Chapter 721

My body felt weak from the alcohol, and my legs ached from wearing heels all day. When Edward arrived, an inexplicable anger flared up inside me.

In the dimly lit lounge, he stood there, his lips pressed into a thin line, saying nothing. I felt a surge of irritation. “What’s wrong with Edward today? Why is he being so cold?”

My neck was getting sore from looking up at him, so I dropped my head, pressing my forehead against his chest. My breath came in shaky bursts, and my fingers twisted in his shirt, hoping he’d realize I needed him.

But he just stood there, totally indifferent, like he was going to let me fend for myself. His hands stayed in his pockets, just watching me struggle like it was some kind of show.

Just thinking he was messing with me, waiting to see me make a fool of myself, made my blood boil. I have no idea how other women get when they’re drunk, but me? A few drinks and I start craving some male company. And if there’s a guy I actually like standing right in front of me, well, I might just get a little out of hand.

He just stood there, silent, and that only made me want to push things further. After nuzzling against his chest, I tipped my head back, stood on my tiptoes, and pressed a kiss to his Adam’s apple.

His muscles went rigid, hard as stone. Then, in the next second, he pushed me away.

‘Did he just… push me away?’ I was stunned.

That just made me even angrier. I grabbed his collar, pulling him closer, determined to plant a kiss on him no matter what. But he shoved me away again, and I staggered back a few steps, clutching my dizzy head.

“Seriously, what’s his problem?” I fumed, frustration bubbling up inside me. He was the one who said he’d come to Hachester, the one who wanted to meet up–and now that we’re face to face, he’s just messing with me like I’m some kind of clown.

I wasn’t about to let him off the hook. The moment he turned to sit on the couch across from me, I seized my chance and lunged at him.

He actually looked shocked, like he hadn’t expected me to get this wild.

“Edward, if you don’t give me a straight answer today…” I started, but then my mind just went totally blank–I couldn’t even remember what I wanted him to say.

I ducked my head and started yanking at his shirt, and with how hard I was pulling, four buttons had already come undone before I even realized it. I stared at his lean, sculpted chest, and for a moment, my brain just short-circuited. When it comes to things you love and know inside out, you just have a sixth sense for them.

Without thinking, I spun around, grabbed a glass of cold water from the side table, and poured it straight over my head. The icy drops made me suck in a breath–it was ice-cold, for real. My head was spinning, but in that instant, I snapped back to reality and turned to look.

For a second, it felt like I’d just seen a ghost.

“Ah!” I screamed, stumbling back a few steps in shock–almost crashing to the floor. Luckily, the wall was right behind me, so I pressed myself against it, gasping for breath. “Why is it you?”

Ryan glanced down at the shirt buttons I’d just torn open, then looked back at me with a lazy, teasing grin. “Why’d you stop? Weren’t you just desperate for it a second ago?”

“No, no, this is all a huge misunderstanding,” I blurted out, shaking the water from my hair. “I thought you were Edward.”

“Oh, so when it’s me, it’s just a misunderstanding, but if it were Edward, this place would be your bed, huh?” Ryan’s face darkened instantly. He stood up and walked toward me, step by step. “Have you fallen for him?”

I was so freaked out that I spun around and bolted for the door. Thankfully, Ryan didn’t chase after me. When I rushed out, I saw my assistant waiting for the elevator.

She took one look at my wet hair and the huge damp spot on my shirt and immediately asked, “Ms. Murphy, what happened to you?”