Zayn leaned back in his chair, barely listening to the legal conversation, completely ignoring the resumes.His thoughts were entirely on her.
She was fascinating.Different from anyone he’d met before.Sharp.Funny.A little odd—in the best way.And undeniably hot.
He remembered a dinner with one woman who spent thirty minutes comparing the nutritional value of romaine and arugula.Another had talked endlessly about a designer’s upcoming fashion show.He couldn’t recall her name—nor had he cared about the fashions.
And if he were being completely honest, those were the only two conversations he actuallyrememberedhaving with women.
Most of his relationships had been physical.Polished, diplomatic liaisons, carefully orchestrated.None of them had stirred both his mind and body the way Azlyn did.
Now, in his head, he was slowly undressing her—mentally removing that oversized sweatshirt, imagining the soft curves hidden beneath.He’d peel off those leggings and kiss his way along every newly revealed inch of skin.Then he would—
A knock.
Zayn straightened as Hasim stepped into the room, looking concerned.
Zayn muted the conference call and turned away from the resume he hadn’t glanced at in ten minutes.“What’s going on?”he asked, instantly alert.
Hasim hesitated before stepping forward.“Your Highness...the woman you had lunch with earlier today has arrived.”
Zayn blinked.“I’m sorry, what?”
Before Hasim could repeat himself, two of Zayn’s bodyguards entered, visibly tense.
“Your Highness,” one said, “we’ve received credible intel that an attempt on your life is imminent.”
Zayn sighed.It wasn’t the first time.As Crown Prince, he’d dealt with more than a few assassination threats—some credible, most not.
He remained calm, leaning back in his chair again.“What kind of intel?”he asked.
That’s when Azlyn stepped into the office.
She looked breathtaking.But it was her eyes that caught him—sharp, clear, and filled with concern.
Zayn stood immediately and came around the desk.“Azlyn.What are you doing here?”
She walked to the side table and set down her laptop.“I’m sorry to interrupt.I know you’re busy.”Her eyes flicked to the guards by the door before returning to him.“I was flipping through some messages on the dark web.”
“The dark web?”he repeated, moving closer—not because he had to, but because he wanted to.She’d been in his thoughts all afternoon.And now, here she was, even more beautiful than he remembered.
“It’s a hidden layer of the internet,” she explained.“No search engines, no user guides.You have to know exactly what you’re looking for—and how to find it.”
“And you do?”
She snorted.“Of course I do.It’s where I find dirt on the people I investigate.It’s one of my best sources.”
He raised an eyebrow, torn between offense and admiration.“Should I assume you’ve found something on me?”
A sly smile played across her lips.“I figured you were a choir boy with no secrets worth digging up.”
He chuckled, his voice dropping slightly.“You’d be surprised what choir boys get up to.”His eyes darkened, voice low with intent.“We’re infamous for our...naughty endeavors.”
Her expression shifted, softening.Was it curiosity?Interest?He hoped it was both.
But before he could decipher the look, she turned back to the laptop and entered a password.“I came across this post just now,” she said, her fingers moving across the keyboard.“Usually, I dismiss these kinds of messages, but this one was specific—and the payout was unusually high.Plus...”She glanced at the guards.“It included your hotel name and a detailed schematic for accessing it.More information is supposed to follow once the job is accepted.”
“It’s a credible threat,” one of the guards confirmed grimly.“Your Highness, we need to get you to a secure location.”
Zayn’s focus remained on Azlyn.“How did you find this?”
