Chapter 144

A sharp pain shot through Emily's forehead. She instinctively pressed her hand to the injury and looked up, meeting a pair of icy, fathomless eyes.

William Johnson's cold, chiseled face was mere inches away.

Her entire body trembled as she hastily stepped back. "I'm sorry, Vice President Johnson."

His fingers suddenly clamped around her wrist, yanking her forward with undeniable force. The elevator doors slid shut silently behind her.

"Let go!" She struggled fiercely, her voice laced with disgust.

William's gaze darkened. In one swift motion, he pinned her against the cold metal wall of the elevator.

"Two weeks apart, and you've already grown distant?" His breath scorched her skin as he leaned in.

Emily tilted her chin up defiantly. "We're over."

"Over?" A humorless laugh escaped him. "Since when can an employer-employee relationship just end?"

Her fists clenched. The words I quit burned on her tongue.

But her sister's hospital bills loomed over her. She couldn't afford to be reckless.

"It's my fault," she said suddenly, softening her tone. "But Mia is innocent."

William's expression turned glacial. "How touching. You care so much about her."

The elevator jolted to a stop at the basement level. The doors opened, then closed again—no one entered or exited.

He gripped her chin, his lips grazing her earlobe. "Want them to stay unharmed?" His voice was a dark whisper. "Then behave."

"You—"

Before she could protest, his mouth crashed down on hers. The metallic tang of blood spread across her tongue. She went rigid, ceasing all resistance.

"William..."

A sweet, feminine voice drifted in from outside the elevator.

Emily froze. Through the narrowing gap of the closing doors, she caught a glimpse of Amanda Lin's shocked face.

William stilled, his ragged breaths hot against her neck.

The moment the doors sealed shut, she finally wrenched free of his grasp.