The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Azriel took a deep drag on his cigarette, lost in thought as to what he was expecting Phoebe to say at that moment.

Phoebe was equally at a loss for words. When they had just come up, they saw the “strangely dressed young ladies who had disappeared one by one on the first floor coming out of this private room. It didn’t take much to figure out that they were Kane’s honored guests and that the evening’s entertainment had been arranged with them in mind. However, the night’s offerings weren’t limited to the show. There were other indulgences as well.

Phoebe felt a tightness in her chest, an unwelcome feeling, but she had no place to voice her concerns. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“What difference would it have made? If you knew I was here, would you not have done all this?” Azriel questioned.

Phoebe’s brow furrowed deeply, “What have I done?”

The private room was dimly lit, with a coffee table separating the two. They couldn’t clearly see each other’s expressions on their faces, but their voices betrayed the tension between them.d2

“Phoebe,” Azriel began coolly, “what did you promise me last night?”

She remembered clearly, “If I ever find a boyfriend, I should bring him to you for approval.”

“You said you would be discerning; you wouldn’t just choose anyone.”

“I don’t think what I did tonight conflicts with what I said last night.”

Azriel stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, “I’m curious, you’ve never thought about finding a boyfriend during your undergrad or grad studies, but suddenly, just one night passes and you’re in such a hurry?”

As he spoke, he rose from the sofa, circled the table, and approached her with a noble indifference that seemed to suck the air from the room. Forcing her to look at him, he grasped her chin with a commanding touch. “Are you enjoying yourself?” His eyes swirled with a dangerous intensity as his fingers gently stroked her skin.

Phoebe recoiled, trying to escape his grip, but he held her even tighter. “What are you hiding from?”

His voice was hollow and cold, “Answer me.”

Phoebe shook her head, her gaze inadvertently falling on the undone buttons of his shirt. He was always so meticulous with his appearance; she had never seen him like this before. The images of the women who had left this room, cooing and cuddling in his arms, flashed in her mind. She hadn’t witnessed it, but the mere thought made her stomach turn with disgust. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“It’s not fun.” She spoke truthfully, and Azriel smiled slightly. Phoebe continued. “But I did make some decent friends. If it were a different setting, I wouldn’t mind these gatherings.”

Azriel never thought his temper could be so volatile, that someone could repeatedly test his patience.

Phoebe pulled away from his hold, “I really don’t like this place, and I don’t know how to enjoy its pleasures like you do. You have fun. I’m going home.”

With that, she headed for the door, but before her hand could reach the knob, a gust of wind from behind slammed the door shut. Frustrated and dazed, she found herself tossed onto the sofa. As she came to, tears began to fall, “What are you doing?!”

Azriel stood over her, his gaze authoritative.

Her shoulder-length hair was loosely tousled, and she was adorned with delicate light makeup. She wore a fitted blue knitted dress that fell above the knee, showcasing her long and slender legs. At this moment, she reclined on the sofa, and he could even see the edge of her leggings beneath the hem of her skirt.

She had dressed up for this occasion. She had come here, flirted with men, and had made an effort to look good. This realization washed away any sympathy he had felt at the sight of her tears.

“You don’t like this place? It seems you enjoy it quite a bit,” he said coldly, sitting down beside her.

the air around him was charged with anger. Up close, she could smell the alcohol on his

Phoebe rose from the sofa, retreating to a corner and wiping away her

impatient, not saying a word. He simply took out another cigarette, lit it,

while, sensing his mood had calmed, Phoebe spoke up, “I

move, his voice cold and unyielding, “No,

told you I don’t like

this place. Just thinking of him with those strange

his cigarette, exhaling forcefully

up suddenly, pulling her off the sofa and throwing his jacket over

intoxicated man took the driver’s seat, the engine roaring

insane?!” she exclaimed, but her shock elicited no

expected him to drive recklessly home, but instead, they stopped at a hotel entrance. He got

to budge. “I want to go

sneered, leaning in to unbuckle her seatbelt, then hoisted her over his

anxious, drove the car

“Sir…”

“A suite,” Azriel demanded.

said the front

dumped onto the bed, staring at Azriel in panic.

“Go take a shower.”

bit her lip and shook

should I help

be like this. You’ve had too much to drink.” Her

unfathomable as an abyss, “you should be thankful I didn’t

commanded, “Go take a

up the phone that had fallen onto the bed, holding it

“Leave the phone.”

had no idea why he insisted on her entering the bathroom without her phone, her instincts warned her not to defy

you’re not out, I’m coming

phone down and, under his

lock, that Azriel withdrew his gaze. He then shifted his attention to the phone

*

clutching her bathrobe. Azriel stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, the night casting her reflection clearly onto the

he watched her emerge

halo of light framing her. A flush colored her cheeks, her hair half-dry with tips still damp, her clean features tinged with a mix of shyness and apprehension. This careful demeanor only darkened Azriel’s

Her voice, soft and tentative, broke the silence as she stood by the bed,

hands, previously in his pockets, clenched. He closed his eyes, forcibly quelling the rising tempest within him. Finally, he turned and said

herself to relax and climb into bed. Then, out of habit, she reached for her phone,

Updated Join & Stay