Chapter 488
The fabric of his dress pants was exquisite, and as she touched it, she could feel the smooth texture and the warmth of his body through the material.
Before she could dwell on it any further, her wrist was caught in the firm grip of his fingers.
"What are you doing?" Phillip asked her, his tone too calm for the situation, not accusatory but genuinely inquisitive, as if he was observing a child's mischief rather than confronting an adult's intentions. "There's not much else to do at a time like this, is there?" Tina retorted, implying he was fully aware of her intentions. "Don't play dumb."
Her fingers, undeterred, attempted to wander further but Phillip's grasp prevented any such exploration.
His eyes were so calm and deep, making it hard to guess his thoughts. His voice remained steady, giving nothing away.
"This isn't a game to pass the time," he remarked. "Are you sure about this?"
To Tina, Phillip was essentially her fiancé, making their intimacy both permissible and devoid of emotional baggage. No need for pretense or coyness.
Her curiosity about Phillip was piqued-not so much from a place of lust but more from a desire to understand him. He was like a calm, undisturbed pond, and she wanted to see what it would take to make ripples appear. She was curious to see the limits of his self-control, to witness a man usually so composed lose himself to passion.
She rationalized her curiosity boldly, "Shouldn't we test the waters before getting married? What if you're not up to the task? I wouldn't want to find myself in a loveless union."
Phillip paused before responding, "If you think it's necessary, I'm willing to cooperate."
But how could such a moment of passion, far removed from the mechanics of work, be approached with such detachment? The thought of a mechanical, unenthusiastic encounter dampened her spirits halfway.
"Forget it, I can already imagine how boring it would be," she said, pulling her wrist free and moving away from him.
Her exit was as nonchalant as her approach, leaving with a dismissive, "How dull."
Moments later, she found herself
sprawled on the couch, idly
messaging friends. It didn't take long for her to find another distraction. "I'm heading out, won't be home for dinner." NôvelDrama.Org owns all content.
She went to her room to get ready, choosing an outfit with care for her night out at the bar. She slipped into a strappy dress with an exotic flair, its avocado green hue highlighting her fair complexion. The dress was adorned with silhouettes of birds, the hemline asymmetrical flowing down to her calves on one side and mid-thigh on the other, revealing her slender, well-shaped legs beneath the intricately patterned lace.
Her hair was pulled back into a high half-ponytail, and she accessorized with a choker that matched her dress. Phone wedged between her shoulder and ear, she spoke 'You're downstairs? I'll be right there."
She breezed past Phillip without a word, bending to slip on her shoes at the entryway.
"When will you be back? Should I have the driver pick you up?" Phillip inquired.
"No need, I'll probably be late," she answered without looking back, "My friend will drop me off."
She wasn't lying. When she returned, it was nearly 1 a.m., Phillip glanced at his watch, noting the time.
"You can leave now," she said as she opened the door.
A man's voice followed, "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"
"Do you want my dad to hunt you down to the ends of the earth?" Tina whispered fiercely. "Anyway, Japan's not that great. I'd prefer not to."
"It's got to be more interesting than staying here. What could you possibly have in common with him? Knowing you, you'll die of boredom."