Chapter 15: The Green-Eyed King
1300 Words
The charity gala was beautiful—too beautiful, honestly.
Soft golden lights hung from the ceiling, music floated through the air, and people dressed in expensive clothes smiled like everything in their lives was perfect. But Adrian Volkov wasn’t here for any of that.
To him, this wasn’t a party.
It was a game.
And everyone in the room was either a player… or a target.
He stood near the champagne table, untouched glass in hand, his eyes slowly moving across the crowd. Calm. Sharp. Watching everything.
Then he saw her.
Lily.
For a second, everything else faded.
She was standing near the balcony, wearing a soft sea-green dress that made her look almost unreal. Like she didn’t belong in this dark, dangerous world at all.
But Adrian knew better.
And then he saw him.
Julian Vane.
Too close.
Way too close.
Julian was leaning toward her, smiling like he already owned the moment—his hand resting on her waist like it belonged there.
Adrian’s fingers tightened around the glass.
A small c***k formed.
Across the room, Lily laughed softly at something Julian said. To anyone watching, she looked shy… charmed… maybe even impressed.
But Adrian noticed the small things.
The way her fingers held her clutch tightly.
The way her shoulders were just a little stiff.
She was acting.
But that didn’t calm the storm rising inside him.
Not even close.
“Julian has his eyes on her,” Viktor said quietly, stepping beside him. “He’s been asking questions.”
Adrian didn’t look at him.
“Let him ask,” he said coldly. “He won’t like the answers.”
And before Viktor could say anything else—
Adrian was already walking.
People moved out of their way without even realizing why. Something in his presence made them step aside.
Because Adrian Volkov didn’t walk toward something unless it mattered.
And right now—
Lily mattered.
Lily felt it before she saw him.
That shift in the air.
That quiet tension that wrapped around her skin.
He’s here.
Julian was still talking—something about his yacht, something boring—but his hand slowly moved lower on her waist.
Inside, Lily started counting.
Three…
Two…
One…
“I believe this dance is mine.”
Adrian’s voice cut through everything.
Julian froze.
Lily looked up, blinking like she was surprised. “Adrian?”
Julian quickly straightened up. “Oh—Volkov! I didn’t realize—”
“She was leaving,” Adrian said.
Simple. Calm.
But final.
He didn’t even look at Julian.
His eyes were locked on Lily.
And then—he reached for her.
His fingers wrapped around her wrist, warm and firm. Not gentle. Not asking.
Taking.
“Oh… um…” Lily glanced at them, playing her role perfectly. “Julian was just being nice. He invited me to his gallery tomorrow.”
“She’s busy,” Adrian said.
Still calm.
Still cold.
“For how long?” Julian asked, trying to laugh it off.
Adrian finally looked at him.
And that was enough.
“Indefinitely.”
Silence.
Julian took a step back. “Right… of course. My mistake.”
And just like that—
He was gone.
Adrian didn’t let go of her.
Not even for a second.
He pulled her with him, walking fast toward the balcony. Lily struggled slightly in her heels, trying to keep up.
“Adrian, slow down—you're hurting me,” she whispered.
The moment they reached the quiet terrace—
He stopped.
Turned.
And pinned her gently—but firmly—against the stone railing.
His arms trapped her on both sides.
Close.
Too close.
“Don’t lie to me,” he said, his voice low.
Lily looked up at him, breathing a little fast now.
“You weren’t uncomfortable,” he continued. “You were enjoying it.”
There it was.
Jealousy.
Clear. Sharp. Real.
Lily’s eyes flickered.
“And what if I was?” she said softly.
That surprised him.
“He was nice. He didn’t look at me like I was… some problem.”
Something in Adrian snapped.
His jaw tightened.
“You don’t understand,” he said quietly. “People like him don’t see you. They see something to take.”
“And you don’t?” she shot back.
That hit.
For a second—
Neither of them spoke.
The air between them felt heavy.
Alive.
Adrian slowly lifted his hand and touched her face, his thumb brushing lightly over her lower lip.
The movement was soft.
But everything else about him wasn’t.
“You stay where I can see you,” he said. “I don’t care about anyone else. Just that.”
Lily’s heart skipped.
Not from fear.
From something much worse.
Feeling.
“Then stop acting like I belong to you,” she said.
And for a moment—
The real Lily showed.
Not soft. Not shy.
Strong.
Equal.
Adrian saw it.
And it shook him.
Because this girl… this Lily…
Wasn’t weak at all.
And somehow—
That made him want her even more.
He leaned closer.
So close their breaths mixed.
“So what if you do?” he whispered. “In my world… you’re under me. My protection. My rules.”
Lily’s mind went blank for a second.
She could end this right now.
One kiss.
One mistake.
And everything would change.
No.
She pulled herself back.
Dropped her gaze.
Let her voice shake.
“You’re scaring me…”
And just like that—
The moment broke.
Adrian stepped back, frustrated.
Confused.
Because he knew what he saw.
And now it was gone.
“Go inside,” he said coldly. “Viktor will take you home.”
“Are you staying?” she asked softly.
His eyes hardened again.
“I need to finish something.”
She knew what that meant.
And it wasn’t good.
Lily stayed on the balcony after he left.
The night air felt cold against her skin.
She looked down at her wrist.
Red marks.
His grip.
Her fingers lightly touched them.
And slowly—
A small smile appeared on her lips.
“Got you…” she whispered.
Then she walked back inside, acting clumsy again, blending into the crowd.
But her eyes?
They weren’t innocent anymore.
Not even close.
Across the room, Adrian was already looking for her.
Always watching.
Always aware.
And that should’ve made her feel in control.
So why—
Why did it feel like she was losing something instead?
Outside, as Lily stepped into the car with Viktor, her fingers touched the emerald necklace around her neck.
It suddenly felt heavy.
Like a chain.
Like something, she couldn’t take off anymore.
She closed her eyes.
This isn’t real.
It’s just the mission.
But deep down—
She knew that wasn’t true anymore.
Inside the gala—
Adrian stood in a quiet corner, his expression unreadable.
Julian Vane’s name echoed in his mind.
Too close.
Too bold.
Too careless.
Adrian pulled out his phone.
“One mistake,” he said quietly. “That’s all it takes.”
There was a pause.
Then—
“Handle it.”
He ended the call.
His eyes lifted slowly—
Searching the room.
Looking for her again.
But this time…
There was something darker in them.
Something dangerous.
Something… personal.
That same night—
Lily sat in her room, staring at her phone.
A message popped up.
Unknown number.
“You’re getting too close to him.”
“Finish the mission… or we will.”
Her heart dropped.
At the same moment—
Across the city—
Julian Vane’s car stopped on a deserted road.
He frowned.
“Why are we stopping here—?”
The driver didn’t answer.
The doors were locked.
And from the shadows—
Men stepped out.
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