In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the windows into the enchanting room, also casting on the half-exposed shoulder in the middle of the big bed.
The sleeping Summer Lowell was awakened by the pattering sound of water, and soreness spread throughout her body even before she was fully conscious.
"Hiss..."
After pulling herself together, Summer reluctantly lifted the blanket, gritting her teeth as she picked up the clothes scattered on the distant carpet.
But the clothes had long been violently torn by Maxim Sinclair and were no longer wearable.
Furious, Summer shot an angry glare at the bathroom nearby, wishing she could rush in and tear the person inside to pieces.
At that moment, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.
Summer immediately wrapped the blanket tightly around herself, got up, and walked to the wardrobe, trying to find a piece of clothing that Maxim Sinclair hadn't worn.
As she was searching, Maxim emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, his upper body bare, and still wet.
Seeing her, a trace of amusement flashed in his eyes.
"Awake?"
He walked straight to Summer, speaking in a deep voice, "I've prepared clothes for you, the ones on the floor can't be worn anymore."
Summer straightened up, wrapped in the blanket, and glared at him coldly.
A moment later, she threw the clothes in her hand at his face.
Without dodging, they hit perfectly.
Maxim glanced down at the pieces of fabric on the floor and chuckled, "Still have strength, it seems last night didn't tire you out."
"There won't be a next time between us. If you dare to try again, don't blame me for being rude. The esteemed President Sinclair surely wouldn't want to be entangled in scandals, right?"
Summer finished with a cold laugh, bypassed him, and planned to get dressed. But just as she lifted her foot, Maxim grabbed her wrist: "If you come back to me, I can overlook the past, but if you dare to run again, then we'll settle old and new scores together."
Maxim clenched tightly.
Summer struggled for ages without breaking free, only to be pulled into his arms instead.
Realizing she couldn't break free, anger flared in Summer, and she raised the free hand to hit Maxim.
Seeing through her intent at a glance, Maxim pinned both her hands down, locking her whole body in his embrace.
"Did you forget what you promised me?" Maxim snarled through gritted teeth, clamping her shoulders tightly.
"Let go." Summer twisted her wrist, trying to break free from his grip, "If you don't want to ruin your reputation, you'd best stay away from me."
Maxim sneered, seeing the pain flash across Summer's face, he slightly loosened his force.
Summer pushed against his chest with her hand, taking advantage of his inattention to push him aside. Once she created a safe distance, she said, "Maxim Sinclair, we are over. Let's forget what should be forgotten, and from now on, we'll leave each other be."
"Leave each other be," Maxim repeated quietly, finally laughing sarcastically, "Is this how Director Lowell handles business? Saying it so adeptly, you've had previous cases?"
An awkward expression flashed across Summer's face, and she bit her lip, walking into the bathroom to change clothes.
When she came out, Maxim stood there with a grim face, but Summer deliberately avoided him, moved around to the side, picked up her things, and slammed the door as she left.
Inside, Maxim turned his head and chuckled quietly.
Fearing Maxim would follow, Summer quickly entered the elevator. Once the doors closed, she let down her guard and exhaled a long, heavy breath.
Recalling how she had to leave because of that incident, barely clinging to life, burying the feelings deep inside.
Never expected now, it's the same situation...
Summer rubbed her sore neck, took out her phone, and prepared to call a car to go back home, not paying attention to bumping into someone.
"I'm sorry."
Summer instinctively apologized.
"Oh my, who do we have here, it's the renowned Director Lowell."
The speaker was Linda, who had entered Stellart as an intern at the same time as Summer.
Since joining the company, Summer had always been a step ahead of her.
Last year, after Summer took the plunge as an undercover, obtaining highly valuable information from Maxim Sinclair, she rose rapidly.
Now being airborne to Stellarion's branch as the Design Director, she suppressed Linda thoroughly.
Thus, Linda regarded her as a thorn in her side, a spear in her flesh.
Summer inwardly cursed her luck, forcing a smile as she curled her lips at Linda, "Good morning, I have something to do, see you later at the office."
"Oh come on," Linda swayed her hips, stepping in front of her, "we're old friends after all, why are you avoiding me?"
"I'm not avoiding you," Summer's face was indifferent, "I really have something in hand, no time to chat here, we'll have plenty of time to talk when working together."
While speaking, Linda noticed the marks on Summer's neck.
Seeing Linda's gaze, Summer reached out to pull her hair over her chest, covering her neck and exposed collar.
But it was no use, Linda had already noticed.
"Director Lowell, is this... did your boyfriend come with you to Stellarion? Why didn't you bring him to the reception last night, so everyone could meet?"
"My business is none of your concern, step aside."
As they stood in a standoff, the elevator behind them dinged again.
Maxim Sinclair emerged from the elevator with a coat in hand, and seeing Summer being blocked, he assumed she was being given a hard time and stepped forward to inquire: "What's going on?"
Linda's gaze lingered between him and Summer several times, suddenly realizing with a coquettish laugh, "Oh, it's President Sinclair, allow me to introduce myself, I'm Linda, Stellart's designer."
Maxim squinted his eyes, instantly recognizing the discord between the two.
Annoyed with being blocked, Summer suddenly pushed Linda aside, "I have urgent matters, so I'll go ahead."
After the two left one after the other, Linda's boyfriend, who had been standing to the side, came over, "Are these all your colleagues?"
"No, not one of them," Linda slowly shook her head, her gaze dark and obscure as she looked in the direction of Summer's disappearing figure, "If I'm not mistaken, these two should have a bit of a story."
Standing next to her, her boyfriend nodded in agreement, "I can see it, the way that guy looks at the girl, it's clearly unusual."
Linda's face turned ugly as she remembered hearing about Summer's time as a secretary at The Sinclair Group.
It's said that back then, Maxim Sinclair spoiled his little secretary to the extreme, and there were even rumors that the little secretary was likely to become the mistress of The Sinclair Group.
She never believed these rumors before, but seeing now, with Summer's first day back and she's already at a hotel with Maxim...
Could it be that Summer and Maxim never really ended their relationship?