Chapter 16: Even if it costs me everything!!

Rayna pov

"Please, call me Richard." He moved closer, and I instinctively stepped back. "You're even more beautiful up close, Mrs. Adams."

"Thank you. Now, if we could return to the event…"

"What's the rush?" He moved closer again, backing me against the desk. "I've been watching you all evening. The way you move. The way you smile. You're wasted on Adams, you know. A man like that doesn't appreciate what he has."

"I think you've misunderstood…"

"Have I?" His hand came up to touch my face, and I jerked away. "Come now, don't be coy. Everyone knows your marriage is just for show. A business arrangement. Which means you're free to... pursue other interests."

"I'm not interested." I tried to move around him, but he blocked my path.

"Don't be so quick to dismiss me." His voice hardened. "I could do a lot for you. For your career. I have connections. Influence. All you have to do is be... friendly."

His hand grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer.

"Let go of me," I said, trying to stay calm even as panic rose in my throat.

"One kiss. That's all. Then we can discuss how I might help your foundation…"

"I said let go!"

I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. His other hand went to my waist, pulling me against him. I could smell alcohol on his breath.

"Don't fight it," he said, his mouth moving toward mine.

I turned my head, and his lips landed on my cheek instead. His hand moved higher, toward my breast, and pure terror flooded through me.

"Stop! Get off me!"

And then the door exploded inward.

Denzel stood in the doorway, his face a mask of pure rage. His eyes took in the scene, Whitmore holding me, his hand on my body, me struggling to get away.

"Get. Your. Hands. Off. My. Wife."

Each word was ice. Deadly.

Whitmore had the audacity to smirk. "Adams. We were just.."

He didn't get to finish the sentence.

Denzel crossed the room in three strides and his fist connected with Whitmore's jaw with a sickening crack. The older man stumbled backward, releasing me, blood spurting from his nose.

"Denzel, stop!" I grabbed his arm as he moved to hit Whitmore again.

"You dare touch her?" Denzel's voice was lethal. "You dare put your fucking hands on my wife?"

"Your wife?" Whitmore laughed, dabbing at his bleeding nose. "Everyone knows that marriage is a sham. She was practically begging for it…"

Denzel lunged again, and I barely held him back. Security burst into the room, drawn by the commotion.

"Mr. Adams, you need to leave," one of them said.

"This man assaulted my wife!"

"I did no such thing," Whitmore said smoothly, his shock fading into calculated malice. "Mrs. Adams and I were having a private conversation. Your husband misunderstood the situation."

"That's a lie!" I said. "He locked the door. He grabbed me. He tried to.."

"To what? Give you a friendly kiss?" Whitmore's smile was snake-like. "You're the one who followed me into the office, Mrs. Adams."

"I did not…"

"This is your word against mine. And I think we both know whose word carries more weight in this city." He turned to Denzel. "Enjoy the consequences of your actions, Adams. That little display just cost you everything."

He walked out, security trailing after him.

I stood there shaking, Denzel's arm still under my hand. I could feel the tension in his body, the barely controlled rage.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked, his voice rough.

"No. You got here in time."

"If I'd been even a minute later.." His jaw clenched. "I'm going to destroy him."

"Denzel…"

"No one touches you. No one."

The possessiveness in his voice should have annoyed me. Instead, it made something warm bloom in my chest.

"We should go," I said quietly.

The fallout was immediate.

By the time we got home, Denzel's phone was exploding with calls. Whitmore had pulled his 2.3 million dollar investment deal from Denzel's company. Not just pulled, publicly announced it, citing "unprofessional behavior" and "violent tendencies."

And someone had filmed the punch. The video was already going viral.

"BILLIONAIRE DENZEL ADAMS ATTACKS INVESTOR RICHARD WHITMORE"

"TROUBLE IN PARADISE? ADAMS LOSES CONTROL AT CHARITY EVENT"

"WHAT REALLY HAPPENED BETWEEN RAYNA ADAMS AND RICHARD WHITMORE?"

The speculation was rampant. Some claimed I was having an affair with Whitmore and Denzel caught us. Others said Denzel was abusive and attacked an innocent man. The truth was buried under layers of gossip and lies.

I sat on the couch in the sitting room, watching the social media storm unfold on my phone, feeling sick.

"This is my fault," I said.

"No." Denzel's voice was firm. He sat beside me, closer than he'd been in days. "This is Whitmore's fault. He assaulted you. I defended you. End of story."

"You lost 2.3 million dollars because of me."

"I don't give a damn about the money."

"Denzel…"

"I mean it." He turned to face me fully. "Money can be replaced. You can't. If I had to choose between that deal and making sure you're safe, I'll choose you every single time."

My throat tightened. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you care? This is just a contract. I'm just... I'm just…."

"You're not 'just' anything." His hand came up to cup my face, and I didn't pull away. "When I saw him touching you, when I saw the fear in your eyes... I've never felt rage like that in my life. I wanted to kill him, Amelia. I wanted to tear him apart for daring to put his hands on you."

"Denzel..."

"You've been avoiding me for three days. And I get it. What happened between us was intense. It scared you. But Amelia…" His thumb brushed across my cheekbone. "Don't shut me out. Not after tonight. Not when I need to know you're okay."

I looked into his eyes and saw something there that made my heart race. Something that looked dangerously close to what Serena had accused me of feeling.

"I'm okay," I whispered. "Thanks to you."

"Always." His voice was rough. "I'll always protect you. No matter what it costs."

And sitting there, his hand on my face, his eyes burning with intensity, I realized Serena might have been right.

I might be falling in love with Denzel Adams.

And that terrified me more than anything else.