His Billion-Dollar Obsession

chapter 6

Chapter 6

Many things scare me.

like spiders, or someone finding out that fourteen-year-old me had a massive crush on Zorin. Or worse, my chats with ChatGPT getting leaked.

But I'm going to top this list with waking up to a bouquet of black roses sitting casually on my nightstand.

I didn’t buy any flowers.

I came home last night angry, exhausted, and ready to block Zorin in real life if I could. I definitely didn’t stop to pick up cursed garden decorations.

For a full thirty seconds, I just stared at it.

Maybe River sent them, perhaps I was too angry to see it lying there yesterday.

I sat up slowly, heart thumping. The air smelled faintly of… smoke?

I reached out but stopped halfway.

What if they’re poisoned?

Or cursed?

Or worse… romantic.

I inhaled sharply.

No. Impossible. He would never...

Actually, Zorin would absolutely do something this unhinged.

My chest tightened.

And instead of anger, a memory flashed, his mouth against my ear, the heat of him pressed against me and the way my toes curled when he whispered:

“Next man who touches you loses his limbs.”

My face burned.

Ugh. I hated that my body reacted before my brain.

I threw the blanket off and swung my legs out of bed. “Okay. We’re investigating. I am a brave, independent woman. I am... oh God, what if someone came in while I was sleeping?”

The thought made my blood turn cold.

I grabbed the heaviest object I could find, a bedside lamp and crept around my room, flicking on lights.

Everything was normal.

Which somehow made it creepier

I went back to the flowers, leaning in cautiously. Up close, the petals were cold.

Like they’d been plucked straight from a grave.

I grabbed my phone, ready to text him a very long paragraph that started with “You psycho” and ended with “I quit for real this time.”

When I saw a dark figure leaving my front door, the bedside lamp fell from my hand with a heavy thud, and at the same time, a loud shriek left my lips.

***

I'm sure this is a fairytale gone wrong.

Funny how a few days ago I wanted to be chased, caught and f****d. I wanted to be Adeline.

"Seems like my fairy godmother is working overtime, she's granting the wrong wishes"

"Maybe take a break from those books of yours, you are getting these ideas from them", Jade laughs. I would have hit her if she weren't two streets away.

"Jade, I know what I saw, what I felt... I..." I blink back tears as my brain replays the incident from two days ago. I could still hear his footsteps, echoing behind me and the suffocating certainty that if I slowed even a second, I’d be caught.

"Hey calm down. I believe you" she sighs softly. "I'm just saying, why would anyone stalk you? Why would anyone want to hurt you?"

She continues when I don't respond, "I know what would cheer you up" Her brows wiggle suggestively through the screen.

I sigh but can’t help but smile, pulling at my mouth. "Street race?"

"Yes. Get dressed, b***h. Let’s go have fun." She puckers her lips at me, but her eyes soften. "Don’t let a deranged wannabe Zade Meadows stop you from living. You can’t hide in your room forever."

She’s right. Damn right. What was I thinking, locking myself away for two whole days? I’m going out tonight. Stalker or not.

I toss my phone aside and yank my closet open, digging through clothes. I picked out a strapless, black, figure-hugging leather gown that stopped just under my butt. Dangerous. Perfect.

I rush down the stairs to get a cup of water from the kitchen. Filling my cup I brought it up to my mouth to drink.

"Where are you going dressed like that?" Zorin’s voice cuts through the silence, making me jump.

I don’t even bother turning around. "Out"

Suddenly, I wasn't thirsty anymore. I returned the glass and made my way out. I still hadn't forgotten what Zorin did two days ago.

He scoffs, pushes off the frame. "So secretive. Let me guess, running off to the club to suck some d**k?"

"It’s none of your business."

I almost forgot he came over to do some 'work' for River. To be honest, I'm almost convinced that those two are involved in some shady s**t, I just can't prove it.

“Which means it’s definitely bad business.”

I whirl on him, fire sparking. "Why don't you go back to your stupid work, Zorin"

For a second his mouth quirks, like he finds me funny. Then his eyes dip, lingering far too long on my outfit before dragging back up. He steps closer, dangerously close that I could feel his breath on my ears as he whispered.

"I don't think any man deserves to see you like this" His voice drops, his finger grazes my chin, pulling my face close to his. "Except me of course."

My pulse quickens but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. I grab my phone and shove past him, heart drumming harder than it should. He doesn’t follow, but I can feel his gaze burning into my back all the way down the hall.

I pulled a long leather coat over my dress, it was as windy as hell outside. I adjusted my makeup one last time before shooting down the stairs.

And of course beneath the stairs, he stood gracefully. I rolled my eyes and made to bypass him.

"All these acts just cause I fired Alex?"

I wasn't going to speak to him, my eyes were trained on the door and I managed to bypass him.

Success.

One hand wrapped around my waist and I was brought to a hard rock chest. I turned around ready to cuss him out

I didn't have the liberty to do that cos, a second later I was lifted off the ground and then had my legs wrapped around his waist, my back resting on the wall.

I swallowed hard, losing all composure. His eyes never left mine, and mine wouldn't leave his either.

“You’re stubborn, Lu,” he murmured, his voice quieter now, more dangerous. “Do you want me to fix that?”

His grip on my hips tightened slightly.

“I could teach you.”

A pause, followed by a slow, deliberate tilt of his head.

“A few lessons.”