Chapter: 30

Bethany's eyebrows shot up in surprise mixed with confusion. Didn't he ask her to come over specifically to discuss the project?

"Then I'll take my leave..."

Before she could get another word out, Jonathan suddenly pulled her inside and pressed her against the wall, silencing her with a kiss.

"Wait... Mr. Bates!" she protested.

What the hell was going on?

Bethany could feel the primal desire radiating from Jonathan's loins.

But wasn't she here to talk about the Zucron Company project?

Why was he suddenly hell-bent on sleeping with her?

"Jonathan, what're you-" she started, only to be cut off again.

"Bethany," he said in a restrained voice, "I'll try to be gentle."

Everything happened so fast. Bethany didn't know when she fell asleep; she vaguely remembered him kissing her countless times and his promise to be gentle, but it seemed his definition of "gentle" was different from hers.

When she came to, it was already early morning.

Reaching out beside her, she found that, as expected, Jonathan was no longer there.

She took a shower, got dressed, and headed out to the dining room, where breakfast was waiting for her on the table, along with another note from Jonathan.

"I've forwarded to your email a list of companies that can provide loans. Can you un-block me now? It's so difficult to contact you."

Bethany stared at the note, puzzled. It seemed Jonathan didn't intend to end their contract.

But wasn't he worried that Maddie would find out about their relationship?

This question lingered in Bethany's mind, even after the morning meeting. When Aimee came to her office to photocopy some materials, Bethany bit her lip hesitantly.

“Aimee, can I ask you something?"

“Sure. What's up?"

"I have a friend. She... Well, she got married as part of a deal. But the man she married has been in love with another woman forever. Recently, that woman came back from abroad, but he doesn't seem to want to divorce my friend. What do you think is going on in his mind?"

Aimee pursed her lips, considering the situation carefully. "Maybe the girl he likes already has a boyfriend? Or maybe there's another reason they can't be together. Anyway, men have ‘needs.' If he divorces your friend but can't be with the girl he likes, he'll be miserable. He's probably keeping the marriage to have his needs met."

Bethany found Aimee's logic a bit crude, but it kind of made sense.

Plus, recalling what Jonathan had done to her in bed last night, she felt Aimee's analysis might be accurate.