[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322F482CA-448":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},448,100,"Chapter 100: The Ointment in Her Purse","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna Stone made an excuse to slip away from the ballroom and headed toward the elevator lobby.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As the elevator rose, her heart hammered against her ribs.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">With a soft ding, the doors slid open. There stood Maxwell King, waiting.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He was dressed in a bespoke suit that hugged his long, lean frame perfectly. The tailored fabric accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, cutting an imposing, statuesque figure. He stood with his hands tucked casually into his pockets, eyes cool and distant, radiating the quiet confidence of a man who owned the room.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When he heard her approach, his gaze shifted. The frost in his dark eyes melted in an instant, replaced by a lazy, boyish glint. \"Arianna.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Maxwell,\" she murmured.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He took her hand, leading her toward the room. The penthouse suite was obscenely lavish, decorated in a sharp, modern business style. Thick, plush carpeting swallowed the sound of their footsteps, while floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the sparkling city skyline and the towering skyscrapers across the river.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna stared, the question slipping out before she could stop it. \"Do you book this place often?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What are you thinking?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell reached out to ruffle her hair, but seeing her perfectly styled updo, he pulled back with a chuckle. \"Why would I keep a long-term booking here? Mrs. King doesn't live in a hotel.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He stepped closer, his voice dropping an octave. \"Cole told me you were coming, so I had him book this for us this morning.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna blinked in surprise. \"How did you know I was going to be here?\" She had been planning to surprise him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I checked the guest list ahead of time,\" he replied matter-of-factly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna let out a small, deflated \"Oh.\" Well, so much for her surprise.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell checked his watch. \"The meeting doesn't start for another half-hour. Want to rest here for a bit?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Okay.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It had been ten hours since last night, yet Arianna still found it hard to meet his eyes. Her brain seemed to have a mind of its own—every time she looked at him, flashes of the previous night’s intensity crowded her thoughts.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell, however, seemed entirely at ease. He opened the refrigerator and turned to her. \"What would you like to drink, Arianna?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Just some water.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His hand paused over a bottle of orange juice. He pulled it back, grabbed a bottle of spring water, and handed it to her instead.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Why the change of heart?\" she asked, surprised.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Nancy mentioned that you’d be doing a lot of talking today,\" he noted smoothly. \"She said orange juice can be a bit syrupy—might be inconvenient.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell let out a light laugh. \"True. I’d forgotten about that.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The air grew thick with a subtle, charged silence. Arianna twisted off the cap and took a long sip to cool the sudden heat rising in her throat. She sank into the sofa by the window, studiously focusing on the scenery, the hotel decor, or even the label on her water bottle—anywhere, really, but at him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell sighed, a hint of amusement in his tone. He pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder. \"Arianna, you don't have to be shy.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He spoke with an intensity that made her ears burn. \"It was my first time, too. You’ll get used to it eventually.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Get… used to it?*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Get used to what?*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna buried her face in his chest, wishing she could hide there forever. But her pride wouldn't allow her to admit defeat. \"I’m not shy,\" she muttered, her voice muffled but firm. \"Why would I be?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell let out a low, rumbling laugh. He didn't call her bluff, simply patting her back gently. \"Right. No shyness here.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She could feel the vibration of his laughter against her cheek. She pulled back to glare at him with wide, dark eyes. \"What are you laughing at?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell tried to pull his expression into a neutral mask, but he failed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna narrowed her eyes. \"You don't believe me, do you? I told you, I’m not shy. Stop laughing.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Alright, alright. I've stopped.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Even as he said it, his lips were still tugged upward, his narrow eyes brimming with a warmth that completely enveloped her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After a few seconds of staring, Arianna reached out, took his jaw in her hands, and physically pushed the corners of his mouth down until his lips were set in a flat, serious line. \"There. Keep it like that. No more laughing.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell nodded, suppressing a smirk. \"Understood.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But the moment she let go, his lips drifted back into that gentle curve.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna stared at his mouth for a moment, then, driven by an impulse she couldn't name, she leaned in and pressed a quick, soft kiss to his lips.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell froze.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She pulled back immediately, her eyes sparkling. She pointed to her own lips. \"No more kissing. What if it smudges my lipstick?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell realized he’d been played. Nose-to-nose, their breaths mingled. He sighed, pulling her closer and wrapping his arms tightly around her. \"Mrs. King, you really are something else.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You started it,\" she retorted. \"Laughing at me, talking about… getting used to things.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I was being sincere.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Nobody says things like that sincerely!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna mimicked his tone. \"Well, I was being sincere, too.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell was momentarily silenced.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The conversation drifted back to the memory of the night before. Sensing the shift, Arianna clamped her mouth shut.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After a moment, Maxwell reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His voice dropped to a whisper. \"Are you sore?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hmm?\" Arianna, still clinging to his neck, didn't quite catch him. \"What did you say?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Last night. Are you in pain?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna went dead silent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell chuckled. \"Why aren't you saying anything?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I thought you weren't shy?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna gritted her teeth. \"I'm not.\" She lowered her voice, struggling to keep it steady. \"I'm fine. It's not sore.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She expected the topic to die there. Instead, Maxwell reached into his pocket and pulled out a small tube of ointment. \"If you are, use this. I checked with a specialist—it’s safe and effective.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Or, if you’d like, I could—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Anticipating what he was about to say, Arianna slammed a hand over his mouth, her eyelashes fluttering wildly. \"That’s enough! I know.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She snatched the tube from his hand, her fingers trembling. \"When did you even buy this?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I had it prepared beforehand,\" he said softly. \"You left so early this morning, I didn't get a chance to give it to you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna gave a frantic, noncommittal hum. She unzipped her purse and shoved the ointment inside, as if it were burning her palms. Just as she moved to zip it shut, Maxwell suddenly reached out and caught her wrist, his eyes locked on something inside her bag.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Arianna,\" he asked, his voice cooling slightly, \"what is that?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna looked down.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A corner of a different lipstick case was peeking out from the side of her purse.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"...\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272909806]