"Sir, we have reason to believe someone unauthorized has entered this floor, maybe your room. It's for your safety."
Another knock, more insistent this time.
Mr. Montgomery stiffened beside me, his body going rigid. I could feel the tension radiating from him in waves.
"Don't move or I'll... I'll sue you," he hissed at me, his voice catching slightly as my body inadvertently pressed closer to his when I tried to make myself smaller under the covers.
Even in my panicked, drugged state, I couldn't help the sarcastic reply that tumbled from my lips. "With what lawyer?"
His head turned sharply toward me, eyes widening in what might have been surprise or outrage—it was hard to tell in the dim light. For a moment, I thought he might push me out of the bed and turn me over to the people at the door.
Instead, his lips twitched almost imperceptibly. "I own a law firm," he whispered back. "Several, actually."
Of course he does.
The knocking continued, more forceful now. "Mr. Montgomery, we must insist."
"One moment!" he called out, then lowered his voice to a barely audible whisper. "Why are they after you?"
I swallowed hard, trying to organize my scattered thoughts. "She drugged me and tried to sell me to a man named Harris. I escaped, but they’re after me."
Something dangerous flashed in Mr. Montgomery's eyes, a hardness that hadn't been there before. He studied my face for a long moment, then seemed to come to a decision.
"Stay absolutely still," he murmured, then raised his voice again. "I said I'm busy! This is completely unacceptable!"
"Sir, we have orders—"
"And I have the chairman of your hotel chain on speed dial," Mr. Montgomery cut in, his tone icy. "Shall I call him now to discuss how his most valuable guest is being harassed?"
There was a pause, then a much more hesitant voice. "We apologize, Mr. Montgomery, but we do need to check the room."
Mr. Montgomery shifted beside me, his arm brushing against my chest. The casual contact sent an unexpected jolt through me despite the dire circumstances. He was warm and solid, the kind of solid that suggested regular workouts and careful attention to his physique.
Not the time to notice that, Connor.
"Fine," he called out, surprising me. "You have exactly thirty seconds to look around, and then I want everyone out. I'm in the middle of a critical business call with Tokyo."
My eyes widened in panic. Was he giving me up? After going to the trouble of hiding me?
He must have seen the fear in my expression because he leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Trust me," he whispered, so softly I almost didn't hear it.
The door opened, and footsteps entered the suite. Mr. Montgomery sat up straighter, pulling the covers more securely around us both. I realized with a start that he had positioned his tablet on his lap atop the covers, open to what looked like a spreadsheet.
"Make it quick," he snapped at whoever had entered. "As you can see, I'm alone and trying to work."
I held my breath, trying to become one with the mattress. The footsteps moved around the room, opening the bathroom door, checking the closet.
"Clear," someone said finally. "Sorry for the disturbance, Mr. Montgomery."
"This is unacceptable," he replied coldly. "I expect compensation for this intrusion. Now get out."
The door clicked shut, and still I didn't move. Mr. Montgomery remained tense beside me, listening intently as the footsteps receded down the hallway. Only when they had faded entirely did he exhale slowly.
Chapter Two
~ Julian ~
I watched the door close behind the security guards, my heart hammering against my ribs like it was trying to escape. The young man—Connor, he'd said his name was—lay beside me, his eyes fluttering as he fought to stay conscious.
