<b>Chapter </b>147


    Ynda was really tired and fell asleep quickly.


    Half–awake, she vaguely sensed someone adjusting her nket, but she didn’t pay much attention to <b>it</b>.


    ???


    When she finally woke up and came downstairs, Charles was sitting there waiting. Lately, he’d been <b>swamped </b>with issues thanks to the Andrade family stirring up trouble, but he made sure to spend an extra half hour <b>at </b>home to look after her. “Make sure you eat a good breakfast. You’ve lost some weight these past few days,” <b>he </b>reminded her kindly.


    “Babe, I’m going to stay with Megan for a couple days. Her husband hasn’t been answering any calls, and I’m really worried something bad might’ve happened,” Ynda said.


    Charles couldn’t say no to a reason like that.


    He just smiled, gave her a gentle pat on the head, and headed out the door.


    As soon as Charles left, Ynda kept to herself, ate a little, and gave Megan a call. <fn5791> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn5791>


    Megan asked her not toe to the hospital after all.


    “Ynda, I was all mixed up before. I’ll get myself together soon, I promise. About Greg, I owe you an apology -I’m really sorry. I thought it throughst night, and I’ll be working on getting better at the hospital over the next few days,” Megan said.


    Seeing Megan so firm about it, Ynda didn’t insist. Instead, she quietly sent fifty grand to Megan’s ount.


    Megan epted the money without hesitation–she really needed it right now.


    Ynda drove over to Ian’s ce and caught him just as he was heading out.


    “Ynda, remember when Raelyn got reced? Now the new female lead’s got a dozen key scenes where she needs me to pick up her close–ups. I’ve got to head out to the suburbs for it,” Ian said.


    “Let me take you,” Ynda replied.


    She pulled a hat low over her eyes, slipped on a mask, and climbed into the crew van.


    Whenever she met up with Ian, she’d always switch to this van halfway there–no exceptions.


    When they pulled up outside the temporary studio set in the suburbs, she parked and said casually, “We’re here, go on out.”


    But instead of leaving, Ian leaned in close, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. Then his eyes drew down, lingering over the marks that still hadn’t faded away.


    Ynda instantly felt a rush of self–consciousness, a little uneasy under his gaze.


    He didn’t rush–drawing out the moment, his movements slow, almost teasing.


    <b>9:24 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>


    Then he looked up at her, smirking. “Those marks are getting faint. Come with me to the back; I’ll make <b>sure </b>they’re nice and fresh.”


    Ynda couldn’t help butugh. The van was roomy, with adjustable seats, so she slid right into the back, settling into the wide,fortable seat.


    Ian leaned in, slowly lowering the seat until it was almost t. Then he puzzled his nose against her neck, his breath warm against her skin.


    Ynda frowned, giving his shoulder a yful p. “Are you a dog or something?”


    He just grinned, his lips trailing down to another faint mark, leaving a deeper one in its ce<i>. </i>


    Ynda felt her body go soft under his touch, but then she noticed his hand starting to wander.


    She took a deep breath and nudged him away. “Don’t you need to go pick up those shots?”


    Ian paused, disappointment written all over his face.


    He got out, but couldn’t resist ncing over his shoulder every few steps, looking absolutely reluctant to leave -Ynda watched and couldn’t help butugh at how lovesick he looked.


    Settled in the back seat, Ynda grabbed herptop and started messaging Jason Maine about all the


    contracts piling up. These days, there were just too many details to handle alone–she had to consult this top- tierwyer on everything.


    Jason was famous in the legal circles, and he never wasted words–his replies were always crisp and straight to


    business<b>. </b>


    Ynda skimmed histest bullet points, then shot back a message.


    “Appreciate your hard work, Mr. Maine.”


    Jason never answered unless it was strictly about work. He was the kind who did everything by the book, cold and precise whenever he dealt with people–almost like her brother Samuel Grant, except Samuel had a slick businessman’s edge. Jason, on the other hand, was like a flower blooming on a high branch, ssy and untouched by all the dirty games in the business world. Rumor had it, every bit of status he had now was built from the ground up, all on his own.


    Ynda was so focused on reviewing the first draft of the contract that she didn’t realize how tired her eyes were getting, lost in her work until the car door finally clicked open.


    Ian had wrapped up all his scenes, scrubbed off his makeup, and looked fresh from the shower–his hair still damp and tousled.


    As soon as the door closed behind him, he crouched down right next to Ynda.


    She didn’t lift her gaze from herptop, but Ian didn’t care. He just knelt beside her, nting gentle kisses on each fingertip she’d left resting on the armrest–adoring and yful.


    He was so clingy and sweet in that moment, no one could possibly resist it. Her heart justpletely melted.


    <b>9:24 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>


    0:-


    Ynda snapped herptop shut and grinned at Jan. “So, got any fun ns for this afternoon?”


    Ian teased, “Shouldn’t you be buried in work after taking over Starlight? Aren’t you crazy busy?”


    “I’m here for you today,” Ynda replied with a smile.


    to </i>be with you. Is that so wrong?”


    Ynda raised an eyebrow, but before she knew it, Ian had caught her ankle in his hand.


    “Now you’ll never be able to leave me,” he teased with a mischievous grin.


    Ynda was rocking a sleek, business–chic look today–her silver stiletto heels shining <b>as </b>she walked. No wonder she didn’t go out with Ian earlier–looking this sharp, she’d draw too much attention as his “assistant.” With that killer aura and those emerald stud earrings, she was the definition of a workce queen. Nobody in their right mind would think she was just there to run errands for him.


    She was dazzling–so striking and elegant it was almost intimidating. Her hair was tied back in a simple low ponytail, the emerald earrings making her look absolutely refined and high–ss.


    The more Ian looked, the harder it was to look away. He was hooked, falling fast and deep for her.


    Ian lightly ran his fingertips over her silver stilettos, lingering on the shine with a teasing touch.


    Then he knelt down on one knee, gently lifting her foot in his hand as if she were royalty.


    “Time to make a move,” he murmured, his grin full of mischief.


    Ynda blinked, caught off guard—and just in time heard him whisper, “You’re turning every head with that look today.”


    Too ssy and refined, so wless it’s almost unreal–like she was a living doll brought to life.


    She looked so wless, it was almost intimidating–too dazzling to stare at for more than a second.


    Ynda arched a brow, feeling that wicked, yful streak deep inside her suddenly awaken.


    She rested her chin on her hand, her eyes glinting with newfound interest.


    ‘Sweet and obedient? Yeah right. If anyone else were here, they’d never buy it,‘ Ynda thought to herself.


    Ian was the only one who could draw out the parts of her she’d buried the deepest–he truly was one of a kind.


    Ian nced up at her a few times, swallowed, and muttered softly, “If you say so.”


    Ynda leaned back, keeping her tone casual. “I’m just tired.”


    For some reason, she felt a bit uneasy.


    <b>9:24 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>