LOGINSalome’s POV
“Mrs. Shawn specifically asked me to keep an eye on his diet,” I said, not missing a beat.
I knew bringing up Jeremiah’s mother was a gamble. It was a move that could blow up in my face, but I needed something heavy enough to make Ben back off. I watched him closely, hoping the mention of the family matriarch would be enough to end this little game.
Ben didn’t fold as easily as I’d hoped. A sharp, mocking smile tugged at hi
Gene’s POV“Sit down, please,” Ben said. He stepped behind Jeremiah and forced him into the chair next to Vivian. “The congee here is famous. You have to try it, right, Vivian?”Vivian laughed and tapped her fingers against her lips. She looked perfect, like she had spent hours getting ready just for this. “It is the best I have ever had. It is my favorite dish. I will go get a bowl for you.”She did not wait for Jeremiah to say no. She turned and walked toward the kitchen. I stood back and watched her. She kept looking over her shoulder to see if we were watching. Her hands shook as she grabbed a white porcelain bowl. I saw her fingernails grow long and sharp for a split second.Vesper whispered a warning in my mind. My skin crawled. Something was wrong.Vivian came back a minute later. She held the bowl with both hands and wore a wide, bright smile. “Here. I made sure they added something extra just
Salome’s POV“Mrs. Shawn specifically asked me to keep an eye on his diet,” I said, not missing a beat.I knew bringing up Jeremiah’s mother was a gamble. It was a move that could blow up in my face, but I needed something heavy enough to make Ben back off. I watched him closely, hoping the mention of the family matriarch would be enough to end this little game.Ben didn’t fold as easily as I’d hoped. A sharp, mocking smile tugged at his lips as he reached into his blazer. He moved with agonizing slowness, pulling out his phone while his eyes remained locked on mine. He was hunting for a crack in my story.“Is that so?” Ben asked, his voice dripping with fake curiosity. “In that case, I really should give Mrs. Shawn a call. I need to confirm these special instructions myself.”The air between us went still. Jeremiah didn’t jump in to save me, and I kept my expression like stone. I wo
Salome’s POV“You think I’m some kind of joke?”Ben puffed out his chest. He was trying to look tall, but he just looked desperate. Jeremiah didn’t even stand up. He just sat there and smiled. It was that slow, sharp smile that usually meant someone was about to get hurt.“I was trying to do you a favor,” Ben said. He was talking faster now. “But if you’re going to be stubborn, if you won’t take the deal I’m offering, then maybe I should stop being nice.”Jeremiah leaned back in his chair. He looked like he was watching a bad comedy show. The air in the room felt heavy and cold. “Oh, Ben. I was really hoping you would say something like that.”I stayed in the corner, keeping my back against the wall. I watched Jeremiah’s eyes. They weren’t warm. They looked like flat pieces of ice. Ben must have felt the temperature drop, too. His brave face crumbled in
Maurya’s POV"Ella, come here," Ben said, his voice way too loud for the small space between us.He didn't just invite her. He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the couch where Jeremiah sat. The girl looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole. Her lips were shaking, and she stumbled over her own feet as Ben dragged her forward. I watched them, my chest tight with a mix of pity and disbelief. Ben was really doing this. He was actually trying to force this girl into Jeremiah’s lap in front of everyone. He must have thought that if he pushed hard enough, Jeremiah would eventually just give in to avoid a scene.If Jeremiah did that, he was walking straight into a trap. I knew it, and based on the way Jeremiah’s jaw went stone cold, he knew it too."Come on, Jeremiah," Ben pushed, ignoring the heavy silence in the room. "There is plenty of room on that couch. Just move over a few inches and make some space."
Salome’s POV“Ah, I finally see what you like,” Ben said, his voice carrying a sharp, knowing edge.He looked around the room and raised his hands to get everyone’s attention. He had a smug smile on his face, the kind that usually meant he thought he had won. He was playing to the crowd now, making sure every person in the room heard his next words.“It seems our Alpha prefers the innocent type,” Ben shouted. “These girls are clearly too much for him to handle.”He turned his head toward Aleena, who was standing nearby with a tray of drinks.“Aleena, go get Ella for me,” Ben ordered.I watched Aleena set her things down on a small side table. She didn't hesitate. She turned and hurried out of the room like her life depended on it. I felt a knot form in my stomach. I didn't know who Ella was, but the way Ben was acting made me feel sick. I took a slow breath and watched the heavy doo
Salome’s POV“You actually expect me to walk in there?” Jeremiah asked, his voice low and tight.I looked at the heavy oak doors and then back at him. I could feel the tension radiating off his shoulders. Ben had been talking up this party for weeks, calling it an exclusive wine tasting, but the noise coming from the other side suggested something much louder and less refined.“We have to at least make an appearance,” I said. “Just ten minutes. Then we can go.”He didn't look convinced, but he pushed the doors open anyway.The room hit me like a physical wall of heat and cheap cologne. It wasn’t a wine tasting. It was a hunting ground. There was barely a bottle of wine in sight. Instead, the space was packed with men who looked like they had been drinking since noon. They were surrounded by women in dresses so short and tight they looked like they could barely breathe.Every head in the room tu
Clementine’s POV"What is wrong with your leg?" Benedict asked as soon as we got Jeremiah onto the mattress.I smoothed my pants over my knee and avoided his gaze. "I just took a tumble earlier. It is fine. I will put some ice on it in my room."He stood there with his
Salome’s POV“We are looking at nine ghosts on this list who still collect a paycheck,” I said.Benedict leaned over my shoulder to stare at the screen. He let out a low, sharp whistle. “If this has been going on for a decade, then we are talking about a mass
Salome’s POV“You should be careful, or you might actually go blind,” Jeremiah said.I snapped my head away from the morning sun, blinking back the sudden spots in my vision. My heart was hammering against my ribs. I hadn't heard him walk up behind me. The air arou
Salome’s POV"You should stay away from the water for now," I said.Rita didn't stumble. She didn't weave or trip over her own feet. She walked in a perfectly straight line toward the center of the hotel room. Her heels hit the floor with a steady, rhythmic click. She looked i







