Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Grabbing Her Ankle Under the Table

The old friend Ryan Hale had mentioned turned out to be Miles Warren.

He approached, nodding to Mr. and Mrs. Hale, his deep gaze falling upon Claire Kendall and Ethan Lynch.

Claire Kendall clearly saw a flash of deep scorn in his eyes.

He sat down across from her, his expression returning to its usual calm.

The warm smile on Ethan Lynch’s face froze. The memory of offending Miles at The Arbor was still fresh in his mind.

’Was this King of Hell going to sabotage the deal he was about to close with Medari?’

"Miles, come, let me introduce you," Ryan Hale said with a smile. "This is Ethan Lynch of Lynch Building Materials, and this is his fiancée, Ms. Kendall."

Miles Warren’s tone was flat. "Mr. Lynch. Ms. Kendall. A pleasure."

Ethan Lynch was startled and quickly stood up, looking a bit flustered. "Mr. Warren, I didn’t realize you were the friend Mr. Hale mentioned."

"Miles, you two know each other? What a wonderful coincidence," Megan Hale remarked. "And look! Look at the handkerchief Ms. Kendall gave me. Isn’t it lovely?"

Miles Warren’s gaze lingered for two seconds, his expression unreadable.

"Very thoughtful of Ms. Kendall."

"Isn’t she? Claire is so beautiful and talented. Mr. Lynch, you must treasure her. A fiancée like this is one in a million."

Ethan Lynch nodded eagerly. "Absolutely. I’m the luckiest man alive to have met Claire."

As he spoke, he reached out and put his arm around Claire Kendall’s shoulders, a picture of intimacy.

Miles Warren picked up his wine glass, swirled it leisurely, and took a sip. His gaze fell on the hand Ethan Lynch had wrapped around her shoulder.

Megan Hale rested her chin in her hand and asked curiously, "How did you and Claire meet, Mr. Lynch? I bet it was very romantic."

Ethan Lynch gave a dry laugh, looking a bit sheepish.

Claire Kendall’s fingers clenched. ’I have to play my part perfectly right now.’ She avoided Miles Warren’s gaze and forced down her inner turmoil.

"Oh, it’s nothing that special. Ethan and I were in college together. For me, it was love at first sight. I chased after him and wrote him tons of love letters."

Claire Kendall gazed at him, her eyes "brimming with affection." "It didn’t take long for him to be won over, and he fell for me."

Ethan Lynch looked completely stunned for a second before catching on and chiming in, "That’s right. I still have all the love letters she wrote me in my study."

CLACK!

A sharp crack echoed.

The sharp sound of glass hitting the marble tabletop.

Miles Warren’s gaze was icy as he set down his glass. "My apologies. My hand slipped."

Megan Hale’s face was full of envy. "Oh, that’s so sweet. A college romance is just so pure and innocent."

She then turned to Miles Warren. "Unlike you, still single after all these years."

"I’m used to it," Miles Warren said, his eyes fixed on Ethan Lynch. "After all, not everyone is as lucky as Mr. Lynch, to find someone in college who would chase after them so tenaciously."

Claire’s heart sank, and a wave of humiliation washed over her. She struggled to keep her composure.

In that moment of distress, she felt a nudge against her right foot, which was clad in a stiletto.

The contact was light, but impossible to ignore.

Her right high heel slipped off and landed on the floor.

Claire Kendall stiffened. ’From that direction... it had to be Miles Warren who nudged me.’

She didn’t dare to be sure, and she certainly didn’t dare to look down.

The long tablecloth perfectly concealed everything beneath the table.

Claire maintained a calm facade, smiling as she listened to Megan Hale speak.

Under the table, she carefully began to search for her shoe with her right foot, feeling her way across the carpet.

Her toes curled. ’Got it!’

She hooked the heel with her foot, about to slip the shoe back on discreetly.

Suddenly, a large, searingly hot hand with well-defined knuckles seized her slender ankle with unerring precision.

Claire’s heart leaped into her throat, and she frowned deeply.

She tried to pull her foot away, but his grip was like iron. She couldn’t budge.

Every struggle only made his fingers rub harder and deeper into her skin, sending a humiliating shiver through her.

She looked up, glaring at Miles Warren with shame and fury.

’What the hell was he doing?’

’Revenge?! This is so childish!’

’Doing something so bold and shameless in plain sight.’

’If Ethan Lynch or the Hales found out, this deal would be off for sure.’

"Claire, are you all right? You don’t look well," Megan Hale asked with concern.

"I’ve had a little wine, and I’m feeling a bit dizzy..." Claire pressed her lips together. "I’m just going to use the restroom."

The instant the words left her mouth, Miles Warren released her.

She hooked her shoe, slipped it on, and beat a hasty retreat, her back looking somewhat flustered.

Claire practically fled into the restroom.

She splashed cold water on her face, trying to clear her head.

Suddenly, a powerful grip clamped onto her wrist, and she was yanked into an adjacent lounge.

Miles Warren’s imposing figure blocked the doorway. The atmosphere in the cramped space became suffocating.

"So, Ethan Lynch is the college boyfriend you dated for all those years?"

Claire Kendall froze.

’How could he know I had a long-term boyfriend?’

’Except it wasn’t Ethan Lynch. It was Jacob Sinclair.’

’But that was a name she couldn’t possibly say right now.’

When she remained silent, Miles Warren slammed his hands on the counter on either side of her, trapping her completely.

His voice was chilling.

"So, all those love letters you wrote in college... were you really just casting a wide net?"

"The love letters I wrote were for..." Claire’s words caught in her throat.

’He even knew about the love letters.’

"Ethan Lynch breaks up with you, so you come to seduce me. Now he’s back, and you’re trying to seduce him all over again?"

"You’re quite the operator, Claire Kendall."

"I’m not," Claire denied instinctively. "He and I are..."

Suddenly, Megan Hale’s gentle, concerned voice came from outside the door.

"Claire? Are you in there? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It’s easy to feel under the weather when you first get to Corale. Should I call a doctor for you?"

Claire startled.

"No, thank you, Mrs. Hale. I’ll be right out..."

She tried to push Miles Warren away with her elbow, but the man didn’t budge an inch.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his voice hoarse and cruel.

"What do you think would happen if I opened the door right now and let Mrs. Hale see us... this intimate?"

CLICK—

He turned the lock.

Claire bit her lip.

"Are you enjoying this, Miles Warren?"

She was furious, but her voice came out soft as a caress, catching on him like a hook and halting his movement.

He raised his hand, grinding the pad of his thumb roughly against her lips.

"Claire Kendall, this game is far from over."

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