Dante Devereux

    OLIVIA

    

    

    The car pulled into a grand driveway, a sleek penthouse coming into view. Whoever had bid $200,000 was waiting for me here. 

    

    My heart raced as I recalled the instructions that came after the bid ended. I was to meet the man who would own my body for the night. A driver had been sent, silent the entire ride, even until now. 

    

    I took a deep breath and stepped out, nerves tightening in my chest.

    

    A bodyguard met me at the entrance and led me through the quiet lobby. “Fourth floor,” he said, pointing to the elevator.

    

    I nodded and stepped inside, my heels clicking softly on the polished floor. The doors closed behind me with a quiet ding.

    

    As the elevator moved, my pulse quickened.

    

    Could I really go through with this?

    

    I let myself be brought here by an unknown man, didn’t I? Most men who bid on the celebrity hookup site were usually old and sleazy men who had money to throw around. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one was too. But with the celebrity hookup site, once the bid was placed, it was impossible to back out.

    

    This was real now. I was on my way to meet a stranger who had paid $200,000 to spend a night with me.

    

    I shook the doubt and disgust from my head. This wasn’t about him or me. It was about proving something to Dominic, and maybe to myself.

    

    The elevator chimed as it stopped on the fourth floor. The doors slid open, revealing a long hallway bathed in golden light. I stepped out, my hands clammy, my heartbeat loud in my ears as I looked toward the door at the end of the hall.

    

    “Please don’t be old,”  I silently begged. If he was young, maybe even attractive, then maybe… just maybe, this night wouldn’t feel like a complete mistake.

    

    My heels echoed softly as I approached the only door at the end of the hallway and my heart thudded painfully in my chest. Before I could overthink it, I pushed the door open.

    

    The room was dim, and quiet.

    

    “Hello?” I whispered. I stepped further inside, glancing around, suddenly afraid. My fingers tightened around my clutch. “Is this the wrong floor?”

    

    “Olivia.”

    

    I froze.

    

    That voice… deep with a familiar Italian accent made my body react before my mind could catch up and a chill ran down my spine.

    

    No. It couldn’t be.

    

    I turned slowly, the room spinning slightly as my eyes landed on the figure near the bar. The shadows clung to him, keeping his face hidden, and for one breathless moment I almost convinced myself I was imagining things.

  

  Then he shifted, stepping just far enough out of the dim light for me to see his frame. 

  

  My breath caught. 

  

  No way. 

  

    For a moment, I didn’t trust my eyes. It wasn’t just shock, it was disbelief. His back was still to me but I knew that posture, that frame.

    

    And then, slowly, he turned. His eyes locked with mine as he lifted a glass of whiskey to his lips.

    

    My stomach dropped. 

  

    

    Dante Devereux? Dominic’s best friend? My ex-boss?

    

    He stepped closer, one hand slipping into the pocket of his loose pants, the other still holding his drink.

    

    Closing the distance between us, his cologne filled my nose and I took an unwilling step back.

    

    My legs felt weak as I stared at him. “Dante?” I breathed, barely trusting my own eyes.

    

    “What are you… What am I doing here?” I stammered, my chest rising and falling fast. 

    

    He took another step forward, eyes locked on mine. “To spend the night with me,” he said smoothly, calm like this was normal.

    

    “No.” I shook my head and stepped back, my body rebelling against the very choice I made. “That’s… that’s not possible.”

    

    I turned to leave, heart racing, but he caught my arm. I looked up into his face, my eyes studying him, and that’s when it hit me.

    

    He wasn’t surprised to see me. He wasn’t angry to see his best friend’s wife here to have sex with him.

    

    And I knew—men only act like that when they know your partner has been cheating on you.

    

    My eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in. I pulled my arm from his grip. “You don’t look surprised,” I said slowly. “Did you know he was cheating?”

    

    He tilted his head slightly, his gaze unreadable for a moment. After what felt like an eternity, he nodded, as though deciding the truth was finally worth admitting. “Yes.”

    

    Something pierced my heart and I shut my eyes in pain. “You knew?” I forced out. “You knew and said nothing?”

    

    How could he?

    

    He exhaled. “You married him, didn’t you?” he asked, his voice flat. “I told you not to.”

    

    My heart clenched at his words because I remembered. He had introduced me to Dominic a week after hiring me, the beginning of a disaster that I had foolishly believed was destined to be my fairytale. When he had advised me not to rush into marriage, I had brushed it off.

    

    “I didn’t know he was a cheater…” I murmured, then let out a bitter laugh. My hands balled into fists at my sides as I bit my lip to keep from breaking down. “How was I supposed to know he’d cheat on me? Then ask for an open marriage like it was nothing?”

    

    Dante’s eyes darkened and he stepped closer and tilted my jaw up gently. “He asked for an open marriage?”

    

    I nodded, the taste of shame bitter in my mouth. “He said no one would want me, that I’m fat. That Olivia Monroe isn’t attractive anymore.”

    

    His gaze lingered on me but he didn’t look angry, he looked hurt.

    

    Then, his finger brushed against my lips, just the lightest touch, and I shivered, a rush of tingles shooting down my spine. A soft sigh escaped my lips, but I didn’t move away.

    “He’s made a terrible mistake,” Dante voiced.

    

    My heart slammed against my chest, but I couldn’t move or even speak. I didn’t know if he meant it to comfort me or if it was something else entirely.

    

    “Olivia,” he whispered, his thumb grazing my cheek, and eyes still locked on mine.

    

    He pulled me closer, his fingers trailing the curve of my body. A part of me wanted to step back but I didn’t. Maybe it was the way he touched me, like he needed me. Maybe it was the way he looked at me with desire. Or maybe I just wanted revenge more than I wanted to think straight.

    

    Coming here, I never thought it would be Dante, never imagined it could ever be him. I had seen him two months ago at a small party and our eyes met, that was it.

    

    He traveled a lot, bought houses twice as often. I never could have imagined walking into his penthouse. But now, I understood why D.D. felt familiar. 

    

    But wasn’t it ironic? Dominic said no one would want me, and yet, his best friend wanted to fuck me.

    

    “Olivia…” he whispered again and before I could answer, he pressed his lips against mine.