Chapter 35 Exclusive Release Chapter 35 "Wynne..."
Yuan Ning had some ulterior motives, but she still didn't expect Elias to take the bait so easily.
But he was quite strong; he almost pinned her against the oak cabinet, and she felt a distinct pressure on her waist. His other hand covered her neck, fingers spread, thumb pressed against her throbbing carotid artery.
It was a sense of absolute control that caused her to completely expose her throat.
Then his lips.
The scalding aroma, carrying the aftertaste of a cigar and the rich scent of whiskey, suddenly enveloped her, biting down hard on her slightly parted lips that hadn't yet closed.
He had just tasted whiskey with his family, and she noticed it was cold and bitter.
Elias's kissing skills gradually became more proficient. Yuan Ning initially tried to take the lead, but gradually, he overwhelmed all her senses.
She couldn't help but wonder if he had noticed her scheming.
She was standing on tiptoe to reach a tie from the cabinet, and at that moment she held the tie in her hand.
She was breathless from his kisses, all she could hear was the wet, sticky sound, and her pale legs kicked back in vain in the air.
He released her neck, allowing her to catch her breath, but his body was held even tighter in his arms.
She gasped for breath as she said, "Elijas, you're too rude."
His icy blue eyes stared at her from very close range, but Yuan Ning feigned innocence and avoided his gaze.
“Wynne, little girls must learn to bear the consequences.”
Elias's voice was extremely low and hoarse.
He didn't loosen his grip; instead, taking advantage of her evasive posture, he leaned down and pressed his hot breath against her earlobe.
Yuan Ning shuddered sensitively and instinctively tried to shrink her neck, but his hand firmly held the back of her neck.
He gently rubbed her soft earlobe with the tip of his teeth while his other hand slowly slid down her taut waistline, finally stopping on the burgundy silk tie she had just taken out.
Instead of pulling the tie away, he gripped her hand tightly, tie and all.
Yuan Ning sensed what he was about to do and was about to resist.
The cool, wine-red silk, like a living snake, nimbly and swiftly coiled around her two slender wrists.
One circle, two circles... The silk felt delicate yet cold against his skin, a stark contrast to the heat of his fingertips and breath.
His technique of binding was very gentle, yet it made it impossible for anyone to resist.
Make sure the tie knot is tight and secure, binding her wrists firmly, forming a knot behind her back that she cannot easily break free from.
The moment her hands were bound behind her back, an unprecedented sense of vulnerability and exposure overwhelmed Yuan Ning.
She lost part of her balance, and more importantly, she lost a crucial defensive or offensive tactic.
"Elijas...you!" Her voice carried a hint of genuine panic, but she could only lean more of her weight on him.
It looks like a little girl snuggling up to a gentleman, without any sense of contradiction.
"Shh." He moved his lips away from her ear, wanting to quietly admire Wynne's beauty.
“Wynne, behave yourself. In adult games, provocation comes at a price.”
His free hand, the one that had slid down her waistline, slowly moved upwards along the curves of her body, bound by the velvet dress, until it touched the top of the zipper.
Yuan Ning froze, all her senses focused on that hand.
“Wynne,” Elias gazed into her suddenly wide, dark eyes that reflected his image, his thumb resting on the metal zipper pull, “baby.”
"No, don't do this... Elias." Yuan Ning finally felt fear, not of him as a person, but of being stripped bare and scrutinized under such an absolute disparity in power.
His cloakroom was his sanctuary, where he defined all the rules.
The subtle yet clear sound of a zipper sliding began to ring out, the velvet fabric parted to the sides, and the scorching heat instantly pressed against the large expanse of her suddenly exposed back skin, arousing a subtle shiver.
Yuan Ning was unable to resist, yet harbored a hidden expectation.
With her hands bound, she couldn't stand steadily and could only rely entirely on Elias's body.
But Elias happened to be someone she trusted completely.
Throughout everything that had happened between them, Elias had shown her that he would always support her.
All his actions have an inherent logic and boundaries; even when Elias exerts pressure or punishes, he always maintains a gentlemanly cruelty.
A father's doting affection, built on lies, crumbles at the slightest touch.
The mother is the one who needs to be taken care of.
Friendships built on money and status from childhood to adulthood are fragile and easily broken.
In the brutal law of the jungle, attaching yourself to the strong is the best survival strategy.
Elias's display of control, resources, and social power is exactly what Yuan Ning desperately needs.
In this place, she knew he was the ruler, and he set the rules. This clear power structure made her feel more secure than the false equality outside; at least she knew what the rules of the game were.
If she absolutely needed someone she could completely entrust herself to, then no one in the world could satisfy Yuan Ning except Elias.
Originally, she had nothing; she had nothing to lose.
However, the anticipated complete exposure did not occur immediately.
The zipper only slid down to just reveal her entire back, but it got stuck at a delicate spot where her waist and hips met.
His gaze, almost tangible, swept over her smooth back exposed to the air, down to the curved spine running through her entire back, her shoulder blades slightly protruding from tension, her waist dimples deep, gleaming with a fragile, pearly luster under the dim light.
She felt his fingers, with calloused fingertips, slowly scraping along her open edges, across her sensitive spine.
Each vertebra bulged as his fingertips scraped across it.
Yuan Ning bit her lower lip, suppressing the whimper that was about to escape her lips.
Humiliation, stimulation, and an uncontrollable tremor mixed together into a complex and turbulent emotion that assaulted her reason.
“Wynne baby, lift your head.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Ning looked up and saw a full-length mirror in front of her, clearly reflecting the overlapping figures of the two of them.
The mirror reflected everything coldly and clearly.
Yuan Ning's gaze was forced to focus on the mirror. She saw herself completely enveloped by Elias's tall figure, like a butterfly pinned to amber.
The black velvet slip dress slipped down most of its length from the shoulders, barely hanging on by the remaining restraints around the arms and waist, exposing a large expanse of skin from the back of the neck to the waist. Under the warm yellow light, the skin was dazzlingly white, creating a stunning contrast with the dark velvet.
This was the first time the young girl had received such a powerful and impactful image.
Compared to the straightforward and abrupt view inside the train carriage, it's a different scene altogether.
The scene at this moment is beautiful, beautiful to the extreme.
But the scene inside the carriage is abrupt and jarring; it bursts into the girl's field of vision so recklessly.
Elias stood behind her, still impeccably dressed.
The charcoal gray waistcoat accentuated his broad shoulders, while the white shirt cuffs were meticulously fastened with exquisite black onyx cufflinks.
The image in the mirror is filled with distorted tension: on one side is soft white, almost stripped bare and powerless to resist, and on the other side is deep gray, impeccably dressed and in control of everything.
Extreme fragility and absolute power are frozen and magnified within this frame.
Yuan Ning saw her cheeks flushed, her eyes moist, her lips bitten until they were swollen and red, and her disheveled black hair clung to her sweaty neck.
She saw Elias slowly lower his head and, with an almost reverent gesture, lean down to the back of her neck.
Yuan Ning's pupils were slightly dilated in the mirror.
She saw him open his teeth, and she also saw the excitement and shame churning in her own eyes.
Elias's body, clad in a suit, was like a ferocious beast, but unfortunately, she had never seen the whole picture yet, only glimpsing a part of it.
He bit her nape with his burning lips, a gesture that carried a sense of punishment and marking.
The sharp, clear pain pierced the tender flesh, mixed with a strange, mind-numbing sensation that exploded along the spine and shot straight to the top of the head.
She was forced to look up, and she saw the impeccably dressed gentleman in the mirror, his furrowed brows, unfocused pupils, and the warm, moist breath emanating from his lips.
Elias slowly loosened her teeth, turning instead to lick the clear teeth marks with the tip of her tongue. The warm, moist touch brought a completely different kind of stimulation, sending another shiver through her.
"Are you scared?" he asked, his lips still pressed against her skin, his breath hot.
Yuan Ning looked up suddenly, and his voice rang out right behind her ear.
She saw it clearly, she could see perfectly clearly who was controlling her.
She slowly shook her head: "I'm not afraid, Elias, because it's you, so I'm not afraid."
“Very good,” he said in a hoarse voice, finally releasing his grip on the back of her neck.
He didn't immediately back away; his palm remained on her bare, slightly undulating back, stroking it gently and lingeringly.
She said that because it was him, she wasn't afraid.
This kind of trust is more impactful than any form of obedience or fear.
He drew a completely different kind of nourishment from her unguarded surrender.
He was given certain privileges by her, and even became a carrier of some of her vulnerability and dependence.
This realization intertwined with the undercurrent of more aggressive desires surging within him, and a sense of satisfaction that he himself had not yet fully understood quietly grew.
Yuan Ning could barely stand. The tension she felt when she was being suppressed and the sudden emptiness she felt now made her legs weak. She could only lean more against the solid oak cabinet behind her and the hot body in front of her.
Elias's arm wrapped around her waist just in time, preventing her from slipping off.
Theodora sent Dorotha over to ask, "It's almost eleven o'clock, Miss Wynne, have you finished your work?"
Dorotha stood at the door and did not come in.
Yuan Ning leaned against Elias's chest, and Elias answered for her, "Not yet."
Dorotha then said, "Madam said that if Miss Wynne hasn't finished her work by 11 o'clock, she shouldn't leave and should stay for the night. I'll go and prepare a guest room now."
Dorotha's footsteps faded into the distance on the heavy carpet, eventually disappearing at the end of the corridor.
No one asked Yuan Ning why her work had ended so late that day.
Yuan Ning remained leaning against Elias's chest, her cheek pressed against the meticulous fabric of his shirt, able to clearly feel the beating of his heart.
His arms were firmly wrapped around her waist, with just the right amount of force, but still not enough to break free.
The powerful tide receded, leaving behind a wet mess on the beach.
The coolness of her exposed back, the stinging pain of the teeth marks on the back of her neck, the swelling of her lips, and the lingering, heart-pounding numbness in her limbs.
She didn't dare look at him, but then she suddenly remembered her important matter.
"Elijas, do you know Martha von Wright?"
Elias was silent for a few seconds, then helped her to her feet.
He had taken off the burgundy silk tie and hung it aside.
Look at this girl.
Whatever happened between her and him, she would immediately think about what value she could get from him.
Elias was not dissatisfied with this, much less self-deprecating; he was quite satisfied with Wynne.
This is precisely the quality he values in Wynne.
“Martha von Wright.” He repeated the name, as if searching his mind. “President of the Zurich Art Foundation, the Wright family’s spokesperson in the contemporary art world, known for her aggressive patronage strategies and discerning eye. She was trusted by the old families on the East Coast, and she was already serving the wealthy in New York City at the age of thirty.”
Yuan Ning's eyes lit up: "Elijas, you mean, she's in New York City right now?"
“Yes,” he replied, turning to the accessories cabinet on the other side of the dressing room. “Wynne, when you asked her, was it related to Casanova?”
He took a velvet tray from the cabinet, on which were neatly arranged several pairs of cufflinks. Platinum, gold, inlaid with gemstones or enamel.
Yuan Ning stepped forward: "Yes, so Elias, you should help me with this."
Elias's fingertips slowly glided over the pairs of cufflinks, finally stopping on a pair of extremely minimalist platinum cufflinks.
He picked it up and paired it with his tie.
“Wynne, this is your own business. All I can do is provide you with funding.”
He turned to look at her. "You need to know that Casanova isn't the only project I have on hand."
In other words, even if Casanova becomes a complete liability in Wynne's hands, he only needs to lose a little money.
It's just a pity that for baby Wynne, this means facing the consequences of going bankrupt and being burdened with debt.
He gently placed the cufflinks back in the center of the tray, making a very soft "click" sound.
Yuan Ning walked around to face him and gently tugged at the tie around his neck: "Elijas, for some personal reasons, I think you should provide me with more information."
Elias was forced to approach, but he wasn't angry. Unfortunately, his tone wasn't indulgent: "Wynne, but I can't help you cheat your life."
That's a nice way of putting it; in other words, with a flick of his finger, all of Wynne's efforts were no longer needed.
So, does she really want that kind of life?
At that moment, Theodora stood at the door and knocked: "I think you two have spent enough time in the dressing room tonight, Elias. I believe you are not a demanding employer, are you? It's time to let Miss Wynne out."
Elias straightened up, glanced at Yuan Ning, and pointed towards the door, meaning, "Madam, you can finish your work now."
Yuan Ning met Elias's ambiguous smile and said, "You're right, Elias. I'm not just playing a game in the amusement park you set up for me; I'm going to replace you, my amusement park owner."
She walked forward, and Theodora saw her and smiled at her: "It's quite a coincidence. When Miss Wynne stayed overnight last time, we tasted a bottle of wine together. Today, a new bottle has been opened in the cellar. Why don't we try it together?"
Theodora's smile was gentle and polite, and Yuan Ning nodded: "It's an honor, Theodora."
Theodora looked behind her: "Elijas, you come too."
The Persian carpet beneath my feet swallowed the sound of my footsteps.
This is a downward stone staircase, the air filled with the cool, damp scent of earth, mingled with the rich aroma of aged oak barrels and wine slowly oxidizing. The Van der Berg family's private wine cellar.
Elias deliberately slowed his pace and whispered to Yuan Ning, "My mother is one of Marta's clients, Wynne."
Theodora stopped in front of a wine rack and took a bottle of wine from it himself.
"This bottle comes from the oldest monopoly vineyard in Burgundy owned by our family, from 1945. That year, the war ended, and the grapes were exceptionally sweet, but the yield... was pitifully low."
Hearing her describe it this way, Yuan Ning felt apprehensive: "I really don't deserve it, such precious wine..."
She was indeed puzzled as to why Theodora would serve her such a drink, perhaps because of Theodora's arrogance.
Theodora picked up the corkscrew, her movements practiced and elegant, the auger precisely screwing into the cork.
With a soft "pop," the cork was pulled out, and an indescribable fragrance instantly wafted out.
It's not just a fruity scent, but rather a combination of damp forest floor, withered roses, aged leather, and a faint hint of rust and wild animal notes.
She poured the deep garnet-red wine into three crystal glasses, picked one up for herself, and gestured for the two of them to help themselves.
“Whether something is precious or not depends on the connoisseur’s eye.” Theodora’s voice was unhurried, her gaze lingering on Yuan Ning’s face for a moment. “Do you think you’re unworthy?”
“No, of course not.” Yuan Ning’s eyes widened.
She simply respected the preciousness of the wine.
"Please." Theodora gestured slightly with her hand.
Yuan Ning carefully sipped a small amount.
The first thing you notice is the magnificent and solid structure.
After nearly sixty years of refinement, it has become as fine and smooth as velvet.
Next comes a complex layering of flavors that supports this massive flavor framework.
Swallow it, and the aftertaste is extremely long.
It's not so much that it's being tasted, but rather that it's being read.
It seems to be telling the story of the special year of 1945, the hopes after the war, and the patience and accumulation bestowed by the long years.
The trauma of war is a timeless consensus for people all over the world.
Yuan Ning slowly opened her eyes: "It's not about pleasing the taste buds, Theodora. It's more like... a command, or a baptism."
"It requires the connoisseur to be fully focused, to show respect, and to have enough courage to confront its power."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Theodora's face. She then asked, "If this bottle of wine represents some kind of command or baptism, what did you hear from it? Or rather, what kind of courage does it demand of you?"
The question was thrown back at us, sharp and direct.
Yuan Ning currently needs Theodora's help, and she is determined to win her over.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Elias had already sat down on the green velvet sofa with his wine glass in hand. He took out his cigar case from his pocket, but seemingly considering the poor ventilation inside the wine cellar, he simply held the cigar between his fingers without lighting it.
Yuan Ning's gaze returned to the deep ruby red in the glass.
“1945.” Yuan Ning repeated the year, her tone becoming calm and focused. “The war was over, but the vineyards still bore the marks of bomb craters. The winemakers may have just buried their neighbors or lost loved ones. Yet they still returned to the vineyards, propped up the vines, and picked those exceptionally sweet grapes with hands stained with mud and blood.”
"This bottle of wine demands courage from me, not to conquer anything, Theodora. It demands courage to believe that the sweetness rebuilt from ruins is just as real."
“I didn’t understand before. I thought that wearing Chanel and sitting in Balthazar was what the world deserved from me. It wasn’t until my lawyer knocked on my door that I saw the price tag.”
She paused, her throat tightening slightly.
"The courage it demands of me... is to admit that I was born standing on ruins. It demands that I admit I am not pure, not orthodox, and even carry original sin. But it is precisely because of this that I understand how precious sweetness is, and I will spare no expense, even like it, to spend sixty years to reach the ultimate sweetness."
Yuan Ning didn't know if her words touched Theodora, but after a moment of silence, the hum of the temperature control system in the wine cellar became exceptionally clear.
Theodora finally laughed: "Little girl, you don't need to age for sixty years, it's just a bottle of wine, and you, you are a smart and beautiful girl."
Yuan Ning was not swayed by Theodora's nonchalant "it's just a bottle of wine"; instead, she saw the crack more clearly.
“You’re right, Theodora.” She smiled, then gently set down her glass. “I don’t need sixty years, I just need an opportunity.”
The girl was looking at her intently, and Theodora could hardly help but sense that she had some ulterior motive.
Theodora's smile faded slightly as she put down her glass. "What kind of opportunity do you need?"
“Ms. Martha von Wright.” She finally uttered the name.
Elias remained seated on the green velvet sofa, the unlit cigar somehow already tucked back into his pocket.
He crossed his legs, appearing relaxed.
*
On Wednesday afternoon, Yuan Ning drove her Ferrari to Willow Street, the address that Marta von Wright lived in, according to the address Theodora had provided her.
Theodora had sent her a visit email beforehand, and because of Theodora's connection, the other party agreed to meet.
It is also a brown sandstone mansion with ivy climbing all over the exterior walls, maintaining its lush greenery even in winter. The brass door knockers are polished to a shine, and there are no markings on the lintel.
The door opened almost immediately after she rang the doorbell.
Marta was a woman living alone, and her house was unusually quiet.
The air was filled with the scents of beeswax, old books, and a very faint fragrance of white flowers. Several abstract expressionist paintings hung on the wall; Yuan Ning recognized one of them as an early work by de Kooning.
Her mansion was filled with fabrics, fashion magazines, and...cat hair.
She has three haughty Persian cats that can sleep on her most expensive fabrics.
The moment Yuan Ning stepped into this place, the other party saw through her panic and hunger beneath her glamorous disguise at a glance.
“Poor girl, I only serve one class of people, and you are not one of them.”
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Author's note: The feeling of having all my efforts shattered by a single sentence [cracks]
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