Chapter 113 The Morning After

After the alarm clock blared its obnoxious tune, Norah, nursing her hangover, reached out groggily for her phone, only to brush against an arm instead. She felt the solid sinew of the arm and realized it belonged to a man.

This realization jolted her awake, prompting her to snap her eyes open, meeting the gaze of Sean, who was in the process of silencing her phone's alarm.

Sean, adorned with hickeys like trophies, regarded her with a hint of awkwardness.

"Off to work, huh? Why not take a day to recuperate?" Sean nonchalantly suggested, taking it upon himself to dictate Norah's schedule for the day.

Norah hesitated, taking a moment to register her state of undress before hastily grabbing the blanket to cover herself.

Meanwhile, Sean, also devoid of attire, sported a sun-kissed complexion, taut muscles, and an

impressive eight-pack, a testament to his dedication to physical fitness.

Avoiding direct eye contact, Norah croaked out, "Mr. Scott, what brings you here? And what in heaven's name transpired between us last night?"

Sean, far more composed than Norah, leisurely lit a cigarette, blowing smoke rings as he remarked, "Norah, you truly possess a lamentable memory. Shall I jog it for you?"

Casting a glance at Norah's exposed shoulder, Sean reminisced about the events of the previous night, realizing she was even more captivating than he had initially surmised.

Norah massaged her temples, gradually piecing together fragments of the night before. However, with each recollection, her complexion paled. She recalled being the instigator, and Sean, far from resisting, had eagerly acquiesced, leading them to the throes of passion.

Norah lay there, stunned into silence. Her overindulgence in drinks was now a source of profound regret. How could she have allowed herself to become so inebriated?

"Sean..." Norah began tentatively, struggling to find the right words.

Meeting Sean's gaze, Norah averted her eyes, unable to bear the intensity of the moment. "

got drunk last night. I hope you don't take it personally." By now, Norah was really mortified. She didn't want to talk to Sean about what had happened the night before while they were still naked.

"I... I must attend to my duties. Sean, I implore you to depart upon dressing. Norah was eager for Sean to get out of there.

"We're both adults here. I don't mind indulging in a bit of casual fun, Sean remarked, his tone remarkably blasé.

"What if I do?" Norah looked up and shot back, incredulous.

Norah was looking quite stunning right now. In the early light, her face appeared to shine like a rose covered in dew.

Sean took a drag of his cigarette and said slowly, "And why? Last night was perhaps your first time, wasn't it? You never did it with Derek before?"

Norah's annoyance simmered. "That's none of your concern, Sean!"

Chuckling, Sean remarked, "Oh, but it is. Your first time was with me!" He had a deep, husky laugh that had a captivating charm.

With a resigned sigh, Norah covered herself protectively, her anger tinged with embarrassment. "Just leave!"

"You didn't sleep well last night. Trust me, take the day off." Sean remained undeterred, and he

called Phillip instantly. "The hospital is not a cause for concern. Get plenty of rest. I'll get you

some breakfast."

Sean put out his cigarette with his palm and tossed it into the garbage bin since he couldn't find an ashtray.

"Anything you want to say, you sure can say it after you rest." He got out of bed, donned his clothes and made his exit, leaving Norah alone with her thoughts. "Call me if you need anything."

As Norah watched the door seal shut, she crumpled onto the bed, feeling like a wilted flower drained of its last drop of dew. In her heart, she castigated herself for entangling with Sean. Yesterday, she had aimed to keep her distance, but today's revelation of their intimacy complicated matters further. Norah couldn't fathom how they'd descended into this mess.

Gripping her phone from the bedside, she glimpsed several unread messages from the previous night.

Sean said in a text, "I like you! And I mean it! I'll be there soon."

It left her stunned as she held the phone. She'd expected radio silence, not an inundation of messages. At that moment, she couldn't discern if Sean's sentiments were genuine.

Overwhelmed, Norah couldn't confront this surge of emotion. She squeezed the phone tightly. admitting to herself that she harbored feelings for Sean, yet had never intended to pursue him.

Fresh from a failed marriage, she had no desire for another relationship.

Norah knew she didn't want to be with Sean. Though she couldn't decipher Sean's intentions, she resolved not to subject herself to love's wounds again.

"Joanna, you've been smashing it in training lately. You've got some real talent.”

Joanna was drenched in perspiration from her exercise session. She wiped her perspiration with the towel that the coach had given her.

"Mission or no mission, talent's always handy. I'm just honing my self-defense skills," Joanna replied, realizing her vulnerability. She didn't want to be a liability to Norah.

Joanna aspired to bolster her abilities for her planned global escapades with Norah.

The coach, Duncan Garcia, a towering figure with a rugged countenance, exuded an aura of authority.

"Duncan, when can I catch a breather?" Joanna unscrewed her water bottle, taking a few replenishing sips. Nearly half a month of rigorous training had left her yeaming for some respite. She missed Norah dearly, anxious to hear of her exploits at the auction. She just couldn't wait to catch up with Norah immediately.

Duncan was a former mercenary hired by Bryson to teach Joanna.

"The rule here is simple. No leaving until you've mastered your training. You've been slipping out often. Can't have that anymore. Duncan's voice softened. "Focus on solidifying what I've taught you. Next month, we'll venture out together."

"Duncan, please! I swear, just one outing!" Joanna pleaded, though deep down, she knew she'd find a way out this month.

After some back-and-forth, Duncan relented. "No wonder they're wary of taking on female trainees. You all are experts at being persuasive. Alright, I'll grant you half a day. Make it snappy, though. We have to keep tomorrow's training on track, okay?"

Joanna's eyes sparkled. "Got it! Thanks, Duncan. I won't let you down. I'll be back before the clock strikes midnight!"

Grinning from ear to ear, Joanna couldn't contain her excitement. She could go meet Norah and ask about the specifics of Norah's participation in the auction and everything. She was, in a nutshell, over the moon.

Watching Joanna's jubilant demeanor, Duncan shook his head with a fond smile. He couldn't

help but be drawn to her innocence and charm. Duncan tried to quell the flutter in his chest, wondering if it was simply his prolonged isolation or something more, but found himself inexplicably drawn to her!