Since Shane Sterling had already taken care of her leave, Isla Prescott was in no hurry to rush back to the studio.
She put on so makeup, carefully covering the noticeable hickeys with foundation.
The entire ti, Shane Sterling leaned against the bathroom counter, watching her with a smile and his arms crossed.
"And you’re smiling," Isla Prescott said, glaring at him. "Couldn’t you have been a little gentler?"
Earlier, while putting her hair up, she’d discovered that it wasn’t just her collarbone—there were two hickeys on her neck as well.
"Don’t do this again," she said, her tone serious. "What if a student or parent sees? It would look bad."
"Next ti..." Shane Sterling latched onto the key words, savoring them playfully. "When, exactly, is ’next ti’?"
He slowly closed the distance, his arm wrapping around her waist. His warm breath brushed against her ear. "How about now?"
Isla Prescott quickly pushed him away. "What are you thinking? It’s broad daylight!"
"What else would I be thinking about? Obviously, about doing certain... indescribable things with you." He pulled her into a tight embrace, not mincing words. "You’ve been on my mind all day."
If it hadn’t been for the shareholders’ eting today, he wouldn’t have left the bed—or her—this morning.
In that mont, Isla Prescott felt that Shane Sterling was like a wolf that had just tasted blood. His wild instincts had been awakened, sharpening his predatory skills and aggression.
"Stop. I’m sore."
Her soft, plaintive "sore" made Shane Sterling’s gaze instantly soften. "Where does it hurt?"
"Everywhere," she said peevishly. "My legs feel like jelly just standing here."
"My fault," Shane Sterling said, bending down to massage her legs. He coaxed, "How about I drive you to work later, okay?"
The studio wasn’t far, but Isla Prescott genuinely couldn’t walk today.
"Okay."
"Are you hungry?"
"A little."
"Then I’ll order us so food. What would you like?"
"Whatever’s fine."
"The seafood risotto from The Azure Fin?" he asked, patiently scrolling through options on his phone. "Or a set al from Wuji?"
"The seafood risotto."
"Okay."
After they ate at ho, Shane Sterling drove Isla Prescott to the dance studio.
Her colleagues at the studio had just finished lunch around that ti. When they saw Isla Prescott arrive, they all gathered around her, concerned.
"Isabelle, are you okay?"
Isla Prescott was completely baffled by their questions until Annabelle Leighton ca over and shielded her. "She’s fine, she’s fine," Annabelle announced. "Isabelle just has a little cold. You all should go take your break."
The crowd dispersed.
"Sorry about that, Isabelle. I didn’t an to lie," Annabelle Leighton explained. "But everyone was asking this morning why you weren’t here. I could hardly say you were exhausted because things got too intense last night..."
"Shh!" This was giving Isla Prescott a headache. "Lower your voice!"
Annabelle Leighton laughed. "What’s the big deal? We’re all adults, it’s perfectly normal to have a sex life! So, how was he? Is Shane Sterling any good?"
Isla Prescott desperately wanted to clamp a hand over Annabelle Leighton’s mouth.
"Did you finish editing the video?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.
"It’s done."
"What ti is the eting?"
"Two o’clock."
"Okay, I’ll go get ready then."
With that, Isla Prescott made a quick escape, giving Annabelle Leighton no further chance to gossip.
The dance studio’s first-quarter financial report was cause for celebration. To reward everyone for their hard work, Isla Prescott and Annabelle Leighton decided to take the staff on a trip. Therefore, the main agenda for the afternoon eting was deciding on a destination.
The studio’s staff was entirely female, and everyone preferred a slow-paced, relaxing vacation style. In the end, an island getaway was approved by a unanimous vote.
After the eting, Annabelle Leighton called Isla Prescott into her office.
"Isabelle, the only reason the studio is doing this well is because of you." Annabelle Leighton handed Isla Prescott a bank card. "This has a hundred thousand in it. It’s a bonus for your outstanding contributions."
Isla Prescott was reluctant to accept. "But didn’t we agree to pay off the renovation costs before taking any dividends?"
"At the rate the studio is going, we’ll recoup the renovation costs sooner or later. And like I said, this is a bonus, not a dividend."
"But I can’t take this."
"Why not? You’re basically handling everything at the studio now, big and small. You’re the one putting in most of the effort on social dia, too. And the Taoli Cup! Our studio only beca well-known because you won. To be honest, if I were running this place by myself, we’d probably have gone bankrupt ages ago. We’d never have this kind of amazing upward montum. So, you’ve earned this bonus!"
Isla Prescott tried to refuse a few more tis, but Annabelle Leighton was adamant. In the end, Isla had no choice but to accept it.
Now that she had this unexpected money, Isla Prescott’s first thought was to pay Shane Sterling back. Even though they were together, she had no intention of letting their relationship erase her debt.
She transferred the money to Shane Sterling, adding the note, "First installnt."
Shane Sterling imdiately sent back a question mark.
Before Isla Prescott could even type a reply, a call from Shane Sterling ca through.
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