WHEN OBSESSION GOES WRONG

4

Chapter 4

Ana's pov

Nothing prepared me for the three-hour ride to Fairview to see Dr. Cornwell. When I called him three days ago, he warned me there would be a steep price, but I never expected it to lead me to an exquisite mansion in the middle of nowhere.

A sleek assistant ushered me through towering mahogany doors into a massive, sun-drenched office.

Behind a heavy glass desk sat a man barking sharp, uncompromising orders into a telephone.

Dark blue eyes, a chiseled jawline and dark hair falling slightly to the side.

My breath caught. Those unmistakable features matched the dangerous stranger from the hotel room perfectly.

My feet turned numb. Panic rushing through me, I instinctively spun on my heel to leave. I couldn’t bear the fact that the brilliant specialist holding my patient's life in his hands was the exact same man I had used to erase Casper from my skin.

Before I could reach the door, his footsteps rounded the desk. He was fast, intercepting my steps and blocking my exit. Dressed in a tailored suit with the top buttons casually undone, he met my panicked gaze.

He wasn’t even surprised, instead, his expression held a dark, quiet amusement.

“I'm Dr. Cornwell,” he said smoothly, extending a hand I utterly refused to take.

I could only stare. He looked infuriatingly handsome in his professional element, surrounded by an aura of clinical authority.

“Well, then,” he murmured, dropping his hand. “I believe you have many questions. But I assure you that this is strictly business. We can discuss the details at my desk.”

He motioned toward the leather seats. After a silent battle with my pride, I trailed behind him.

Strictly business, I repeated like a mantra. This had to be about medicine, not our ‘whatever’.

He buzzed the intercom. “Julia, bring some coffee.” He said.

I settled into a plush chair, my eyes sweeping over shelves lined with dozens of medical texts. Dr. Cornwell slid into the seat opposite me, his intense gaze never wavering.

“So, you said you can save Mr. Williams,” I said, cutting straight to the point.

“As a matter of fact, I'm the only one who can,” he replied. His confidence was staggering. “I'm exceptional at what I do, Ana. Dr. Green must have told you that much.”

The door clicked open and a blonde secretary in a slim pencil skirt walked in, settling the coffee cups on the table. She flashed a perfect smile. “Some—”

“You are done here, Julia,” he cut her off.

She immediately turned on her heels and exited. His heavy gaze fell back to me, pinning me to the chair.

“Dr. Green also told me that you are expensive,” I continued.

“Well, that depends entirely on your definition of expensive. It isn't just about money, Ana.” He rose, walking over to perch casually on the edge of the desk directly in front of me, his shirt opening slightly to reveal his muscled chest. “Besides, you explicitly said you were willing to pay whatever it took.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. “What exactly do you mean?”

“I’ll show you.” He reached into a leather folder and handed me a crisp white piece of paper. “A contract,” he said flatly.

My eyes moved quickly to paragraph five, where the terms were laid bare: He would waive the surgical fees and personally treat Mr. Williams, but I would be his.

“I would belong to you?” I whispered.

“Yes. I have you. I take you wherever I want, whenever I want, and most importantly, however I want,” he said coldly.

What frightened me most was that he had this entire contract printed before I even landed.

“But you said this was business,” I choked out.

“It is. There are many kinds of businesses, Ana. Besides, you slipped away from my bed when the fun had only just begun.” His long fingers caught my chin, forcing my head up. “I never truly let go of that night.”

I swallowed hard, my emotions a chaotic whirlwind. I had thought about him every single hour, but the terms were crazy. I stood up. “Sorry, Dr. Cornwell, but you have the wrong girl.”I turned toward the exit, my heels clicking sharply.

“Think very carefully before you walk out, for there's no turning back if you do,” his words echoed heavily.

I screeched to a halt, my hand hovering inches from the door. He closed the distance instantly, his large hands gripping my arms and turning me around until my back was flush against the wood.

“Are you genuinely willing to risk Mr. Williams' life over your pride?” He paused, his hands sliding down to rest heavily on my waist, pulling me closer. “Besides, what more could a girl who just lost a relationship of two years and an engagement really lose?”

The words struck a brutal, agonizing nerve. “How... how do you know that?”

“You’re quite the celebrity couple, Ana,”

“But no one knows we broke up. At least not yet.” I glared at him, a chill running down my spine as I wondered who the hell this man actually was.

“I’m not just anyone. I know exactly what I want to know, just as much as I get whatever I want.” The smug look on his face made me realize, with terrifying clarity, that I never really had a choice anyway.

But even then, I couldn't just jump into this. “How do I know you're not a scam? Especially with a facility out here in the middle of nowhere?”

He chuckled lightly, releasing his hold on me. “You're smart, and I love that.” He stepped back, slipping his hands into his pockets as he turned. “Come. I'll show you.”

He led the way and unveiled a private, highly advanced medical facility attached to the estate, a sophisticated laboratory equipped with cutting-edge technology. He would personally perform the delicate procedure, mitigating any risk of complications.

But his price remained absolute.

Looking around the state-of-the-art space, a wave of profound relief washed over me; at least I was certain now that Mr. Williams would get the flawless, life-saving treatment he deserved. After pressing him with a few more targeted questions about the procedure, I braced myself. I wasn't doing this freely, but for my Dad.

“Alright,” I said, looking him dead in the eye. “If I'm allowed the free will to explore the facility too, I shall sign.”

His lips stretched into a slow smirk. “We will see about that,” he replied, handing me the pen.

I signed the contract. I agreed to be his and his alone, to answer whenever he called. And now, he was collecting his payment.

“Be still,” he whispered darkly against my skin, his tongue making a burning path down the center of my cleavage.

My fingers tangled into the silk sheets, digging deep to anchor myself against the fierce waves of pleasure washing over me. He was relentless. His tongue moved lower, trailing over my stomach, sending my nerves into absolute overdrive until his mouth found the sensitive core of my thighs.

The sheer vulnerability of the position made me gasp, but the raw desire overrode my mind. I wanted this. I wanted him. My body arched instinctively, a ragged moan escaping my throat as his hands gripped my hips, holding me firmly in place.

I belonged to him now. Every single inch of my skin was his to claim.

He pulled back suddenly, towering over me at his full six-foot frame. His dark blue eyes burned with unadulterated possessiveness as he unfastened his belt.

“Ana.” The way my name rolled off his tongue made my c**t throb. God, who is this man?

“Huh...” I managed, fluttering my eyelashes.

“Touch yourself for me while I watch,” he commanded, a smile playing on his lips as he stepped backward. “Go ahead. Please me enough, and I'll f**k you so hard you'll forget everything else.”