Burning Passion

CHAPTER 181: STORMY NIGHT

* * * 

Zen City

12 weeks ago… 

Nina watched the gloomy sky from her office. She is waiting for her driver but said he's stuck in traffic when there were various accidents everywhere. 

The news also advised about places to avoid passing as now flooded, and more vehicles stuck in the road.

With the weather like this, she can't go home. Riding a taxi is impossible. 

Nina picked up her phone and messaged her secretary to book her a hotel suite and ask to pick her up. 

After thirty minutes, her secretary sadly reported that the closest hotels are full. The storm struck them by surprise. So many booked the hotels to keep safe tonight. 

According to the weather report. The storm intensifies its velocity. And might last for days. 

Nina told her secretary to announce not to come to work tomorrow and the next day until further notice when the storm passes by. 

She already foresees that it will leave a lot of damage to the road, flooded heavily, which lasted longer days. 

But her problem, how could she go home? Her driver tried to pick her up, but he was still a long way, and no certainty he could get out of the massive traffic. Many roads are now closed because of heavy rains, and the rainwater rises in many lower parts of the cities. 

Nina sighed again. It was getting cold. She made herself tea to keep warm.

It's been another half hour, and she remained inside her office. No one can save her, and looks like she has to stay in her office for days or until her driver reaches the office. The question is, how she can go home from this storm even if she has a car to ride in.

Well, she has tea and coffee and bottled water. But that isn't enough for a meal, especially if the storm lasts for days. 

Nina heaves a long sigh when her office door opens. It startles her the reason her eyes were frightened. But what surprised her the most, it was the last person she expects to come and rescue her. No, he could not do that. He can easily come to her office as the Chairman's office was just within the next building. 

Nina fixed herself, she asked. "Harry, you haven't gone home yet?" 

At first, Harry curled his forehead. But realize Nina must forget that he has a penthouse above his office. 

"Ahem. I stayed behind to finish my work before the celebration. It has many proposals to approve." Harry told Nina. 

On the other hand, Nina wishes to slap her forehead. She forgot that Harry makes the Shang Empire as his home. He has a penthouse on the top floor. 

Calmly, Nina smiled and offered if Harry wanted some tea. 

"I would like it too. But it was too cold out here." 

"Erm, my driver has stuck in traffic. I'm uncertain if he could get through." 

"Don't tell me you haven't had dinner?" 

"Yeah." 

"We can move to my office to keep you warm." 

"Okay." 

Nina followed Harry to the next building. They walk down a hallway headed to the overpass that connects the two buildings. She began shuddering from colds. Gladly, they reach the elevator and arrive at the top floor of the Shang Empire Building. It relieved her when finally they were inside Harry's office. It was warm. 

"Are you alright?" Harry asked Nina. He notices that she is hugging herself. And he could feel the cold too when they took the hallways.

Nina nodded and smiled. She was about to sit on the couch when Harry said to her… 

"I will escort you to the penthouse to see what you can fix for your dinner." 

"Huh?" Nina blinks several times while she tries to process what Harry said to her. It shocked her to be invited by Harry to his penthouse. It was rather like a prank.

No, it must be a dream. 

When were the first time and the last time she stepped inside Harry's penthouse? 

It was when she begged Harry not to divorce her. 

Nina heaves sigh before she steps inside the private elevator going to Harry's penthouse on the rooftop of this building. 

The room was almost the same. It has only a little stuff added. 

Harry is a simple man. He is not a show-off person. 

When he was younger. Harry wears faded jeans and a denim jacket on top of his plain white t-shirt. Despite his wealth and powerful family, Harry never becomes a boastful person, different from the rest of his brothers. 

Probably, that is one thing why she falls in love with him. 

"Nina?" 

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry." 

Nina remains standing on the entrance door. She was hesitant to move her feet inside, but since Harry invited her, she must take this as an opportunity to take shelter rather than freeze in the cold, and starve inside her office. 

Harry led her into his kitchen and showed where the utensil and pots were kept. Harry is an excellent cook. She could remember when he and Kristina occupied the kitchen to prepare lunch or dinner for their friends. And she would admit, she was jealous because they were perfect for each other. 

Nina shook her head to stop herself from recalling the past. It was stupid of her to have this bitterness when Kristina is dead. 

And she must be thankful that Harry only loves one woman and not having mistresses and brought to this penthouse after Kristina died. 

She had heard how several secretaries tried to make their way to seduce him. Even those top models and rich daughters also attempt to win Harry's heart, in the hope, they become his mistress to ride his name and live a luxurious life.

Thank goodness, they didn't succeed. That was a relief for her as a wife. She didn't expect him to return her love, but she needed a family. And even if they live only as a couple on paper and no physical contact and love in between, she was happy that Harry gives her a family to call on. 

***

She raised Theo, along with her son Jeremy. She has no siblings so; her loving parents only pampered her. And that made her struggle with how to raise two sons properly. Especially Theo, who was rebellious. 

Her parents died when Jeremy was eight years old, and Theo was three.

The time comes, and she has to run her own business after her relatives mismanage it and almost went bankrupt because of enormous debts after making bad deals all the time.

"Nina?" Harry called out to her, but she didn't respond, and he had lightly shaken her shoulder. 

Nina, who has deep thoughts, startled her when Harry shook her shoulder. Instantly, she bowed partly at Harry. 

"I'm sorry. It occupied her mind with a lot of things." She reasoned out, and that was true. 

"Hm�� the preparation must keep you busier." 

Nina nodded, she concurred. "It was. But according to our survey. We hit the highest rating of getting the nation's anticipation. Also, the teaser we released a few days ago was well accepted. They anticipated who that woman, your son, was having an intimate pose with." 

"Hm. Assistant Li also showed me the graphs. Our standing remains untouchable," said Harry. "Alright. I will go back to my office to take care of the documents needed to sign immediately. You can make dinner. It's getting late already." 

Nina bowed and watched Harry's back until the elevator swallowed him.