"That's right. And property doesn't ask questions about its value or its fate. Property exists to serve its owner's needs."
"And what exactly are your needs, Renato?"
She thinks she can seduce her way out of this situation. Use her body to make me forget what she really is.
"My need," I say, backing her toward the bed, "is to ensure my merchandise is properly prepared for sale. And after that little performance, I think it's time for a more... hands-on approach to your training."
Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn't back down. "Hands-on how?"
"You wanted to know what these buyers expect from you. What they'll demand." I stop when her legs hit the edge of the bed. "I think it's time for a practical real-life demonstration."
"You're going to touch me."
"I'm going to evaluate you. Thoroughly." My hand moves to her throat, fingers wrapping around the delicate column just firmly enough to make my point. "Because if I'm going to get top dollar for you, I need to understand exactly what I'm selling. Isn’t that what you said?"
Her pulse hammers against my fingertips, but her gaze never wavers. "And you’re going to pretend this is purely professional?"
"Everything I do is professional." The lie tastes bitter, but I force it out anyway. "You're a business investment, Camilla. Nothing more. Don’t ever forget that."
"Liar."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Your breathing is uneven. Your pupils are blown." Her voice drops to a whisper. "This isn't professional evaluation. This is desire, and it's eating you alive."
"You think you know me?"
"I think you want me so badly it's driving you insane. I think watching me strip for you just now made you harder than you've been in years."
She's not wrong, and that's what makes her so dangerous. But I didn't build an empire by letting pretty women manipulate me with sex and psychology.
"What I want," I say, my thumb pressing against her pulse point, "is irrelevant. What matters is business. And that says you go to the highest bidder if your families don’t pay."
"Even if that bidder is Kozlov? Even if he destroys me completely?"
The thought of Viktor Kozlov's hands on her skin makes me murderous, but I force it down. "That's not my concern."
"Isn't it? Because you seem very concerned with my... condition." Her hand moves to cover mine where it rests against her throat. "Tell me, when you imagine Kozlov taking me for the first time, how does that make you feel?"
"I won’t give it a thought once you leave here."
"Try again. You’re still lying."
The challenge in her voice breaks my last thread of control. I spin her around and pin her against the wall, my body caging her in, my face inches from hers.
"You want to know how it makes me feel? It makes me want to kill him with my bare hands. It makes me want to burn down everything I've built just to keep you from him."
"Then why—"
"Because wanting something doesn't mean you can have it." I lean close enough that she can feel my breath against her skin. "Because I'm not some horny fool who throws away millions of euros for a woman, no matter how beautiful she is. In my world, you don’t let feelings dictate business decisions."
"So, you'll just hand me over? Let them break me?"
"I'll sell you to whoever pays the most. What happens after that isn't my concern."
"And until then?" she whispers.
"Until then, you're mine to prepare however I see fit." My free hand traces down her side, feeling the silk slide against her skin. "And I'm starting to think your preparation needs to be much more... comprehensive."
