Page 31 of The Owner's Temptation

But then… she showed up.

She put on black and walked into my club like prey ripe for the taking.

And last night, she watched me.

Not from behind a screen. Not from the safe shadows.

She stood on the edge of The Devil’s Playground and looked me dead in the eye.

I don’t get involved with recruits. That’s not a rule—it’s law.

But this girl?

This girl I barely know…

She’s already broken a rule just bymaking me notice.

“Knock, knock!” Eve raps her knuckles twice on my open door before walking in, a black folder tucked beneath her arm like it holds state secrets. “Is it my turn to face the gauntlet?”

I huff a quiet laugh, already rising to my feet with a stretch. “Espresso?”

“God, yes.” She makes herself at home in the sitting area—in my chair, of course—crossing one leg over the other as she sets her notepad down.

I move to the coffee bar, the familiar routine of grinding beans and fitting the portafilter into place settling the tension still clinging to my shoulders. The hiss of steam cuts through the quiet as I pour two shots into warmed cups.

“Long night?” she asks, pulling out her pen.

“Could’ve been longer,” I say, setting a cup down in front of her.

She lifts it like a toast. “You should try being the one wrangling over a dozen barely-trained women through nine floors of organized depravity. The Devil might run the club, but I’m the poor soul stuck babysitting the damned.”

“Poor soul,” I echo dryly, lifting my own cup.

I settle into the armchair opposite her, watching as she flips open the folder.

“Noticed you took the recruits home early last night,” I say casually. “Someone couldn’t handle it?”

She shakes her head. “No one bailed, surprisingly. We usually lose at least one to the sensory overload, but this group?” She sips. “Seems set on sticking it out.”

That earns a slow nod from me.

“Interesting.”

“Mm,” Eve hums, flipping a page. “Very.”

She pulls out a printed list, shuffling it neatly on her lap like she always does.

“I’m going alphabetically,” she says. “Easier that way.”

I nod, grabbing my tablet from the end table beside me and unlocking it with a swipe. The new recruits’ profiles are already loaded, thumbnails lined in neat rows. Faces, names, stats.

I scroll slowly, skimming like I always do. I don’t need every detail—just enough to know what I’m working with.

“Two of them advanced to Companion status already,” Eve starts, scanning her own notes. “Both were scouted previously, just needed orientation to meet the standards.”

“The fast-tracked ones?”

“Mm-hmm. Already had soft contracts waiting for them. A few left during the second week. One after waxing day. Couldn’t handle the vulnerability, I think.”

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