The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 209

Even Holden himself didn't know why he was confiding in someone like Nova, but he felt a strange sense of ease around her.

“I’m sure you will get everything you wish for, Mr. Covington,” Nova said softly, a faint, unreadable smile on her lips as she looked at him.

“That’s right”, she thought. “No one is innocent. Including you, Holden. And including me, the one who is about to make you pay for it all.”

Seeing that he had had too much to drink, Nova reached over and moved the carafe away, replacing it with a cup of hot coffee. Through the rising steam, her voice became unusually gentle. “Mr. Covington, you’re a little drunk. Have some coffee to sober up.”

Holden looked at her through a drunken haze and suddenly grabbed her wrist, his palm scorching hot against her skin.

Nova didn’t pull away, letting him hold her as she leaned slightly forward.

“Little rabbit, you seem to have a lot of questions today.” Holden didn’t even realize he had spoken the nickname he’d given her in his mind.

“Do I? Perhaps it’s just been a while since I’ve had a conversation like this… It’s getting late. We should go.”

The scent of alcohol mixed with the woody notes of his cologne was overwhelming. Nova’s brows furrowed as her breath ghosted over his face.

“Is this some kind of hard-to-get act? Nova, I’m interested in you. You don’t need to test the waters.” Holden squinted, thought for a moment, and held up three fingers. “If you’re willing to sleep with me, I can offer you… three months. That’s longer than most of the heiresses I’ve dated. What do you say?”

His words were slurred, his thumb stroking her delicate wrist.

Nova was a terrible liar; her resistance and her advances were equally transparent. In his eyes, her little schemes were pathetically obvious.

But for someone who had rejected him so vehemently just yesterday to suddenly make a move was suspicious. It felt like a trap. But when had Holden Covington ever been afraid of a trap in the game of love?

Nova met his drunken, searching gaze. The dim lighting of the room cast shifting shadows across his chiseled features. But in that moment, her look was no longer one of fear or avoidance. It was the look of a predator sizing up its prey.

She quickly pulled her hand away. “You’re joking, Mr. Covington. I’m not worthy of you. All I want is for you to stop targeting me and Ramona.”

“And what if I said I’d try to leave Ramona alone from now on?” Holden refused to let her go, grabbing her arm again. Even if it was an act, it was an act he fell for every time. He had tasted every delicacy the world had to offer; sometimes, a simple, plain dish was what he craved. And if that plain dish was hard to get, it only made it more appetizing.

“I can’t just take your word for it, Mr. Covington.” Her voice was still low and soft, but there was a new edge to it.

Holden, his head swimming with alcohol, laughed. “How will you know if you don’t try? I’m very sincere with my women.”

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