Page 28 of Decadence

“I’m not. Just stating facts.” She rolled up her sleeves. “Don’t worry. I’ll get rid of him.” The last thing she wanted to add to her personal shitstorm was a visit from the son of a powerful crime family that controlled territories in New Jersey.

Any feelings she’d held for Connor Ryan had started to evaporate the moment she’d started to realize who he truly was.

God, she’d been so young and naive, thinking he was just a charming guy in a suit; one of the well-heeled late-night diners that visited Aria, the five-star restaurant where she used to work. A lawyer or a corporate trader, perhaps.

How wrong she’d been.

And when he’d struck her in the face—that one time he’d lost his temper with her—the attraction had disappeared completely.

Nothing could change the way she felt now.

Sienna had moved on, and he was one of the last people she wanted to see.

Next time—if there was a next time—she’d be a better judge of character.

So why had she felt a tug of attraction to an intense, powerful Kordolian, who could also be violent?

Gritting her teeth in irritation, she began to make her way to the front, but she was interrupted by Emmett, who suddenly emerged from the corridor that led to a small office and the laneway at the back, where there was a small vertical farm. He was still dressed in his workout clothes—a sleeveless grey Syntech tank top and loose shorts that revealed his toned physique. His dark brown hair was damp with sweat. Every morning before work, Emmett trained in the classic art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at a local gym.

He also looked rattled, and just like Cleo, Emmett Wolff, who could be sharp-tongued but also exceedingly kind and generous, rarely ever got rattled.

Sienna sighed. Why the fuck couldn’t her life just get back to normal, already? “What’s wrong, Emmett?”

He lifted the towel that was slung around his neck and wiped beads of sweat from his face. “I was just about to get in the shower when I heard a knock at the back door. Some weird guy is out there, asking for you.”

“Weird guy? What do you mean?”

Emmett frowned. “He looks like…” An exasperated puff escaped his lips. “A real life version of a potentially evil anime character. I don’t know how else to describe him.”

Cleo frowned. “What on Earth are you talking about, Em?”

Sienna shook her head. Typical Emmett. He was big and intimidating and loved to fight and do geeky things like play virtual reality games and watch anime series; even really old, obscure ones from hundreds of years ago.

Emmett shrugged. “The white-haired ones always turn out to be the most dangerous.”

“White-haired?” Sienna’s heart pummeled. “He’s not… silver?”

“Not a silver fox, no. You know the guy?” Emmett frowned. “Tall, cut, looks like he could whoop some ass if he wanted to. Messy hair, but immaculate vintage glasses…”

Glasses? The rest of the description fit, but that part didn’t sound like any Kordolian she knew, let alone the one that usually occupied her thoughts. “He isn’t an… alien?” She felt faintly stupid for asking.

Emmett laughed, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “Nope. Not an alien. Not an inch of silver in sight, unfortunately. His skin is as humanly tan as ours.” He looked down at his arms. “A little more tan than mine is right now, though. Can’t wait till winter’s over.”

Sienna felt a strange mixture of disappointment and relief. So it isn’t one of them, then… or him.

So where was this so-called security Ikriss had been so adamant about?

“Emmett,” she sighed, “can you please do me a favor and tell this glasses guy that we aren’t hiring right now? I’d go and speak with him myself, but I’m a little busy right now.” Besides, we can’t afford to hire any new staff right now. “I’m going out front. I’ve got to deal with... Ugh!” Frazzled, she tore off her flat white chef’s hat and ran her hands over her face, tucking stray strands of hair behind her ears.

All she wanted to do was cook and run her business… and find some space to heal from all the horribleness.

All she wanted was normal.

Why did all these weirdos keep bothering her?

Sienna strode through the kitchen and into the front dining room, where she was greeted by golden lighting and cozy warmth from the geothermal pump. Polished round tables made from reclaimed oak were surrounded by authentic vintage rattan Parisian cafe chairs that she’d scored on a Network auction and refurbished herself with the help of an AI guide and Cleo and Eva—and more than a few bottles of red wine. The walls were decorated with pictures of her favorite places all around the world; places she’d visited just after she’d been fired from her sous chef job at the prestigious Aria.

Fired, for tipping off the boss’s wife that he’d been cheating on her. The worst thing about it all was that Michael fucking Bancroft, the famous, charismatic Network chef who’d taken her under his wing had never told her he was married in the first place.

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