And Ilse started to slip back into unconsciousness.
The billionaire gazed at his cellphone in amusement. “Ilse?”
An incoherent mumble.
“Shouldn’t you start moving?”
“Vijf minuten.”
The billionaire smiled.Five minutes.He ended the call, thinking that morning might just become his favorite part of the day if it was the only time he could hear Ilse acting spoiled and childlike.
Heading back to his hotel suite’s walk-in closet, the billionaire finished changing, his movement swift and efficient as he looped a crimson tie around his neck and secured it with a perfect knot.
By the time he called Ilse again, exactly five minutes had passed, and he was on his way down in the elevator. She answered his call on the third ring, her semi-incoherent grumble leaving the billionaire torn between amusement and arousal. That she wasn’t a morning person was cute, but it also made him wish he could see hernow.He pictured her lying on his bed, with her dark brown hair fanned across his pillows, and the thought was enough to have his cock stiffen behind his pants.
This was going to be another day of torture,the billionaire thought with a mental sigh. Ever since meeting Ilse, he hadn’t fucked another woman, and not counting the years before he had lost his virginity, this was the longest time he had gone without sex.
With an effort, the billionaire managed to keep his voice steady, saying, “Ilse, get up.”
“Mm.”
He heard more sounds, Ilse flipping to her stomach and covering her head with a pillow. It was the simplest thought, but it stillhave the most amazing impact on his cock, and for one tempting second the billionaire seriously considered going back to his room so he could jerk himself off.
The thought had the billionaire inhaling hard.
Control. He needed to be in control.
“Come on, babe. You don’t want to be late, do you?”
Half a minute passed before he heard a sigh coming from the other end of the line. “I’m up.”
Her tone was half-sleepy, half-grudging, to which the billionaire replied in a mockingly polite voice, “Your gratitude for my wake-up call is duly noted.”
Ilse growled.
“Around what time will you get to work, do you think?”
“Quarter to nine usually,” Ilse answered, still mumbling in a sleep-scratchy voice. “Why?”
“I’ll call you then.” And just like that, the billionaire hung up.
Huh?
While taking her shower, Ilse tried to make sense of what just happened, but the billionaire’s attitude continued to puzzle her even after she made it to the kitchen and started preparing Jan’s lunchbox. Although Jan was already twenty-six, he still had to attend special classes every day, the lessons meant to gradually teach him new life skills to prepare him for an independent future, in the event that the worst happened.
It was already eight by the time Ilse walked her brother to school while pulling her bike with her. “Don’t forget what I told you about strangers,” she reminded him.
“Okay,” Jan answered.
“Repeat it so I know you remember,” Ilse requested. She knew she was being too paranoid and bossy, but she couldn’t help it. Jan was everything to her.
“No matter what they say or do, I won’t go with them.” Her brother spoke in a big, booming voice, his condition making him oblivious to how he was drawing attention from the passers-by. “And if they insist, I should start shouting for help.”
Ilse smiled. “That’s right.” She ruffled his head. “See you at home later.”
And that’s what really matters,Ilse thought determinedly as she watched Jan disappear inside his school. Just her and Jan were fine. There was no need for anyone else, and Ilse tried to convince herself of this as she cycled to work.
With a scenic route making up her daily ride, Ilse was able to bike past rows of red and orange buildings with majestic pediments and steeples that soared against a backdrop of pristine skies. From there, Ilse biked along the canals, which treated her with an enchanting sight of wooden houseboats swaying laconically on the waters, followed by an equally picturesque mix of quaint cafes and cosmopolitan fashion boutiques.
