Semua Bab Cheating Season: Bab 11 - Bab 17

I only ever wanted fleeting pleasure.And since he was so good at this push and pull, I assumed he felt the same.***A sudden yank on my wrist snapped me back to the present.Joel's grip was tight as he strode forward, dragging me with him.Reporters scrambled to block our path, but he just arched a brow, amusement laced through his expression."I'm heading back with my boss to review the match and plan for next season. You wanna sit in on that too?"His voice was sharp, barely holding back his irritation.One reporter refused to back down, reaching out. "Then what about your statement about having a girlfriend—"Joel lost patience. Face blank, voice flat."Move."***The night stretched on, silver light weaving through the city.Inside the car, silence pooled between us.Then, after a few beats, Joel let out a quiet chuckle. "Not gonna say anything?"I exhaled. "I was wrong. In the beginning, I thought we had an unspoken understanding. I told you from the start, this w

After my father's wife passed away, he took over the company.But he'd spent too long leeching off others—he had no clue how to run it.When I married Scott, my father shoved me into Lloyd Corp under the pretense of "strengthening business ties."Low rank. Brutal workload. Zero authority.Not that it mattered.Lloyd Corp was already circling the drain. It was never my real target.***"Leila." Scott's voice was low. "When did you start planning all this?"I pretended to think. "Probably... the night I first visited you four years ago."His expression darkened. "Acquiring Lloyd Corp shares, stealing projects, pulling in outside investors—where the hell did you get that kind of funding?""You studied finance, didn't you? Ever heard of leveraged trading?"Scott shot to his feet, his glare sharp. "You took that kind of risk?"I smiled. "Why not? My whole life's been a gamble. And since you're standing here now, that means I won."***My father lunged again, but the officers p

"This kind of dynamic is blowing up right now. That fic? Crazy well-written, perfect vibes. Everyone got obsessed and started making more content... Even brought in a few new sponsorship deals for Vespera."Tammy held up her phone.I scrolled through the saved images, stopping on one."Put your phone away." I handed it back. "Tell Vespera's ops team to keep an eye on it. As long as the sentiment stays positive, let it ride. The second negative press hits, shut it down."She nodded fast.As she walked off, I caught her mumbling, "Boss really has a heart of stone. Still working under these conditions... but that just makes this ship even better. Hehe..."***Maybe it was Tammy's words.That night, I dreamt of Joel for the first time in a while.The night he won the championship.After Scott and Gigi left, Joel had me pinned in the backseat.His jacket bound my wrists, my half-slipped clothing tangled around my arms.I panted, voice unsteady. "Wait till we get home... Someone

He spoke as he leaned down, closing the distance inch by inch. His cheek brushed mine, his breath warm against my skin."Whether it's a mistake or a game turned real, I don't care. I like you. And the more I like you, the more I hate Scott Fletcher." His voice darkened. "Even if it was just in name, why did he get to have you for four years? So I found a way to get rid of him."My fingers wove into his hair, tugging slightly.Joel tilted his head back, exposing the sharp line of his throat, his Adam's apple shifting.Beautiful. Fragile."I thought you would hate me," I murmured."And if I did?" He exhaled against my lips. "I'd still wake up wanting you."I know your past, Leila. I know what it took for you to get here."He cradled my face, his lips brushing against mine as he whispered, "There aren't many people in this world as strong as you. I'm just glad that when you acted on impulse, you chose me."No title? Fine. You only want my body? That's fine too."His lips traced