Austen watches me for a beat, then sighs. “I get it, Chase. She’s smart—seriouslysmart. And she doesn’t even realize it. She’s beautiful too, though different from the women you usually go for.” His voice dips, turning almost cautious. “But she’s not cut out for your world. If you risk a fling, we’ll lose her. Things will get messy. Just—” He exhales. “Leave her be. Forhersake.”
Something in me bristles, but I push to my feet, shrugging on my coat. “I’m heading out,” I mutter. “It’s been a long day.”
Austen lifts his hands in surrender, sensing he’s pushed far enough. “Yeah, I need to go too.”
I pause at the door, shifting the focus. “Keep an eye on the Monarch deal. If anything seems off, I want to know.”
“Of course.” His eyes follow me, still wary, as we step outside.
Albert is already waiting by the car. Without another word, I slide into the backseat, releasing a slow breath only when the door slams shut, finally encasing me in solitude. Austen’s words ring in my ears for the journey home.She doesn’t belong in your world. Leave her be.Hell, I know he’s right. It’s the exact conversation I’ve been having with myself every day since I met her. But then, I see her, and all my good intentions evaporate into dust. The control I pride myself on—shattered by just one of her smiles.
And it’s not just the insane chemistry that makes us lose our minds when we give in to it. There’s more. She intrigues me to a level bordering on obsession, like I want to find out every little thing about her. What makes her tick. Every time I see that radiant smile, I want to be the one who put it there.
By the time we’re rolling up to my apartment in Central Park South, it’s late. Exhausted, I flick on the apartment lights, shrugging off my jacket. I pull off my tie and unbutton my shirt, heading straight to the bar to fix myself a nightcap. I slump onto the couch, staring at the stunning view of Central Park at night. But as usual, my mind wanders to Violet. I haven’t seen her since the Masquerade Ball. As soon as I could sneak out of the bathroom, I tried to find her, but she was gone. She’s avoiding me for sure, always holding herself back. And yet, the more she tries to pull away, the more I feel the urge to pull her right back.
With a yawn, I pad through to my ensuite, switching on the shower, throwing off my clothes. The hot steam clings to every aching muscle, uncurling the tension of the day. How the hell I kept a straight face and told Austen me and Violet would never work.
Oh, we work alright.
I can still hear her needy moans as she came over my tongue. No person on this earth has ever made me feel as weak as she does. Already, I’m missing the taste and touch of her. My cock does too. Every time it dwells on that night, it’s rock-hard and ready to go. I fist myself with a groan, picturing my tongue feasting on her. How her thighs quivered around my face. The feel of her taut nipples, those full breasts bouncing as she rode my tongue like she was in heat. My little hellion, all fire, passion, and sweetness. I brace one arm against the tiles, my other making hard and frantic strokes. My head drops back with a tortured groan as I pump out my release.
Fuck.
I don’t think I’m strong enough to stay away.
But I need to decide. Because where Violet is concerned, there’s no half-measure. It’s all in or bust.
Problem is, I don’t know if I’ve got the heart for the game.
Chapter fourteen
Chase
Spending the weekendfinding myselfwithin nature is at the bottom of my list of ways to use my time. Don’t get me wrong, the location is phenomenal. Crisp mountain air, breathtaking scenery. But I’ve always been a bright light, city kind of guy. Although, for the first time since I can remember, I found myself looking forward to this weekend. And it’s got nothing to do with the wildlife and everything to do with the person sitting opposite me, bathed in the golden hues of the early morning sunlight slanting through the window.
Monarch has granted us an early morning private meeting ahead of the day’s events—an advantage not every vendor will get. An unspoken acknowledgment that Knightwell is a frontrunner.
Violet, with Austen’s help, is walking the Monarch execs through her fraud detection algorithm. She is mid-sentence, her voice clear and professional, but there’s an edge of conviction that makes people listen. Austen steps in occasionally toelaborate on more technical aspects, but it’s Violet who holds their attention.
Mine too.
I should be analyzing Monarch’s reaction, but I find myself watching how her green eyes sparkle when she focuses. I lean back slightly, letting Austen field a more technical question from Monarch’s head of risk, and her gaze drifts to mine. She looks away, flustered, as I hold hers, the familiar fire creeping into my veins. Before I lose my focus, I check myself, my spine straightening. Austen wraps up his explanation, and I pull my head back into the game.
“To put it simply,” I cut in smoothly, leaning forward. “Monarch’s competitors are already exploring solutions in this space, but none of them have the level of adaptability and real-time response we’re offering. You’ll be ahead of the curve. And with the right implementation strategy...” I glance at Richard, their senior director, “...this could be a long-term competitive advantage.”
Richard nods, exchanging a look with another executive. “It’s impressive,” he admits, his eyes meandering back to Violet. “We will continue evaluating, but you’re making a very strong case.” He glances at his watch, then exhales as if bracing himself.
“For now, let’s wrap this up. Apparently, the next item on the agenda involves getting muddy and pretending to enjoy it.”
A few chuckles disperse through the room as we stand to leave, heading outside for the day’s activities. I catch Austen watching me as Violet falls into step beside me. Despite Austen’s hawk-like attention, my heart takes a tentative leap. It’s the first time she’s acknowledged me since the Masquerade Ball. The first indication she’s not doing everything in her power to swerve me.
“Was everything okay?” she asks, biting her lip as she seeks reassurance, her gorgeous green eyes hooked into mine. What I want to do is press my lips on hers until she lets out a soft moanand tell her she was flawless. Instead, I keep my tone clipped, dragging my eyes forward. “It’s not over yet, Violet. You’ll get your pat on the back when the contract’s signed.”
A shadow crosses her face. I’m sure the wordjerkis at the forefront of her mind. But I never hold people’s hands in business or sugarcoat the truth. The fact I even want to break that rule with Violet is what’s surprising—the softer side she brings out that I thought didn’t exist. Whether that disgusts or thrills me—the jury’s still out.
When we arrive at the lodge’s main terrace, it’s already packed, the scent of coffee mixing with the faint smoke of a fire pit. I scan the crowd, barely recognizing some of the retreat attendees—people I do business with regularly—now stripped of their designer suits and polished Italian leather shoes. The illusion of power fades fast when you trade a tailored three-piece for hiking boots and windbreakers.
Elliot looks like he raided a park ranger’s closet on the way over. The moment he spots Violet, his entire face lights up like he’s just hit the jackpot. When he saw her at check-in this morning, he looked like he’d died and gone to heaven. Or hell, in Elliot’s case. Now that the initial shock has worn off, his expression has settled into something more calculated. He sees an opportunity. A chance to push me off my throne. And he’s arrogant enough to think he can lure Violet to the dark side.
