Liana's Apartment – Night
The apartment felt too quiet after Adrian left.
Liana stood frozen near the door, her fingers trembling slightly against the cold surface of the wall.
Her skin still tingled where his lips had grazed her throat.
Her body felt warm and heavy, betraying her, despite the fury burning in her chest.
She exhaled shakily, forcing her hands to steady, but she could still feel the faint imprint of his fingertips on her wrist.
Her heart was still racing.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, dragging her hands over her face.
Why did her body still react to him this way?
Why did her pulse quicken when he got close—when it should have screamed in warning?
Her eyes stung with frustration. She hated herself for being weak around him.
She hated that even now, part of her still craved the warmth of his touch.
Without thinking, she grabbed the glass of red wine she had left earlier and downed the remaining liquid in one go.
The bitterness stung her throat, but she didn't care.
She stalked toward the large window and pushed it open, letting the cool night breeze slap against her face.
Her breathing was ragged, uneven.
"Get out of my head…" she whispered to herself.
But she knew he wouldn't.
He never did.
---
Elsewhere – Adrian's Penthouse
Adrian stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the sprawling city below.
The lights glittered like tiny specks, but his eyes were cold and unfocused.
His fingers clenched around the glass of scotch in his hand.
The ice clinked softly as he swirled the amber liquid, but he made no move to drink it.
Instead, his mind was stuck on her face.
The way her lips had parted slightly when he touched her.
The way her eyes had darkened with defiance… but also with something else.
"You still want me," he muttered to himself, his voice low and rough.
A bitter smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
She could shove him, glare at him, and scream for him to leave all she wanted…
But he had seen the truth in her eyes.
She was still his.
His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts.
He set the glass down and grabbed the device.
"Mr. Knight," his assistant's voice came through the line.
"We found everything on Lucas Harper."
Adrian's eyes narrowed sharply, his jaw tightening at the mention of the man's name.
He slowly walked over to the sleek, black leather chair in his study and sat down.
"Go on," he ordered coldly.
The assistant's voice was clipped and precise.
"Lucas Harper, CEO of Harper Enterprises. He's been in New York for three years, but he has multiple business ties overseas. A clean image on the surface…"
The assistant's voice darkened slightly.
"But he's not as clean as he seems."
Adrian's fingers tightened around the phone.
"What do you mean?"
"He's been involved in several discreet financial dealings. Offshore accounts, concealed transactions, and…"
The assistant hesitated for a fraction of a second.
"…he's been linked to an underground syndicate in Paris."
A slow, dangerous smirk curved Adrian's lips.
Paris.
Of course.
"Send me everything," he ordered coolly, his voice sharp with control.
"Every last detail."
As he ended the call, his eyes darkened, a lethal calmness settling over him.
Lucas had secrets.
And he would use every single one of them.
---
The Next Morning – Liana's Office
The morning was cloudy and dull, matching Liana's mood.
She sat at her desk, trying to focus on the financial reports in front of her, but the numbers blurred.
Her fingers absently rubbed at her wrist—the same spot Adrian had held last night.
Her throat tightened slightly at the memory.
She pressed her lips together and shook her head, silently cursing herself.
"Don't think about him," she muttered under her breath.
But it was useless.
Her mind kept drifting back to the way his voice had rasped against her skin.
The heat of his breath.
The dangerous promise in his eyes.
She exhaled sharply and slammed the report shut, frustrated with herself.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
A message.
She unlocked the screen.
Her heart stilled when she saw the sender's name.
Adrian Knight.
Her breath caught slightly.
Her fingers hovered over the screen, debating whether to open it.
Don't, Liana.
Just ignore it.
But her fingers moved on their own.
She clicked it.
The message was short.
Cold.
Commanding.
"Dinner. 8 PM. Don't make me come get you."
Her breath hitched slightly.
Her grip on the phone tightened.
Anger flared in her chest, but beneath it was something more dangerous—
Something she didn't want to admit.
Her fingers flew over the keyboard.
She typed furiously.
"Go to hell, Adrian."
And she hit send.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
Her skin flushed with adrenaline.
For a brief second, she felt proud of herself for defying him.
But then…
Her phone buzzed again.
"I've already been there, darling."
The message was instant.
"And I dragged you down with me."
Her stomach tightened painfully.
Her fingers curled into a fist, the phone trembling slightly in her grip.
---
Elsewhere – Lucas' Office
Lucas stood by his desk, scrolling through some files, but his gaze kept drifting toward his phone.
He had messaged Liana that morning, but she hadn't replied.
A faint frown tugged at his lips.
He knew she was probably busy with work, but something didn't sit right.
After last night, she had seemed… off.
Distant.
His fingers tapped against the desk impatiently.
He glanced at the clock.
Noon.
He grabbed his coat and his phone.
"I'm going to see Liana," he told his secretary curtly before walking out.
---
Liana's Office – 30 Minutes Later
Liana was still staring at her phone when Lucas walked in.
She blinked in surprise, quickly locking the screen and shoving the phone aside.
"Hey," she forced a smile, but her voice was stiff.
"What are you doing here?"
Lucas studied her face, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Her smile didn't reach her eyes.
"You didn't reply to my message," he said softly, but there was a trace of concern in his voice.
Liana shifted slightly in her seat.
She forced a casual shrug.
"I've been buried in reports all morning," she lied smoothly.
But Lucas' eyes darkened slightly.
He could tell she was holding something back.
He stepped closer, his hands gently resting on the edge of her desk.
His voice lowered slightly.
"Liana…" his tone was calm but firm.
"Are you okay?"
Her chest tightened slightly at the genuine concern in his voice.
Her eyes met his for a brief moment—and for a second, she wanted to tell him everything.
But she couldn't.
So, she plastered on her best fake smile and nodded.
"I'm fine, Lucas."
But the slight tremor in her voice gave her away.
And Lucas knew it.
He could feel it.
And his jaw tightened slightly with suspicion.
---
See you in next chapter