chapter 24

Kane’s POV

“Are you sure you want to do this? No pressure...”

It was 8:00 PM, and we were sitting in the back of a luxury limousine idling outside one of Italy’s most exclusive venues. Josephine had been invited as a guest of honor for a high-fashion showcase packed with international press, celebrities, and elite investors.

“I'm sure,” I replied, sitting still as she adjusted my tie.

“There,” she smiled, though hesitation lingered in her eyes. “You know the press is going to assume we're an item, right?”

“Let them assume whatever they want. We're old friends supporting each other. Let them gossip.”

She frowned slightly, glancing at the flashing camera lights reflecting off the tinted windows. “That sounds recklessly open coming from you.”

“I don't care,” I said coldly. “I do what I want.”

Tonight was about freedom and taking back control. Josephine didn't know the full story, but showing up on my own terms felt liberating.

The driver opened the door, and Josephine slipped her arm through mine as we stepped onto the carpet. Instantly, a barrage of camera flashes surrounded us.

“Josephine Vance. Who is this gentle man with you?”

“Are you an item?”

“What about the actor you were seen with at the LOVERS AGAIN premiere?”

Josephine leaned closer, smiling for the camera while ignoring all the questions. “Too late to turn back now, Kane.”

“Wouldn't dream of it,” I muttered, flashing a practiced, charming smile for the cameras.

Inside the grand ballroom, the atmosphere was electric.

Josephine, glided through the crowd, laughing, exchanging quick pleasantries, and introducing me to people I had no intention of remembering.

At one point, she pulled me toward the bar and whispered, “You’ve been distracted all evening.”

“Have I?” I replied smoothly.

“Yes. What's on your mind?”

“Maybe the question you should be asking is ….. who is on my mind,” I teased, leaning in.

Josephine raised her champagne glass, hiding her smile behind it. “You're such a flirt, Kane. Is it me?”

I pulled her slightly closer, brushing my lips against her ear. “What do you think? I can't wait to get you back to the hotel... but I suppose I can exercise patience until this party ends.”

“Oh, stop it,” she giggled softly, turning to wave at a group of models motioning for her from across the room. “Duty calls. Don't miss me too much.”

As she walked away, a wave of guilt washed over me. I hated lying to her, pretending she had my full attention when my mind kept drifting back to the one woman who had actually rejected me.

Why was the one problem I couldn't solve the same woman I couldn't get out of my head?

I raised my glass to Josephine’s friends as they waved in my direction, likely getting a full breakdown of who I was from her.

Women's favourite activity, gossip.

***

Back at the hotel suite, every one of my restraints vanished.

I pressed Josephine against the door, trailing urgent, heavy kisses along her jawline and down the column of her neck, pulling a soft gasp from her throat.

“You are stunning, Josephine,” I growled against her skin.

She arched into me, her hands gripping my shoulders, her nails digging into my jacket. “Kane... you're going to drive me crazy.”

“Good,” I muttered, taking her lip between my teeth before turning her around to face the mirror, taking control as the tension from the entire trip finally broke.

She held onto the edge of the dresser, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she called out my name.

“Kane... only you know how to do this to me,” she cried out as her peak hit her, her knees trembling beneath her weight.

When it was over, she collapsed onto the bed beside me, completely exhausted.

“You didn't finish,” she noted sleepily, turning her head toward me.

“It's fine, baby,” I said gently, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Get some rest. I'll get a warm towel.”

I walked toward the bathroom, but stopped when my phone lit up on the nightstand with a new voice message from Jayson. I unlocked the screen and played it immediately.

“Kane, you won't believe it….I found our inside man. The bastard running illegal ops through our logistics department. I can't wait until you get back to deal with him personally. In the meantime, I'm squeezing him for every piece of info he has on who's pulling his strings. Safe flight back, you grumpy ass.”

I replayed the audio, once, twice and each time my jaw twitched in anger. I’ll make him regret the day he was born.