?


    "Mr. Jackson, I''ll go up with you."


    Christopher''s eyes softened. He held Sydney''s hand in his and kissed the back of it.


    Sydney followed Christopher to his house.


    He lived alone in a bungalow that wasn''t as big or opulent as she thought it was. After leading her to his room, Christopher poured out two sses of red wine and handed one of them to her.


    Sydney took the ss and sipped on the wine as she looked around her. "Is there no one here taking care of things around here?"


    "I have helping in regrly to clean the house and cook, but she doesn''t live here. I like a quiet space of my own," Christopher replied.


    "I see," Sydney said with a smile before taking another sip of wine.


    The room was dim; they gazed at each other as they put their wine sses down and drew near to each other. Christopher pulled her into his arms and lowered his head in a bid to kiss her.


    Just then, Sydney covered his mouth with her hands. "Wait, I want to ask you a question."


    "What is it? Have you changed your mind?"


    "No, I wanted to ask if you are genuinely interested in me?"


    "Interested?" Christopher chuckled. "Do you think it is mere interest that I have in you?"


    He asked that question in all seriousness. It didn''t look like he said it on the spur of the moment.


    "Do you like me?" Sydney asked.


    There was no point beating around the bush for people of their age. It was purely practical between middle-aged men and women. All those dignified rtionships in upper-ss circles were merely a facade for the raw desire hidden in them.


    "I do like you, so I want you. I don''t like seeing you upset." Christopher lifted a hand and caressed the corner of her lips. "I hope you''ll be happy whenever you''re with me. I want to give you what other men can''t."


    Sydney''s eyes welled up with tears.


    She knew Christopher wasn''t a


    elet


    naive, innocent man. A man of his status and influence couldn''t


    possibly retain a pure, untainted


    heart, especially at his age


    A pure, good man couldn''t possibly attain this level of sess in his cruel and filthy world of fame and fortune.


    How could he possibly be devoted to one woman?


    Despite knowing all that, Sydney


    couldn''t help but feel moved. It was rare that a man like Christopher liked her and treated her like this. Most other men would treat women as objects and throw them aside after they were done. Dignity and respect were never part of the equation.


    Sydney''s eyes zed over as tears welled up in her eyes. Christopher wiped a corner of her eyes and kissed her forehead.


    "What''s


    Wahe matter? If you''re upset,


    you an tell me about it." He


    wrapped an arm around heet


    "Or, I can make you happy. en.kikistoriet


    He hauled Sydney up in his arms, put her on the bed, and started unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his hard chest.


    Christopher always made time for working out which exined his excellent figure.


    He lowered his head and kissed her, slowly deepening it.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Sydney suddenly pushed his shoulders.


    Christopher furrowed his brows, slightly annoyed. If she were unwilling, why did she follow him upstairs?


    And then, after following him upstairs, she kept pushing him away.


    He was about to say something when he noticed tearsing down her cheeks.


    Christopher felt anxious. "What''s the matter now?"