Chapter 617
As Tiffany walked through the office, employees either looked shocked or remained silent. Only a few nodded and greeted her with a "Good morning, Mrs. Hampton." Voices rose in greeting one after another.
Tiffany acknowledged them and headed straight for the CEO's private elevator. The button lit up, and the face-recognition elevator opened. She stepped inside. Richard had granted her many privileges, including the private elevator. The numbers climbed steadily as the elevator ascended.
Once Tiffany was out of sight, several employees on the first floor gathered and whispered, "Do you think Mrs. Hampton is here to apologize? That scandal broke this morning."
"Honestly, she has nothing going for her besides her looks! I feel bad for Mr. Hampton. He's such a cool, disciplined, and powerful man, yet he's completely smitten," a woman commented.
A younger woman echoed, "Exactly! A woman like Tiffany is bound to stir up trouble, even after marriage. Who knows when we'll hear about her and that Harper family man again?"
A woman in brown added, "Speaking of which, when the scandal was exposed today, Mr. Hampton didn't even have it taken down. That means he's angry Who knows if tomorrow's wedding will even happen?"
The women huddled together, their voices dripping with malice. If the wedding was called off, they'd be thrilled. After all, many dreamed of marrying into wealth. If Richard's wedding fell apart, women throughout the city would likely celebrate, seeing it as an opportunity for themselves.
"Ding!" The elevator reached the top floor. Tiffany, familiar with the layout, went straight to the CEO's office.
When Tyrone spotted her, he rushed over, relieved. "Mrs. Hampton! You're finally here!"
Seeing his flustered, almost desperate expression, Tiffany asked, "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? You hung up on the King of Jealousy! Not only did you not appease him, but you ignored him, and the office plunged into chilling silence. His presence makes it feel like the walls are closing in. I genuinely thought I might not make it out alive!" Tyrone thought internally, but carefully explained, "Mr. Hampton is in a bad mood Please cheer him up." If Tiffany didn't, Tyrone doubted he'd survive another day.
Tiffany nodded and walked briskly toward the intimidating office everyone avoided.
The door opened to reveal a spacious, minimalist room with clean lines and a polished aesthetic. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, complementing the gray-toned floor and understated luxury. In the center sat a large desk, behind which Richard was immersed in paperwork, his expression cold and unreadable.
Dressed in a tailored suit and crisp white shirt, his strong presence exuded restraint and authority, mixed with an air of unattainable allure. His long, slender fingers moved gracefully, each motion clean and captivating. As Tiffany's gaze rose, she saw his flawlessly handsome face. Even now, her breath hitched. She stood frozen, momentarily dazed. Despite their intimate relationship, her heart still fluttered whenever she saw him from a distance. She stood at the door, forgetting to move.
Richard raised his head. His deep eyes flashed with surprise and joy, but he quickly masked it with indifference. Then, he deliberately put on a long face to show his anger.
Tiffany closed the door and strode forward. Leaning over the desk, she smiled brightly, blocking the paperwork. "Richard, are you really angry?"
Richard turned his chair slightly, avoiding her gaze. Tiffany stayed draped over the desk, resting her chin in her hands. "I hung up because I wanted to see you in person. Isn't face-to-face better? Or… you don't want to see me?"
Richard glanced at her. His typically cold expression wavered unexpectedly when his eyes landed on her neckline. He coughed, his expression unnatural. Though he tried to maintain composure, his eyes betrayed him.
Tiffany remained leaned on his desk, smiling, seemingly unaware. But Richard knew she was teasing him, deliberately using her charms. He cursed internally. His enigmatic eyes deepened. He stretched out his long arm and pulled her into his lap.
Without giving her a chance to escape, he kissed her—a fierce, domineering kiss, passionate and consuming, leaving no room for resistance. Tiffany, instead of laughing, embraced him eagerly.
The room's temperature rose. At some point, her arms were around his neck, and his hands began wandering downward. A moment poised to become unstoppable was interrupted by knocks on the door, followed by the doorknob turning.
Richard reacted instantly, pulling Tiffany's clothes back into place. Tiffany was even quicker, slipping under the desk before the door fully opened. Everything looked normal.
The intruder was a foreign business partner negotiating a deal.
"Mr. Hampton, the interest rate has increased by another one percent! This is unacceptable," the man said.
Tyrone trailed behind him, defeated and frazzled. He'd tried to stop the man but failed. He scanned the room nervously, wondering, "Where is Mrs. Hampton?"
There was no trace of Tiffany, but Tyrone felt his boss's face looked grimmer. His heart skipped a beat. He cried for help internally, "God, please save me!"
Oblivious to the tension, the foreign partner continued his lengthy monologue about the deal, his requests, and so on. Richard wasn't listening. Under the desk, a mischievous hand slowly crept up his pant leg.
Richard clenched his jaw, reaching down to grab her hand. But Tiffany wasn't giving up. With one hand immobilized, she boldly used the other.
Richard's expression darkened further; his usually cold eyes were now a swirling mix of suppressed fury and uncontrollable desire. Gritting his teeth, he growled, "Knock it off."