Chapter 141
The cheerful mood around the dining table evaporated instantly. All laughter died, replaced by an oppressive silence that made everyone shift uncomfortably in their seats.
Adrian Blackwood leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze locking onto Walter Holloway. A sardonic smile played on his lips. "Is this what you consider professional conduct?" His voice cut through the air like shards of ice.
Walter's face flushed crimson, torn between embarrassment and defensive pride. "Our business dealings are completely above board," he insisted, his voice strained. "We would never resort to unethical practices. If anyone tried, I'd personally put a stop to it immediately!"
Then, turning back to Adrian, Walter's expression transformed into an ingratiating smile. "Mr. Blackwood, you must understand - these men are simple, hardworking types. They spend their days on construction sites and don't have refined manners. After a few drinks, their tongues get loose with crude jokes. Please forgive their lack of sophistication."
The others quickly caught on, offering profuse apologies. "Indeed, Mr. Blackwood, we meant no offense. We're just rough working men without much education. To make amends, we'll drink three glasses as punishment!"
Without hesitation, even those who had remained silent earlier grabbed their glasses, filling them to the brim with strong liquor before downing them in one go. Their faces grew redder with each swallow.
Adrian remained impassive. After a deliberate pause, he reached for his teacup, taking a slow, measured sip as if savoring the moment.
Only then did the tension ease slightly, allowing the meal to continue - though the earlier boisterous atmosphere never fully returned.
Meanwhile, Penelope Holloway, slightly intoxicated herself, found her admiration for Adrian growing with each passing minute. The alcohol fueled her vivid imagination, painting him as the perfect gentleman - handsome, successful, and honorable. She couldn't let this golden opportunity slip away.
Adrian's abrupt mood shift made Walter think better of bringing up their planned drinking session again. Dinner concluded quickly, with everyone retiring to their rooms for the night.
Alone in his suite, Adrian collapsed onto the sofa. His fingers trembled slightly as he twisted open a bottle of chilled mineral water from the minibar, gulping it down desperately. His shirt hung loosely, the fabric fluttering with each ragged breath.
The cold water did little to quench the fire burning through his veins - a dangerous cocktail of alcohol and something far more primal. His thoughts kept returning to Vivian Hartley by Sapphire Springs, her image crystallizing from the day's hazy memories into sharp, painful clarity. The way the soft light had caressed her porcelain skin, the elegant lines of her silhouette...
Then came the more disturbing memory - Vivian in the bathroom, her bare skin exposed, those wide, startled eyes. That image struck him with shocking intensity, sending an electric jolt through his system.
Adrian was no stranger to attraction. He'd effortlessly brushed off advances from a bikini-clad beauty queen without a second thought. Yet this accidental encounter with Vivian - so vulnerable, so unguarded - had awakened something raw and visceral within him. It was as if some long-dormant switch had been flipped, leaving him hypersensitive to the slightest provocation.
As he wrestled with whether his feelings for Vivian stemmed from genuine emotion or mere physical desire, he couldn't deny the magnetic pull she exerted on him.
The rich food from dinner only seemed to fuel his body's traitorous responses. His mind wandered to stories his friends had told in their youth - tales of first awakenings and explosive passions. Could this overwhelming sensation be his own delayed eruption of youthful desire, finally coming to life with terrifying intensity?