CHAPTER 314. A NAUGHTY GIRL. ConfessionsFour minutes, counted by the clock, before that little voice rose with a piercing cry that meant "I'm hungry.""I've got the bottle!""I've got the baby!" Noémi laughed, settling into the rocking chair with Peter, and Levi stood there, completely captivated by her.She had taken a quick shower and thrown on one of his t-shirts that covered her down to her thighs, but it was impossible not to notice the tempting, dangerous curve of her backside."You're going to kill me...""Levi, the bottle!" she hurried him, and soon Peter was calmly drinking his formula, with one of his tiny hands tucked into the warm spot between Noémi's breasts. "Ha, no question about it, he takes after someone!"Levi watched her as she fed the baby. For someone who didn't want children of her own, she was surprisingly good with them. But he was sure she had reasons he wasn't going to question. In just a few minutes, Peter finished his milk, Levi burped him, and Noémi put
CHAPTER 315. A NAUGHTY GIRL. a new houseLevi closed his eyes. At that moment, he had believed he didn't have much choice, and he still believed that."You never even did a paternity test, did you?" Noémi whispered, and Levi swallowed hard as he opened his eyes."I didn't dare. He didn't have anyone else, and I... I don't know, I guess at that moment I didn't care whose he was, only that he was okay.""And now?" Noémi asked curiously."Now I just feel relieved because I know I made the right decision," Levi murmured. "But you understand why I can't get involved in a relationship, right? I can barely handle this, with such a drastic change..."Noémi frowned, understanding how difficult it must have been for him to go from being a professional athlete to a full-time dad."You lost everything, I guess."She saw him nod, but he didn't seem to regret anything."I still have a lot of savings, and with what I earn at the shop, I can cover all our expenses and little luxuries without any pro
CHAPTER 316. A NAUGHTY GIRL. “That too!”Levi felt like he was drooling as he watched Noémi get ready to go out. She was wearing a white cotton shirt and faded jeans, under a black trench coat and high boots. Levi smiled approvingly at her outfit, and Noémi swayed her hips as she walked up to him.“You’re thinking about how easy it’ll be to take this off, aren’t you?” she murmured, watching him smile.“You know me so well!” he murmured back, lowering his head to meet her lips in a quick kiss.“Shall we go?”They were both ready to leave, but to be honest, Levi felt a bit uneasy when she linked her arm with his to walk down the street. Noémi laughed, stopped for coffee or sweets, chatted, and showed him options she found on her phone. At a certain point, she stopped.“Does it bother you that we’re walking so close?” she asked softly.Levi widened his eyes and swallowed.“No... it’s not that…”“Levi. Didn’t we agree that we don’t need to lie to each other?” she prompted, watching him s
CHAPTER 317. A NAUGHTY GIRL. Short Phrases with Long FeelingsAn hour later, they had the keys in hand, and Levi and Noémi rushed to gather things from the apartment to move in immediately. Noémi wasn’t surprised by how little Levi had; she had already noticed that he wasn’t the kind of man who clung to material possessions, so everything fit into two cars for a single trip.At the new house, while Levi unloaded, Noémi set up a cozy room for Peter, and Levi stood in the doorway, watching her. If he had been told three thousand francs, he would have said no, and the negotiation would have ended there. But she hadn’t said no, not once; she had just dived headfirst into a strategy that had gotten him a lovely house for exactly the price he wanted to pay, even though it was definitely worth more.He felt so proud of her that he didn’t even know how to express his admiration, and for a few moments, he couldn’t understand what the CEO of Asterion Bank was doing cleaning his son’s room. How
CHAPTER 318. A NAUGHTY GIRL. Surrendering ControlLevi opened the door and found Noemi on the other side, her face tired and worn, eyes downcast, with a smile that tried to be sincere. She was almost leaning against the doorframe, as if she were about to collapse at any moment."Baby? What's wrong?" he asked, unsure of what else to say. "Are you okay?"She shook her head slightly and rested her forehead on his shoulder."I'm just tired..." she murmured.Levi opened the door wider and stepped aside, placing an arm around her shoulders and gently nudging her to come inside."Come in," he said softly.Noemi entered the house slowly, her eyes searching for a corner where she could curl up."Do you want something to drink? Are you hungry?"Noemi shook her head."No, thanks. Where's Peter?""He's out like a light."Levi studied her for a moment. She looked extremely exhausted."Noe, how long has it been since you last slept?" he asked, gently rubbing her arms up and down.She pouted, tryin
CHAPTER 319. A NAUGHTY GIRL. Are you going to train me?"Are things really that bad?" Levi asked with concern, and she shook her head."I don't like making a mountain out of a molehill, but... well, we're making some hostile acquisitions, small banks that haven't managed to develop well or that are trying to compete with us, and of course, they aren't too happy about it," she murmured with a sigh. "There's one in particular, Axel Grimma, who took it the worst way possible.""And he has to? I mean... isn't there enough for everyone?" Levi asked while preparing breakfast, and Noemi smiled because sometimes he could be adorably naive."Well, when was the last time you let another skier pass you and said, 'Go ahead, beat me, I'll give you the chance'?" she asked."Never," Levi replied as if it were obvious."And why not? Isn't there enough for everyone?" Noemi teased, and he stuck his tongue out at her."I get it, I get it. You don't want to give the competition a chance.""Of course not
CHAPTER 320. A NAUGHTY GIRL. Attack by CompetitorIt was tough, but Levi was surprised at how disciplined that damn woman could be. She liked being with him, and he liked being with her. So when her phone rang during lunch, she simply turned it off."Just close my eyes and that's it? No incentive? No cuddle? Not even a little orgasm...? Nothing?" she complained the first time Levi made her take a nap."You only have half an hour; that’s not enough time even to start, but I’ll tell you what—if you manage to finish today before eleven at night, I promise to do unspeakable things to you."Noemi smiled, and since that deal seemed good enough, she closed her eyes, cuddled up next to him, and slept for at least half an hour before returning to the battlefield at the bank."Mr. Boss, I'm really swamped, but I’m starving. Can you bring me something to eat at the office?" she asked him a couple of days later, and Levi chose something with fish to stimulate that brain of hers.The first week w
CHAPTER 321. A NAUGHTY GIRL. No, of course not!It didn’t take him long to sneak into the emergency room and identify two of Noemi's brothers in front of one of the doors. He ran toward them, but he was only a few feet away when Milo stepped in his path."What the hell are you doing here?" Milo growled, grabbing him by the jacket violently as if he was ready to hit him.Levi was stunned; he couldn’t understand why Milo was treating him like this, but he kept trying to drag him out of the hospital."This is all your fault!" Noemi's brother exclaimed, raising his voice above the noise of the bustling hospital staff. "How dare you show up here?"Levi couldn’t believe what he was hearing and stood there, mouth agape."What are you talking about?" he growled, trying to break free. "I just want to see Noemi, to make sure she’s okay... Why the hell are you saying this is my fault?""Don’t play dumb now!" Milo roared, "because I’m not the type to buy into coincidences!""Enough!" Levi exclai