the drive
The rain poured in thick sheets as Evan Yue waited under the resort awning, a sleek black umbrella shielding his crisp Armani suit. His jaw was tight, and his mood—colder than the air around him.
His driver was late.
Again.
“Mr. Yue?” a voice called out through the downpour.
Evan turned, eyes narrowing.
The man walking toward him was not Jason, his long-time chauffeur. This one was younger, drenched, and annoyingly attractive—with dark, wet hair sticking to his forehead and a crooked smile that looked far too comfortable.
“You’re not my driver.”
“Nope,” the man replied, pushing damp bangs from his eyes. “Jason’s out—shrimp allergy. I’m Jace. Temporary replacement.”
Evan said nothing. His eyes scanned the stranger like a scanner searching for faults.
“You’re... dressed like a college student.”
“Technically I’m a graduate,” Jace replied, undeterred. “Business major. And very good at driving expensive clients around.”
“I don’t have time for jokes,” Evan muttered, stepping past him and into the SUV. “Just drive.”
The moment the door shut, Evan regretted it.
The car smelled like cedarwood and rain Not just any scent—this one was dangerously smooth. Clean, crisp… almost too perfect....
can you get ride of that smell ( glaring)
Suppressants had dulled his sensitivity for years, but the recent stress from board takeovers and nonstop travel had made his body unpredictable. Worse, he hadn’t slept in two nights.
Jace started humming softly as he drove, fingers tapping the steering wheel in rhythm.
Evan’s eye twitched. “Turn off the music.”
“No music, just my voice.”
“Turn that off, too.”
Jace chuckled. “Noted. You don’t like noise. You do like glaring, though.”
Evan didn’t respond.
But something was wrong. His skin felt hotter than it should. His pulse picked up as a strange warmth settled in his gut. The scent in the car—it was getting stronger.
Was his suppressant failing?
“Stop the car,” Evan said suddenly.
“What?”
“Now.”
Jace pulled over without hesitation.
“You okay back there? You look kinda—”
Evan got out, stepping into the rain. “Drive back to the hotel. I’ll arrange my own transport.”
Jace frowned. “You're seriously going to walk in a storm?”
“I don’t like being around people I didn’t choose.”and please suppress those pheromones of yours it's disgusting.
And he walked away.
Not noticing the way Jace’s expression shifted in the rearview mirror.
Not noticing how he didn’t drive off right away.