Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
“Have you been doing well lately, Rose? Has your family caused any trouble for you?” Alyssa knew Rose was from the Emerson family and the risky situation Rose was in, which was why she worried for Rose.
“I’m doing really well.” Rose’s eyes narrowed as she flicked ash off her cigarette. “The world is my home.
I have no family or kin to my name.”
“What are you talking about? If you don’t have family, who am I then?” Alyssa held Rose’s arm lovingly. “The moment I become your mentor, you’ll always be my… you know how it goes.”
“Taking advantage of me now, aren’t you?” Rose teasingly pinched Alyssa’s chin with the hand holding her cigarette.
Rose had a natural physique, taller and broader than Alyssa. Their affectionate and teasing movements made quite the sight. They looked like a couple of lesbian lovers.
Meanwhile, Silas was in the crowd some distance away, watching Rose’s every move.
He didn’t like people who smoked. Every time Axel started smoking, Silas would try and find a way to snatch the cigarette away.
Yet for some reason, as Silas gazed at Rose holding the cigarette with her slender fingers, the smoke swirling around her face, and the relaxed look in her eyes, he couldn’t help but be mesmerized by her.
Right now, Rose was the most stunning creature to Silas, especially while doing something he hated the most.
His breathing quickened. He quickly looked away and downed an entire glass of iced water from the table.
It had been some time since Silas had met Rose. They hadn’t contacted one another prior, but Silas would look at her social media account nearly every single day. He had followed her and constantly paid attention to any updates from Rose.
Silas had thought he and Rose would naturally grow closer tonight because of what happened last time.
But Rose hadn’t spoken to him nor so much as glanced at him.
It made Silas uncomfortable. So he snatched a glass from the table and downed it quickly, uncaring of what was inside it.
“Fuck me, Silas! Good on you, man!” Cyrus exclaimed, smacking Silas’ back excitedly. “That was a shot of El Lukadore tequila with 55 percent alcohol content. I myself needed to take a break after taking a sip yet you downed all of it in one shot? What a lad!”
Silas was stunned.
Tequila? 55 percent alcohol content?
Silas felt his internal organs and digestive tract burn in the next instant. He dashed right to the washroom.
Rose glanced in Silas’ direction as he ran off, her eyes twinkling slightly.
“Your heart isn’t that strong. Why don’t you quit drinking and smoking, hm? Even my man was able to quit smoking, though he’s been doing it for years, so I’m sure you can do the same.”
Alyssa still duly played her role of Rose’s caring mentor and grabbed her cigarette before extinguishing it. “I know you need inspiration to draw. And there are many ways to get inspiration¡ªruining your body for it isn’t the wisest option. Plus, your face and teeth will turn yellowish after smoking too much. You’ll look ugly.”
“So what? I don’t need a man. All that matters is that my designs are beautiful.” Rose smiled nonchalantly, though there was a hint of self-depreciation in her words.
“You may not need a man, but there are some men who can’t even focus in life without you.” Alyssa’s eyes narrowed as she glanced at where Silas was sitting, only to find the spot empty. “Huh? Where’s Silas?”
“He didn’t look too well earlier. I think he’s had too much to drink,” Rose said faintly, though she was a bit concerned.
“Oh. Then hurry over to check up on him.” Alyssa nudged Rose gently. “Go on then. Silas did help you last time. You should go see if he’s doing okay.”
Silas was retching by the restroom basin, heaving all the tequila he’d drunk out from his stomach.
His alcohol tolerance was the lowest among his siblings. Usually, he could barely manage a sip of tequila.
Yet even after Silas had retched everything out, his mind was still heavy and throat burning as if doused with acid.
“Look at yourself, Silas… Why are you still so worked up over her? She clearly doesn’t care about you at all,” he mumbled to himself.
Silas splashed his face with some cold water and combed his fringe back with his hands. Even in such a dire state, he was still remarkably handsome.
“I really am working myself up too much over this.” Silas gently massaged his temples, unable to stop feeling frustrated.
As he opened the door, he bumped right into someone else.
“Ah!” Rose gasped.
She had worn high heels that night, so her body rocked with the force and fell backward.
Though Silas was still somewhat drunk, his speed was still exceptional. He swiftly wrapped an arm around Rose and pushed her back up to her feet.
Their eyes met as their bodies pressed closed against one another, flushed.
Silas’ breathing quickened. He recalled the deep kiss that he’d had with Rose, which started out as CPR. Silas still hadn’t gotten over that until today.
Right now, he didn’t want to let go of Rose.
“Can you. Let me go now?” Rose looked anxious. She instinctively pressed a hand on Silas’ chest.
“Why. Why are you ignoring me?” Silas was usually a straightforward man. With the addition of the alcohol earlier, his words, which he’d been holding back tonight, were finally blurted out. “Don’t we know each other already? Or are you just forgetful?”
“How could I forget?” Rose’s fingers curled slightly on Silas’ chest as she tried to calm herself as best as she could. “You’re the second son in the Taylor family, Lyse’s second brother.”
“Then why are you ignoring me?” Silas persisted.
“I didn’t bother to.” Rose’s eyes were dodgy.
Silas’ brows knitted together as the irritation in his chest grew. “Didn’t. bother. to? I’m probably the closest person to you in my family, next to Lyse. How could you not bother to?”
“Mr. Silas, I don’t have to say hi to every acquaintance of mine, do I? It’s not illegal not to.” Rose’s heart clenched. She struggled in his arms. “Now let go. I need to go back out there.”
Silas grew angry, arm tightening around Rose’s waist. “Every acquaintance? Would you kiss your acquaintances, then? I’m afraid you have a misunderstanding about the term acquaintance, Ms. Emerson.”
“Kiss? When did we.”
While Rose was still stunned, Silas pressed his lips against hers while wrapping his other hand around the back of her head, deepening it. He kissed her deeply, as if yearning to consume her whole.
“Oh…” Rose moaned softly, her body growing weak in his arms as she lost the strength to fight back. Her slender hands grabbed futilely at Silas’ chest before dropping weakly by her sides.
All of a sudden, a memory struck her.
Their kiss.
“Rose. Hold on!”
She opened her eyes, finally recalling everything.
Just then, Silas stopped kissing her, his eyes open, too.
Wine was a mesmerizing thing.
But only Silas knew whether his kiss stemmed from being drunk or liquid courage invoking his deepest desires to light.
“Based on the look on your face, I take it you’ve remembered?” Silas smiled teasingly. “You were the one who wouldn’t let go of me last time, so now that I’m initiating things, we’re even.”
Even?
Silas had forcefully kissed her and taken advantage of her. Yet, this was what he had to say for it?
Rose grew angry in an instant. Alyssa’s brother or not, she was going to give Silas a tight slap in the face, even if it meant cutting ties with Alyssa.
But Rose wasn’t as skilled as Alyssa was. Plus, her body had long turned weak with the large amount of wine she’d drank. Her hand waved in the air but was swiftly caught by Silas.
Rose’s heart raced in the next instant.
Silas gently placed her palm against his cheek, eyes turning into fond slits. “Don’t get angry. Be careful with your body.”
A droplet of water fell down his temple, adding a sensual flair to Silas’ handsome face. “Keep on exhausting yourself if you still want me to do CPR on you.”
“You!” Rose flushed red with both embarrassment and anger.
She couldn’t deny the fact that Silas was really hot. While bearing a resemblance to Jonah, a deeper acquaintance revealed their stark differences as distinct individuals.
Jonah’s demeanor carried an inscrutable weight, whereas Silas’ eyes consistently radiated brightness, youthfulness, and directness.
Rose composed herself mentally and quickly took control of the situation by placing her hands on Silas’ shoulders. With a seductive smile, she asked, “Seems like you care a lot about me, Mr. Silas. Could it be that you like me?”