My eyes kept drifting to Anastasia, dividing my focus from the road. She was always silent and did her best to act as if I didn’t exist, but she usually does that while staring out the window.

This was different.

Anastasia kept rubbing her temples more often than usual ever since we left the academy. She did her best to hide it until now. Her face was contorted in pain.

"Headache?"

"..."

My grip tightened against the steering wheel, recalling what happened at the studio. How she looked at me when I had the flowers concealing my face. The uncanny familiarity in her eyes.

I pressed the button, and the passenger seat slid back smoothly.

I observed as her eyes fought to stay open, as if she needed to stay alert. But she eventually succumbed to the fatigue, body relaxing into the seat.

I slid my hand to rest on her thigh as I made a turn, averting toward a much clearer road.

The night lights drifted in frequently, and I took a deep exhale, looking at her one more time before I kept my attention on the road.

An hour later, I pulled up at the estate. I got out first and rounded the car toward the passenger side and opened the door, unfastening her seatbelt.

"Come on, kitten," I murmured, taking her bag and scooping her up in my arms, using my leg to shut the door.

I walked into the building, my shoes echoing against the marble floor. I didn’t ease my steps until I got to her room.

Unlocking the door with one hand while still holding her steady with the other. It closed behind me, and I strode to the bed to lay her down, but before I could get up, her grip tightened against my shoulder.

Anastasia stirred awake, her lashes fluttering before her eyes open, the gray colors lighter in the dark as they locked on mine.

"Keep holding me like that, then I’d be convinced you want me to stay..." I said.

"This is a dream..." she muttered, optimistic. "There’s no other explanation."

"Yes." I conceded. "A dream."

Her grip on my shoulders tightened when I leaned close, our faces inches apart.

"This is not real either..." I lowered my lips to her neck, stealing a prolonged kiss there, keen to leave a trace so that when she wakes up, she’d doubt her own mind.

I could feel the vibration from her chest as her heartbeat surged.

I dragged my lips up to her smooth chin, sucking against that spot before I used my teeth to graze. Just that simple move had already created a redness.

The starving desire to mark every inch of her had always been a personal torment of mine.

I repeated my action on her chiseled neck, and a smile curled my lips when I felt her inch closer as if hungry for more, her breath growing harsher by the second.

"Feel that, kitten?" I questioned huskily, feeling the hotness of her skin rise. "Your body wants me."

I lifted my gaze and locked with her half-opened eyes like she was stuck in an immense reverie.

"The more you fight it, the harder it becomes."

She turned away as if she couldn’t bear those words. I gripped her chin and forced her to look at me.

"You ruined me first..."

Confusion drowned her gray eyes.

"Now I intend to do the same to you. So don’t make it easy for me... because I’m gonna enjoy every moment of this."

I kissed her forehead, pulled away, and took off her shoes before covering her up with the blanket. Her eyes were on me until I left the room.

I made my way to my office, and the moment I opened the door, Lisa was waiting.

"Welcome home, Don Salvero... how was your trip?"

"Satisfying."

I walked to my table, taking off my coat and tossing it onto the rack beside my desk.

"You must be tired..." she said in a sly voice. "I could help relieve your stress. Just tell me what you need."

I rolled my sleeves up my arms. "Ms. Wade, have you forgotten your job?"

"My job is to serve you..." she said with a smile.

Just like when she slowly stripped when I told her to. Of course... that was meant to get a reaction from Anastasia.

I sat in my seat and grabbed the gold case to take a cigar. "Everyone has a role to play... You’ve got yours."

"I’m willing to do more..." she spoke desperately.

I take the cutter next and use it to snap the tip of the cigar.

"Have I ever fucked you, Lisa?" I dropped the formalities as I let the coldness in my voice show.

When I didn’t get a reply, I looked at her, eyes cold and detached.

Lisa looked genuinely caught off guard, likely because this was the first time she’d seen my face devoid of even the slightest trace of amusement.

"I have in fact fucked more than I can count... yet I never bend you over this table and screw your brains out."

"I-I’m more than ready, Don..." she said, coming close. "All you have to do is tell me what you want."

"You’re mistaken, Lisa."

"I—"

"You’ve worked with me for a period of time, yet to discover that I don’t mix pleasure with business."

She gulped.

"You were meant to be smart. The main reason why I chose you as my secretary..." I leaned back on my seat and used the zippo to light the end of the cigar.

"Your secretary?" she questioned softly. "Yet you don’t include me in any of your business trips."

"I made it clear that I handle my business alone, no?"

"Anastasia..." she hesitated, knowing she shouldn’t continue, but she did anyway. "She’s still obsessed with Jacob Cole, and I have proof."

"Do you?"

"She met with him... and they shared a moment, and if I hadn’t intervened, it could have gotten worse. Anastasia will never get over Jacob, that’s a fact, and I fear it’s an insult to you."

"You seem well-informed."

"Yes..." she replied, seemingly proud of herself. "I did it all for you."

She swiped through her phone and faced the screen to me. I caught the footage of Anastasia hugging Jacob in a coffee shop.

"Her infatuation with Jacob might—"

"Get out..." I cut her off, pinning her with a dark look. "While I’m still asking nicely."

Lisa retreated the phone from my view, shakily before leaving.

I took a drag from my cigar, allowing the smoke to numb my brain for a few minutes before I pulled out my drawer and took out the bracelet with blue stones.

Pushing to my feet, I cast it into the fireplace, standing there for long until the silver began to melt.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket and dialed a number; it rang for a while before it was answered.

A heavy breathing from the line came through before a voice followed. "I never thought I’d expect your call."

"Dr. Keller..." I said. "We need to talk... It’s about Anastasia."