Chapter 5

"Wipe that smile from your face, you ugly wolf," she snapped, her voice cold and biting, her eyes narrowing with clear disdain. She stood there, fists clenched at her sides, her expression steely and unyielding as she glared at the man who had been grinning at her with an almost mocking amusement. As the sound of a car approaching reached her ears, she flicked her gaze to the street. Spotting a taxi in the distance, she raised her hand sharply, signaling the driver to stop.

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‎The taxi, already slowing down as it neared her, was almost at a complete stop when the edward took a step closer. "Where are you headed? Let me give you a ride," he said, his tone casual yet strangely confident, his voice laced with an undeniable charm as he came to a halt beside her. He moved as though he were in no rush, fully aware of the impact of his words.

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‎She ignored him at first, not even looking in his direction, her focus now solely on the taxi, the sound of its engine idling before her. "Don’t worry, I don’t need your help," she replied sharply, her tone colder than before. She reached for the handle of the taxi, her fingers curling around the cold metal, her frustration growing as she struggled with the door.

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‎"But I insist," he said, his voice suddenly taking on a tone of forcefulness. Before she could open the door, his hand shot out, grabbing her arm with surprising strength, his grip firm enough to stop her in her tracks. "Driver, go ahead and leave," he ordered, his voice carrying a commanding edge as he turned back toward the car, ensuring the driver complied without hesitation.

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‎Her jaw clenched, and she whirled around, her eyes flashing with pure fury. "Are you insane?" she hissed, her voice rising in pitch as the seconds ticked away. Her pulse quickened, she could feel the pressure mounting in her chest as the clock was ticking. "I have an interview at 10:00 AM. I don’t have time for your nonsense."

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‎He noticed her growing anger, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Oh, I can tell you're genuinely upset," he said, a smirk creeping onto his lips. His tone was dripping with arrogance, but there was also something almost playful in his demeanor, as if he found her frustration amusing.

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‎"You should be thankful to me for offering you a ride," he added, his words casual, as though the favor he was offering was something she should have been grateful for. Without waiting for her reply, he stepped around to the other side of the car, opening the door with a flourish, gesturing for her to get inside.

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‎Her patience, already wearing thin, finally snapped. She muttered under her breath, loud enough for him to hear, "Dickhead." She didn’t care if he heard it. She wasn’t in the mood to pretend like she cared about his charm. Ignoring him, she walked past him, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement as she made her way to the open door of the car. Without a second glance, she slid into the passenger seat of the limousine, the door closing with a solid thud, leaving him standing there, still smirking.

‎A devilish smile curled at the corners of Edward’s lips as he watched her step inside the limousine. There was something almost amused about the way she entered. He knew it wasn’t because she had any desire to be there; it was because she had no other choice. A deep satisfaction spread across his face, knowing he held the upper hand. With a swift movement, he turned around, pushed open the driver's side door, and slid into the leather seat of the limo.

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‎“Not even a hint of fear, huh? What if I decided to just kidnap you right here?” His voice was laced with a mischievous tone as he glanced at her, his expression one of mock disbelief, as though he couldn’t fathom her boldness. It was clear in his gaze, he thought she was being foolish, almost too confident for her own good.

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‎Without so much as a glance in his direction, she smirked and replied, “I know you can’t kidnap me. That’s why I got in.” Her words were cool, collected, almost smug in their certainty. She kept her eyes straight ahead, deliberately avoiding meeting his gaze, as if she were in complete control of the situation.

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‎Edward raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and surprise flashing across his face. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as the engine rumbled to life. “Oh really? And what exactly makes you so sure I can’t do that?” His tone was now tinged with curiosity and just a hint of challenge, as he shifted the car into gear.

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‎She sighed, the kind of long, drawn-out sigh that suggested she thought this whole conversation was beneath her. “With that attitude of yours?” she said lazily, her gaze still fixed ahead, unfazed. “If you wanted to kidnap me, you wouldn’t be bothering with all this drama. You’d just take me without a second thought.”

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‎Edward’s eyes gleamed with a devilish light as he turned the wheel, the sound of the tires shifting on the pavement breaking the silence. His smile deepened, a flicker of admiration hidden behind his mockingly sinister expression. “That’s true,” he agreed, glancing at her for a split second. “If I wanted you gone, I’d toss you right into the boot without a second thought. No questions asked.” His voice was calm, almost nonchalant, but there was something in the way he said it that made it clear he wasn’t entirely joking.

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‎The tension between them simmered as the car glided forward, both of them aware of the unspoken game they were playing.