e felt less like peace and more like the heavy stillness before a thunderstorm. She was meticulously tracking the hem of the high-p

like breaking the glass on a cage containing

ade of midnight-blue orchids and white roses. They were exotic, pristine, and practically radiated the kind of i

a millimeter from the fabric. "You

dropping to a gossiping whisper as she carefully angled t

al of names crossed her mind, maybe an elite client from the gala, or that

s the s

s, pulling out a thick, gold-embossed car

re Amilah could stop her, Beryl read it al

e bird. Are you sure you do

t struck her spine. He knows. He didn't just have her number; he

anic, she snatched the card directly from Beryl's fingers. Her eyes scanne

tight, a dangerous edge bleeding into her tone. "A man? Tall, hands

taken aback by her boss's

h our front doors, Zaria would still be screaming abo

rd against her left palm, her mind a furious whirlpool of defense mechanisms. He wanted to rat

not hunt

with sudden defiance. He thought he could just buy his way into her tho

hoved the priceless bouquet inside, pulled out her phone, and snapped a

ached the photo, and typ

e such bad taste.

unexplainable warmth crept into her chest. It was terrifying, yes, but there was

ay in horror, thoroughly convi

t to throw those away? They look

r luxury of the orchids hit her.

e lied smoothly, instantly lunging forward to

to deeply inhale the rich, heavy fragrance. A genuine

ance leaned back against the leather interior, his tailored suit immaculate, his mind enti

u

expecting a dry corporate brief from Debrin. The moment the contact name

he rearview mirror. His hands instantly tightened

he screen. The

ed mountains to secure were shoved unceremoniously into a trash ca

sound so rare and vibrant that a cold sweat instantly broke out down M

orwarded the imag

: Expla

hin three seconds, the typing bubbl

sir! I chose the most expensive an

I to do with yo

Spare m

ed back, softly humming a dark, melodic tune to himself. So she wants to play, he thought, a predatory smirk

ce. Victoria woke up first, a monstrous, throbbing headache detonating behind her eyes. Wincing, she pressed h

felt a heavy, masculine warmth lying directly next to her in the bed. It worked, s

de lamp. The harsh golden light cut through the shadows. Smiling, she turned around to w

r lungs. The blood in her v

n't Lowi

eyes darting wildly around the room. It finally hit her, the layout, the w

an raining frantic, furious blows with her delicate fists against J

ing awake, the terrifying sight of an enraged, disheveled Victoria made him instantly hop out of the bed, h

ng in absolute despair. She thought she had executed the perfect trap, but

loud click echoed f

y. They stared at the door, expecting the worst, but nobody entered.

"We need to go. Now.

est and her makeup was completely smeared across her face. Clumsily scooping up he

eshold of Room 412, a blinding barrage of high

Snap

nicked, and humiliated, they turned on their heels, sprinting frantically toward th

metal wall of the elevator with his bare fist.

her mind. There was only one explanation. "Lowin knew..." she whispered, her legs giving out a

his face contorted in rage. "You

eporters! We are completely done for, Mr. Houston. We're ruined.

ly calm, still, and patient that tyrant had been while waiting for him. It all made ho

d through the crystal-clear photos on his digital screen. "This is it..." he whispered, a manic laugh escaping him. "The headline of th

before he could take a single step, his heavy came

here," a smooth, da

ore him was Debrin Salvatore, emitting an aura so dark and let

ohn stammered, hi

across his face. "I'm the one who sent you that juicy little a

rt dropped

't think it's ch

ide compartment of the camera. "So, I'll be taking your memory card wi

ohn whispered, his eyes glued to the

John's trembling hands. He clapped the journalist firmly on the shoulder, his smile w

hallway, scratching his head in despair. He had literally booked a room next door just to capture this exclusive leak, and now his entire

n was pacing frantically between the concrete pillars, his bre

oice dripping with venom. "They already saw us. There is absolutely nothing we can d

is mess! I should have never listened to a single word out of your mouth

z.

phones vibrated violentl

sage. It was from Lowin Vance. Attached were the exact, high-resolution photos Jo

her good together. I won't be releasing these photos to the press if Mr. Housto

ial split meant Lowin Vance would effectively own half of Houston Corporations. The tyrant would sit in ev

sperately. "If these photos leak to the media, it will co

thinking about herself right now, when her stupidity was the entire reason they were

r you sign or don't sign, you still lose the company! You'd much rather lose half to Lowin Vance than lose everyth

of his options. His legs gave out, and the proud heir of Houston Corporations slowly squatted down onto the dirty

s, he picked up his phone and

uston]:

the predator cam

: Good

her manager to come pick her up. As she waited, a cold wave of conflict washed over her. Why hadn't Lowin demanded anything from her? Why was he letting her off sc

stepped out to open the door. Before Jade climbed inside, he turn

ssed, his voice lethal. "Next time you want

e. Victoria scoffed loudly, crossing her arms. "Tsk. After sleep

saved the photo Lowin had sent them directly into her secure, hidden vault. "Tsk, tsk, Mr. Houston... it

a halt in front of her. Susan, her manager, hop

Victoria demanded, throwin

" Susan whispered, her hands shaking on the steering wheel. "Mr

night. A confident, arrogant smirk settled over her features. He might be angry, she thought proudly, but he is still just a man.

the morning traffic toward the corporate headqua

Bluetooth connect

ebrin's voice chuckled

di

ou handlin

so I will be renewing it for exactly six months. If she makes a single misstep before those six months are up, the consequences won't just destroy her,

amused chuckle. "She wo

e repercussions are stated clear

e. See ya, I got to go". Debri

the corporate warfare. The image of a discarded bouquet of rare flowers flashed in his mind, followed by her defiant,

e sharp and absolute. "Change of

eering wheel, making a sharp, aggressive turn across

h-profile gown. She had left incredibly late last night, and her body was still

e neatly tucked into her waist. Yawning softly, she walked toward the lounge to brew herself a much-needed cup of coffee. The b

ad chime at the main

sudden spike of alertness, she stepped out of the back lounge and walked into the main showr

tly shifted, turning thick

ed, cutting the distance between them. In one swift, seamless motion, he wrapped his massive, powerful arms

instantly overwhelmed as she breathed in the ri

tammered, her heart doing wil

oice a low, gravelly vibration that sent a viole

wasn't gentle, it was a possessive, consuming wave that stole the oxygen straight from her lungs. He teased her lower lip, pulling h

but he didn't budge an inch. Being held so tight, their waists locked completely together, she cou

flushed across Amilah's face, he

le at her reaction, his eyes dar

nst the shell of her ear as he whispered in a lo

ce childhood, she had never once had a nickname. Now, within days, this man had giv

r sheer flustered panic, she targeted his mass

e shaking but defiant as she looked up into his pie

escaping his lips, a chuckle so deep, dark, and p

milah gasped, her hands flying to his shoulders, but before she could utter a single protest, Lowin strode gracef

op of the polished office table. Before she could draw breath, he leaned over her body, trapping h

against her mouth, his breath hot, his voice laced wi

hen let me show you exac