Working out the bruises hurt-a lot, actually-but once the tension eased and warmth spread through her lower back, it became strangelyfortable.
When Remington finally stopped, a deep blush bloomed across Lizetta''s pale skin, painting her lower back an enticing red.
His eyes darkened with longing. He couldn''t resist letting his hand roam higher as he asked, "Does that feel good? Want me to work on your back a little more?"
A full-body massage was hardly outside his skill set, after all.
His voice was low, roughened with desire, and his hands began to stray beyond what could be called innocent, his touch both testing and hungry.
But she didn''t object.
Delighted, Remington leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the delicate curve of her shoulder de.
The air was full of her familiar, intoxicating scent—jasmine, subtle and alluring. Remington was nearly undone by it when he suddenly sensed something was off. Though Lizetta wasn''t resisting, she wasn''t responding either.
He abruptly lifted his head and nced sideways, and then-he honestly didn''t know whether tough or sigh.
Lizetta was fast asleep. And not just dozing off-she was out cold.
For a moment, Remington couldn''t decide if he should be pleased by howpletely she trusted him, letting her guard down so easily, or be insulted that she could ignore him in a moment like this.
Had he really lost all his charm for her?
At that thought, his lips pressed into a thin line, frustration simmering just beneath
the surface. The urge to tear off her clothes and remind her exactly who he was shed through his mind.
But when he looked down at her peaceful, sleeping face, he couldn''t bring himself to do anything but smile helplessly.
Instead, he scooped her up gently and carried her to the upstairs bedroom.
He lingered by her bedside for a few minutes, watching to see if she''d wake, but she
slept on undisturbed. Only then did he finally leave Oakridge Heights.
As soon as Remington got in the car, Cedric spoke up from the driver''s seat.
"Sir, I''ve got all the details. The person behind leaking the video and spreading the rumors was Margaret. The footage and photos first started in a pevate employee chat at Glory Media. Because it was just low level staff sharing things among themselves, it never made it to the public forums, so we didn''t catch on in time. That''s on me-I should have noticed sooner."
Cedric swallowed, bracing himself for a tongueshing. After
everything Lizetta had been through at Starlight Group, and with these new rumors, he was sure Remington would be furious.
But Remington''s tone was unexpectedly mild. "Just be more careful next time. You found out quickly-consider it making up for the slip."
He wasn''t getting docked pay? In fact, was that... praise?
Cedric almost slumped with relief. Today was definitely a day to be grateful for Mrs. Dashiell.
“Mr. Dashiell, I''ve already notified Chairman Miller. Should we go straight there?” Remington nodded, and Cedric started the car, heading for the Miller estate.
Meanwhile, Remington pulled out his phone and called Cassius.
Cassius answered right away, but he sounded drained. "Remi?"
"Get yourself to the Miller house. Now," Remington said, his voice brooking no argument.
Margaret was Cassius''s doing, after all. If there was going to be a reckoning, Cassius had a part to y.
"The Miller house? What for?"
Cassius grumbled. “Remi, you can''t seriously be so paranoid about me and Ynda that you''d drag me there just to force me into an engagement with Margaret, you?"
swn!
Remington let out a low chuckle. "So you admit you''re obsessed?"
Cassius fell silent.
Remington summarized what Margaret had done, then hung up.
Cassius was at the Sterling family''s old manor. He came downstairs to find Mrs. Darlene sitting on the sofa, flipping through thetest fashion magazine.
She set it aside the moment she saw him and called out, "Cassius?"