She Wasn't Meant for Me—But I Took Her Anyway

[James's POV]

The car door shut behind me.

I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes.

My head was still pounding.

All I could see in my mind was Alistair Black's face.

That smug look of his made me sick.

And all the crap he said?

Bullshit.

A marriage alliance?

More bullshit.

I pulled out my phone and called Leo, my assistant.

"It's me."

There was nothing on the other end except breathing.

"Find out who messed with my drink last night."

"And the woman—who sent her into my room?"

I paused.

Her bare back flashed through my mind.

That red rose birthmark behind her ear...

That image was still crystal clear.

"Also, check on Alistair Black's daughter. Lilith."

"From last night to 8 a.m. this morning—track everything. Who she saw. Where she went. I want it minute by minute."

"And the reporters in my room, get their names, jobs, addresses. Everything."

"Make sure they learn what they can and cannot say. Make sure all the photos are erased."

"One more thing. The mole."

"I want a name in thirty minutes."

"Yes, Mr. Watson," Leo replied. His voice was flat.

I hung up.

The fire in my chest calmed down a little.

Outside, the streets kept flying past.

But my mind was stuck on last night.

Her body heat.

The way she cried under me, begging me to stop.

The sound she made when I broke through her.

I lost control.

Me, James Watson.

A man who can't even stand women touching his arm—lost control.

That has never happened before.

I got home.

I tore off the wrinkled clothes and went straight into the bathroom.

Hot water poured over me.

My head finally cleared.

I looked down.

There were faint scratch marks on my neck and shoulder.

She left them.

I touched them.

They didn't hurt. They itched.

I turned off the water and dried off.

I wrapped a towel around my waist.

As soon as I lay down, my phone rang.

It was Leo.

"Talk."

"Sir, we found the mole. It's one of your bodyguards. David Anderson. Alistair Black paid him a million dollars."

I listened without reacting.

"Take him out."

"Understood." Leo got it.

In the Watson family, betrayal means death.

"Anything else?" I asked.

"We tracked Lilith Black. She spent the whole night at a private villa in the western suburbs. She had a small party. She never left."

My heart sank.

It wasn't her.

Of course, it wasn't her.

The girl from last night—she was nervous. Inexperienced.

Nothing like what they say about Lilith.

"There's more," Leo added. "Alistair Black divorced his wife Celeste Lang years ago. They have twin daughters. Lilith stayed with Alistair and took the Black name. The other one is Rose Lang. She lived with her mother."

Rose.

I said the name in my head.

"The one who was sent into your room last night was Rose Lang."

I held the phone. I didn't say anything.

So it was her.

Rose.

The name fits her.

I let out a quiet laugh.

Leo went silent, waiting for me.

"Send me everything you can find on Rose Lang. From childhood till now. I want them in details."

"Yes."

He hung up.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed.

An encrypted file came in.

At the top, there was a surveillance video.

I opened it.

A girl in a slip dress was being dragged down the hallway.

She looked unsteady. Her eyes were unfocused.

They pushed her into my room.

The door closed behind her.

The video ended.

She didn't look like she came willingly.

But who knows?

She has Alistair's blood. He's a schemer. She might be too.

Maybe it was all part of their plan.

But I didn't care.

I liked her body.

I liked the way she lost control under me.

I picked up my phone and found Alistair Black's number.

My finger hovered over the call button.

But I didn't press it.

Alistair thought he could use one of his daughters to lock in a marriage deal.

He thought it didn't matter which one.

He was wrong.

If he wants a deal, then he needs to offer something real.

I put the phone down.

You want me to marry your daughter, Alistair?

Fine.

I'll force you to bring Rose to me yourself.

Don't disappoint me, you old bastard.

And you're going to pay for what you did.