Chapter 627: Pleasing
Hannah sat up, answering a call from Manuel. Oscar lay beside her, his head buried against her stomach, making her itchy. She glared at him, silently warning him to behave.
"What happened?" she asked, instantly sensing significant progress between Susan and Manuel. Manuel sounded a little shy.
"I always wanted to persuade you to tell Susan everything, but you overthought it," he said gently, his voice happy.
"Really?" Hannah teased. "I told you Susan liked you, but you didn't believe me. Now… do you know it?"
"Yes."
"Susan told you, right?" Hannah prompted, mimicking Susan's words, "'I look forward to attending your wedding again.'"
"It's late," Manuel said. "I'll hang up. Get some rest."
"Okay," Hannah replied. "Tell me if you need anything. Susan can be single-minded sometimes, and she needs someone to talk to."
"Thanks," Manuel said before they ended the call.
The phone barely hung up before her body was pressed down. "Ah!" Hannah exclaimed, startled. "Oscar! What are you doing?"
"You tell me!" he retorted.
"It's the middle of the night; don't mess around…" she protested.
"So you prefer daytime?" he teased.
"Oscar!"
"Shh," he whispered, pressing a finger to her lips.
Hannah stared at him, bewildered by his energy. Didn't men usually… do it before sleep? How could he be so excited now?
"Don't speak," he murmured, his voice magnetic, "protect your voice."
His voice held a captivating magic, making his nearness impossible to resist.
"Em…" Hannah's refusal faltered, lost in the obvious lust in his eyes. He was intensely hot, yet dangerous. Despite her exhaustion, she craved his closeness again and again. She cherished every moment, uncertain if this happiness would last. The room felt heated, the moonlight seemingly altered.
The next day, Manuel woke to dark circles under his eyes, a testament to a sleepless night spent thinking about Susan. He regretted leaving her apartment; even doing nothing, being with her had been good. He yearned to see her immediately. The feeling recalled his childhood, living with Susan, waking early and anxiously awaiting her appearance, her sleepy smile always making the world feel vibrant.
In the bathroom, before leaving, he grabbed his razor. Though he had little beard, he meticulously shaved, ensuring no residue remained. He chose a suit, initially selecting a black one, then hesitating and opting for grey instead—grey seemed less harsh than black, and he knew Susan disliked dark colours. He added a plaid tie, but still felt unsatisfied, trying on several more suits before finally settling on a khaki windbreaker. He usually wore suits to work, the businessman's uniform, but today he felt the need for a change; he wanted to please Susan.
His demeanor had shifted. No longer stereotyped, his tall frame seemed even more elegant, his fashion sense sharper, almost idol-like.
In the open kitchen, Tia, now his daily cook (she didn't stay overnight but prepared his meals), greeted him. "Good morning, Mr. Johnson," she said, "You're a little late today. Work late?"
He didn't mention his extended wardrobe selection. "Your breakfast is on the table," she said, placing the food before him.
He ate slowly, while Tia, noticing something different about him, stared. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," she quickly averted her gaze. "I just… think you look very handsome today." He usually was handsome, but today, he was even more so. He smiled, a subtle shift in mood easily detectable by Tia.
"Tia," he began.
"Yes, Mr. Johnson?"
"No dinner tonight," he said. "Just prepare some raw ingredients. I'll give you a list later."
"You're cooking?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied casually.
"I see," she said, holding her questions. "I'll put everything in the refrigerator. Should I wait for you tonight?"
"No. Just clean the house," he instructed. "And change the sheets—to warmer colours."
Tia was astonished. Manuel preferred cool colours; black, white, grey. He seemed utterly different today, from his attire to his requests, leaving her completely baffled.