritted her teeth and suddenly bent down, attempting to dart past me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I instinctively reached out to grab her arm, which was merely a reflexive action. But my hand connected with something soft and yielding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar went completely still, and when I slowly looked down, I realized my hand was pressed against her breast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAhhh!\u2018 Cedar screamed in shock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shoved me away and raised her hand, swinging it toward my face. \u201cYou pervert!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reacted quickly, tilting my handsome face to avoid the slap aimed with such fury,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet I couldn\u2019t escape her nails entirely. I felt a sharp sting across my jaw, and when I touched it, my fingers came away with traces of\u00a0<\/p>\n
blood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 60\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A man of my stature was accustomed to countless women fawning over me daily. I was well acquainted with women\u2019s eager glances and\u00a0<\/p>\n
flirtations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she seemed determined to keep me at arm\u2019s length. Whether genuine or an act, it frustrated me. I\u2019d never allowed a woman to affect\u00a0<\/p>\n
my mood before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She appeared to come to her senses all at once, her gaze shifting nervously while shame flickered across her features. I\u2026 I\u2019m sorry, Mr. Sterling!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSeriously? It was just a little touch. I didn\u2019t mean to. You\u2019re totally overreacting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Cedar\u2019s face flushed a deep crimson.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a little touch?\u201d Her voice shot up an octave. \u201cYour hand was right on my-\u201d She was shaking with fury. \u201cThat\u2019s sexual harassment! Workplace assault! I barely grazed you when I defended myself, so don\u2019t even think about coming after me for it!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had been quite annoyed, but watching her expressions shift so transparently, I found the corner of my mouth quirking upward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was rather adorable sometimes, like little Oliver, who remained defiant after mischief, pretending to be fearless despite his obvious\u00a0<\/p>\n
concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I suddenly felt an urge to tease her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maintaining my stern expression, I stepped forward, firmly gripped her wrist, and pressed her against the wall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar\u2019s eyes widened in shock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cW\u2013what are you doing now?\u201d she stammered, both frightened and angry, her chest rising and falling rapidly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSince I\u2019ve already been struck, I might as well do something to fix it,\u201d I said, bending slightly to look directly into her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, whatever this is about, we can discuss it calmly. Would you please let me go first?\u201d she pleaded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLetting go would make it difficult to proceed,\u201d I replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedars face burned scarlet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2026\u201d I moved two inches closer, my thin lips curving slightly. \u201cWhat do you want?\u2018\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy jaw got scratched\u2013shouldn\u2019t you tend to it?\u2018 I released her suddenly and said this coolly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pulling a wet wipe from my pocket, I held it out to her. \u201cYou do it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 60\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar\u2019s face twisted with reluctance. \u201cMr. Sterling, you should probably do it yourself. I\u2019m not very gentle, and I might hurt you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho caused the injury?\u201d I asked pointedly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar accepted her fate and stepped forward. Rising on her tiptoes, she carefully cleaned the blood from my jaw with the damp wipe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stood very close to me, less than two inches between us. Her breath whispered against my chest, creating an unusual sensation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lowered my gaze, observing her fair face, clear eyes, delicate nose, and the elegant line of her collarbone\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
From my vantage point, I could glimpse the shadow beneath her collar\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, I recalled the earlier sensation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Soft, softer than the plushest cotton\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
A heat swept through my abdomen, and my thin lips pressed tightly together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our Unfinished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 60 Chapter 60\u00a0 Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0 Thomas\u2019s face […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-zero-stars-for-daddy-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30459"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30459\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}