The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 76

"Who are you?"

A harsh male voice demanded from right behind her.

Riley's entire body went rigid.

The guy had come back from the restroom.

Was she caught?

"Who the hell are you, and why are you hovering outside our door?"

He hadn't recognized her.

It made sense. They had only met once, and her back was to him.

Riley tugged her cap down further, concealing most of her face in the shadows. She turned around, keeping her head lowered so her features remained completely obscured. "I was looking for someone, but I couldn't find them. My mistake."

Without missing a beat, she walked briskly back toward the main lounge.

It wasn't until she reached the corner connecting the hallway to the main area that she glanced back. The hall was empty. He had clearly gone back inside.

She patted her chest, a wave of delayed panic washing over her. Thank God she hadn't been recognized. If Pierce found out she was tailing him, getting evidence of his affair would become impossible.

But since Seraphina obviously wasn't showing up tonight, there was no point in staying. Riley left the bar and drove back to Golden Sands Cove.

Once home, she washed up and went to the nursery to sleep with Alora. Since Pierce hadn't gone to Seraphina's, he was probably coming home. The thought of sharing a bed with him made her skin crawl.

The next morning, Riley learned from Mrs. Gable that Pierce had indeed come home the night before. But he had eaten breakfast early and headed to the office. Since she had slept in, they hadn't crossed paths.

Around noon, Riley packed some of the lunch Mrs. Gable had prepared into a thermos and drove to Landon Enterprises.

She rarely visited the company. Dropping in unannounced might yield some unexpected results.

"No need." Riley carried the thermos toward the CEO's office.

She deliberately took the long way around to avoid Scott Baxter's desk. When she reached the executive suite, she noticed the blinds on the glass walls were completely drawn shut, and the door was tightly closed.

If they were just discussing project details, why the need for such extreme privacy?

Even though she already knew they were sleeping together, the thought of what she might see when she opened that door still sent a sharp ache through her chest.

The man inside was someone she had given her entire heart to, the man she had planned to spend her life with.

She closed her eyes for a brief second. When she opened them, her gaze was absolute steel.

Since the relationship was already rotting, she had to cut it out. No matter how much it hurt, no matter how bloody it got.

Riley placed her hand on the doorknob, pressed down quietly, and slowly pushed the door open just a crack...