Chapter 33 Exclusive Release Chapter 33 "My Wynn..."
Yuan Ning's breathing became completely disordered. She was not an innocent girl.
She knew perfectly well what Elias could give her; the grand fusion of desire and power brought an excitement that made her tremble all over.
The evening breeze grew wild, whipping up their hair and tangling it endlessly.
She nestled in his arms, her blood boiling, and she gasped for breath.
Elias gently stroked her back to comfort her.
“My Wynne, you’re so excited now, what are you going to do later?”
She only got a tiny bit.
At seven o'clock in the morning, the valleys of Tuscany were still shrouded in a thin, silvery-gray mist.
Fine dewdrops clung to the leaves of the olive tree, sparkling like shattered diamonds in the rising sun.
Yuan Ning stood at the window of o Santo Pietro's small farmhouse, already dressed.
Luca arrived at the door precisely at 7:30. As Yuan Ning got into the Alfa Romeo, she noticed a flat, black velvet gift box on the back seat.
“Mr. van der Berg instructed you to do this.” Luca glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
Yuan Ning opened the box. Inside was a Montblanc Heritage Collection Red and Black Spider Limited Edition fountain pen.
The pen body is made of red Chinese lacquer and black resin, and the clip is designed in the shape of an exquisite spider, with the spider web pattern extending to the pen cap.
Spiders are often associated with patience, creativity, and weaving destiny in Western culture.
Inside the box was also an ivory-white card with Elias's signature cursive script:
"To sign your first empire."
—— EvdB
The car drove through the morning mist toward the Casanova workshop.
The workshop looks different today.
Three cars were parked at the entrance: Elias's Bentley, Marco's old Fiat, and an unfamiliar black Mercedes.
Edward waited for her at the door, his face paler than a few days ago, but his eyes held a calm that seemed to have settled down.
“They’re inside, in the conference room.” He paused, his gaze falling on Yuan Ning. “Wynne, I really didn’t expect you to convince them.”
Yuan Ning smiled and held the pen in her hand.
“Edward, I don’t think you would be willing to completely transform the workshop into a mechanized industrial plant.”
“Thank you,” Edward said.
In the conference room, Elias and his team sat at one side of the long table: Richard, the female analyst with thin-rimmed glasses, and two men who hadn't been seen the night before, dressed in custom-made suits and exuding a cool demeanor—Perseus's legal advisors.
Elias sat in the main seat, his back straight, his appearance and posture as perfect as a sculpture.
On the other side was Marco Casanova, next to an Italian lawyer and two of the workshop's oldest artisan representatives, Giuseppe and Antonio.
“Let’s begin,” Marco said in a deep voice, breaking the silence.
The next two hours were filled with a rigorous, almost tedious, legal and business process. The contract texts, in both Italian and English, were read aloud, explained, and confirmed clause by clause. The sheer number of clauses was dizzying.
Once all the terms were confirmed, the meeting room fell into a brief silence.
The fog outside the window had completely dissipated, and the Tuscan sun generously shone in, illuminating the dust particles dancing in the air.
“If there are no other issues,” Elias’s lawyer said in a calm tone, “we can proceed to the signing process.”
The signing ceremony itself was brief and solemn.
It's Yuan Ning's turn.
She picked up the spider pen and unscrewed the cap. The red lacquer shimmered with a warm luster in the sunlight, and the black metal spider seemed to be gazing at her.
She signed her name in the "Chief Strategy Officer/Partner" section:
Wynne Meng
Finally, it was Elias' turn. He took his pen from Richard, his handwriting flowing and elegant:
Elias van der Berg
As the final stroke was made, scattered applause rang out in the conference room.
Richard began organizing the documents, while the lawyers discussed in hushed tones the subsequent notarization and filing procedures.
Elias's team worked quickly because after finalizing the contract with Casanova, they had to rush to the next one.
All work was completed before 6 p.m. that day.
Dusk comes early in Tuscany; by 5:30 pm, the skyline is already painted with a gradient of gold, red, and deep purple.
The efficiency of the Perseus team was astonishing. They completed the preliminary assessment of three other small workshops on the same day and assembled at the airport at 6:00 a.m. sharp.
Inside the private terminal, Elias was giving Richard a final, brief explanation.
The rest of the team members looked tired from the intense work, but their eyes remained focused as they organized their computers and files.
Yuan Ning stood a little distance away, carrying her Rimowa carry-on suitcase.
Elias ended his conversation with Richard, his gaze sweeping over the team before finally settling on her.
"Wynne, you can board now."
The group filed onto the silver-gray Gulfstream G200.
The cabin maintained its comfortable temperature and humidity control, but the atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed than when they arrived. Several young analysts even whispered jokes about dinner.
Yuan Ning didn't realize until she sat down and looked out the porthole at the expansive view that she hadn't had a proper date with Elias this time.
She belatedly realized, recalling the events of that night at the pizza shop, that many opportunities and emotions are fleeting and never to return.
As she had come, she was positioned diagonally behind Elias.
After he sat down, he didn't get into work this time. Instead, he unbuttoned his suit jacket, leaned back slightly, and closed his eyes.
Golden eyelashes cast faint shadows under her eyelids, and her face showed an undeniable weariness.
The aircraft climbed smoothly, passed through the troposphere, and entered the stratosphere.
Outside the window, the lights of Tuscany gradually shrank and blurred, eventually being obscured by thick clouds.
The flight attendants began serving dinner. Tonight's menu seemed to be a celebration, more lavish than when they arrived: Tuscan vegetable soup, pan-seared veal tenderloin with truffle sauce, and a delicate panna cotta.
Elias only ordered a glass of water and a bowl of vegetable soup. He ate very little and very slowly.
Yuan Ning ordered the whole set. The pan-fried veal tenderloin was succulent, and the aroma of truffles was rich. She ate with great relish.
After dinner, most of the team members began to rest; some put on eye masks, while others dimmed their reading lights. The cabin was filled with a low hum and the sound of even breathing.
Yuan Ning opened her laptop and pulled up her meeting notes and to-do list from today's meeting. The light cast her focused profile onto the porthole.
"Aren't you going to rest for a while?" Elias's voice came from ahead, not loud, and slightly hoarse.
It was clear that the journey had left him very tired.
Yuan Ning looked up and found that he was just looking at her with his head slightly turned to the side.
"I'm thinking about what to do next." She didn't invest a single penny, yet she held such a large stake for nothing. The plan completely needed her to drive it forward, and if she ultimately failed to deliver the promised profits to Elias, Percival Capital had the right to demand compensation from her for the losses and the resources already invested in her. These were the contract terms revised by the lawyers.
Elias tacitly agreed, and Yuan Ning had no objection.
Elias was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly made a gesture, signaling her to come over.
There was no one in the seat next to him.
Yuan Ning paused for a moment, then closed her laptop, stood up, and sat down in the empty seat next to him.
The two were separated by a handrail, and were very close to each other.
"Do you have any thoughts on the preliminary list of candidates for the membership program?" he asked in a low voice, clearly not wanting to disturb the others' rest.
“There are a few directions,” Yuan Ning said in a low voice. “I plan to ask Justin for help.”
Elias did not respond, but instead raised his hand to call over a flight attendant.
"Give us two glasses of red wine."
The flight attendant quickly brought over two glasses of Sassicaia, the liquid appearing a deep ruby red in the dim cabin light.
Elias took the glass and handed it to Yuan Ning.
Yuan Ning mimicked him, gently swirling her wine glass before bowing her head.
A complex and profound aroma instantly fills the nostrils, the scent of ripe black berries.
The two took a small sip at the same time. The initial taste was full and rich with dark fruit flavors, but soon, firm and delicate tannins enveloped it, bringing an elegant astringency. This was followed by a complex aftertaste of cedar, smoke, and minerals, which was long and persistent.
She noticed that Elias was watching her quietly.
“It’s like…” she searched for the right words, “like a gentleman who appears aloof but has a complex inner world. You need time to reach his truly warm core.”
She was taken aback for a moment after blurting out the analogy about red wine.
Elias's gaze fell on the wine glass in her hand, the pomegranate red reflected on her porcelain white fingertips, creating a striking contrast.
Just as Yuan Ning gestured to him again, raised her glass, and tilted her head back, the aroma of berries filled her mouth once more, spreading down her throat and into her chest, as if permeating her entire being.
Elias gently cupped her cheek and kissed her.
Without any warning, it happened naturally.
While Yuan Ning was still immersed in the warm, dizzying feeling brought on by the wine, Elias leaned over and gently cupped her cheek with one hand.
His palms were warm and dry, with calluses on his fingertips.
His lips first touched hers, very lightly, carrying the sweetness of lingering Sassicaia berries and the crispness of cedar.
Yuan Ning's breathing paused for a moment, then she quietly closed her eyes.
The cabin was so quiet, with only the steady low hum of the engine.
The dim light became the best curtain, enveloping them in a small, isolated world floating ten thousand meters in the air.
You can't see any desire to conquer in him; he's like someone savoring a glass of wine—slow, deep, and full of patient exploration.
Wynne remained quiet and obedient, feeling dizzy.
Sassicaia has a velvety texture, and when it glides into her mouth, it's a delicate, grinding sensation.
He gently scraped across her sensitive palate and the sides of her tongue.
The complex layers of red wine are completely broken down and reassembled as the wine is tasted on the lips and teeth.
She first clearly tasted his portion. A richer blackcurrant jam flavor, mixed with a hint of bitter cigar tobacco.
Then, her own portion, with its subtle sweetness reminiscent of women's lipstick and the initial fruity aroma of the wine, also blended in. The two flavors intertwined and permeated each other, eventually becoming indistinguishable, leaving only a completely new, addictive, and slightly intoxicating blend of sweet and astringent.
He would occasionally step back slightly, allowing her to inhale a breath of cool air carrying his scent.
They looked at each other, and Yuan Ning blushed slightly.
It's very quiet here. The world is filtered down to just the most private sounds.
The deep hum of the engine became a constant background noise, which made the sound that was so close at hand all the more clear.
It was an incredibly sweet, warm kiss, carrying the scent of wine.
Her nostrils were completely filled with his scent. The clean feel of the high-quality fabric, the dry woody odor emanating from his skin, warmed by his body heat, like the cedar bookshelves in his study.
With each breath he took, these scents enveloped her more intensely.
The soft, warm scent emanating from her cashmere sweater, which she had worn all day and which had been warmed by her body heat, along with the subtle scent of soap mixed with body heat emanating from her neck, seemed to captivate him as well.
His nose would occasionally brush against her cheek and neck as he took a deep breath.
The two sniffed each other undisturbed in the cramped cabin.
Occasionally, a suppressed, satisfied hum escaped his throat, low and hoarse, like the vibration of the lowest string of a cello.
The subtle sounds of her breathing and swallowing, which she couldn't control, and the wet, slippery sounds of her lips and tongues entwining, were amplified infinitely in the extreme silence, both shameful and erotic.
However, what made her scalp tingle the most was that he briefly and very lightly bit her lower lip with his teeth and rubbed it against her, the almost inaudible, subtle friction between his lips and teeth like fabric.
She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with desire. In the dim light, his thick, golden eyelashes drooped, making him appear exceptionally focused.
His Adam's apple bobbed slowly and restrainedly before her eyes. She could see her hand in his grasp, her fingers unconsciously curling.
She tilted her head slightly, and in the blurry reflection of the porthole, their figures were intertwined. Her head was tilted back slightly, revealing the delicate curve of her neck, while his figure completely covered her, forming an outline full of protection and possession.
This observation made her feel very satisfied. He was still very close, forehead to forehead, nose to nose.
He gently rubbed her cheek with his palm.
He didn't speak, but looked at her intently with his strikingly bright blue eyes in the dim light, his pupils reflecting her two small, dreamy figures.
When the kiss seemed to end, an almost vacuum-like silence filled the space between them.
He released her, and she slowly backed away.
Keep retreating until you reach a safe distance.
However, an even stronger desire hovers in a state of silent screaming.
After a brief, accidental eye contact, a surge of body temperature and breath passed before their gazes were quickly averted.
Over the past twenty years, Yuan Ning has enjoyed countless top-notch delicacies, fine wines, and exquisite clothing and jewelry, but those sensory stimulations paled in comparison to what had just happened.
A strange, scalding tide was surging restlessly deep within my body.
She didn't even dare to look at him anymore, afraid that the almost overflowing, wet longing in her eyes would completely betray her.
She could only turn her face slightly to the side, lower her eyes, and pretend to straighten her not-too-disheveled clothes, but her fingertips trembled unconsciously.
Elias is absolutely breathtakingly sexy.
His world, his entire being, possessed an innate and fatal attraction for Yuan Ning.
His sex appeal never lay in his muscles or sweet talk, but in his power itself.
All he has to do is say to her, "Wynne, I'll pave the way for you, and I'll always watch you climb higher."
Yuan Ning would scream.
This complex mix of desires—"I want to be you, I want to possess you, and I want to prove that I am good enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with you or even surpass you"—creates the most intense attraction.
Yuan Ning felt that Elias was like a supercomputer running the most elegant code in the universe, yet he had the sculpted physique of an ancient Greek god and a deep voice that made your legs weak.
You want to kneel down and study his algorithms, while simultaneously wanting to pin him against the wall and kiss him until all his perfect code becomes gibberish. He makes you feel that wisdom and power are the most potent and addictive aphrodisiacs in the world.
Yuan Ning had to admit that, whether out of reason or emotion, she was irresistibly drawn to him.
They had just shared a sweet kiss, and a huge wave of dizziness enveloped her.
But it seems she has just tasted something more addictive than any luxury in the world, and she wants more.
He looked at her blushing cheeks and trembling eyelashes as she turned to the side. His fingers tightened silently at his sides. He needed to regain control, control the situation, control himself… You've tasted it, you know what it's like. And your body and soul have honestly remembered that taste, and… are insatiably greedy.
Thus, in the stillness of the sky thousands of meters above the ground, the two found themselves in a strange stalemate.
Reason was sounding an alarm bell in my ears, while instinct was setting my blood on fire.
They stopped looking at each other and even deliberately kept a little distance between themselves.
It wasn't until the flight attendant reminded them that the plane was beginning its descent that Yuan Ning returned to her seat, and everyone gradually woke up.
The eight-hour flight passed quickly, and we landed in New York at 8 p.m.
The plane landed smoothly at Tetporo Airport. The cabin door opened, and the crisp, dry winter air of New York City rushed in instantly.
The small, sealed, warm air bubble inside the cabin was popped with a "pop".
Reality returns.
Yuan Ning wrapped her MaxMara coat tighter around herself, carefully concealing her kissed skin and still slightly burning lips.
She picked up her carry-on suitcase and followed at the end of the line down the gangway. The cold wind brushed against her cheeks, clearing her chaotic thoughts slightly, but the unfamiliar tide awakened deep within her surged even more fiercely.
Elias walked at the front, his posture upright and his steps steady. He had completely reverted to the calm and composed demeanor of the Perseus Capital tycoon; his profile appeared cold and distant under the airport lights.
He didn't even look back at her, but simply gave Richard some instructions.
Two black Bentleys were already waiting nearby. The team members naturally split into two groups and walked to their respective car doors.
Elias parted ways with Richard and went to his Aston Martin alone.
He turned around and waved to Yuan Ning, who was heading off somewhere.
"Wynne, come here."
Yuan Ning's heart began to beat uncontrollably because of just one sentence.
Elias didn't intend to arrange for someone to take her back; he let her get into his car, and it was just the two of them.
She looked up, dragging her luggage toward him.
Elias had already opened the passenger door. He turned to watch her approach, his face expressionless, and with one hand lifted her suitcase and put it into the trunk.
Yuan Ning fastened her seatbelt, her fingers lingering on the metal buckle for a moment, her fingertips icy cold. She could clearly hear her own heartbeat, which sounded particularly clear amidst the low rumble of the engine.
He sat back in the driver's seat, and the engine emitted a deep, powerful roar, which was then deliberately suppressed into a steady idling sound, like a wild beast being restrained by a rein, rolling muffled thunder in its throat.
The interior is smaller and more private than a Bentley, and the scent of top-quality leather and Elias's crisp woody fragrance fills the air almost instantly.
He shifted gears, lightly pressed the accelerator, and the Aston Martin smoothly glided out of the parking space, merging into the traffic on Airport Road. The acceleration was gentle yet continuous, showcasing the suppressed, surging power of this mechanical beast.
The scenery outside the car window rushed past, the lights of New York City forming a flowing river of light. Inside the car, however, it was unusually quiet.
Yuan Ning thought to herself, "They've finally come back."
Elias drove in a relaxed posture, with one hand resting under the steering wheel and the other casually placed on the center console.
The silence continues.
Yuan Ning saw that he was driving in the direction of her home.
The silence was filled with unspoken words.
After driving for an unknown amount of time, as the car entered a relatively quiet tunnel leading to Manhattan, Elias suddenly spoke, his voice gentle:
"Wynne, is there anything else planned for tonight?"
Yuan Ning gently shook her head: "No more."
Elias nodded, without any further reaction, and simply turned precisely at the fork in the road ahead towards her apartment.
Another period of silence.
As the car emerged from the tunnel and was once again bathed in the dazzling night view of Manhattan, Elias's hand, which had been resting on the armrest, suddenly moved.
He didn't look at her, his gaze still focused on the road ahead, but his finger moved a few inches to the side very naturally, and then stopped.
In the dim light, the backs of their hands almost touched.
Yuan Ning's body stiffened slightly.
She looked down at the hand that was so close to her.
She shifted slightly to the side, their hands touching, and Elias opened his palm and took her hand in his.
Neither of them made any other movements; they simply held hands quietly.
The Aston Martin cruised smoothly through the traffic toward her apartment.
Elias let go of her hand when they finally arrived at her apartment building.
The Aston Martin glided into the temporary parking space, and the engine fell silent after a very low sigh.
He put his hands back on the steering wheel, appearing calm and restrained.
Yuan Ning felt her throat was dry.
She turned her head slightly to look at him.
What should I say in the end?
A polite "goodnight"? A briefing on tomorrow's work? Or...?
"We've arrived, Wynne."
"Mm," Yuan Ning replied.
She unbuckled her seatbelt; with a soft "click," the restraint was released.
She turned to face him one last time, as if she wanted to say something more. Even just a simple "thank you" or "take care on the road."
But the moment she saw his calm profile and his tightly pursed lips, she felt a ticklish, empty feeling in her heart, as if a cat was scratching at her.
She ultimately said nothing, turned around, touched the doorknob, and prepared to push the door open and get out of the car.
His right arm suddenly stretched out, wrapped around her waist, and lifted her off the passenger seat!
When Yuan Ning came to his senses, he had already placed the person steadily and firmly on his lap, with his back against the steering wheel.
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