Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1008

After her shower, Emmy headed back to the bedroom. She bundled herself up in the comforter, leaving just her eyes peeking out as she stared at the bathroom door. For a while, nothing happened. Then the door opened.

James stepped out. He wasn't wearing a shirt. A towel was slung low and loose around his hips. Broad shoulders, lean waist, that perfect V shape. His abs were cut and defined, like something out of a magazine, still glistening with drops of water. As he walked, the water slid down his torso, tracing his V-lines before disappearing into the edge of the towel. The whole view was... perfection.

Emmy found herself holding her breath, gripping the comforter tight in her hands. James ran a towel through his hair as he glanced over at the bed. He paused when he noticed the lump of Emmy under the covers. Only her eyes were visible, clear but guarded, and a little anxious.

James’s gaze darkened. He remembered how awkward things had been the last time they shared a bed. For a few seconds, he didn’t say anything. Then he tossed his towel over the back of a chair and walked straight to the bed, reaching out.

Emmy squeezed her eyes shut, her lashes trembling. But the touch she’d braced for never came. His big hand just picked up the spare pillow beside her.

“I’m sleeping on the couch.”

His voice was rough and low, like he was holding something back.

Emmy’s eyes flew open. Before she could process what was happening, James was already picking up the pillow and striding over to the long couch on the other side of the room.

She stared after him, speechless. Seriously? She’d spent ages psyching herself up for this, even planning how to play along. And now... this?

She watched him flop onto the couch, grabbing a throw blanket and covering himself, his back to her. Emmy felt a mix of frustration and disbelief. She yanked the comforter off her face. As the blanket slid down, it revealed her silk slip. The deep burgundy fabric hugged her body, the neckline dipping low enough to be a little scandalous. If James turned around right now, he’d probably get a nosebleed.

Too bad. The guy was as still as a statue, lying on the couch, one arm under his head, just staring up at the ceiling like he was lost in thought.

Then her phone started buzzing on the nightstand, cutting through the awkward silence.

Emmy grabbed it and checked the screen. It was her Harvard AI research group. Morning over there, and the group chat was exploding. Everyone seemed stuck on some tough technical problem.

She sat down, fingers flying over the keys. Texting back and forth was way too slow. The algorithm issue was complicated, and she knew typing wouldn’t cut it.

After a brief pause, she started a video call with John. He answered almost right away.

A young, handsome face popped up on the screen. Blond hair, blue eyes, black-rimmed glasses. Behind him, a messy lab was visible.

“Hey, Lin!” John grinned, waving. “It’s the middle of the night over there, isn’t it? You’re still up?”

Emmy tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her expression shifting into her work mode: calm, focused, professional. “Just a bit of jet lag. Couldn’t sleep. I saw you guys are stuck with the algorithm?”

Her English was flawless, her tone even and reassuring.