Page 6 of Explosive Prejudice

“If you’ll follow me, sir,” he said, opening the door.

Shoving my hands in my pockets, I followed him while looking around. The place screamed of money, and that was saying something coming from a rich bastard like me. Everything was tasteful, from the murals painted on the high ceilings to the handcrafted wooden furniture to the art pieces hanging on the walls next to the dazzling chandeliers. Interesting since I’d half expected the place to be tacky.

“Wait, where are we going?” I asked the guard as he passed what seemed to be the concierge and led me through a long hall until we reached an elevator.

Rather than answering me, he waited until I got inside. As the doors closed and we started to go up, I thought that perhaps coming here wasn’t such a brilliant idea, especially seeing the man’s gun tucked underneath his suit jacket. Once we reached our floor, the guard waited for me to step out before doing the same. We were in another hall, which appeared as lavish as the one downstairs, while classical music played in the background.

“Why are we here?” I asked as we stopped in front of big wooden doors with two men standing sentry, dressed in the same black masks and suits. Again, not answering me, we stood silently for a moment until one of the masked guards opened the door.

“Well, I knew it was just a matter of time before I’d see you again,” said the handsome, tall man who came to greet me with his arms wide open. “Missed me?” His full lips curved into a crooked smile as he grabbed my arms and gave me a little squeeze. “Or maybe you came to close another debt?”

Nearly two months ago, I came here to pay Jordan’s father’s debt. For months, Jordan was terrorized by this joker’s thugs to pay back the loan his dad had taken from him. When I asked to meet their boss, I was first introduced to some clown named Mike. After having none of it, I demanded to see the man in charge, and that was how I met this maniac, who was currently smiling at me like he just won the lottery.

“How did you know I was here?” I asked, and he pulled out a card identical to the one I showed his guard.

Waving it in the air, he smiled. “I didn’t. But my men know what to do when someone comes here with my VIP card.” He tilted his head in the direction of a leather couch. “Come, let’s sit down.”

He made sure to ask his men to leave us alone before grabbing a crystal bottle from the metal bar cart near the window. “Scotch?” He offered me a glass as he sat on the couch directly opposite me.

“Sure.”

I watched him fill my glass with the amber liquor. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with tousled brown hair cut short on the sides and deep blue eyes framed by dark lashes that were even more unique because of his thick, expressive brows that were the stars on his angular face. Despite his fair tone, the skin around his eyes was darker, almost like he used eyeliner, and combined with their hooded look, he pulled off those bedroom eyes well. He was one of those people who looked like they either didn’t sleep for a week or were simply bored with what you had to say.

Moving my gaze down his body, he definitely knew what to wear—a black knit polo shirt that clung to his juicy biceps and thick pecs, a pair of tailored gray trousers, and a gold necklace that slipped into the deep cut of his shirt, brushing against his light chest hair. The guy was sexy. I’d give him that.

“So, as you were saying, you came here to pay off another debt?” He smiled, exposing his sharp canines, making me think of a vampire. “What are you, some fairy godmother?”

“I never said what I’m here for.” I brought the glass to my lips and took a sip. “But no, I’m not here for that.”

“Oh, so you came here to see me.” He seemed rather pleased.

“Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t even remember your name.”

“Dion. Named after the Greek god of pleasure.”

“Oh, right.” I grinned, took another sip, and gave him a fake smile. “I remembered it being something stupid.”

Leaning back, he rested one arm along the top of the couch and spread his legs, the smile never leaving his lips. “And I remember liking you.”

I huffed, mimicking his pose. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Flirt with me. You don’t stand a chance.”

“Is that so?”

Tilting my head, I locked eyes with him. He licked his lips, obviously intrigued by me. I knew I was fucking gorgeous, and I knew how to use my looks. How to tease men like him into giving me what I wanted.

“Yeah. As I said, I’m not here for you.”

“And yet, here you are, in my office.”

“Only because you brought me here. I came to sign up for that little club of yours,” I said, crossing my legs.

Something sparkled behind his vicious eyes, and he leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Now you’re talking.”

“Good. So stop wasting my time flirting, and tell me more.”

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