Page 82 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

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Dominic

The tension in the surveillance room is suffocating. Every screen shows a different angle of the hotel lounge where Eva sits across from Reyes. She looks composed, her posture straight and confident, but I catch the small signs of unease—a tremor in her fingers as they tap the edge of her coffee cup. She’s a fortress, but even fortresses have cracks.

Adrian glances up from his laptop, his expression calm despite the pressure. “She’s holding her own,” he says quietly, his tone devoid of the tension I feel building with every passing second.

“She has to,” I reply, my voice tighter than I intend. My arms cross over my chest as I stare at the screen, willing myself to stay rooted. Watching her walk into this meeting felt like sending her into a lion’s den. Every second she’s in there stretches into eternity.

On the screen, Reyes leans back in his chair, his body language deceptively relaxed. He’s toying with her, savoring every second. His smirk is a silent taunt, and even without the audio, I know he’s trying to get under her skin.

“Do we have audio yet?” I snap, my patience fraying.

Adrian’s fingers fly across the keyboard. “Almost there.”

The surveillance equipment crackles to life, and Reyes’s voice finally fills the room.

“You’re bold, Ms. Hayes,” Reyes says, his voice a smooth blend of charm and malice. “Walking into this meeting, knowing what’s at stake. I admire that.”

Eva doesn’t flinch. Her voice, steady and cutting, slices through his posturing. “I’m here for answers, not admiration.”

A faint smirk tugs at my lips. That’s my Eva—sharp, fearless, and unyielding. But my pride is fleeting, replaced by the gnawing worry that Reyes’s games are designed to break even the strongest.

“What do you want to know?” Reyes asks, leaning forward with an air of false sincerity. “Perhaps why your dear Mr. Kane seems to be unraveling at the seams?”

Eva’s fingers tighten around her cup, but her voice remains neutral. “Why don’t you enlighten me?”

Reyes chuckles, the sound low and dangerous. “Conrad’s betrayal isn’t just professional—it’s personal. Dominic Kanetook something from him, something he can’t forgive. The leaks, the sabotage—it’s just the beginning.”

My fists clench, knuckles white with restraint. His words are crafted to provoke, designed to plant doubt and rattle her. But Eva tilts her head, unimpressed.

“And you?” she counters. “Are you just a spectator in all of this, or do you have your own grudge to settle?”

Her question hits its mark. Reyes’s smirk falters, replaced by a flicker of something darker. For a moment, he studies her, the calculation in his gaze chilling.

“Let’s just say Conrad and I have... mutual interests,” Reyes replies, his tone measured. “And you, Ms. Hayes, are becoming a complication.”

My chest tightens. The room feels suffocating as I watch their exchange. Eva may be fearless, but Reyes is dangerous.

“She’s baiting him,” Adrian murmurs, his eyes glued to the screen.

“And he’s biting,” I reply, though the words do little to quell the storm inside me. Every instinct screams at me to end this, to pull her out of that room and away from his influence.

Reyes leans back in his chair, his smirk returning as if her words have only fueled his confidence. “Dominic Kane isn’t the invincible force you think he is. He’s vulnerable. And you, Ms. Hayes, are the perfect leverage.”

Eva doesn’t miss a beat. Her voice is clear, unwavering. “If you think I’m going to betray him, you’re wasting your time.”

Reyes’s smirk fades into a calculating stare. “Loyalty is admirable, but it’s also dangerous. Walk away, Ms. Hayes. Before you lose more than you’re willing to sacrifice.”

Before Eva can respond, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance down to see a text from Harper:

“We have a problem. Call me ASAP.”

“Adrian,” I say sharply, stepping away from the monitors. “Pull her out. Now.”

Adrian looks up, hesitation flickering in his eyes. “We’re close. Just a few more minutes.”

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