CHAPTER 1
My phone shattered the silence like a gunshot.
I bolted upright, heart slamming against my ribs. 8:07 a.m.
“s**t—s**t—s**t!”
I flew into the bathroom, toothbrush stabbing my mouth, head pounding so hard I saw stars. Lies raced through my brain—sick aunt, flat tire, food poisoning. Anything except the truth: I let Jake drag me to Red Town on a damn Tuesday.
I burst into the office with seconds to spare, sliding into the conference room just as the door clicked shut. My skin felt too tight. The migraine clawed behind my eyes like a living thing.
Jake sat across the table. One look at my face and his lips curved with pure evil delight.
The meeting dragged like torture. Voices blurred. Numbers swam. I kept my expression frozen, nails digging into my palms so I wouldn’t scream.
The moment the boss said “dismissed,” Jake was already moving, cutting through suits like a shark.
“Tefon!”
I spun too fast. Pain exploded behind my temples. “Not so loud, you traitor.”
He didn’t slow down. “Do you remember anything from last night?”
“Nothing.” My voice cracked. “Not one damn thing.”
His eyes gleamed. “Perfect. Because if you did, you’d be running for the exit right now.”
I grabbed his arm, pulse roaring. “Jake. What the hell did I do?”
He leaned in close, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You danced on Mr. Anderson like he was your personal pole. Grinding. Twerking. Hands all over him. The entire club watched the Ice King thaw for you.”
My blood turned to ice.
Mr. Anderson. CEO. Billionaire. The man whose stare could freeze hell itself. Cold. Ruthless. Untouchable. Everyone called him Grumpy behind his back because no one had ever seen him smile.
“You’re lying,” I breathed.
“Wish I was, babe.” Jake’s grin faltered. “But that’s not even the worst part.”
He paused, letting the silence stretch until I wanted to shake him.
“Some drunk bastard cornered you near the VIP section. Big guy. Handsy as hell. You tried to push him off but he wasn’t taking no for an answer. Things were about to get ugly—really ugly.”
My stomach dropped.
“Then Anderson appeared out of nowhere. Didn’t raise his voice. Didn’t throw a punch. Just… destroyed the guy with a few quiet words and a look that made security drag him out like trash. After that?” Jake’s voice lowered even more. “He pulled you against him and danced like the club belonged to him. Like you belonged to him.”
I couldn’t breathe.
My phone suddenly vibrated on the table, loud in the now-empty conference room.
Unknown number.
I snatched it up with shaking fingers.
The screen glowed with a single, chilling message:
My office. Ten seconds ago. — A.
Jake read it over my shoulder and cursed under his breath. “He never texts employees. Ever.”
The air felt heavier. My hangover vanished under a wave of raw fear… and something darker. Something electric.
I stared at those words until they burned behind my eyelids.
Last night I’d danced with the most dangerous man in the city. I’d let him touch me. I’d forgotten everything.
And now he was summoning me like I already belonged to him.
I shoved the phone into my pocket, legs moving before my brain could stop them.
Whatever happened in that club wasn’t over.
It was only the beginning.
