Christian

"Sebastian, the owner... he's blackmailing me and my friends over that accident. I need a favor. I want you to..."

"Kill him?" The suggestion rolled off my tongue before I could stop it. She jerked back, more surprised than frightened. My eyes tracked the fresh cuts on her arms, the bruise forming near her temple. Accident marks? Or had that bastard put his hands on her? If he'd so much as disturbed a single golden curl, I'd take him apart piece by piece in his own damn dealership.

"Christian." Her voice pulled me back, those ocean-deep eyes seeing right through me. "Don't kill him. Just... convince him. He'll crumble at the sight of you - the man's a coward."

I studied her. That quiet strength beneath the request intrigued me. If Sebastian had hurt her, she'd be demanding his fingers, not flinching at violence. This calm acceptance of brutality... did she have underworld connections? Or had life taught her young how cruel men could be?

"I'll educate him, Miss...?"

"Merritt." Her cheeks pinked as I stepped closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of her perfume. Melissa Merritt. A name that demanded respect before it was given.

"He'll soil himself when he hears my name. So why doesn't it frighten you, Miss Merritt?"

She hesitated, those mesmerizing eyes dropping as if consulting some inner compass. "I don't fear men with honor. You could have taken advantage of me on the Yacht... but you didn't."

The observation hit like a sucker punch. She'd labeled me 'honorable' - a liability in my world. That knowing quirk of her lips said she understood exactly what she'd done.

"I'll help you," I said, voice rougher than intended, "on one condition."

There - the first flicker of real fear as her breath caught. Prey recognizing the trap.

"I need a woman by my side for an important meeting next month. Someone who'll make every rival in the room forget why they came. Will you do me the honor?" Every syllable dripped with calculated charm. The way her pulse jumped at her throat, the slight tremble in her hands - she'd say yes.

"That's your price? One evening, and you'll handle both the car and Sebastian?"

"And you'll wear what I choose." I nearly said 'nothing' - but no. I'd drape her in the finest silks instead. Let all look with envy, and I'll undress her after the event when she is all mine, to my sight alone.

A nervous laugh escaped her as she twisted a blonde curl around her finger. "You're being strangely generous. I cost you a 300k car, and all you want is one date?"

I forced a laugh to cover the irritation. "Tell me, Melissa - how long have we been standing here?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Ten minutes?"

"In that time, my enterprises earned enough to replace that car three times over." The flash of annoyance across her face pleased me. My cockiness struck a nerve—her brow arched, wary. I pressed on.

"Mansions, cars... they're just toys for bored men." I caught her hand, my thumb tracing the initials I'd marked her with months before. "But you... you're the first interesting thing I've found in years. That's priceless "