Turning on the computer on her desk, Riley Perry officially got to work.
In this day and age, love and affection were all fake. Only money was real.
At seven in the evening, she got a call from Joanna. Filming for Director Quinn's show would officially begin the day after tomorrow, which meant she had to head to the film studio tomorrow.
Director Quinn was a man of principle. Not only did he forbid investors from interfering with his productions, but he also hated generating hype. Once the crew was ready, they started filming, period. A single official announcement on Weibo was all they did. He had said she'd be joining the cast in seven days, and he was true to his word, not off by a single day.
Rhona was handling the packing, so Riley Perry didn't have to worry about it. All she had to do was show up.
She ordered takeout for dinner and ate until she was a little too full. Riley Perry then curled up on the living room sofa, not wanting to move an inch.
When Cole Sinclair got home, the television was on. Riley Perry was sitting on the sofa playing a game, dangling her two jade-like feet. The sounds from her game were just as loud as the host's voice on the TV.
The moment she saw him, she was like an adorable kitten, happily leaping into her master's arms. She wrapped her hands tightly around his waist, and Riley Perry exclaimed excitedly, "Mr. Sinclair, you're back!"
"You're this happy to see me home?"
Riley Perry burrowed into his chest, nodding emphatically. "So happy! I was worried you weren't coming home tonight."
With the soft, warm, fragrant woman in his arms, the corners of Cole Sinclair's lips curved up slightly. He lifted Riley Perry's face and buried his own in a kiss, pressing against her full, glossy red lips. He had to admit, this little lover of his was completely to his liking. Especially in bed. They were a perfect match!
And just like that, he carried her into the master bedroom, one hand supporting her bottom, kissing her the entire way, before pressing her down onto the large bed.
When he finally let her go, Riley Perry complained breathlessly, "Are you touch-starved or something? All you do is kiss, kiss, kiss! You won't even let a girl speak!"
Cole Sinclair stood by the bed, forcefully yanking off his tie. The movement, however, was both sensual and teasing. "Go on, then. Talk."
"I just wanted to ask if you've had dinner. I was worried you might be hungry~" She deliberately drew out the last word, her voice a mix of sweet and sultry. To Cole Sinclair's ears, her words were like a drop of water in a pan of sizzling oil, causing his already simmering blood to instantly boil over.
"I am hungry, actually."
He immediately quickened his pace, unbuttoning his white shirt to reveal his perfect abs. The suggestive, lustful motion made Riley Perry's eyes widen in appreciation.
"Like what you see?"
"Love it!"
He tossed his suit pants carelessly onto the carpet. Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, and a prominent bulge in his boxer briefs... Riley Perry's face flushed with excitement. "You... you..."
Seeing her reaction, Cole Sinclair knew she approved of his physique and was deeply satisfied. "Now, time to eat!"
He seized one of Riley Perry's small, tender feet, his thumb stroking it subtly a couple of times. When she saw he was about to kiss her instep, she cried out, "Stop! I need to take a shower."
'He'll kiss my mouth right after kissing my foot, and I am not having that!'
If Cole Sinclair knew what she was thinking, he'd probably lose it. He didn't find her feet dirty in the slightest, yet she was disgusted by the idea of his mouth after it had touched her foot?!
Besides, she was always so fragrant and soft. What part of her was dirty?
By then, Cole Sinclair had already scooped her up. "Then we'll shower together." It wouldn't be the first time he'd bathed her, after all. One more time made no difference.
Riley Perry wasn't about to refuse. Turning down someone waiting on you hand and foot would just be foolishly spurning a good thing.
Little did she know, she had become a "perk" for him as well.
Once undressed, the woman's skin was white as snow, her figure enchanting. Every glance she cast was brimming with flirtatious charm. Yet, her seductiveness wasn't the least bit vulgar; on the contrary, it held a hint of innocence. He had only ever witnessed such an extreme contrast in her.
'Few men in this world could resist her beauty,' Cole Sinclair thought. He felt a surge of gratification. 'I was the first man to have her, and I'm the one who possesses her now!'
The sound of the water in the bathroom grew louder and softer, a full hour of fooling around passing before it finally stopped.
Riley Perry didn't want to move an inch. The man was used to seeing her like this and, without being asked, lifted her straight out of the bathtub.
Riley Perry rested her head against the man's bare chest, her eyes half-lidded. She looked as docile as a lazy kitten, and the sight made Cole Sinclair's breath catch in his throat once more.
Seeing his lips approaching again, Riley Perry quickly put a hand out to push him away. "No more~ I have to catch a flight tomorrow. I need a good night's rest."
Cole Sinclair froze. He shifted back slightly and asked in a cold voice, "You have work? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Riley Perry always had a little more patience for handsome men. "Isn't it normal for me to have a job? Or would you rather I had nothing to do? Let me tell you, that's a no-go. A woman without work is like a flower cut from its stem. She'll wither away in no time."
Cole Sinclair knew, of course, that she was a minor actress, but she wasn't famous and her annual income was limited.
"Isn't what I give you enough for you to live on?" The contract stipulated a monthly allowance of three million, yet what she earned on her own wasn't even a tenth of that.
Riley Perry stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "President Sinclair, you only signed a one-year contract with me, not a lifetime one. Of course I have to work hard and earn my own money."
She had to buy her parents a house, a storefront, and a car in Dragonspire. She had to pay for her younger brother to attend the best university. She had so, so many things she needed to do. How could she not work?
Cole Sinclair's expression soured. 'That's right,' he thought. 'Our contract is only for one year.'
Seeing him sulking, Riley Perry quickly moved to placate him. He was a real powerhouse, after all. If he gave the word, all her resources would dry up. No matter how ambitious she was, she'd have no work to do. She deliberately pressed her body against his arm, rubbing against him. "Oh, come on, don't be like that. I'm just leaving for work for a few days, not forever. Besides, you're so busy you're not home every day anyway. If you miss me that much, you can always come visit me on set."
The rubbing ignited Cole Sinclair's desire again. He took a few quick strides, laid her on the bed, and pinned her beneath him, drawing a coquettish cry from her. "Hey, I really do have a plane to catch tomorrow..."
"What's there to be afraid of? I'll just take you to the airport myself."
'Figures,' Riley thought. 'A man will promise anything to get what he wants.'
The flight was at 8:30 a.m. Rhona had packed the luggage, but even so, they still had to leave the house by seven.
And so, at six o'clock, a certain president who had promised a ride to the airport fished Riley Perry out from under the covers. "Get up. Breakfast is being prepared. I'll take you to the airport after we eat."
Riley Perry really didn't want to move. The half-night-long "exercise" was one reason. Another was that, as someone used to staying up all night writing code, she found it hard to get up in the morning even when she went to bed early.
She opened her eyes and shot a reproachful look at the man, who was already fully dressed. A fair arm slipped out from under the covers, and she hooked her finger around his pinky. "Mr. Sinclair, I'm so sleepy~ Can't you just let me sleep a little longer?"
Cole Sinclair pressed his lips together. A tickling sensation spread from his pinky, and a pang of guilt pricked his heart. He had already been very restrained, but it was true he had kept her up for the better part of the night.
"What will it take to get you out of bed?"