Page 88 of The Owner's Temptation

Careful,my gaze tells her.You’re pushing.

She lifts her chin, reading it perfectly.

Good,her expression says back.Because I’m not done yet.

Someone finally blurts out an answer. Incorrect but the logic wasn’t terrible. Someone else delivers the right answer and in return I click to the next profile.

When I walk behind the row of chairs, I slow deliberately as I pass her. I feel her straighten slightly as I near—waiting. Testing.

I lean close enough for my voice to hit only her ears.

“Keep it up,” I murmur. “See what that confidence earns you.”

She doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t even blink. Just turns her head slightly and whispers back.

“Oh, Ihopeit earns me a restraining order against my nosey boss.”

My pulse spikes. My hand grips her chair harder.

Nika clears her throat. “I think it’s Profile C—guy looks like he drinks top-shelf whiskey and cheats on his wife with yoga instructors.”

Gia hums. “Profile A. Divorcee. Wants validation from pretty women and to feel interesting again.”

I nod once. “Good. You’re learning to look deeper than the surface.”

My gaze flicks back to Sienna.

She’s still smiling. Still smug.

And still completely determined to cross whatever line I draw—just so she can watch what I do when she does.

I hope she fucking likes what she’s begging for.

After everything he did—the lock, the alarm, buying the fucking building—I made it my mission this week to make Lucian’s life hell.

And God, I’ve done a damn good job.

I ignore his instructions.

Roll my eyes when he corrects me.

Smirk when I catch him looking.

I challenge him in ways the other girls wouldn’tdare. Because I know he’s letting me push. Letting me dig my own grave.

And I can’t help it—Iwantto see how deep I can go.

I want to be reckless. To crack that carefully constructed armor of his and see what’s underneath. He crosses lines? So can I. And I’ll do it with a smile.

But every time I toe the edge, he doesn’t snap.

He watches. He waits.

And it makes me angrier.

It’s another training day. Another afternoon where Eve is off on a contract, so Lucian steps in—filling her role in the most uncomfortable way possible.

Today, he has us all in his office. Tea and coffee on polished trays. Everything just so, like always. Except nothing about this feels professional.

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