My Boss's Hidden Heir (Elara and Marcus) novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

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Elara moved swiftly toward her bedroom. Her heart was racing. Trying to get away before Marcus came upstairs and realized she’d been eavesdropping.

She reached for the door handle, trying to pull it closed.

But the handle caught her towel. The short one wrapped around her body.

It dropped. Right on the floor.

And as if on cue, Marcus appeared at the top of the stairs.

He stopped. Froze. Just stood there staring.

Elara stood there too. Completely naked. Unable to move or breathe.

Thirty seconds passed. Maybe longer. Counting the time when completely naked was kind of weird.

Marcus’s eyes moved. From her face down to her breasts. Down to her thighs. Back up to her face. Then back down to her breasts again.

She saw him swallow. Hard. Like something was stuck in his throat.

Finally, he spoke.

“Eavesdropping is rude, El.”

Elara tried to defend herself. Her voice came out shaky. “I wasn’t eavesdropping. I was just…..”

He lifted one brow. Complete disbelief written all over his face. “Of course. I believe you.”

The sarcasm was thick. He didn’t believe her at all.

She suddenly remembered she was standing there naked. Completely exposed. Every inch of her on display she bent dowis quickly to grab the towel from the floor.

“I’m sorry I broke your vase. I didn’t mean to…”

Marcus waved his hand dismissively Cut her off before she could finish “Don’t worry about it. It’s the

“Bullocked rapensive and I

“Are you hurt?” he asked His voue changed softer like he was actually concerned.

She shook her head Wrapped the towel back around her. Held cight against her clust

“Good Get dirased and cut down duuwa Aay?

Edara matiered sums thing that tight have becoukay she wakes up her

Marcus turned and it Walked down and western

She stood their holding the port agaul beshest Beathing hard rpg

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Chapter 40

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He’d seen her naked. Completely naked. Every part of her. And he’d just walked away, is this going to change anything? Did he get annoyed?

Like seeing her body didn’t affect him at all.

Or maybe it did and he was just better at hiding it than she was.

Elara closed the door properly this time. Made sure the handle didn’t catch anything. Locked it for good measure

She leaned against it and tried to calm her racing heart. Tried to stop replaying the way his eyes had moved over her body. The way he’d swallowed. The way his expression had shifted for just a second before he’d put that cold mask back on.

Forty minutes later she was dressed.

A long, floral sundress. V–neck that exposed her chest and the tops of her breasts just enough to be noticeable but not obscene. Cream colored with small floral patterns.

She put her hair up in a messy bun, Let a few strands fall loose to frame her face. Applied a little lip combo. Mascara to make her eyes stand out. She took the body oil from her bag and rubbed it on her boobs and feet, it’s a behaviour she’s got used to.

Simple and casual. Like she wasn’t trying too hard even though she’d stood in front of the mirror for ten minutes deciding what to wear.

She slipped on sandals and headed downstairs.

Everything was set up perfectly. The table had candles. White linens. Wine glasses already filled. The whole space looked like a mini restaurant. Intimate and romantic.

Marcus was already seated at the head of the table. He held his wine glass loosely in one hand. Just staring at her as she walked in.

His eyes tracked her movement. From her face down to the dress. Lingering just a second too long on the neckline before coming back up to meet her gaze.

He pointed to the chair across from him. Didn’t say anything. Just gestured for her to sit.

Elara sat down Smoothed her dress over her lap. Tried to look anywhere but directly at him because the way he was looking at her made her skin feel hot

An older woman appeared from the kitchen, who she assumed was a private chet She set plates down in front of their without a word Some kind of fish Vegetables Everything plated beautifully

“Good evening she said with a slight accent Greek probably Thope you enjoy

the set the plates down front of them some kind of fish Grilled perfectly with lemon and herbs. Nosted ongevalley the side Everything plated like a piece of art

“Thank you Flare said

The chef smiled and disappeared bar to the kuchun

Marcus packed up his turk “We’is here for bve days

Elara looked up five days

“Yes The wedding is manorrow them we have four days before we fly back to New York

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“You can explore the city if you want. There’s a driver available. Maybe go to the shop, beaches, restaurants. Whatever you

need.”

Elara picked up her fork. “Have you been to all those places already?”

“Most of them.”

“And you’re not bored?”

Marcus cut into his fish. “I don’t bore easily.”

Soft music played in the background. Something instrumental. Classical maybe. Violin and piano. It filled the silence whenever neither of them spoke.

Elara ate slowly. The food was incredible. Fresh. Perfectly seasoned. The fish melted in her mouth. The vegetables were crisp. Everything tasted expensive.

“So,” she said after a few bites. “Tomorrow. The wedding. What exactly happens?”

“We go to the town hall at ten AM. Sign the necessary papers. The officiant will say a few words. It takes about twenty

minutes total.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“No ceremony?”

Marcus took a sip of his wine. Set the glass down carefully. “It’s a legal contract, Elara. Not a romance novel.”

Right. Of course. How could she forget?

“And after?” she asked. “Do we just come back here?”

“You can do whatever you want. It’s your wedding day.”

The words fell strange Your wedding day. Like it was supposed to mean something Be special. But it wasn! It was just another day Another item checked off a list.

“What about photos Hara asked

“What about them?

“Don’t we need wedding photos! For the announcement for people to believe this is to al

Marcus paused Considered Cound pound. Il arrange for a photographies to meet us at the town hall

“And Clothes I don’t have a wedding dress

“I ordered for something already they if deliver touhudum

Flara nodded. Look another bats. Her mind was racing with us more she starck Boore how to ask

His answers this right were weird normally they sent the bot of franks but right now be just now hechike she was

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Chapter 40

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“Are you nervous?” Marcus asked suddenly.

She looked up. “About what?”

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