Ellison And Joycelyn A Love Beyond The Rules novel Chapter 2

Joycelyn stared at her vibrating phone, her nerves jangling as Selene's name flashed across the screen. She shot up like a startled rabbit, her usual composure shattering.

"This is a disaster. They must be suspicious." Her typically clear head spun as she faced this unprecedented situation, her delicate features pinched with worry.

Ellison extended his hand for her phone.

"What are you doing?" Her face crumpled with alarm as she instinctively pulled back.

"Let me handle it," he said, his deep voice brooking no argument.

Though she resisted, his commanding presence made her fingers loosen their grip.

"Just... don't say anything weird," she pleaded, watching with bated breath as he answered.

"This is Ellison Grant. I found this phone last night and will have my assistant return it shortly." His gaze swept over her anxious face. "As for the owner..."

Joycelyn's breath caught in her throat as she watched him, terrified that one wrong word would destroy her career. His deliberate pause had her muscles coiling with tension.

Her eyes desperately telegraphed: 'Say something—anything!'

Noting her distress, he deliberately prolonged the moment, privately amused by her reaction. His lips curved slightly as he continued smoothly, "I'm unaware of her whereabouts."

Relief flooded through her. She'd narrowly escaped catastrophe.

"I'll have the phone delivered to your colleague." After hanging up, he set it beside his own.

"Okay, so when should I go downstairs?" She raised worried eyes to his. "Won't people notice?"

Her cheeks burned with mortification. Already shy about romantic matters, sleeping with her boss made her want to crawl into a hole and disappear.

He studied her expression carefully, maintaining his composure while she fidgeted. "Everyone's in the restaurant now. Wait here and leave later," he said calmly.

"Okay." She perched on the bed's edge, twisting her fingers together.

Without hesitation, he began dressing right in front of her. His model-worthy physique and chiseled features moved with practiced elegance.

Each glimpse of him sent her heart racing. 'Selene wasn't wrong,' she thought. 'These cool, composed types really are something else behind closed doors.'

"I'll take responsibility for this," he stated while fastening his buttons.

Her head snapped up in surprise before she shook it vigorously. "No, no, absolutely not! We're both adults—this was mutual. You don't need to take it to heart."

She was just an ordinary office worker fresh out of college, while he was a powerful and wealthy man—way out of her league. She repeated variations of "no need," her expression screaming resistance.

His brow furrowed slightly. Her reaction made him wonder if he seemed like some villain forcing himself on an innocent girl. "But I'm serious," he emphasized.

"So am I! Let's just never mention this again. My only request is that no one else finds out." She dropped her gaze to her feet, wilting under his intense stare.