Victoria could hear the sound of running water from the bathroom not long after.


    Outside the video call, the office was in an uproar. Her coworkers in the conference room were buzzing with excitement, theirughter rising in waves, each teasing remark louder than thest.


    Victoria''s face was so red it looked like she might start bleeding from embarrassment. Thank God she wasn''t actually at the office right now- otherwise, she''d want to crawl under a rock and disappear.


    "What''s going on? Why''s everyone so worked up?”


    Violet had stepped out for a moment, and when she returned, she found the atmosphere unusually giddy.


    "It''s Victoria. Her husband''s back, and he''s taking a shower right now."


    Someone blurted it out, not realizing Violet was standing right there. He was grinning sheepishly when the person next to him nudged him in the side, only to look up and see Ms. Marchand right in front of him, startling him into silence.


    Violet frowned as she realized everyone was gossiping about Victoria and her husband.


    No one had a clue what Violet was thinking at that moment. Beneath her calm exterior, she was the only one in the room who actually knew who Victoria''s husband really was.


    Victoria had gone back to the Turner estate. Even if she hadn''t had timetely to be with McNeil, he was thest person anyone would expect to show up at Victoria''s side out of the blue.


    "If you''re all rested, let''s get started."


    Violet cut in, her tone impatient, and the room fell instantly silent.


    Victoria, meanwhile, was grateful for the quiet. With McNeil in the bathroom and the door closed, things had finally calmed down in her room. The heat in her cheeks slowly faded. McNeil was never the type to overstep, so why was he acting so out of character today?


    "Victoria, focus on the meeting," Violet warned her, convinced her team had made a mistake. It was probably just one of Victoria''s house staff, but someone had overheard a man''s voice and jumped to conclusions.


    Still blushing, Victoria was relieved that no one could see her.


    The meeting went on for another ten minutes or so. Violet had everyone lower their heads to study the documents, giving them five minutes to summarize their findings.


    Victoria buried herself in her notes when, suddenly, the bathroom door opened and a voice echoed out.


    "Could you hand me my underwear from the third drawer on the left in the closet? I forgot to grab them..."


    This time, McNeil''s voice came through loud and clear-from Victoria''sptop speakers.


    The entire conference room, Violet included, heard every word.


    Laughter erupted. The whole room was in stitches.


    Violet''s face went white as a sheet when she recognized McNeil''s voice. It really was him-McNeil was back, and not only that, he was in Victoria''s room.


    Just the two of them, alone, with McNeil fresh out of the shower.


    Violet, who''d spent the entire evening at work, had no idea when McNeil had gotten home. Had the two of them already... gotten intimate before the meeting, or were they nning to after?


    Victoria, mortified, mmed herptop shut and yanked out the power cord. She''d had enough.


    She got up and walked to the closet, digging through the drawers as McNeil had asked.


    The meeting was officially ruined, thanks to McNeil. She didn''t have the nerve to open herptop again-not when she had no idea what else he might pull next.


    "Why''d you stop? Is the meeting over already?"


    McNeil''s voice came from right behind her.


    Victoria turned, only to find herself pinned against the closet, his arms braced on either side, locking her in.


    He''d just stepped out of the shower, beads of water clinging to his hair. His bare chest was still misted with steam, a towel slung low around his narrow waist. Startled, Victoria dropped his clothes to the floor.


    "McNeil-"


    She''d barely whispered his name when he caught her gently by the neck, lowering his forehead to rest against hers, their noses brushing.


    His lips parted ever so slightly. "Call me what?"


    His hot breath grazed her wless skin, turning the tips of her ears pink. Call him what?


    Victoria nearlyughed. As if he''d ever let her call him anything but McNeil. Her back pressed firmly against the closet, McNeil''s lips found hers.


    His kiss was fierce and hungry, his hands sliding to her waist, pulling her tight against him.


    A feverish tension sparked between their lips, and Victoria barely dared to move her hands until McNeil guided them to rest on his chest.


    "Touch me-"


    He held her so close it was as if he wanted to fuse her to him.


    With little choice, Victoria let her hands settle on his iron-hard chest, the heat of


    his skin burning through her palms, matching the longing she felt from him in that moment.


    Quantum Core Technologies


    A meeting that was supposed tost at least two and a half hours ended abruptly.


    The entire tech team was stunned. Ever since Violet had be vice president, her meetings never ran under two hours.


    Victoria''sptop had gone dark, and Violet had just announced the meeting was


    over.


    Everyone secretly wondered if Victoria''s husband''s little cameo had rattled Ms. Marchand.


    To be fair, it was alreadyte. Ms. Marchand wasn''t single; in fact, her boyfriend was the most eligible bachelor in Starfall City, the man every debutante dreamed of. Yet here she was, stuck in a freezing office, discussing code with a bunch of engineers, instead of curled up in a warm bed with her handsome boyfriend.


    It wasn''t like the world would end if they finished early. Silently, everyone thanked the mysterious Mr. Victoria for the unexpected rescue.


    As soon as Violet left the conference room, she pulled out her phone and called McNeil.