Dangerous Secrets

Damien’s eyes stayed on the phone screen for too long, making it hard for Sorcha to breathe.

Her heart pounded against her ribs as she grabbed the phone quickly, flipping it face down.

His gaze flickered to hers, expression unreadable. “Who is he?”

She scoffed, hugging the phone to her chest. “I’m not a kid, Dad. I’m allowed to have a boyfriend.”

His jaw tightened. “Since when?”

Sorcha rolled her eyes. “Since forever. You wouldn’t know because you’re never around.”

A muscle in his cheek twitched. She was right.

She pushed harder. “Why do you even care? You barely have time for me, but now suddenly you want to ask about my love life?”

Damien exhaled, rubbing his temple. “I’m your father, and I care. I deserve to know who you’re seeing.”

“I don’t need your permission, and I don’t need you knowing anything.”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “Is he older?”

Sorcha’s pulse jumped. “What does that matter?”

His gaze darkened. “Because if some grown man is messing around with my daughter…”

But she cut him off. “Who my boyfriend is or his age is none of your business, Dad. Now, please leave. I need to sleep.”

For a moment, Damien said nothing. Then he stood, brushing a hand over his suit. “Fine. But this conversation isn’t over.”

“It is over, Dad, and there is nothing left to discuss.”

Damien turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Sorcha let out a shaky breath.

That was too close.

Her fingers gripped the phone as she stared at the screen. It was a message from her best friend, Ava, reminding her not to forget that lectures had started and to be at school tomorrow.

“Damn, this girl will give me a heart attack one day.”

---

Sorcha walked through the campus with Ava and Celeste at her side. The university was buzzing with students—some heading to classes, others lounging in the sun—and Sorcha and her friends were just strolling; they had just finished an English lecture.

The lecture had been so boring that Sorcha kept dozing off during it.

“Are you even listening?” Ava said, nudging her.

Sorcha blinked back to reality. “What?”

Celeste sighed. “She’s in another world again.”

Ava smirked. “Or imagining being in another man’s bed?”

Sorcha rolled her eyes. “Not everything is about sex, Ava.”

Her friend gasped dramatically. “Who are you, and what have you done with Sorcha?”

Sorcha rolled her eyes.

“Stop being such a drama queen. Let’s go to the last lecture so we can go home.”

---

Sorcha adjusted her dress in the mirror, the black short gown hugging her curves perfectly.

Her father was hosting a private dinner for business partners. He had sent her a message about it while she was in school, telling her to come back early.

What a nice way to tell his daughter something, she had thought sarcastically.

She wanted to refuse, but Karios would be there.

She wanted to make sure he noticed her, so she had put extra care into dressing.

She stepped into the grand hall where the dinner party was being held, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

Eyes turned toward her in awe.

But she only cared about one pair, which weren’t looking at her.

Karios sat at the far end of the table, dressed in a dark suit, his posture relaxed but impossibly controlled. She looked around for Elena—she was off to the side mingling with other ladies. Just perfect.

She felt his eyes flicker over to her. Just for a second.

But that was enough for her.

She walked over slowly, sliding into the seat directly across from him.

Her lips curled into a smirk. “Good evening, Daddy.”

No reaction.

Not even a glance.

Same indifferent face.

Oh, but she would change that soon.

Dinner passed in slow waves of conversation and laughter. Karios engaged in business talk with her father, barely looking in her direction.

So, she decided to push.

She reached for her wine glass, her fingers deliberately brushing the rim.

Then she dipped her index finger into the red liquid, slowly bringing it to her lips.

She sucked it in slowly, teasingly, before pressing her tongue against it.

She knew he saw her.

But he gave nothing away.

She clenched her thighs under the table.

Damn him.

The dinner dragged on. Her father laughed, Elena smiled at Karios, while Sorcha boiled with frustration.

She needed to up her game.

---

After dinner, guests mingled in the lounge, sipping expensive drinks and discussing business deals.

Sorcha slipped away from a group of ladies, heading toward the balcony where Karios stood, looking out at the stars.

Perfect. He was alone.

She stepped closer, stopping just beside him. “You ignored me all night.”

He didn’t look at her. “Did I?”

Her fingers traced the edge of the railing, her body inching closer.

“You did.” Her voice dropped lower. “Almost like you’re scared of looking at me.”

That made him pause.

Slowly, he turned his head, eyes dark and unreadable. “You mistake indifference for fear.”

Her pulse jumped.

He was so close now. Close enough that she could smell his cologne, feel the warmth radiating from his body.

She tilted her head. “Then prove it.”

Silence stretched between them.

Then, in a move so fast she barely registered it, he had her caged against the table.

His hands gripped the edge on either side of her, trapping her.

But he didn’t touch her, nor did he lean in.

Instead, his voice dropped dangerously low.

“You think this is a game?”

Her breath hitched.

“I think you like playing it.”

His lips curled into something cold and dangerous. “Careful, little girl. You won’t like it when I start playing back.”

A thrill shot through her spine.

But before she could push further, Damien’s voice cut through the hallway, coming close to where they were.

“Sorcha? Are you there?” The voice was coming from right outside now.

Sorcha and Karios’s eyes both widened in horror, too scared to move.

And then the sound of the balcony door opening was heard…