CHAPTER 2

Tonya’s POV

"You look beautiful," Jael Blackwood said as I sat across from him in his living room.

I was in his apartment building in Manhattan. Philip had driven me here earlier that evening without saying much during the ride. Before I got out of the car, he had simply told me that Jael's driver would take me home the following day. That was all, there was no reassurance or apology.

The moment I stepped into Jael's penthouse, I felt completely out of place. The apartment was breathtaking. Every corner screamed wealth, the furniture alone probably cost more than everything I had ever owned in my entire life.

Even though I tried to remain calm, my heart wouldn't stop racing. I sat carefully on the cream-colored sofa, afraid that one wrong move would leave a stain or somehow damage something that probably cost thousands of dollars, I felt like an intruder.

"Thank you," I replied stiffly. "But I'm not here for your compliments." I folded my hands together, refusing to let him see how nervous I really was. "Let's just get straight to business."

Jael studied me for several long seconds before a slow smile spread across his face. If I hadn't known the kind of man he was, I probably would have called him the most attractive man I had ever seen. He looked almost unreal, as though he had been carved out of stone by the hands of a master sculptor. Every feature on his face was sharp and perfectly balanced, giving him the appearance of a Greek god.

Unfortunately, beauty meant nothing when the person behind it was capable of destroying lives.

"You don't have to be so hostile," he said calmly. "I'm not your enemy. Soon enough, you and I will be sharing the same bed."

The way his eyes lingered on my body sent an uncomfortable shiver down my spine, it wasn't just a casual glance. It felt deliberate like he had imagined this moment long before it finally happened.

The confidence in his gaze made my stomach twist with disgust. "You are my enemy," I snapped, unable to hold back any longer. "You turned my life upside down. You destroyed everything I had, and now you are about to take away the little dignity I have left. So forgive me if I don't care about your compliments, because they mean absolutely nothing to me."

The words poured out before I could stop them. For years, I had carried this anger inside me, swallowing every bit of resentment and pretending to be strong. I had imagined countless times what I would say if I ever had the chance to stand in front of Jael Blackwood.

"I just want to do whatever I'm here to do," I continued through gritted teeth, "and get the hell out of your house."

I wanted to say a lot more. There were countless things I had wanted to throw in his face for years, but I forced myself to stay quiet. Everyone knew Jael Blackwood had a terrible temper. I had heard enough stories about him to know that provoking him wasn't a smart idea.

More importantly, I didn't want to ruin this for Philip. As much as I hated being here, I had already agreed to it.

"I don't fraternize with my enemies," I said, keeping my voice cold. "This is nothing more than a hate fuck."

Instead of getting angry like I expected, the corners of his lips lifted into an amused smile. "Hate fucks are actually much better than make-up sex or lovemaking," he said casually. "You fuck each other with so much anger and intensity that you both completely lose yourselves in the moment."

I slowly closed my eyes and drew in a long, steady breath, he was impossible. No matter what I said, he always seemed to have an answer that irritated me even more. I wasn't about to keep going back and forth with him while he sat there looking entertained.

Without another word, I pushed myself to my feet.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

I ignored the question. I slipped off my shoes first before reaching for the zipper of my gown. A second later, the dress pooled around my feet, leaving me standing in only my bra and panties.

I refused to look embarrassed. If this was why I had been brought here, then there was no point pretending otherwise.

Jael leaned back comfortably in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face as his eyes traveled over me. There was unmistakable hunger in his gaze, but he made no move to come closer.

"Miss Tonya," he said, "I didn't ask you to take off your dress." His smile only widened. "Although, I have to admit, I'm enjoying the view. You have a beautiful body."

I threw my hands up in frustration, every ounce of my patience disappearing. "Then why the fuck am I here?" I yelled.

He rose from his chair and walked toward me with slow, confident steps. The confidence I had been holding onto disappeared almost instantly. Without thinking, I took a few steps back until there was nowhere else to go.

He closed the distance between us and reached for me, wrapping a hand around my waist before pulling me firmly against his hard body.

I froze, our bodies were pressed so closely together that I could feel the warmth radiating from him. My heart began to pound so violently that I was sure he could hear it.

As much as I hated to admit it, there was an undeniable spark between us. I had never felt anything like it before, not even with Philip.

Not even when we had sex, the realization unsettled me. My heart was racing in a way no man had ever made it race, and I hated myself for reacting to the very man I despised.

"You are here because I wanted to see you," he said quietly. His eyes never left mine. "I have been looking forward to this day for the past three years."

Confusion flickered across my face, and I frowned. Three years? What was he talking about?

"Tonight," he continued, "I only want to look at your beautiful face and picture the night you finally beg me to fuck you."

The arrogance in his voice made my blood boil. I planted both hands against his chest and shoved him away.

"Keep dreaming," I shot back. "I'd rather die than beg you to touch me. That fantasy exists only in your head."

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, as though he found my determination amusing. "You will change your mind," he replied calmly. "When that day finally comes, you will remember this conversation."

He finally let go of me. Bending down, he picked up my dress from the floor before holding it out to me. I snatched it from his hand and quickly pulled it back on, feeling slightly more comfortable once I was covered again.

"I need you to do something for me," he said. "Whether your husband and your parents get the money depends on it."

I frowned, unable to understand where this was going. "If it isn't sex, then what is it?"

His expression remained unreadable. "If your husband asks whether we had sex tonight, you're going to tell him we did." He paused for a moment before adding, "And tell him we did it countless times."