Chapter 199

"Is it truly possible to abstain completely, Layla?" Samuel's voice was laced with a hint of longing, the allure of his tone unmistakable.

His large hand traced a slow path across Layla's back, his skilled fingers exploring the contours of her hips.

"It's not a question of possibility, Samuel, but of necessity," Layla retorted, her efforts focused on restraining Samuel's wandering hand. She struggled to maintain a stern expression, yet a soft gasp escaped her lips, her face still aglow with joy. "For the sake of our child, you must show restraint."

"Surely, for the comfort of our child, we mustn't abstain. Isn't that right, little one?" A wicked grin spread across Samuel's handsome face.

Layla found herself at a loss for how to handle Samuel's playful persistence. "I'm serious, Samuel."

"And I am equally serious," he replied, meeting her gaze with a look of feigned sincerity. "Our baby enjoys our closeness, doesn't he? You can't deny that, can you?"

His slender fingers brushed against Layla's lips, yielding beneath his touch like ripe cherries, reigniting the spark of desire within him.

"Samuel... if you continue this, I'll have no choice but to shed tears for you to witness."

"Alright, alright, I'll cease my teasing," Samuel chuckled, cradling the back of Layla's head and planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I've been overly indulgent tonight. A mere few days apart from you and I find myself missing you terribly. I promise to be gentler next time."

"But what if we're separated again, and then you...?" Layla's voice trailed off, her fear evident. Her concerns were more psychological than physical; she enjoyed their intimacy. If it weren't for her pregnancy, she would have given in to Samuel's advances without hesitation.

"Once more at most, okay? But no seducing me," Samuel negotiated.

Layla shot Samuel a sulky look, feeling unjustly accused. "When have I ever seduced you?"

"You conveniently decided to bathe just as I returned home. Isn't that seduction?"

Layla found herself both amused and exasperated. "Are you feigning ignorance now? How could you blame me? How was I to know when you would return?"

"I don't care, you've seduced me. You little temptress," Samuel teased, lightly tapping Layla's nose. "You tempt me every day, even now."

Every glance, every movement, every inch of Layla's skin was a potent poison to him, causing him to sink deeper into a state of hopeless infatuation.

"I truly don't know how I survived these past few days," Samuel sighed hoarsely. "Every minute, every second, my longing for you was insatiable."

At times, Samuel's urges were overwhelming, but the fleeting pleasure he found in solitude paled in comparison to the joy he experienced with Layla. His only respite was the cold relief of a shower.

"I missed you too," Layla murmured, nestling into the crook of Samuel's arm, her hand resting on his chest. She yearned to draw even closer, never to be separated from him again.

Layla prided herself on her independence; she was capable of handling many things on her own. However, Samuel was her anchor. His mere presence was enough to soothe her.

"Staying at home isn't so bad..." Layla sighed wistfully.

Samuel, sensing her change in mood, asked, "Is work proving to be difficult?"

"No, but in two months, I won't be able to continue working."

Layla loved her work in design, but her introverted nature often clashed with the demands of social interaction. She could ignore public criticism, but the relentless onslaught of negativity had pushed her to the brink of losing her job.

Though she wasn't physically tired, Layla felt mentally and emotionally drained.

"I wish you could stop working now, but I respect your decision," Samuel admitted.

He knew he could be overbearing at times, but he always tried to respect Layla's boundaries, especially when it came to her personal decisions.

Layla was not a possession; she was an individual with her own character and aspirations, which only added to her allure.

"You're so good to me," Layla murmured, her eyes closed as she breathed in the comforting scent of Samuel. As she drew energy from his presence, she could feel her strength gradually returning, seeping into every corner of her weary body.

A soft, sweet smile graced Layla's lips, a testament to her inner joy. She held a firm belief that God had bestowed upon her the greatest gift - the best man in the world. In the grand scheme of her life, the setbacks she was currently facing seemed to fade into insignificance.

Love was a sweet nectar, a balm for all wounds, and she was certain that her work situation would improve. Layla was a woman of faith, her heart brimming with hope.

As the sun rose the next day, it was business as usual at the office. Layla found herself facing a myriad of cold shoulders, treated as if she were a criminal hiding in plain sight. Yet, she refused to let it dampen her spirits. The happiness she had experienced the previous day still lingered, keeping a radiant smile on her face.

"Good morning, Alice," Layla greeted, placing a McDonald's breakfast - Alice's favorite - next to her. "I've already had breakfast, you take it," Alice responded, her gaze fixed on the floor.

"Then have an extra portion," Layla offered.

"I don't want to, thank you," Alice replied curtly.

"Alice..."

Before Layla could continue, another voice cut in. "If Alice doesn't want it, just stop pushing her. You think you're so great, being the lead designer, that everyone has to listen to you, Layla."

"Exactly, Alice knows who she should be friends with. She doesn't want to be your friend anymore, Layla. Don't you get it?" The words hung heavy in the air. Alice frowned slightly but remained silent.

"Gioanna, are you my boss or something?" Layla retorted, her patience wearing thin. "Every little thing I do seems to need your commentary. If you're that bored, Gioanna, please just hurry up and finish your report and hand it to me."

Gioanna scoffed at Layla's words. "Whoa, Layla, trying to scare me with your big designer attitude! When I joined the Holland Group as a designer, you were still figuring out where to intern. And now you're barking orders at me? Just so you know, I, Gioanna, am officially a Level-B designer, while you, Layla, are just an assistant."

"But on the Eilish Group project, I'm the lead designer; I'm in charge of scheduling and assignments. If you, Gioanna, don't follow directions, it could jeopardize our entire project. I'll inform management and have them replace you."

"Replace me? Haha, that's hilarious. Odds are, you'll be replaced by the company before they even consider letting me go. You've tarnished our team's reputation and you have the gall to lecture others, accusing them of holding back the project? You've got some nerve."

"Whether or not I have nerve is none of your concern. I need to see your report by 11 A.M. today, Gioanna. I'm not covering for you anymore." With that, Layla ended the conversation and returned to her office.

Gioanna muttered a curse under her breath. "What if I just don't turn it in? What's Layla gonna do about it? She won't last the day, let alone replace me."

"You should write the report anyway. Even if they replace you, it still needs to get done," Jane advised. "She's the lead designer right now. No sense in fighting a losing battle. She won't keep that smug grin for long."

Gioanna grumbled as she worked on the report and managed to submit it just in time.

"Let's go get lunch," Jane called out to Gioanna.

"Yeah, writing that report almost starved me to death. Making a designer do reports, that's just malicious."

As Gioanna was about to grab her phone and wallet, Layla appeared, placing the report on Gioanna's desk. "This report is unusable, rewrite it," she commanded.