Chapter Forty
The meeting room was large, sterile, and imposing. The cold, polished marble floors reflected the harsh fluorescent lights above, making the entire room feel as though it belonged to another world. Stefan’s world. A world I had no place in, yet here I was, dragged along for the ride.
We entered the building in silence, Stefan’s hand resting lightly on the small of my back as he guided me forward. The touch, while seemingly innocent, held an undeniable possessiveness, as if staking his claim on me. It sent an involuntary shiver down my spine, and I hated that it did.
I tried to pull away from him, but he tightened his grip, just enough to make me realize I wasn’t free to go anywhere. I was his responsibility now. A pawn in his game.
“Stay close,” he murmured, his voice low and calm. “Don’t make a scene.”
I clenched my jaw and resisted the urge to snap at him. I wasn’t here to make a scene, but I also wasn’t about to walk around like some accessory for him to show off.
The
