Mr. CEO's Young Mistress novel Chapter 45

Sharon held her breath and looked at him uncertainly. 

Leonard's lips pursed slightly. Sharon could smell the alcohol from his breath as he looked at her with a determined gaze. He reached out a callused finger and rubbed the furrow in between her brows until they were no longer creased. 

...

Although she was no longer frowning on the outside, she still felt a pinch in her heart. "Take a seat. I'll make some tea to sober you up," she said.

Leonard clutched her slender waist tightly. "I'm not drunk," he protested.

Sharon sighed to herself. 

Most of the time, he would only say that when he was already drunk.

But because he had a stronger willpower than most people, along with the aid of his poker face, people usually can't tell. 

"Yes, yes. Well, I want to have some tea, all right?" Sharon looked at him helplessly. 

Leonard stared at her beautiful face and suddenly broke out into a small grin. "Sure, I'll prepare it for you."

Sharon froze at the sight of his smile, and she quickly averted her gaze. "You just came back, so get some rest. I'll do it."

"But I'm not tired." Leonard objected. He grabbed her hand and swiftly pulled her towards the kitchen. 

Sharon rolled her eyes, exasperated. 

......

In the kitchen, Sharon watched as Leonard prepared the tea steadily, impressed. 

If she did not know him well enough, she might actually believe that he was not drunk. 

Once the tea was ready, Leonard passed a cup to Sharon, his gaze unbelievably tender. 

Sharon took the cup of tea and leaned against the countertop. She hung her head and watched the steam rising from the hot liquid. She sounded somewhat in disbelief as she said, "Grandpa came by just now."

...

"What for?" Leonard looked at her.

"He wanted to know how the preparations for the birthday banquet were coming along. He also asked if we needed any help," Sharon whispered.

Leonard took a sip of his tea. The aroma of the tea permeated his mouth and comforted his dry throat. His voice was husky when he replied, "Everything is going smoothly. All they need to do is attend on time."

...

After a pause, Leonard looked at Sharon and said, "The designer will bring your gown tomorrow. There's still time to fix it, so try it on."  

Sharon nodded. "Okay."

"Why didn't you call me?"

The question surprised Sharon. She looked up at Leonard in confusion. "W-What?"

Leonard repeated himself, staring at Sharon unhappily. His eyes were full of dissatisfaction and displeasure.

Sharon sucked in a breath and avoided his gaze.

...

In the past, if he hadn't come back by ten o'clock, Sharon was sure to call him up and ask when he'll be back. Even if she was afraid of disturbing him, she would still send him a text.  

However, she did not do that today. 

...

Leonard placed the cup on the countertop with a clink and leaned over. 

He plastered himself onto Sharon and looked down at her. "I asked you a question. Why didn't you call me?"

Sharon's hands, holding her teacup, started trembling. 

Sharon lowered her head, careful not to touch his chest. 

"I-I forgot." Sharon whispered in a quiet voice. 

...

Leonard said nothing else, but Sharon could feel the surrounding temperature dropping rapidly. 

...

Sharon quaked in her shoes, too afraid to say another word. 

After what felt like half a century, he barked out in a deep voice, "Raise your head!" 

...

Sharon shrunk back violently, her body shaking. 

Suddenly, her hands were empty as he grabbed her cup and set it on the countertop with a loud clink. 

...

...

Sharon's heart was pounding, but still she kept her head hung low. 

Abruptly, two fingers placed under her chin to lift her head up. 

Sharon's eyes widened, and her eyes darted everywhere but his face. 

Leonard let out a mirthless chuckle. 

...

The sound travelled all the way to her feet, and she felt the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. 

When Leonard swiftly covered her lips with his, Sharon flailed her arms around in a panic, accidentally knocking over the cup on the countertop. 

The teacup fell to the floor with a sharp clatter. 

...

"Master Leonard—" Sharon exclaimed in a muffled voice.

...

Instantly, his lips pressed down harder. 

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a scream came from the entrance.

Sharon's body stiffened, her eyes widening as she looked towards the door. 

Kelley was standing there wearing a coat, shaking like a leaf. She had a hand over her mouth, staring at them in disbelief. 

Leonard finally unlocked their lips. His heart clenched when he saw Sharon's vulnerable expression. 

"Get lost!" Leonard bellowed.

...

Covering her mouth with her hand, Kelley frantically stumbled away from the kitchen. 

Sharon was in a state of shock as she sat on the countertop, staring into nothing.

"Sharon." Leonard called out hoarsely, holding her chilled face in his hands, his chest tightening. 

Sharon forced herself to look at Leonard. Eventually, she broke down, and tears flowed freely down her face. 

Leonard felt as if someone had stabbed him in the chest. His eyes reddened and his jaw clenched. He gathered Sharon into his arms and carried her out of the kitchen, towards the first floor. 

......

In the master bedroom on the first floor.

Leonard gently placed the weeping girl on the bed and crouched down in front of her. With a frown, he raised his hand and awkwardly brushed her tears.

"What do we do, Master Leonard? Kelley must know now. Oh, god!" Sharon fretted in a panic.

...

To say that she was afraid was an understatement. 

Initially, Kelley had been in charge of taking care of Puvis and the others back in the family manor. 

But because Puvis had worried that Leonard could not take care of Sharon properly, he had sent Kelley over to stay in Coral Pavilion. 

Sharon hid her face in her hands at the thought that Kelley had caught them just now, fear and uneasiness consuming her. 

...

Now that Kelley knew that something was happening between her and Leonard, it was only a matter of time before those in the family manor found out. 

"Oh, how will I face Grandpa, Nathan, and Rosamond?" Sharon wondered, despaired. 

"Sharon, listen to me." Leonard removed her hands that were covering her face and stared into her tearful eyes. His gaze seemed to calm Sharon slightly. "I'll be there for you no matter what." 

Trepidation filled her eyes. "Master Leonard, what if Grandpa finds out? He loves me so much! If he finds out—" 

"Shh." Leonard stopped her from thinking any further. 

He got up and sat down next to her. He pulled her into his embrace and gently placed a kiss on her head. "Don't you trust me?"

"Trust him? Of course not!" Sharon scoffed to herself silently.

...

However, they was no point arguing. No one would believe that it was a misunderstanding after seeing what happened in the kitchen. 

...

If Kelley were to report of tonight's incident to Puvis and the others, it will definitely cause a stir. 

Sharon did not dare to imagine what they would think of her if they found out. 

...

Sharon felt more confused and scared than she had been after she discovered Leonard's feelings for her. 

Eventually, Sharon cried herself to sleep. 

......

Sharon's sleep that night was fitful, and she even wore a frown when she woke up. 

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was a man's Adam's apple, but she seemed unfazed. 

...

Instead, she felt her nose stinging slightly, and lifted her head to look at his face. In his sleep, his face seemed almost gentle. 

The moment she looked at him, he opened his eyes. 

Sharon stilled, and her innocent eyes met Leonard's. 

Sharon blinked when a warm finger brushed the corner of her swollen eye and blushed. 

Knock, knock!

Someone carefully knocked on the door. 

Sharon's back stiffened slightly, and her eyes darted nervously to the door.

Noticing how anxious Sharon was, Leonard pressed his lips together into a fine line. 

"Sir, are you up?"

Kelley's voice came from behind the door, making Sharon tense up even further.

...

Leonard frowned. He glanced at Sharon, who was in his arms, and asked in a low voice, "What's the matter?"

After a few seconds of silence, Kelley spoke out again, "Master Lefebvre and Madam are here. They are waiting for you in the living room."

"What?" Sharon exclaimed in her head, immediately switching to panic mode. 

...

Sharon took in a deep breath and looked at Leonard with terror written all over her pale face. 

"They already came by yesterday, so why are they here again? D-Did Kelley give us away?" Sharon thought. Her chest tightened, making it hard for her to breathe.

...

...