CHAPTER 6

Body Heat

Arden finally resolved the issue of the missing files after four days. It was quite

difficult due to an unexpected system crash, but in the end, he managed to fix

it. A week had passed since Maya fainted, and she still hadn't returned to the

office.

Mr.Bills had tried to contact her, but she was unreachable. Instead, the only

response he got was from Giro, Maya's robotic cat. Giro informed him that Maya

was resting. Maya often had these episodes, but this was the first time she had

taken an entire week off. Mr. Bills thought that perhaps it was for the

best—Maya was always too hard on herself when it came to work. She deserved a long break. After all, what did Maya have to worry about? She was the owner of

De Philips Corp.

Suddenly, Arden spoke up. "No need to contact her immediately. It might take sometime before Maya want to see me again."

Mr.Bills swiftly smacked Arden on the head. "Miss Maya, not just Maya. Do you

think she's your friend?"

Arden chuckled and apologized. But then, he fell silent, stood up from his chair, and turned toward the door.

She was here.

Mr.Bills was surprised—Maya had just walked in. She remained quiet before

congratulating both of them for successfully completing their work.

"Mr.Bills, I know you were expecting Arden to handle everything, weren't you?"

Maya said as she took a seat in an empty chair in the meeting room. She placed

a large paper bag on the table.

"No,we worked togeth—" Arden started, but Maya cut him off.

"I was talking to Mr. Bills, not you, Arden."

It was the first time Maya had ever said his name. For some reason, Arden liked

the way it sounded coming from her lips. His ears turned red.

Mr.Bills sat beside Maya while Arden remained silent, watching and listening to

their conversation.

Maya spoke softly to the older man, like a daughter talking to her father.

"I already told you, if there's a problem, let me know. Madam Rosie told me that

your wife has been in the hospital for three months. Half of your salary goes

to her medical bills, and you still have three children in college. I

understand that you're fighting for your family, but Mr. Bills, you're also my

family. I've known you since I was a child, back when you worked for my father.

I have no one else besides you and Madam Rosie. From the outside, your life

seems fine, but I know it isn't. I will cover your wife's medical

expenses."

Maya made her decision.

Mr.Bills tried to refuse, but Maya wouldn't allow it. She reached for his hand and

gently brushed his hair.

"Thankyou for being such a good daughter. You're just like your mother," Mr.

Bills said with a smile.

"I've already arranged for a car and security to escort you. Go see your wife. I've

moved her to a better treatment room," Maya added with a lighthearted

tone.

The old man immediately removed his lab coat, patted Arden's back as a silent

farewell, and left the office.

Arden understood.

He turned to look at Maya—her navy blue velvet dress shirt, her full-bodied hair,

her cream-colored block heels. She walked toward him, standing directly in

front of him.

The sleep-deprived man stared at Maya. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt, exposing his muscular arms.

Maya handed him the paper bag. It contained his jacket.

She turned to leave, but Arden stopped her. "Aren't you supposed to say thank

you?"

Maya calmly said, "Thank you."

But it sounded insincere. Maybe she was forcing herself because she felt

embarrassed.

Arden smirked. "That didn't sound genuine. But never mind. Maybe you should

apologize too."

He raised an eyebrow while gripping the paper bag with both hands.

Maya frowned, confused. Why should she apologize to him?

She hurried toward the door, but Arden quickly grabbed her hand.

Maya gasped.

How dare he touch the owner of the company he worked for?

Arden gently grasped both of her arms, causing the paper bag to drop. Their eyes met.

Maya's face turned red from a mix of embarrassment and anger.

"Look at my arm. You left this scar," Arden whispered near her ear, his voice

soft.

Maya pushed him away and looked at the mark on his arm.

Yes, she vaguely remembered that incident.

She swallowed hard and stepped back, accidentally bumping into the table behind her. She managed to steady herself before falling.

Maya ran her fingers through her loose strands of hair before asking, "What

exactly did you see that night?"

Arden moved closer.

Too close.

His hands blocked her escape.

Maya was trapped against the table, and the man in front of her smelled

intoxicating.

Her eyes widened in shock.

Fearing she might fall, Maya clutched Arden's arms for support.

Their chests brushed against each other.

She could feel his warm breath against her skin.

She froze.

The man leaned in, whispering. "I saw you in pain. I saw you take off your blazer. I saw your bare skin. And I also saw the little lily tattoo on your slender waist."

Maya's lips trembled.

She could feel the heat radiating from his body.

Arden continued, "Don't worry. I didn't touch you inappropriately. After all,

you are the boss of this company."

Slowly, Arden stepped back.

Maya,still in shock, tried to compose herself.

Had Arden lost his mind?

How dare he?

Maya felt challenged.But instead of reacting in anger, she gave him a slight smirk.

"You.If you still want to work under me, do your job well and don't try anything

stupid," she said, pointing a finger at him.

Arden clasped his hands behind his back and nodded as if to say he understood.

His attitude was borderline insolent.

If he weren't Mr. Bills' protégé, she would have fired him on the spot.

Arden took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

Maya frowned, confused by his behavior.

He's acting like a psychopath.

Arden opened his eyes, leaned slightly toward her, and said,

"I like your perfume, Miss Maya."

Maya swallowed, her hands instinctively clenching against her chest.

She hadn't expected him to say that.

Frustrated,she quickly left the room.

Silence returned.

Arden covered his mouth, unable to believe what he had just done.

I must be insane, he thought.The woman he had been avoiding was now someone he couldn't resist.

To be honest, Arden was attracted to her.

But today, seeing how gentle and kind she was to Mr. Bills made him want to claim her as his own.

His desire to touch her burned so intensely that he nearly lost control.

---

That night, when Maya fainted, she woke up at exactly 3:00 AM.

She saw Arden fast asleep at the table.

Without hesitation, she grabbed his jacket, thinking it was hers, and left.

Before exiting the room, she paused.

She returned to the bed, took a blanket, and covered Arden's sleeping body.

Then she quickly left before he could wake up.

The next morning, as the sun rose, Arden opened his eyes.

He was alone in the room.

A blanket? Arden was confused.

Then he smiled. It had to be Maya who had covered him.

Her blazer was neatly hung in his locker.

And he knew—she must have been in such a hurry that she accidentally took his

jacket instead.