Business Partners

Chloe's POV

I forced my voice to stay calm, trying to act like it was no big deal. I needed to set a clear boundary right now. "Bianca, this is Derek. He's... A…one of our, um, business partners."

Derek let out a small, amused sound. He leaned closer to the open window. "Business partners?" he repeated, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a playful, dangerous look. "Is that what I am? Well, you could say, we're business partners indeed. I mean, we are much closer after what happened at the bar last night."

My heart stopped, panic hitting me like a physical blow. Bianca was right there! If he said anything rated 18 about last night…I didn't want her to start asking questions I couldn't answer!

"It's just…the way you left in a hurry—"

Without thinking, I stomped on his foot, pretending like I'd slipped or something. "Oh God." I straightened up again. This man! 

"Fine," I snapped, cutting him off before he could say another word. I marched forward and opened the back door of the SUV. "We'll take the ride. Come on, Bianca."

We climbed into the back seat. The inside of the car smelled like expensive leather and cedar wood. I kept my eyes fixed on the window, refusing to look at Derek, but I could feel his gaze on me through the rearview mirror.

As the car moved into traffic, Derek completely changed his tone. He wasn't teasing anymore. He spoke to Bianca with incredible warmth and politeness, asking her about her favorite things and how she was feeling. He was naturally charming, and within five minutes, Bianca was laughing and talking to him like they were old friends. He'd completely won her over.

We pulled up to the front of the apartment. I got out and helped Bianca walk up the steps to the front door, and Mabel came to take her in. Once Bianca was safely inside, I turned back. I needed to thank him and send him off at once.

"You're coming with me, princess." Derek said. It wasn't a question. It was like a demand, spoken in that quiet, heavy voice of his.

I took a step back, crossing my arms over my chest. "Coming with you?" I almost blurted out in laughter. "I'm going inside, thanks for the ride."

Derek didn't move an inch. Instead, he took one slow step forward, completely erasing the distance I had just made. He leaned down slightly, his head tilting until his face was just inches from mine. I could feel the actual heat of his breath hitting my skin, warm and solid in the cool air.

My heart gave a sudden thud against my chest, and I felt this hotness rushed straight up into my cheeks. I hated how fast my body reacted to him. Piercing blue eyes gazed at me, it was as if he knew exactly what he was doing to me."We didn't just share a ride, Chloe," he murmured, his voice dropping into a low tone. "And you know it."

Hearing him bring up last night made my chest tighten. "Look, we slept together once, so what? We're both adults," I said, keeping my voice down so the neighbors wouldn't hear. "It was a mistake. It happened because I was angry and drunk. We don't owe each other anything, Derek. It's over."

He took a fast step forward, crowding me until my back hit the side of his SUV. "It's not a mistake," Derek said. His voice dropped, getting low and quiet. He was standing right over me now. "And it's not over."

"You don't even know me," I snapped, my sharp tongue flaring up because I was terrified of how much power he seemed to have over me.

He leaned down, hovering just inches from my face. I could actually feel the heat coming off him, and when he spoke, his breath hit my lips. It was a weird, intense feeling that made my stomach completely drop. He planted his hand flat against the side panel of the car right next to my hip, completely blocking my path.

"I know you, Chloe. Probably better than you know yourself."

My heart gave a heavy thud. Damn it! I hated how easily my body was reacting to him. I shoved both of my hands flat against his chest, trying to push him back. "Get back. Seriously, Derek. Move."

He didn't even budge. He just stayed right there, looking down into my eyes. His gaze slipped down to my mouth for a second, then came right back up to meet my eyes. He looked completely calm, like he already knew he had the upper hand."You always had so much potential," he muttered. "You just wasted it on a guy who doesn't know what to do with a strong woman like you."

I kept my hands pressed against his chest, staring at him. My brain is completely frozen. "What?"

"Divorce him," Derek said. He wasn't ask—heck, I didn't think men like him even bothered asking. He just said it like it was a done deal. "Divorce him and marry me."

My mouth fell open. I still couldn't even process what he was saying. "Come again?"

"You heard me," he said, looking like he was proposing a standard business merger, completely confident and calm. "Marry me. I'll take care of you. I'll take care of your sister. You won't have to deal with Nathan or Naomi ever again."

"You are completely insane," I breathed, shaking my head as I backed away from him. The way he called their names out so…casually…or maybe I had simply blurted out enough when I was drugged. That must be it. "We met yesterday. You don't just ask someone to marry you after one night."

"Bold of you to assume we just met yesterday." I blinked, not understanding him. He just straightened and continued. "You're exactly the kind of woman I need by my side, Princess."

"You're crazy," I whispered, shaking my head. "If you knew who I was, why didn't you say anything? Why now?"

Derek leaned down just a tiny bit more, his eyes locking onto mine with this heavy, stubborn focus. "Because I'm not a freak who would start to chase after you." he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. Then his voice hardened. "But then you came to me first, Chloe. You threw yourself right into my arms."

I couldn't even find my voice to reply.

Derek's face softened just a little bit, and a tiny, slow smile touched the corner of his mouth as he watched me try to process everything. He looked at me like I was the most frustrating, beautiful thing he'd ever run into."You walked into my arms all on your own, princess." he murmured, his voice surprisingly quiet and gentle. "And now that I have you, I am never letting you go."