Chapter 273
โWhen did you get here?โ Aubree blurted out.
โRight when you were complaining about Sรผdlichen Strandโs exclusivity,โ Bowen said, lowering his head slightly, his gaze locking onto her face. She was no longer as gaunt as when they first met. Her cheeks had filled out, making her look endearingly cute.
His eyes shimmered with starlight, burning bright, brimming with untold depths of tenderness and adoration.
Aubree was in no mood to notice how smooth-skinned and good-looking Bowen was. His warm breath brushed against her ear, making her ears burn red.
She was still completely stunned, feeling all the blood in her body rushing in reverse, surging to her head and flushing her face bright red.
Bowen pulled her fully into his arms from behind. If heโd left her a little space to react at first, he would push his luck now, holding her tighter and giving her no room to escape.
His unique woody fragrance, tinged with that cool, crisp note so distinctly his, permeated every inch of her. Her body, drawn by his nearness, molded instinctively to his. By her ear, she could hear his quickening, uneven breaths and the powerful pounding of his heart.
โGod, heโs making my knees go weak!โ Aubree thought, overwhelmed by his closeness.
Bowen said, โSo this is GrabCheap, the e-commerce model you mentioned before?
โWhen you first described it, I thought the project was viable. But now, seeing your actual blueprint, the venture has staggering potential.โ
Aubreeโs face flushed crimson, her hands going limp as Bowenโs large palm enveloped hers. Helplessly, she followed wherever his hand guided.
Aubree stared blankly at the screen. Even though the proposal displayed was something she knew like the back of her hand, she couldnโt process a single word.
Bowen said, โLook, here, and here. These areas still have considerable room for optimization. The strategies youโve used would certainly deliver good results, but the initial investment is too high. If you adjust it like this, you can achieve the same outcomes while significantly reducing costs.โ
Aubree said, โIn Sรผdlichen Strandโs business scene, the Diamonde family reigns supreme. They made their fortune in jewelry, and later expanded by marrying their eldest daughter to Ronald, forming a powerful alliance. The Diamonde family operate unscrupulously, colluding with other industry leaders to monopolize the local market. Any outside company hoping to gain a foothold in Sรผdlichen Strand usually ends up as one of their junior partners.โ
โBreaking into that market is crucial. I might not be good at much else, but the Turner Group does have some pull in Sรผdlichen Strand. If youโre planning to send someone over, let me know. Iโll pave the way for you.โ
From the moment Bowen began helping her revise and enhance the business proposal, Aubree was completely captivated. All her earlier fluttery, romantic thoughts vanished without a trace, her eyes growing brighter with every word. When Bowen offered to help her break into that market, the joy in her eyes was simply uncontainable.
Aubree smiled. โAlright, Iโll take you up on that. Iโll send Birgitte over and handle things remotely from my end.โ
โWhen the time comes, Iโll introduce you to the person in charge of Turner Group in Sรผdlichen Strand."
Aubreeโs eyes were alight with pure delight.
Bowenโs gaze lingered on her face, then slowly drifted down to her soft, rosy lips. The barely contained desire in his eyes was veiled beneath a layer of tender affection.
Bowen flashed her a teasing smile. โSo, Bree, after all the help I just gave you, donโt you think you owe me a little thank you?โ
He spoke so gently that Aubree almost thought sheโd imagined it.
While Aubree was still in a daze, Bowen reached out, gently tilted her head toward him, then leaned down, his lips claiming hersโฆ
Heโd only intended to give her a brief kiss, but Bowen had sorely overestimated his self-control. The moment their lips met, the seemingly impregnable walls around his heart completely crumbled.
All reason flew out the window.
Bowenโs lips claimed her luscious red ones, savoring every curve and crevice with a hungry, relentless ardor. His breathing grew ragged. Pinned tightly against his chest, Aubree instinctively began to squirm, but her resistance only made Bowen tighten his hold, pulling her even closer.
โNot enough. Never enough,โ Bowen thought, his hunger growing with every touch.
Bowen was no longer content with mere fleeting kisses. Her sweet scent enveloped him, more intoxicating than any aphrodisiac. Gently coaxing her soft lips open, he deepened the kiss, his voice rough with urgency as he murmured against her mouth, โOpen for me.โ
Bowenโs voice was thick with urgency, and the churning heat in his eyes threatened to scorch everything in its path.
Aubree wasnโt sure whether it was Bowenโs intense gaze that intimidated her, or his sudden shift from gentle to demanding that startled her. Against her better judgment, she found herself obediently parting her lips.
The moment her defenses slipped, Bowen launched his full assault. The wet sounds of their kiss filled the air. Anyone with experience could tell the room was thick with amorous tension.
โThatโs my good girl,โ Bowen murmured softly.
Aubreeโs face burned crimson, and when they finally broke apart, she looked like a lobster fresh out of boiling water. โYouโฆโ she stammered, completely flustered.
โYou didnโt hate it, did you?โ Bowenโs voice came out rough and husky with desire.
Aubree instinctively pressed her lips together, but the moment she felt the lingering dampness, she flinched away as if shocked. Her lips parted slightly, caught in hesitation, unable to move forward or retreat.
She shot him a glare, her cheeks burning with indignant embarrassment.
โYou shameless jerk!โ Aubree spat out, her face burning with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
โYeah, I admit it,โ Bowen grinned like a fox whoโd just made off with a prize. Aubree swung a fist at him, but it was like punching a pillow, all force, no satisfaction, leaving her even more frustrated.
โSo, Bree, do me a favor and make us official?โ
Aubree thought, โHeโs always the type to take a mile when given an inch. I shouldโve seen this coming. But I never imagined Bowen could be this shameless! Iโm the one who got kissed out of nowhere, and before I can even say a word, the brazen guy is already trying to make things โofficialโ?
Who does that?
โSeriously, has anyone ever been this shameless about getting what they want? Bowen really takes the cake!โ
Lowering her gaze, Aubreeโs thoughts were in turmoil. Last time, I only agreed to give Bowen a chance. Honestly, I like him, so saying yes didnโt seem like a big deal. But now, even though it hasnโt been long, I can tell that his feelings for me are real.
โBut how long will this last?โ Aubree wondered.
Bowen watched as Bree tried to retreat into her shell again, his gaze hardening. Now that she was in college, just walking around campus with her today, heโd seen plenty of attractive young men casting admiring glances her way, not to mention those bold enough to ask for her contact information.
He wouldnโt risk it, and he couldnโt afford to lose her.
Bowen leaned forward and pulled Aubree tightly into his arms, leaving no space between them.
Panicked, Aubree blurted out, โUncle Bowenโฆโ
โCall me Bowen. Weโre not even related. Whatโs with โUncle Bowenโ nonsense? Iโve told you to drop it ages ago. Still canโt get used to it?โ
Aubree was rendered speechless. She thought, โWasnโt it you who said that since Iโm Alvinโs classmate, I should just call you Uncle Bowen, too?โ
โYou shameless jerk!โ Aubree spat through gritted teeth.
Bowen simply beamed, taking it all in stride as he leaned even closer. โSo, why donโt you want to be my girlfriend? Did you hate it when I kissed you? Was it gross?โ
Truth be told, Bowen wasnโt entirely confident he could hold onto the girl in his arms. After all, he still hadnโt dared to tell her the truth that he was โMr. Quinn.โ
Originally, she saw him more as a benefactor and elder figure than a lover. If she ever discovered he was actually โMr. Quinnโ from all those years ago, not to mention whether sheโd simply see him as someone to be grateful to, her defenses would shoot up instantly, and sheโd be convinced he harbored ulterior motives. Sheโd want to flee as far away from him as possible.
โNo,โ Aubree said. Not hate, not disgust. If anything, she even kind of liked it.
โThen you do like me, donโt you?โ Bowenโs voice was low and deeply seductive, laced with a teasing undertone.
Aubree gritted her teeth and firmly clamped her mouth shut.
Bowen felt a surge of confidence.