Page 18 of The Billionaire's Vow

Her name rolled off his tongue so naturally, sending a shiver down her spine, delicious in a way she had no business enjoying.

"You’re going to shut down that computer," he continued, calmly but firmly."Grab your purse and come with me.There’s an excellent restaurant just across the street.We’ll sit down, relax, have a drink and dinner, and you’re going to tell me about yourself."

He paused slightly, holding her gaze captive.

The intensity in his dark eyes locked her in place, made her pulse pound in her ears.There was something knowing in his expression, something focused—like he was already drawing her into his world, whether she wanted to be there or not.

"Any questions or concerns?"he asked.

He didn’t give her a chance to reply.

"Good.Let’s go."

The command sent a jolt through her, and before she fully processed what was happening, she had jumped to her feet and collected her purse.

Then—damn it—she remembered her computer.

With shaking fingers, she logged out of the accounting system, trying to steady her breathing as she double-checked the screen.It took her a moment to make sure everything was locked, then she sighed and turned back to him.

When she met his gaze again, there was something different in his expression.An unexpected eagerness.For a heartbeat, she could only stare.He shifted, turning to lead the way.

Still, Giselle hesitated."Sir, really, I have food at home.I prepare all my meals ahead of time, so I can just get home and pop one in the microwave."

He was already shaking his head before she finished speaking.

"Earlier today, you told me you’d discovered someone was stealing from me," he pointed out, his voice dropping to a murmur."Therefore, you will come with me, and you’ll tell me everything I want to know."

He turned and walked off down the hallway.Giselle jumped slightly, and scurried after him.

The office had emptied out hours ago.The silence was thick, broken only by the distant hum of a vacuum and the faint murmur of the night cleaning crew.The overhead lights cast elongated shadows across the marble floors, stretching toward the glass-walled conference rooms, where the city lights flickered in the distance.

It was so quiet.Giselle was acutely aware of the man walking beside her.Dimitri De Luca was big.He moved with the kind of effortless control that suggested he could turn lethal in a heartbeat.His presence was a solid weight in the empty corridor, his broad shoulders and imposing frame making the space feel smaller.

And then, her attention caught on something.A scar.Not just one, but several.One at the edge of his ear, another across the back of his hand.Faint, but unmistakable.This was a man who had seen violence.Who had survived it.

When she glanced up at his face again, that penetrating look had returned.Not threatening.Not angry.

Just… watching.Waiting.Studying her as if she was something he wasn’t quite sure what to do with.The air between them crackled with unspoken energy.

And as they stepped into the elevator, the doors sliding shut with a soft ding, she realized something: she should feel uneasy.

But for some reason… she didn’t.

As they stepped into the elevator, the space closed in around them, intensifying the awareness simmering between them.The air felt heavier, charged with awareness.

She noticed the scars again.Perhaps they should have repulsed her, a reminder that this man’s life was violent.But they didn’t.Instead, they fascinated her.

They whispered a story, revealing that Dimitri De Luca was more than just a man with power and wealth, that he was more than a nepo baby who had inherited his wealth and position.He was hardened by experience, seasoned by it.He had fought for it, clawed his way up from the streets, and now stood at the top, a man who had earned every ounce of respect that came with his name.

That realization sent a ripple of awe down her spine.

Who was she kidding?It wasn’t the scars or his past that made her react like this.The frustrating, bone-deep awareness had been there from the moment he’d walked into the conference room this morning, his presence filling the room, commanding attention in a way that left her struggling to keep her thoughts in order.

The doors slid open, and just as she drew breath to respond, movement caught her eye.Several men appeared, their broad frames filling the hallway.She reacted instinctively, stepping to the side.

Straight into Dimitri.

Hard muscle met her softer frame as his arms came up, steadying her before she could fully register what had happened.The heat of his touch burned through her sleeves, his grip firm but unexpectedly gentle.