Chapter 142
Chapter Title: A Moment of Vulnerability
Myra’s sleepy voice sounded soft and gentle, as though it was a small hand caressing Tony’s heart. The dazzling New York street view had faded from his mind, replaced by the sound of her voice.
Tony recalled the moment he had received her message after he got off the plane. His heart had softened at the sight of it. Taking the cigarette from his thin lips, he extinguished it in the ashtray, his voice dropping low as he spoke into the phone. “Did you miss me?”
An electric jolt ran through Myra, causing her to shudder slightly. She sank deeper into her bed, her voice muffled from under the blanket. “Yes…” His low chuckle echoed through the line, making her feel as though she could almost feel the vibration of his chest from miles away.
Tony had a way of making her feel weaker in the best possible way. When she couldn’t see him, she missed him intensely, but when he was near, she often felt an awkwardness she couldn’t quite explain. Biting her lip, she gathered the courage to ask, “Did you go back to handle the Hartwell Group?” Estelle had mentioned that Tony was planning to relocate the company to Bradfort City and merge it with the Hart Group.
Rather than being surprised that Myra knew about his plans, Tony reached into his cigarette case, pulled out another cigarette, and paused for a moment before tossing it into the trash. Relaxing into his car seat, he loosened his tie, his voice casual, “Don’t worry. There will be work-related events. But those women aren’t up to my standards.”
Myra’s heart flinched at his words. A rush of sweetness filled her chest, and she smiled softly. “If those women aren’t up to your standards, then who is?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them, though she couldn’t help but feel a flutter of anticipation. His low chuckle resounded again, sending a shiver down her spine. His voice, velvety and full of mischief, made her cheeks heat up. Instantly, her sleepiness vanished, and she straightened her posture, a bit flustered. “What are you laughing at?”
“You want me to confess my love for you, huh, Myra?” Tony’s voice was playful, his lips curling into a small, satisfied smile. In the rear-view mirror, the driver caught sight of Tony’s expression and widened his eyes in astonishment. He had been Tony’s personal driver for years but had never witnessed him speaking in such a tone. The woman on the other end must be someone important, he thought, but definitely not the one they all assumed…
The moment Myra heard Tony’s teasing words, her face turned crimson. Luckily, he couldn’t see her flustered state. She tightened her grip on the phone. “It’s late. I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
“So, you don’t want to know who’s up to my standards?” Tony’s voice lingered, teasing her further.
Myra was suddenly irritated. “I don’t want to know anymore!”
Tony sighed lazily. “That’s a shame. I was going to tell you. Since you’re tired, go to sleep then.” He paused, and his voice softened slightly. “Tomorrow, Elliot will bring Meow to your place. Meow will look after you for me when I’m not around.”
Myra’s thoughts drifted to what Tony had said before leaving, about not allowing her to talk to other men or have contact with them while he was away. His domineering words stirred a sweet, albeit embarrassing, sensation in her chest. She could feel her heart race as she thought about him.
She quickly pushed aside the feeling of being overwhelmed and exhaled softly. “Fine.” She hadn’t seen Meow in a while and missed the big furry dog.
The silence between them grew comfortable, broken only by Tony’s faint breathing. Though neither of them spoke, Myra couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Understanding that Tony had just gotten off a plane and would have much to handle, she decided to let him go. “I’ll let you go. Talk to you later.”
“Hmmm.” Tony’s voice was soft, a sound of agreement.
Myra’s lips curved into a small smile, and she bit her lip before adding, “I’ll wait for you at home.” Without thinking, she blew him a kiss before quickly ending the call.
Tony was momentarily stunned by the unexpected gesture, but a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
The driver, noticing the end of the call, cleared his throat and spoke. “Director Hart, Director Walton said the Walton Family has prepared a room for you. They miss you and want you to stay at the Walton Residence tonight.”
Tony, now back to his usual cold demeanor, barely acknowledged the driver’s words. “Take me to Bronx Street.”
The driver didn’t dare argue, simply responding, “Understood.” The car turned, heading toward Bronx Street.
Just then, Tony’s phone vibrated again. He glanced at the caller ID and answered, his voice distant.
“Tony, you’re finally back! Did the driver pick you up yet? Did he pass on my brother’s message?” A woman’s voice, delicate and cheerful, filled the car.
Tony lit another cigarette, his voice muffled but indifferent. “Hmm.”
“You have to come over tonight. I’ve got a surprise for you! Tony, I haven’t heard from you since you left. My brother mentioned you’re moving the Hartwell Group back to Bradfort City. Why? The company is doing fine here… And after the move, I’ll be so far away from you. We—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Tony abruptly ended the call, his irritation palpable. Holding the cigarette between his fingers, he exhaled slowly, his mind drifting back to the memory of Myra’s voice. That kiss she had blown him—he could still feel the heat. Her words stirred something in him that was hard to ignore.
“Meow…” he murmured, almost fondly. The thought of her at home waiting for him, the simple life they would share, it all made him want to return even more quickly.
The next morning, Myra found herself heading downstairs to meet Elliot, who was waiting for her with Meow in his arms, leaning against a flashy golden Aston Martin Taraf. The scene made her smile, though she couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Meow, acting like a little rascal, tried to get away from Elliot’s grip, only to leap back into his arms. The dog was a sweet burden, constantly pulling Elliot into playful chaos.
When Elliot finally noticed Myra, he grinned and walked over, still wrestling with the dog. “Here’s your dog, as promised by Tony!”
As soon as Meow saw Myra, it jumped from Elliot’s arms, bounding over to her and licking her happily. Myra laughed, delighted to see the dog in such high spirits.
Elliot looked on, a little amused but mostly relieved that Meow was back to its usual self. “It’s always like this when its master’s around,” he said, shaking his head. “Call me if you need help with it, Myra.”
Myra smiled warmly. “Thanks, Elliot. Be careful on your way.”
With that, Elliot got into his car, and Myra watched as the dog nuzzled against her, content in her presence. As she glanced at the sleek Aston Martin Taraf, a feeling of familiarity washed over her. She had seen the same car parked at the Chase Group’s underground parking lot before. The pieces started to click together.