Chapter 39 A million questions bubbled up in Anathea's mind , but she resisted the urge to ask them and shook her head . " Nothing " Gregory stared at her for a few seconds . When he found nothing amiss in her expression , he took her word for it and sat on the couch . He crossed his legs casually and said , " Cut to the chase , " He spoke to her so indifferently that she might as well be a stranger . His treatment of her now was worlds apart from last night when he'd pinned her against the door and degraded her . For a moment , Anathea couldn't tell which was the real Gregory , not that it mattered now . She had come here for a purpose . " Mr. Sinclair , " Anathea began . However , Gregory snorted as soon as the words left her mouth . " Ol ) , are you addressing me as ' Mr. Sinclair ' now ? You had no trouble calling me by my first name last night . " Stumped as Anathea was by his sarcasm , she maintained a placid expression and said courteously , " I came here to apologize for overstepping last night . I should have known my place . " " And ? " Gregory countered , slowly raising the teacup to his lips and taking a sip . Anathea clenched then unclenched her fingers . " Do you think you could find it in your heart to spare the Jacobson family and Eden Studio ? " Gregory was an apex predator who stood at the top of Castenia's social pyramid , and she was no match for him . As such , she tried to appear as submissive as possible , playing up her vulnerable side to appeal to his ego and , hopefully , persuade him to go easy on her family and the studio . Unfortunately , Gregory didn't buy her act at all . " Did you forget what you did to me last night , Anathea ? Do you honestly believe I'd overlook your insolence just because you've recalled your manners ? " A scorful laugh escaped him as he pointed at his lower lip . Anathea's bite last night had left a mark , if the scab was any indication . Anathea regretted being so impulsive . She hesitated for a heartbeat before asking , " What can I do to make it up to you then ? " " What do you think ? " Gregory leveled a knowing look at her , a humorless smirk tugging on his lips . " Do I need to spell it out for you ? It seemed he didn't intend to let her off easy . Anathea lowered her gaze , her fingers clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white . She knew what he was after , but she hated having to stoop so low and give him what he wanted when they were going to be divorced soon . Besides , he didn't even love her . He only wanted to take his anger out on her physically . She chewed her lower lip . She prided herself on having boundarie but Gregory had his ways of destroying them . Anathea's fingers uncurled as she looked up and met Gregory's undelding , demanding stare . She drew a deep breath and slowly closed the distance between then , her hand reaching for her shirt buttons . However , Just as she undid the first button , she realized the office walls were glass and that she could see the employees meandering outside . She paused , and her fingers trembled . Otegy leaned imo the couch , his slender fingers drumming aga at the armrest to an unsteady rhythm as he eyed her lastly He drawled , " Why'd you stup ? " Anathea pinched the button and said self - consciously , " Can we With so many people walldog down the corridor outside , No Dou to please Ciergory : the blinda ? " . lofinental preparation could make her abandon her dignity Chaptor 39 +25 BONUS Yet Gregory's gaze darkened when he noted her flustered state . Heparted his lips and denied her request outright . " No. " she realized he was cornering her into giving up Anathea's brows furrowed . When she saw the wicked amusement in his eyes , Ther job at Eden Studio . In other words , he never cared about her feelings and got off on her internal turmoil and humiliation She had to admit he played a good game , and he won . He'd been certain she couldn't and wouldn't stoop so low . He had her wrapped around his finger , and there was nothing she could do about it . Anathea exhaled and said nothing . " Is this all you've got , Anathea ? " Gregory scoffed , making his contempt clear . Anathea had lost . Her pride was her downfall . She stopped digging her nails into her palms and turned to leave . But the next second , Gregory reached out to grab her wrist and pulled her toward him . Today's Bonus Offer