Let Me Stay The Night

Chapter 25 Feeling Too Hot

The corners of Nathaniel's lips lifted as he propped his chin with one hand, exuding a wicked charm. "You're right. My wife looks good in anything"

Christma was slightly embarrassed by his praise. She suddenly felt that he was much more agreeable. when he wasn't being intimidating.

Sounds of the door opening in the courtyard reached her ears, indicating that her grandmother was probably back home.

She pointed at the door to the backyard. "We'll smooth out the agreement later. Hurry up and leave

now."

Christina didn't want her grandmother to discover Nathaniel's existence. She'd kept their marriage low-key. As such, her grandmother was not aware of it.

It would complicate matters if she were caught together with a man.

Nathaniel's expression crumbled as he felt like he was being cast aside. Christina couldn't care less for his pettiness as she held on to his hand and pulled him out toward the courtyard. "Come on, don't just stand there."

He got distracted by the warmth of her palm in his and was pulled along dazedly to the back door.

Christina released him and pushed open the gate. "That's it. Go now,"

Nathaniel couldn't help missing the feel of her soft and tiny hand in his. A sly idea struck him as he took in how anxious she was.

"How dare you see it fit for the CEO of Hadley Corporation to use the backdoor." His face was full of loathing.

Christina was at her wit's end at his inopportune display of stubbornness.

In place of fretting, she tried appeasing him so he'd leave.

"Could you please leave first? I beg of you?" Her humble pleas were like music to his ears.

Nathaniel smirked. His inky eyes were fathomless as he leaned toward Christina and whispered into her ear, "I'll leave only if you give me a kiss."

His warm breath tickled Christina, causing her heartbeat and blood pressure to skyrocket.

"You're such a rogue!" Christina huffed as she turned her flushed face away.

"I hear the sounds of your granny unlocking the gate... Nathaniel was amused by her bashfulness and took another step closer.

Christina felt like a guilty child that feared their parent's discovery of their misbehavior. Even her heart was thumping wildly in her chest. "The only kiss you get is a peck on your cheek." She had scarce options left but to cede to his demands.

"Deal, Nathaniel agreed. He would not overstep her boundaries.

He slightly angled his face away from her and raised his angular jawline. This simple gesture alone. emanated a mysterious masculine allure..

His posture was casual yet exhibited haughtiness. It was as if every single one of his pores oozed self-satisfaction. Christina couldn't comprehend how a mere kiss made him feel as if he'd won the lottery.

She got onto her tippy-toes and was about to kiss Nathaniel's cheek when he suddenly turned toward her out of impatience.

Both of them stopped breathing at the same time as their lips brushed. Christina's eyes flew wide open. in surprise at such a coincidental happening.

She came to and hastily shoved Nathaniel out the door before shutting it behind her.

Nathaniel remained standing outside. His lips still bore the remains of Christina's natural fragrance.

A chuckle bubbled up his throat as he savored the moment and wondered if it had been an intentional move by Christina.

At that moment. Evelyn was inside the house and had called out several times to no reply.

Christina made her way in from the backyard and replied guiltily, "Granny, I was too engrossed with my designs that I didn't hear you."

"Christina, why are you so flushed?" Evelyn inquired out of concern.

Christina covered her cheeks out of reflex and sensed how warm they were. The image of her kissing Nathaniel flashed in her mind.

She dashed toward her room as she explained, "I'm just feeling rather warm. Don't worry."

Christina ducked into her room like a stealthy feline. Just then, a chilly breeze blew in from the door.

It was a perfectly sunny day to head out the following day.

Evelyn had gone out for her morning exercise at the crack of dawn. Christina was nibbling on a piece of bread when the doorbell began ringing. She rushed to get the door. "Are you Mrs. Hadley?" The person at the door was wearing a uniform belonging to the salesperson of a luxury brand.

Christina swallowed her bread before replying in confusion, "Yes, I am. What is-

"We've got the right person then."

The woman smiled as she gestured to several of the staff behind her. They moved three mobile clothing racks full of the latest women's attire from various brands.

"I did not purchase any clothes. Was there perhaps a mix-up?" Christina queried.

The women extended a proof of delivery after they finished moving the clothes. "Mr. Hadley has paid for these clothes, and we've delivered them to you. You'd be doing us a great favor by signing this" Christina had predicted that only Nathaniel was capable of spending so lavishly. She felt uncomfortable rejecting the clothes since much effort was expended to move them all the way here. The sales staff departed after she signed her name.

She pushed all three of the clothing racks into her room.

Her formerly spacious room immediately felt cramped. Christina frowned and was about to call Nathaniel to return the clothes when she realized she did not have his number.

She was astonished by the level of his extravagance. He'd sent three whole racks of new clothes her way when he'd only commented about how plain hers were the day before. Christina did not want to leave such premium clothes to waste by not wearing them, so she picked a suit with a relatively simple design and headed out..

Radiant Corporation was a considerably well-known company in the fashion design sphere. It was even one of the top ten most recognized companies internationally in recent years.

The goal of all of the local fashion designers was to seek employment within Radiant Corporation. It wasn't an exaggeration to claim that the designers who worked there were fully capable of making it on

their own.

Christina's first stop was to report to the HR department. The recruits usually began as interns and were divided into two groups in the design department. Christina was assigned to Team A. Christina's delicate features immediately caught everyone's attention the moment she stepped foot into the brightly-lit open-plan office.

Her team leader was Gina Tanner, a chic lady full of character and a head of chestnut curls whose preferred fragrance was Jo Malone's wild bluebell cologne. Christina was given a position and delegated duties promptly.

The first challenge Christina had to face was a competition between the interns. They would need to submit a draft of their designs, the best of which would be selected by their team leader. Christina chose to submit a recent series of designs she'd been working on. The newbies usually were not required to participate in the design process as familiarizing themselves with the workings of the company's various departments took precedence.

Gina's favorite draft was posted on the announcement board when it was almost time to get off work. "This intern is highly-skilled. All current employees should buckle up. Otherwise, you might be pushed out soon!"

The members of Team A gathered around to peer at the outstanding design chosen by their team. leader. It was indeed exceptionally creative, and right at the bottom of the draft paper was signed Christina's

name.