Chapter 104
1 pushed open the glass doors of Vigilon’s headquarters, stepping into the cool, air–conditioned lobby. The contrast between the blistering hear outude and the crisp chill inside sent a shiver dosen my spine, but I barely noticed My mind was too preoccupied with the envelope turked
The reception area was sleek and modern, all glass walls and high ceilings, designed to project an air of power and efficiency. Even the floors were polished to a mirror–like shine, reflecting the cold fluorescent lights above. It was exactly the kind of intimidating place I imagined Cillian Knight running- a space as sharp and unyielding as the man himself.
I inhaled deeply, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag as I approached the reception desk.
The assistant sitting there–a young man with neatly styled hair and an earpiece in
in his car–looked up as I stopped in front of him. His sharp eyes
1 flicked vern me, assessing
1 need to ser Mr. Knight.” I said, my voice steady despite the gnawing anxiety in my stomach.
His expression didn’t change, but there was a slight hesitation before he spoke. “Do you have an appointment?”
I tapped my finger on the counter, a nervous tic. “No. But it’s important.”
His lips pressed together as if debating whether to turn me away, but after a moment, he nodded. “I’ll check if he’s available. Hease have a seat.”
I turned toward the black leather chairs arranged neatly against the wall, but I didn’t sit.
I couldn’t
Instead, I crossed my arms, shifting my weight from one foot to the other as my gaze flickered to the pristine white walls.
is going to love this.
d out why I
The second he found out why I was here, he would never let me live it down.
I could already hear his voice, that insufferable drawl of amusement, the slow, deliberate way he’d stretch out his words just to get under my s
Tould picture his smirk–the one that made me want to throw something at him.
You have a stalker Oh, sweetheart, this just made my week.
I clenched
my jaw, regretting every decision that had led me to this moment.
The receptionist’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Mr. Knight will see you now
Lexuded sisarply straightening my shoulders as I followed him down a kang glass–walled corridor.
When we reached a heavy wooden door, the assistant pushed it open and gestured for me to go inside.
1 stepped through
Gillian’s office wa glory. His desk
skin
massive, an open space dominated by floor–to–ceiling windows that showcased the city skyline in all its gleaming, corporate
The center, a sleek, dark structure that matched the modern, almost merile aesthete of the n
And behind that desk, sprawled lazily in his chair like he owned the entire world, was Cillian Knight.
He wasn’t even looking at me
He was leaning back, one hand resting on the arm of has chair, lingers tapping sily against the leather while his other hand moved over keyboard. The glow from his screen cast sharp shadows across his face, and his mouth curled into a slow, cocky smile
“I thought my assistant might be strung on some Oxy when he mentioned that Erica Davis was here” He mised, his voice thick with
I glared at him, already regretting every second of this
Then he finally looked up
And whatever smug remark he’d been preparing died un his tongue.
Chapter 101
Ha smirk vanished. His fingers froze mid–tap. His sharp, dark eyes looked onto my fare, scanning it with a sudden intensity that sent a shiver down thy spine.
The adence streiched between u
His gaze flickered to my clenched fats, then backup to my face. His brows furrowed –
I swallowed. My nervousness or the fact that I was unsettled was probably clear from my
y face, I had planned to ease into this, to make a sarcastic remark and prepare for his inevitable gloating. But under that assessing stare, my defenses felt paper–thu,
“You can say I told you so, I muttered, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, but I’ll definitely kill you for it
Cullianodadn’t smirk. He didn’t even look remotely amused: He just waited. Silent Steady.
| forced myself to move forward, stepping closer to his desk.
“Well..” My throat feh tight. “You might have been right. I do have a stalker”
His expression didn’t change, but I saw something Bicker in his eyes. A sharp, dangerous shift.
What happened?” His vore was
voice was clipped, his tone sharper than before.
I reached into my bag, pulled out the envelope, and dropped it onto his desk.
“This came through the mail”
Callian took his time packing in up.
Slowly. Deliberately
His jaw tightened as he slid out the photographs. The second his eyes landed on the first image, his entire body tensed
His fingers curled around the edge of the picture. He flipped to the next one. His grip tightened,
Another. Then another.
ew image, his face darkened. His posture shifted–no longer relaxed, no longer lazy. He sat upright, shoulders stiff, his jaw locked so tight I thought he might break his teeth
Then he read the note.
Lexperied a taunt A dry remark. Some offhanded joke e about how I attracted creeps now.
But when he looked up at his eyes were furious. My breath hitched.
That wasn’t Cillian the arrogant bastard anymore. This was Cillian Koight, the man who rào one of the most elite security firms in the country.
And he was passed
Gillian Krught was many things—arroguar, insufferable, a walking headache–but right now, he looked deadly.
He dropped the photos onto the desk and stood up. The dragged a hand down his face and exhaled slowly, like he was forcing himself to stay calm.
*This is the first time?” His voice was calm, but there was a lethal edge in at
swallowed. “The pictures
I slufted uncomfortably, hating luw exposed I suddenly feli under his intense gaze, just when I thought he was contemplating kicking me out of
“You’re conting hoone with
words dropped
bambe in the middle of Cillian’s quiet office. For a monient, I just stared at him, convinced I had misheard.
xpression remained untradable, his dark eyes Bard on the with indenuity that musde my pulse stutter “You’re Coming to say with me not rufe fùr you to stay in your house)
2/3
Clupter 1044
An incredulous laugh escaped me before I could stop it but his face remained completely serions.
“You’re julung, right?”
My place is much more secure than yours.” His voice was cool, composed—but there was a steel edge beneath it, something unyielding and
Escolled you can’t possibly think-
“You came to me for help. His tone darkened, his eyes narrowing “Tm trying to help you”
“I came to you, yes, with the expectation of getting a bodyguard or something. Not running away from my home like a frightened child.”
Its in your best interest”
“Do you bring all your clients to your house, to stay with you?”
“Jesus Christ, Erica” His hands flattened against his desk, his fingers flexing like he was resisting the urge to slam them against the surface. He was annoyed. But so was 1. The sheer audacity of him ordering me around like this made something inside me snap.
let out a humorless laugh, my heart pounding as I took a step back.
“I don’t think you understand how serious this is.” His voice was lower now, rougher, almost like he was struggling to keep his temper in check. “You have a stalker. Someone who has been following you, taking pictures of you, watching you. This isn’t some love letter situation–this is dangerous,”
I knew that
My eyes started towards the envelope on the table, the images burned into my mind–they were proof of how real this had become.
Hart the idea of moving in with Gillian Knight? Of being under his roof, under his constant scrutiny!
It was unbearable.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I understand. But I’m not leaving my home”
His jaw clenched so tightly I thought he might crack a tooth, A muscle ticked in his jaw, Cillian hated not being in control. He hated not getting his
“You know what? This was clearly a mistake.”
I didn’t wait for him to s
say something else. Just turned on my heel and strode toward the door, my pulse hammering in
in my throat.
I could feel his gaze burning into my back, could feel the tension still crackling between us like an invisible rope, pulling.
panded the door open without looking back and left a seething Cillian behind me.
