Chapter 38: Finally Revealing the Seductress Within
David didn’t give her a chance to escape or make excuses.
Caroline, dizzy from being shoved into the car, scrambled upright. “This car is way too fancy for me. Just let me out, I’ll take the bus.”
There was no way she was going to arrive at Ellison Group in the same car as David. That would immediately make her the center of attention. She had no intention of publicly embracing the title of Mrs. Ellison.
David didn’t even glance at her, his voice cold. “I told you to sit, so sit.”
“I don’t want to,” she shot back, feeling her frustration building.
David crossed one leg over the other, folding his arms, an unreadable expression on his face. “What’s with the act? Playing hard to get? Seduction through resistance?”
Caroline was speechless. How many times did she have to explain that she wasn’t interested in him? The meeting with Ms. Harper at the orphanage had been purely coincidental. Why wouldn’t he believe her?
“You’re right. You’ve figured it all out,” Caroline said, her tone suddenly shifting into exaggerated sweetness. “Mr. Ellison, you’re so smart. You’ve seen right through me.”
She leaned closer to him, a sickly sweet voice escaping her lips as she continued, “Mr. Ellison, what do I have to do to make you like me? Look at me… I really adore you. No one could ever love you more than I do.”
Caroline could barely suppress the sarcasm dripping from her words, but she didn’t stop there. Since David insisted on accusing her of playing games, she figured she might as well play along.
With a gentle sway, she hooked her arm through his, her doe-like eyes brimming with feigned innocence. “I thought you’d be tired of all those women who cater to your every whim and would prefer someone strong and independent. But I guess you like it when I’m obedient, right?”
Even she felt nauseous from how sickly sweet her words were, but she continued her charade, determined to get under his skin.
David’s expression didn’t change. He remained cold and impassive, clearly unmoved by her performance.
Not enough, Caroline thought. Time to turn it up a notch.
She leaned in even closer, her lips almost brushing his ear.
David’s hand slid around her waist, pressing a button to lower the partition, creating a private space between the front and back seats.
David’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke in a low, raspy voice, “Finally revealing the seductress within, huh?”
Caroline froze for a moment, taken aback. There was something in David’s voice that sent a chill down her spine, a slight tremor in the air around them. His face remained calm, but his eyes were locked on her, an intensity building in his gaze.
For the first time, Caroline felt truly vulnerable. This was not just a game anymore. David’s presence was overwhelming, his curiosity about her growing in a way she hadn’t anticipated.
She could feel the heat radiating from him, the unspoken tension thick between them. No other man had ever made her feel this way—no one had ever had this kind of effect on her. Even Nash, despite their past, had never made her feel so… exposed.
Caroline began to panic, unsure of what to say. Did I really just play with fire and end up burning myself?
David’s grip on her waist tightened, pulling her closer. “Scared?” His voice was low, almost teasing.
Seeing her hesitation, he leaned forward, inch by inch. His lips were so close now that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin.
Caroline instinctively leaned back, retreating further, trying to distance herself from the growing intensity. Their lips were almost touching when…
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone tapped on the car window, interrupting the moment.
Both Caroline and David froze, their faces tense as the world outside continued to move on, oblivious to the storm that had just brewed inside the car.
