Page 9 of His Ruthless Obsession

"You need to be careful," Skye says, her usual playfulness gone. "Men like that, they're used to getting what they want. And the way he watches you when you work? He wants you."

"I've seen it too," Mikayla adds. "When I had to come by last week to give you my extra key? He couldn't take his eyes off you."

"Look." I straighten my spine. "I'm a grown woman who's learned from her mistakes. I know better than to blur professional lines. So yes, he's attractive. Yes, there's chemistry. But that's where it ends. Period."

The clickof my heels echoes through The Vault's empty dance floor as I arrive for my afternoon shift. Last night's chaos left no trace - the floors gleam, the bar sparkles, everything back in perfect order.

My mind drifts back to brunch. My friends mean well, but they don't understand. They haven't seen how The Vault transforms at night, how the energy crackles when-

"Jasmine."

His voice slides down my spine like warm honey. I turn to find Nerio moving toward me with that predatory grace of his, closing the distance between us in long strides.

"I need your input on some changes." He stops close enough that I catch notes of his cologne, and like always, it does something to me. "Walk with me."

Not a request. Never a request with him.

"Of course." I fall into step beside him, my heart drumming against my ribs. "What kind of changes?"

"Security upgrades, after last night's... entertainment." His jaw tightens. "I won't have anyone threatening what's mine."

The possessive edge in his voice makes my skin tingle. I focus on keeping my breathing steady as we reach his office.

"Your thoughts?" He gestures to blueprints spread across one of the tables in the back.

I lean forward to study them, painfully aware of him behind me. "These camera angles leave blind spots near the back entrance."

"Show me."

He moves closer, his chest nearly touching my back. I point to the blueprint, fighting to keep my voice professional. "Here, and here. Anyone could slip through unnoticed."

"Clever girl." His breath brushes my ear, and I wonder if he already knew that. In fact, I'm certain she did. Why does everything feel like a test with him? "Always seeing what others miss."

I grip the edge of the table, torn between stepping away and leaning back into his heat. Everything I've worked for could go up in smoke if I give in to this attraction. But God, the way he makes me feel...

"You seem tense, little dove." His hand settles on my shoulder, thumb tracing small circles. "Something on your mind?"

"Just focused on work." I straighten up, putting space between us. "I should check on the new inventory."

His eyes darken. "Running away?"

"Being professional." I meet his gaze despite my racing pulse. "Isn't that what you pay me for?"

"I pay you to do whatever I ask."

"Like running this club." I take another step back. "So if you'll excuse me."

I start to turn away when his voice raises.

"You've never been afraid of me." His statement hangs between us. "Were you last night?"

Images flash through my mind - the way he moved with lethal precision, taking down three men without breaking a sweat. The calculated violence should have terrified me. Instead, I couldn't look away.

"Fear isn't really my style." I take a step back, but he matches it.

I'm not lying. Fear isn't usually something that gets to me, but with him, I always feel like I'm just on the edge of falling. He ignites a primal fear in me that I don't know how to quell.

I'm not even sure I want to.

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