Chapter 31: Forced Kiss

The sound of the faucet echoed in the room as water flowed freely.

Daniel washed his hands slowly, his fingers long and elegant, the water trickling over his silver ring as he interlaced his fingers. The sight of it was almost seductive.

A few droplets splashed onto Vivian's hand, making her flinch slightly.

Daniel, silent as always, exuded an innate sense of pressure.

Despite the space between them, it felt as though she were backed into a corner, trapped by his presence.

She wanted to walk away, but her legs wouldn't move.

Daniel glanced at her but said nothing, finishing his task and walking away.

Vivian was left bewildered by his look. Although neither had spoken, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was angry.

What was going on? Had she done something to upset him?

Could it be because of his confession earlier, and her lack of response? Was he that petty?

The words he'd said had already left her unsettled, and now his cold demeanor only stirred up a fire inside her. You think you're so high and mighty?

Vivian was lost in her thoughts and forgot to dry her hands. She walked toward the door slowly.

But as she stepped out, a hand suddenly reached out and yanked her back.

"Ah!" She opened her mouth, but her words were swallowed up.

She was pulled into a warm embrace and immediately pressed against the wall. Looking up, she was met with eyes so dark, they were almost blacker than the night itself—eyes full of possessiveness, frustration, and even a bit of loss.

In that moment, it felt as if she were prey, caught in the gaze of a hunter.

Vivian struggled for a moment but then stilled.

It seemed her sudden docile behavior pleased him. The air between them thickened, the distance between their lips barely a finger's width, but neither spoke.

The hallway was dark, and Vivian held her breath, turning her head to avoid the long, lingering kiss, adding to the allure of the night.

"Had a drink?" Daniel's voice came, tinged with something more than curiosity.

Vivian, still reeling from the unexpected tug, was unable to form a coherent thought. He had completely taken control, and the chaotic mess in her mind only deepened.

She was still recovering from the shock of being pulled so suddenly and, out of breath, refused to answer.

"Do you like younger guys?"

Daniel's thumb brushed over her red lips, his voice husky, making it feel as though she had made some grave mistake and was now caught.

She couldn't bring herself to look at him—afraid that if she did, she'd fall into his grasp, helpless to resist.

Her face was flushed with a mix of confusion and shy desire, though she hadn't realized it.

She managed to stammer, "Daniel, you're shameless!"

Her words sounded more like playful teasing than an insult.

He chuckled softly, a deep satisfaction in his tone, mixed with an undeniable sense of triumph.

Bending down, he kissed her lips with urgency, his lips and teeth finding purchase. Vivian had no chance to fight back.

"I'm your younger guy too, and you like me, don't you?" His lips whispered against hers.

Indeed, by age, Daniel was a year younger than Vivian.

Vivian's breath hitched, her frustration and embarrassment only growing. Her small fists pounded against his chest. "Daniel, you're awful! I never said I liked younger guys!"

He was quick to label her, and she found herself helpless under his attention.

Her punches were weak, almost like a playful scratch, but Daniel held her hand and kissed it tenderly, murmuring, "If you don't like it, then why didn't you refuse the flowers from all those guys earlier?"

Flowers?

Vivian's eyes narrowed, a flash of anger in her gaze.

"You're spying on me?"

"Of course not," Daniel replied, a hint of jealousy unmistakable in his tone. "I was sitting across from you at dinner tonight, and I couldn't help but see all those young men sending you flowers. How could I not notice?"

He tried to hide his jealousy, but it was obvious. Still, he didn't want to suffocate her with his feelings, so he held back, wanting to take things slowly.

"You were the center of attention. It was impossible not to notice, even I couldn't ignore it."

So, he saw every single one of them?

A mix of sweetness and resentment swelled within Vivian. "They just dropped the flowers and ran off. I couldn't reject them, so I stepped outside for a breath of air."

She pouted, her lips glistening from his kisses, her frustration clear in her voice.

Daniel couldn't resist and kissed her again, his lips finding hers once more. "I know."

Vivian huffed, "If you knew, why did you ask?"

"And what about earlier, when you were in the bathroom? What was that all about?"

In the seductive atmosphere, Daniel wrapped his arms around her waist, and Vivian poked his solid chest, clearly still upset.

"Vivi, is this the attitude a girlfriend should have towards her boyfriend? Does that mean you're agreeing to be with me?"

He wasn't willing to lose even a single battle.

"That day, you left without a word. Today, with all those men confessing to you, I thought, I might not even get a turn. It hurt, you know?"

"I haven't eaten all day." He added with a hint of vulnerability.

To prove his point, he took her hand and placed it on his stomach. "See? It's empty."

Vivian, laughing lightly at the sight of the usually composed Mr. Smith showing such a vulnerable side, played along. "Then go eat. I never said you couldn't."

Daniel pulled her closer, his chin resting on her head as he gently rubbed it. "Vivi, these people are all bad. They want to cause trouble while making business deals."

Vivian, ever the businesswoman, smiled at how amusing this sounded. She allowed him to hold her as they talked. "Mr. Smith has such sharp insight. You can see right through them."

His compliment made Daniel grin. "Of course, I have to keep my girlfriend updated. And now that I have one, I must behave well."

Vivian smirked, "I never agreed to be your girlfriend..."

Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she added, "And if you're so good at being loyal to your girlfriend, what were you like before? A heartbreaker?"

Daniel's gaze darkened as he studied her, a hint of challenge in his voice. "And if I was?"

Vivian paused for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in. "I'll think of something... when I do, you'll know."

The next moment, Daniel tightened his embrace, his face buried in her neck as he inhaled her scent deeply. His voice was low and almost pleading, only for her ears: "Vivi, take control of me. I like it when you do."