Astra's chest heaved violently, her wrists still bearing the residual warmth of Jiang Ting's touch. She knew this act of service was just part of his power play—a game to show her how laughable her defiance was in his eyes. But she wouldn't give in.
She took a deep breath, composed herself, and gracefully picked up the teapot from the table. Walking over to Jiang Ting, she placed a cup of hot tea on the table in front of him.
"The tea is ready. Please enjoy."
Her voice was cold as frost, yet her actions remained elegant and composed, showing no trace of panic.
Jiang Ting looked up, took the cup, and sipped gently. His gaze settled on her face as he spoke slowly, "You do seem somewhat obedient now."
Astra did not respond. She straightened her posture, her gaze unwavering and resolute.
"Don't mistake my compliance for surrender. This is just a transaction."
Jiang Ting's eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers tapping the cup rhythmically, as if mulling over her words. His lips curled into a faint smile, as though he enjoyed watching his prey struggle.
"A transaction? You really are amusing."
He set down the cup, his gaze darkening. "Since it's a transaction, I look forward to you fulfilling your end of the deal." Leaning close to her ear, his voice dropped to a low, icy whisper, "Tonight, you belong to me."
Astra's whole body stiffened, a chill spreading from her spine to her limbs. Her lips trembled slightly, but her stubbornness quickly buried the fear. She lifted her head, her eyes filled with defiance and determination.
"Jiang Ting, if you think this will make me yield, you're wrong."
He leaned in slightly, his breath grazing her ear, his deep voice carrying a faint electric charge. "Do you know, Astra? Your defiance... it fascinates me."
His words struck a hidden corner of her heart, each syllable tinged with a subtle, intimate heat.
Astra's body shivered slightly, her heartbeat faltering. She tried to meet his gaze with icy disdain but found herself caught in his deep, blazing eyes. His gaze held dominance, but also something more complex and searing.
Jiang Ting lifted her chin, his thumb brushing against the corner of her lips, his voice low and magnetic. "You can hate me, you can resist, but you can't deceive your own body. Do you know how fast your heart is beating right now?"
His eyes drifted from hers to her trembling lips, a dangerous smile playing on his lips.
"I'm giving you a chance to say no, Astra," Jiang Ting murmured seductively. "Say the word, and I'll let you go."
Astra's mind screamed for her to say "no," but her body felt bound by an invisible force. She hated her own response, yet couldn't ignore the flutter deep inside.
Her eyes involuntarily fell on Jiang Ting, memories of him flooding her mind.
Jiang Ting, with his tall, statuesque figure, broad shoulders, and long legs, carried an inescapable presence wherever he went. His sharp, sculpted features and blade-like gaze beneath his brows exuded coldness. His thin lips were perpetually set in a distant line, a natural air of aloofness surrounding him.
In lavish banquets and parties, she had seen countless glamorous women flocking to him, their smiles dazzling as they threw themselves at him. Yet, Jiang Ting always responded with cold indifference, his disinterested gaze dismissing their advances.
His cold demeanor was an impenetrable wall to others, a challenge that high-society ladies pursued in vain.
She never imagined that this same Jiang Ting would now reveal a burning passion before her, his gaze like a predator's, filled with desire and a complicated possessiveness.
Her heart felt clenched by an invisible hand—anger, surprise, and an unacknowledged thrill.
Why her?
The question circled her mind. She was just another pawn in his power game, but the intensity in his eyes made it hard to ignore. His fingers brushed her cheek, the faint touch igniting every nerve beneath her skin.
"Do you know, Astra," he whispered huskily, "the more you resist, the more I want to possess you."
His words struck like sparks on a powder keg, igniting hidden emotions.
Her rational mind pulled at her, warning her this was a trap, a form of domination. But her heart raced as he drew closer. The walls around her frozen heart seemed to crack.
Images of the women he had rejected flashed through her mind—his cold refusals, his aloof indifference. And yet, in front of her, that coldness disintegrated. His gaze, his touch—they were searing, focused.
Her breath grew ragged, her eyes flickering with struggle and doubt.
Jiang Ting, sensing her hesitation, smiled with the certainty of a victor.
"Astra, you can lie to yourself, but not to your heart and body," he murmured like an enchantment. "You want me too, don't you? I give you a chance to say NO."
At that moment, her defenses crumbled.
Her stubbornness, anger, and struggle blurred under his relentless presence.
The Cold Morning After
The night retreated, and the room still held traces of lingering warmth.
Jiang Ting lay on his side, his gaze coldly fixed on the ceiling. After the fleeting passion, his face returned to its usual indifference, as cold and unfeeling as frozen steel.
Astra's breathing was still uneven, her body exhausted. She turned to look at Jiang Ting, a sliver of hope in her eyes—hope for tenderness or warmth.
But Jiang Ting frowned slightly, his voice hard: "You can leave now."
His tone was dismissive, like addressing a meaningless task.
Astra's heart sank, her fingertips trembling. A cold wave swept through her, the intimacy reduced to a calculated transaction.
Jiang Ting sat up, casually straightening the sheets, his gaze sweeping over her with indifference. "Clean yourself up. Don't dirty my bed."
His voice lacked warmth, treating her like a used object, discarded without a second thought.
Astra inhaled deeply, forcing calm as she stood up and walked to the bathroom. Her steps were stiff, each one like walking on blades.
Resolute in the Bathroom
The water cascaded down, icy against her skin. Astra closed her eyes, letting the cold wash away her humiliation. Her nails dug into her palms, the pain a tether against her anger and shame.
"Does he think he can break me like this? Jiang Ting, you underestimate me."
Her eyes gleamed with defiance. Tonight's humiliation was etched into her memory. One day, he would see that his control was an illusion.
The Cold Command
Emerging from the bathroom, Astra saw Jiang Ting standing by the window, gazing at the city lights. Without turning, he spoke coldly, "Wake me at six tomorrow."
He turned, his eyes sharp as he issued orders: "Prepare my breakfast, clothes, shoes, and briefcase. Don't forget to squeeze my toothpaste, comb my hair, put on my shoes, and carry my bag."
Astra's fingertips went white. Forcing a blank expression, she replied icily, "Understood."
Jiang Ting nodded, a smirk of derision curling his lips. "Remember your place. You're just my secretary and maid now."
With that, he lay down, pulling the blanket over him, turning his back as if she were air.