The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 63: Tempted (ii)

The butler quickly stepped in front of Sia, blocking her path just before she could ascend the stairs. He silently thanked his stars that he had caught up with her in time—he couldn’t even begin to imagine what his boss would have done to him if he had failed.

Panting, he struggled to catch his breath. "Please, I beg you, Miss Sia," he gasped. "I am not ready to lose my job. It’s bad enough that I let you in without the boss’s approval—and only because of the past. Please, don’t push it. Wait in the living room while I inform him of your presence."

Sia looked up the staircase, her lips curling into a smirk. She wanted to argue, to push past the butler, but she held back, she didn’t want to disturb Ford thereby annoying him the more. But Suddenly, an idea formed in her mind—a plan that would get her exactly where she wanted to be.

She turned back to him with an eerie calmness. "Do as you wish," she said, shrugging before casually strolling back to the living room.

The butler was taken aback. He had expected resistance, a fight, maybe even some insults. Sia was not the type to back down so easily. His gut told him something was off.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he turned to one of the maids nearby. "Watch her," he instructed firmly before making his way up the stairs.

Reaching his boss’s door, he knocked. No answer. He knocked again—still nothing. Cautiously, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The sound of running water filled the air—the shower was on.

Realizing his boss was still bathing, the butler quickly stepped back, closing the door behind him. He knew better than to disturb Ford while he was in the shower. With a sigh, he made his way back downstairs, preparing to tell Sia she would have to wait.

But as he entered the living room, his heart dropped. The room was empty.

No Sia.

No maid.

His pulse quickened. "Oh no," he muttered, his eyes darting around in alarm. "Where has she gone now?"

Panic set in as he turned on his heels, hurrying off to search for her.

Meanwhile, just a few feet away, Sia stepped out of her hiding spot, a victorious smile playing on her lips. She had been waiting for the perfect moment to slip away unnoticed. Now, with the butler distracted, she had a clear path.

With silent, quick steps, she hurried up the stairs, her heart pounding with excitement.

She was finally going to see Ford—whether he liked it or not.

She reached Ford’s room, taking deep breaths, hoping for the best. She had missed him—longed for him—and she wasn’t going to back down now, not for anyone, not even for the so-called Elena, who was probably lying sick in a hospital bed.

Earlier, she had called the hospital to check on Ford’s whereabouts. When she was told he had already left, she didn’t waste a second. This was her opportunity—Elena wasn’t with him, and she had no reason to hold back.

She knocked gently on the door, waiting for a response. Silence. She knocked again, firmer this time, but still, there was no answer. A sense of restlessness crept in, making her pulse quicken. Slowly, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was empty. She looked around, wondering where he might have gone. Dropping her bag on the small wooden stool near the entrance, she let her gaze wander over the familiar space. It had been a long time since she had last stood in this room, yet nothing seemed to have changed.

The air was thick with his familiar scent—strong, masculine, and unmistakably his. It made her smile, bringing back memories that were both comforting and bittersweet. As her eyes roamed the room, they landed on something that made her pause.

There, on the wall, hung a portrait of Ford—a portrait she had gifted him. A rush of emotion swelled inside her. That was the very first gift she had ever given him, a symbol of something much deeper. The memory of that day came rushing back.

She moved closer, a small, nostalgic smile playing on her lips. Raising her hand, she let her fingers trace the edges of the frame. It felt surreal that after all this time, he still had it. Had he kept it because it meant something to him, too? Did he still love her?

She thought back to Ford’s twenty-fourth birthday. Finding the perfect gift for him had been a struggle. He was wealthy, had everything he could possibly want, and she had no idea what to give him that would be special. She had agonized over it until Lily, her closest friend then and fords little sister had suggested a portrait.

That night, when she had finally presented it to him, she had been nervous—afraid it wouldn’t be enough. But the look in his eyes had told her otherwise. He had been genuinely happy, and for the first time, he had kissed her deeply, right there in this very room.

It had been the moment everything changed between them.

Now, standing here again, she couldn’t help but wonder—did he still think about that night? Did he still think about her?

Turning back toward the bed, Sia ran her hands over the sheets, smoothing out the fabric with slow, deliberate strokes. The bed looked as inviting as ever, a place filled with memories that made her heart race.

She wasn’t a virgin—not then and certainly not now—but she was certain she had taken Ford’s virginity that night. Closing her eyes, she let herself slip into the past, reliving every detail of that intimate moment.

She could still hear his moans, his deep groans, the sharp intakes of breath as he touched her. His hands had explored her body with a hunger that had set her skin on fire. It had been his first time, yet he had moved with such natural skill, handling her like a man who knew exactly what he was doing. He had satisfied her in ways her boyfriend at the time never could.

Ford had never cared that she had a boyfriend. He only cared about her. He had adored her—every inch of her, treating her body like it was something sacred, something precious. He had worshipped her like she was the most priceless jewel in the world.

The memory alone made Sia’s breath hitch. Heat pooled inside her, desire creeping in like a slow, burning fire. She bit her lip as her fingers lightly grazed her own skin, a soft moan escaping before she could stop it.

Then—she heard something. A sound.

A faint groan.

Her eyes snapped open. Had she imagined it?

Heart pounding, she turned toward the bathroom door, walking carefully, her steps light and measured. The door was slightly ajar. She hesitated for a moment before gently pushing it open.

Warm steam curled around her as the heat from the bathroom washed over her. And then, she saw him.

Ford.

Lying in the bathtub, completely naked, his muscular body submerged in the water. His head was tilted back against the edge, eyes closed, his chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths.

Sia’s eyes widened in shock. Her breath caught in her throat. She lifted a trembling hand to cover her mouth, afraid to make a sound, afraid to disturb the moment. She hadn’t expected this—hadn’t expected him like this. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

And then her gaze dropped lower.

Her eyes landed on his body, on the way the water lapped against his toned skin. She could see the outline of his half-hard length beneath the surface, the way it twitched slightly as if responding to an unspoken need.

A rush of heat shot through her, her legs suddenly feeling weak beneath her.

She shouldn’t be here.

She should turn away.

But she couldn’t.

Sia swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in her throat as she smiled to herself. She knew she shouldn’t be here, but the temptation was overwhelming. Her eyes drifted back to Ford’s relaxed form in the bathtub.

She turned away, reaching for her bag, thinking of leaving. What are you doing, Sia? This is your chance, your opportunity, she muttered under her breath. Her fingers clenched around the bag’s handle, but she didn’t move.

Then, with renewed determination, she let it go, placing the bag back on the stool.

Without hesitation, she pulled her top over her head, tossing it aside. Reaching behind, she unhooked her bra, feeling the cool air graze her bare skin. One by one, she slipped off the rest of her clothing until she stood completely naked in front of the mirror.

She stared at her reflection, a slow smile spreading across her lips. She knew this might not go well—Ford hadn’t exactly been on good terms with her lately—but she had to try. The chance to feel his body, to be close to him again, was worth the risk.

With that thought, she turned toward the bathroom.