A Night of Desire

"By the way, why did you lie to that officer and say your right hand was injured?" Clara Grant asked, her voice deceptively casual.

Faye Jennings’s heart clenched with a mix of panic and anticipation. She was terrified her suspicions would be confirmed, yet she desperately hoped Seth Quinn’s answer would prove them wrong. She couldn’t help but prick up her ears, even holding her breath as she waited for his reply.

"Mm, I didn’t want to shake his hand. He’d just shaken hands with someone else."

Though his words were simple and didn’t state it outright, the meaning was crystal clear: he was disgusted by Faye Jennings. So disgusted, in fact, that he was unwilling to even touch a hand that had just touched hers.

Faye Jennings staggered back a couple of steps. A sharp pain lanced through her heart, and her nails dug into her palms, yet she felt nothing.

A mist instantly clouded her expressive eyes, gathering into tears that spilled from their corners.

The voices from inside drifted out intermittently. It was Clara Grant, a light laugh in her voice. "Not even indirectly? I’ve heard of people being squeamish about indirect kisses, but I’ve never heard of someone being disgusted by an indirect handshake."

"I’m a germaphobe. It bothers me."

Faye Jennings couldn’t bear to listen any longer. Clapping a hand over her mouth, she turned and fled toward the elevators.

Inside the room, Clara Grant gazed thoughtfully toward the door. ’I admit it,’ she thought. ’I asked those questions on purpose. I wanted Faye Jennings to hear.’

’It was a little cruel, but at least it would make her understand Seth Quinn’s attitude toward her and make her realize you can’t force feelings.’

’Hopefully, she can finally let go of Seth Quinn—let go of her obsession—and find her own happiness.’

’Being cruel now is better than letting her continue down this path, only to do something she’ll regret later on.’

When the doorway fell silent, Clara Grant sighed inwardly. She stood up and said, "Oh, I think I forgot to close the door. I’ll go get it."

Seth Quinn glanced at her but didn’t speak, though the corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. ’Of course he knew. He knew she’d left the door open on purpose and that her words were meant for Faye Jennings to hear.’

’And he had simply played along, voicing his true thoughts.’

’The fact that she could get jealous over another woman made him incredibly happy. He was more than willing to cooperate with her to crush any other woman who had designs on him!’

Just as Clara Grant was about to turn and close the door, Holly Summers stopped her. "Clara, I actually have to run an errand, so I can just close the door on my way out. You and President Quinn take your time and chat."

With that, she gave Clara Grant a suggestive wink and hurried toward the entrance before Clara could even react. A moment later, the door clicked shut.

Clara Grant looked away from the door, then turned to Seth Quinn and rolled her eyes in annoyance. "See? I told you not to see me home, but you insisted. Now you’ve made poor Holly ’homeless’." ’And to top it all off, I got an earful from Faye Jennings for no reason. This is all his fault!’

Seth Quinn, however, showed not a shred of guilt. He simply pulled her onto his lap and toyed with her delicate hands. "Mm, that Holly of yours is pretty sharp," he said. "Don’t worry, I’ll give her a good role in the next production."

Clara Grant didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "So, the great President Quinn also abuses his power for personal gain and can’t separate business from his personal life!"

"So what if I abuse my power? So what if I mix business and pleasure? What are you gonna do about it?"

"Nothing... Seth Quinn, what are you doing?"

"What do you think I’m ’doing’..."

"..." Clara Grant’s lips were captured, and she could no longer make a sound.