His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 381

The air conditioning in the car was on full blast.

Archer Vanderbilt sat in the backseat, dressed in a dark gray bespoke suit, his tie pulled loose.

An unlit cigarette rested between his fingers, his somber gaze fixed straight ahead through the glass window at the two people talking inside.

Zachary Cole sat in the driver's seat, not daring to breathe too loudly.

He had accompanied his boss here to inspect a subsidiary, only to spot Virginia and Valentin right as they came downstairs.

In the rearview mirror, Archer's jawline was visibly tense, the veins on the back of his hand bulging slightly.

He watched Valentin smile at Virginia, and he watched Virginia respond with a faint curve of her lips.

A suffocating wave of jealousy grew wild in his chest, but he did not get out of the car, nor did he impulsively storm in to interrupt.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, should we head over?" Zachary swallowed hard, asking cautiously.

Archer retracted his gaze, snapped the cigarette in his hand in half, and tossed it into the car's ashtray. "Back to the office."

His voice was incredibly deep, laced with extreme, suppressed coldness.

Zachary shuddered and immediately started the car.

...

A little after eight o'clock that evening, at South Hill.

Virginia had finished showering and changed into a conservative, long-sleeved silk loungewear set. The reckless abandon of the previous night had left her lower back aching, and she kept a hand resting on her waist as she walked downstairs.

The main lights in the living room were off, leaving only two floor lamps casting a dim, warm glow.

The man who usually occupied the study at this hour was currently sitting on a barstool by the kitchen island, a cup of black coffee without sugar in front of him.

He hadn't changed clothes. He was still wearing the bespoke solid black shirt from that morning, though now the top two buttons were undone, revealing a glimpse of his sharp collarbones against his luminous skin.

Hearing her footsteps, he turned his head, his gaze unreadable. "You went to see Valentin?"

He did not like hearing that name coming from her mouth.

It was an incredibly possessive kiss.

He took her lips, his hand trailing up her spine, sparking seductive tension wherever he touched.

The water in her glass swayed unsteadily, spilling warmly over the back of her hand. She could only use one hand to push against him, but it only made him hold her tighter.

When the kiss broke, Archer pulled back a fraction, breathing heavily, his nose brushing against hers.

"Virginia, stay away from him." His voice was low and raspy, carrying unsatisfied desire and a barely perceptible hint of pleading.

Virginia bit her lower lip and turned her head to avoid his burning gaze. "Archer, I have the right to make friends."

With that, ignoring how he stiffened in place, she pushed his hands off her waist and headed straight upstairs with her water.

Archer stood right where he was, watching her disappear at the top of the stairs. His hands unconsciously clenched into fists, betraying the intense frustration surging through him.