ss, but Lily no longer felt the rhythm. The moment she caught David's

ying loud and fast. There, standing just a few feet away near the entrance,

ether hit her like a

calm, cold, unreadable. Marina, on the other hand, spotted Lily and imm

ck, bumping int

s raced through her mind. Did he follow her? Was this

idn't a

watching her like a pre

ught. Why should I leave? This was my

e turned back toward the crowd and continued dancing. Every move became sharper, freer, l

and walked toward the VIP section, Marina clingin

club lights, and saw the sudden shift in Lily's face. "Hey, wha

mured, taking the drink with both hands but n

e kidding me," she muttered. "What is he doing here?

t didn't reach her eyes. "I thi

t me to

id softly, brushing past t

. She looked tired. Not in the sleepless sort of way, but the kind of exhaustion that weighed on the soul. It wasn't just about David an

Marina, flaunt her presence in public, sabotage Lily's job pro

thought. You

r, wiped her hands with a paper

didn't expect him to be standing there-leaning against the wa

herself that life existed outside of David. And y

said, his voice low and mocking. "Or is

linking. The insult cut sharp

g like your life depended on it. Makes me wonder-were you

g anyone. And second, maybe if you hadn't gone around blacklisting me, I wo

ined walk out and possibly leak everything she knows to a competitor?" He stepp

," Lily hissed. "Y

offee order-perfect. And... even your performance in bed... You think that was just business? You think I didn't notice h

eath c

oed in the hallway like a gunshot. David's face jerked slightly from th

ould turn. In one swift motion, he pushed her agai

is breath hot against her cheek. "That's tw

nd of heat flared between them. Her chest heaved, pressed against h

and commanding. His eyes locked with hers, no lon

thundered i

she whispered, he

he murmured, his lips so close now

began, but he

up to her jaw. "Do you think I'll let

hers. Their breath mingled, the air charged and tight, lik

She hated him. She loathed everything he had done. But her body betrayed her-respondi

she whispered,

st gently. "But it doesn't

s parted, caught between resisting and surrendering, he