chapter 16

I leaned back as well, trying to mimick his movement . Tristan hadn’t stopped watching me, his gaze a mix of amusement and calculation, like he was waiting for my next move. I had to be careful , not too eager, but not too guarded either. He was playing his game, and I had to stay one step ahead.

"I wonder," he said, breaking the silence, "how often you play these games." his voice thicker than before. Was he trying to seduce me or something?.

I arched an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "Games?"

He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "You know exactly what I mean."

I took another sip of coffee, letting the moment stretch. "I think we’re both playing the same game, Tristan." i called his name , damn it sounded good on my lips.

He seemed to consider that, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup. "Perhaps," he said softly. Then, after a pause, "But I’m curious , what’s your endgame?"

I felt a slight tremor in my chest. His words were gentle, but the intent behind them was razor sharp. Was he trying to dig deeper, or just throwing me off balance?

"My endgame?" I repeated, giving him a thoughtful smile. "I don’t think I’ve planned that far ahead."

"You strike me as someone who plans everything," Tristan said smoothly. "Every move, every interaction, carefully calculated."

"Maybe I like to keep people guessing," I said, throwing his own words back at him.

A spark of amusement flickered in his eyes. "Then we’re at an impasse." He leaned forward, his voice lowering. "But impasses don’t have to be boring."

I felt a shiver run through me. There was something about the way he said it like he was daring me to step further into his world, to see how far I could go before I lost control.

"Care to elaborate?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light despite the electricity crackling between us.

Tristan's smile grew, a slow, deliberate expression that sent a wave of heat through me. "Let’s just say I believe in taking things a step further when the opportunity presents itself."

I tilted my head, intrigued. "And what step are you suggesting, Mr. Agress?"

He chuckled softly. "Dinner."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Dinner?"

"Unless, of course, you’d prefer coffee." His gaze was unwavering, his smile confident. "But I think we’ve had enough of that for one morning, don’t you?"

I swallowed, forcing myself to stay composed. Was he asking me out? I hadn’t expected this shift, but I couldn’t show hesitation. If he was offering another opportunity to get closer, I’d be foolish not to take it.

"Dinner sounds… interesting," I replied, keeping my voice neutral.

"Good." Tristan leaned back in his chair, satisfied. "Tomorrow night, then. I’ll send a car."

A car. Of course. I wondered if he ever did anything without grand gestures. "You don’t have to send a car," I said, trying to sound casual. "I can get there myself."

"Consider it a courtesy," he said smoothly. "After all, I wouldn’t want you to feel like I was being rude again."

I couldn’t help but smirk at his teasing. "Well, I do appreciate courtesy."

"Then it's settled." Tristan stood, pulling his coat off the back of his chair. "Eight o’clock."

I stood as well, feeling the energy shift now that the conversation had taken a more serious turn. "And where exactly are we going?"

"That’s for me to know," he said with a wink. "You like surprises, right?"

I smiled despite myself. "I guess I’ll have to trust you."

"Trust is overrated." He adjusted his coat, his eyes sweeping over me one last time. "But I think you’ll enjoy yourself."

With that, he turned and headed toward the door, leaving me standing there, the lingering scent of his cologne trailing in the air. I watched him leave, my heart racing.

I had agreed to dinner with him, and the realization hit me , this was more than just another move in the game. He was pulling me in, and I was willingly stepping closer to the edge.

But I had to remember why I was here. Tristan was still the target, and no matter how enticing the game became, I couldn’t let myself get lost in it. My freedom depended on it.

As I sat back down and finished my coffee, my phone buzzed again.

**TRISTAN : I'm expecting an address .**

I frowned.

I typed out a quick reply.

But even as I sent the message, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was getting pulled into something deeper than I had anticipated. Tristan was dangerous in more ways than one I had to be careful not to lose control.

Tomorrow night would be crucial. A second meeting, more intimate, more revealing. He was giving me an opening, but the question was, would I be able to use it to my advantage?

I couldn’t afford to make mistakes. Not now.

I stood up from the table, grabbing my coat and walking out of the café. The cold air hit me immediately, reminding me that I had work to do a lot preparation, planning, and figuring out just how far I could push before the scales tipped.

Because if I wasn’t careful, this game could spiral out of control. And losing wasn’t an option.