Chapter 185: Raw and Unsteady-1
+25 Points
Damien didn’t look away. He locked his gaze on her, his eyes dark and unreadable, searching for
something in the silence.
Maya tried to hold it, but the intensity was too much; she looked down at her hands, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs.
Jamie’s voice cut through the heavy atmosphere like a sharp needle. “May, you’re blushing really
hard.”
“I am not!” Maya snapped, her voice a pitch too high as she stared at the mahogany table.
Her gaze flicked toward Damien-just for a moment-before she looked away.
A few seconds passed. Then Damien finally broke the stare. He checked his watch, the metal cold
against his wrist as the forty-eight-hour countdown officially began.
“Then we’re done here,” he said, his voice settling back into that stony, absolute command.
He paused, a flicker of something almost generous crossing his features. “James, wire one billion
to Ms. Lin’s account.”
James didn’t blink. “On it.”
“Wait, what?” Harper’s voice crackled over the speakers, her face filling the screen.
Ashcroft frowned-not at the amount, but at the gesture, and more so at how eager Harper
suddenly looked. “What for? She specifically said she didn’t want the money.”
“Excuse me!” Harper cut in, her voice rising in a dramatic crescendo. She threw her hands up, her eyes wide with mock outrage. “I said I love money! I didn’t want your money!”
She pivoted toward the camera, her expression shifting instantly into a look of pure, unadulterated excitement. “You really don’t have to, Boss, but if you insist? Who am I to say no?”
Alice’s sharp eyes locked onto her daughter from across the room. “HARPER LIN! Don’t act like you’re short on money. Stop embarrassing yourself.”
Harper’s expression instantly melted into a wide-eyed, guilt-tripping puppy look. “But it was given, Mother! You never say no to gifts-it’s practically bad luck.”NNShe leaned closer to the lens, a mischievous glint lighting her eyes as she addressed James directly. “Hey, Horton-I’ll text you my personal bank details. Don’t put it on my payroll account. I want this one off the books. I’m not paying taxes on a ten-figure tip.”
James paused mid-gesture, brows knitting as he looked up at the screen. “I seem to recall,” he said
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Cluster THA Raw and Unsteady: 1
+25 Points
carefully, “that just this afternoon you were adamant about how your loyalty lies with Ms. Maya.”
Harper gasped, clutching her chest like she’d been gravely wounded. “Excuse you? Of course it does!” She straightened, eyes flashing with theatrical offense. “But you see, a bribe is very different from a performance bonus. This”-she gestured vaguely at the invisible transfer-“is a
performance bonus. Not a bribe. Completely ethical. Totally earned.”
She beamed, then leaned closer to the camera. “Thanks, Boss! You’re the best.”
Her gaze flicked past the lens and zeroed in on Maya. The mischief softened-barely-into something almost sincere.
“Hey, Maya,” Harper said, lifting a finger like she was about to deliver a TED Talk no one asked for.
Fun science fact: being in love actually messes with your brain. In a good way. Your body starts pumping out oxytocin and dopamine-aka the you’re safe, you’re happy, wow life doesn’t suck as
much chemicals.”
She leaned closer to the camera, eyes wide with exaggerated seriousness. “Which means less stress, better sleep, faster healing, and statistically speaking-far less chance of ruining your own
life.”
Then she grinned. “But when you’re upset? Boom. Cortisol everywhere. Tense muscles. Bad vibes. Wrinkles. Tragic.”
She shrugged dramatically. “So yeah. Science says holding grudges is terrible for your skin and your lifespan.”
Harper gasped, clutching her chest. “Untreated emotional constipation? Absolute disaster.”
Her tone softened just enough to let the message land. “Life’s too short to waste it being mad at the person you care about.”
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.