Page 30 of My Sweetest Temptation

He held me close, his arms wrapped tightly around me. ‘’I want you to work at the club, but in the office. You’ll assist Matteo’s sister, Mya, with paperwork and contracts. I’ll pay you triple what you made here.’’

My eyebrows shot up. Triple my salary? That was a lot of money, even if it didn’t include tips. And I wouldn’t be half-naked, so that was a plus.

“And if I say no?’’ I challenged, meeting his gaze.

He paused, letting my words linger in the air. He released me, and I instinctively retreated, my back pressing against the cold, unyielding door.

I watched him carefully as he settled back into his seat, unbuttoning his suit jacket with a deliberate slowness. His blue eyes bore into mine. I squirmed under his gaze; it was too powerful, too magnetic.

“I don’t think you’re understanding me, Winter. You do not have a choice. You will work for me.”

“I’m not your property, Nico,” I hissed. “You can’t just tell me what to do.”

Nico moved closer, his presence intimidating. “The fuck you aren’t.”

“What?” I echoed incredulously. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” he said matter-of-factly.

“You can’t control me. I’m not a wind-up toy you can play with whenever you want.”

“Control you?” Nico raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips. “You think I’m being controlling? I’m trying to protect you, Winter, now that you are associated with me.”

Panic surged within me. “Wh-what do you mean?”

He didn’t say anything right away, just stared at me. His gaze made me so uneasy. I was ready to throw myself out of the car. We weren’t driving at a high speed. So, if I jumped out now, the impact wouldn’t be bad. Maybe a few broken bones and cuts. I could survive that.

“Don’t you think about it,” he warned. When I turned back to him, I cringed at the death look he was giving me.

I swallowed another ball of panic, adrenaline spiking my courage. I reached down, yanked off one of my heels, and hurled it at him.

“Fuck!” he roared.

I twisted my body away from him, my fingers fumbling for the lock. I managed to unlock it, flinging the door open, the cool night air slapping me in the face. I screamed as an oncoming car swerved to avoid the door, its horn blaring.

“Enough,” Nico snapped. He grabbed me by the waist and yanked me back, knocking the breath out of me. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he roared, and I shrank back. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

I refused to answer, and we sat in silence until we reached my apartment.

The privacy window slid down, revealing a concerned Enzo peering back at us. “Everything okay, boss?”

Nico didn’t respond right away; the tension in the air was palpable. “Don’t ever pull that shit again,” he said to me in a menacing tone. “You are going to work for me starting the day after tomorrow. I’m giving you a day to get your shit together and come to terms with your new arrangement.”

He paused for a moment before speaking again. “Don’t test me, Winter. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Defeated, the air left my lungs. “You’re unbelievable,” I muttered.

Nico’s tone softened slightly. “Don’t be mad at me, angel.”

He let me go, swinging open his door, and extended his hand. I bypassed him, but he didn’t fight me on it this time.

He removed his suit jacket, the fabric brushing against me as he wrapped it around my shoulders. I clutched the front lapels, pulling them tight, inhaling deeply. It smelled of his cologne and something else that was distinctly him.

He tilted my chin up with a finger, his gaze piercing into mine. “Turn your light on so I know you’re safe in your apartment,” he instructed me.

I didn’t respond; instead, I walked away from him, each step heavy with resentment. Thankful that Liam was nowhere in sight, I slipped into my apartment, the door clicking shut behind me. I flicked the lamp on and walked to the window. Nico stood there in his fitted silver dress shirt and blew me a kiss.

I watched him slide into his car and drive away. I hated him for making choices for me that were never his to make. But as the car’s taillights disappeared into the night, I realized I had no choice but to play his game and abide by his rules.

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