Tina had always considered herself somewhat indifferent to the allure of the opposite sex. Among her circle of friends, she was the odd one out, a 23-year-old who had never really ''yed the field,'' preferring instead to explore the world through the lens of her camera.


    Buttely, she found herself understanding the appeal of the game.


    Three years ago, when she first met Phillip, she couldn''t have imagined that this man, seemingly her pr opposite, would captivate her so entirely.


    The alcohol was wearing off, and after expending so much energy, Tina felt a wave ofziness wash over her as she slumped against Phillip.


    Her hair was a mess, half-damp from the night''s escapades.


    Phillip, ever so gently, shifted the lethargic Tina off him. Her groggy mind registered his movement, and she let out azy hum of protest, half-joking, "Leaving so soon?"


    When Phillip returned, he was holding a hairdryer, "Come here."


    Tina wrapped herself in the nket, sitting up and moving closer, her feet dangling off the side of the bed, resting on Phillip''s sneakers.


    She shook her head, flinging her hair out, and Phillip turned on the hairdryer. His fingers worked through her hair, the warm air soothing her scalp. The buzzing sound and the warmth were oddlyforting in the dead of night, her forehead resting against Phillip''s midsection, letting him bear the weight of her head.


    But Tina couldn''t stay still for long.


    The silky material of Phillip''s pajama bottoms felt smooth under her toes as she yfully slid her foot up his leg.


    "We''ve already called off the engagement, Tina. This isn''t exactly appropriate," Phillip''s calm voice floated down.


    Tina looked up defiantly, "You were the one who peeked when I was taking a shower. And when I took the initiative, you didn''t exactly push me away. So much for being a gentleman."


    Her tone was feisty, betraying how much she too had enjoyed their moments together.


    Phillip didn''t argue.


    He switched off the hairdryer, set it aside, and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her back onto the bed before pressing down upon her, his face inches from hers, "What now?" "I''m not in the mood to y the good guy tonight," he said, capturing her lips before she could protest further.


    ????


    The next morning, the scheduled meeting at Vector Vista was unexpectedly postponed. Thepany''s usually indefatigable CEO was notably absent, causing a stir among the upper management. The executive office was nearly trampled by concerned colleagues inquiring about the CEO''S


    whereabouts.


    "Has he arrived yet? When will he be in?"


    The secretary could only respond with variations of "I don''t know," and "He''ll notify you when he arrives."


    Tina had caught a cold.


    She had started fevering before


    dawn, and in her hazy state, she was dressed and carried into Phillip''s car. The visit to the emergency room, the IV drip she experienced it all inva daze only wincing when the needle pricked her skin.


    The nurse applied the adhesive tape carefully, offering instructions Tina couldn''t grasp through her headache.


    The VIP room at the hospital was a quiet sanctuary, the bed far morefortable than standard hospital offerings. Despite this, her fever left her achy and irritable. She whined to Phillip, who was lying beside her on the narrow bed, "Hold me."


    Phillip, realizing his negligence in not drying her off properly, which led to her sweating through the night, felt responsible for her condition. He kissed her forehead, whispering, "Sleep, Tina."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Curled up in his arms, Tina''s feebleint was both a jest and a plea, "Phillip, you''re shameless. You seduced me, brought me back home, and now I''m sick because of you. I should call the cops on you."


    Their banter, mixed with genuine concern and affection, painted aplex picture of their rtionship, one that was as unpredictable as it was passionate.