Wayne’s brows pulled together. “I know you’re still struggling with losing Hayden, but don’t punish yourself like this. If you’re ever feeling lonely or overwhelmed, you can come to me.” His eyes locked on mine, full of sincerity. But that kind of sincerity? It wasn’t comforting—it was suffocating, like a weight threatening to pull me under.
I lowered my gaze slightly. “Wayne, I don’t want to see you and Jace at odds. He’s already reached out to—”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll handle it,” Wayne butted in, reaching out to hold my hand.
The warmth of his touch sent an icy chill through me. I wanted to pull away, but I forced myself to stay put, meeting his gaze with a flicker of unease. “You know how your parents feel about this. They’re against it too.”
Wayne shook his head. “I’ve told you before—missing my chance with you once was more than enough. This time, I don’t care if the whole world is against us.”
Wayne’s love had crossed the line into obsession. My chest tightened with unease, and I quickly pulled my hand away, tucking it under the table and rubbing it against my skirt as if that could erase the lingering sensation. “But I don’t want that.”
“Is it that you don’t want it… or that you just can’t accept me?” he asked quietly.
I lifted my head, meeting his gaze, but didn’t say a word. Sometimes, silence is the clearest answer a person can give. The tension hung between us for a moment before he let out a soft laugh. “I’m being too impatient. I need to give you time.”
He gently placed a portion of truffle salad on my plate. “Rea, don’t feel pressured. I’ve waited for years already. I can wait a little longer—until you’re ready to truly accept me.”
If I didn’t know what he was capable of—if I hadn’t seen the shadows behind his polished exterior—I might’ve been moved. But now, all I felt was fear. The deeper his obsession ran, the more dangerous he’d become if he couldn’t have what he wanted.
I forced a calm expression, quickly steering the conversation away. “I was joking earlier. I didn’t go to DracoLux for myself. The company’s planning an event, and we needed male models with the right look and charisma. Since DracoLux is known for its all-male staff, I figured it’d be a good place to start.”
Wayne hummed lightly. “You definitely picked the right place. The men at DracoLux are top-notch.”
“Seems like you know the place pretty well,” I said, my tone carrying a hint of suggestion.
“Clients,” he explained with a shrug. “Big deals tend to happen there now. They insist on meeting there for some reason. You’d think it’s because they’re sleazy, but there aren’t even any women around.”
“Maybe they’re just decent guys,” I replied. “They go there for business, have some fun, and still make it home in time to keep things smooth with their wives or girlfriends.”
“You might be onto something.” Then he asked, “Did you find anyone suitable? If not, I can help. As far as I know, DracoLux doesn’t let their so-called male models take outside clients.”
“I found someone. Cole helped me,” I said, keeping my gaze steady on him as I spoke.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face. “You know Cole?”
“Mm. He even said he wants me to be his girlfriend,” I added, my tone light and deliberately casual.
Some rivalries are just begging to be stoked, and this one was no exception. Throughout history, every empire and organization has crumbled faster with a little internal drama. If I wanted to bring them down, I’d need to light a fire between him and Cole. Men are territorial by nature—especially when it comes to women they care about.
Right on cue, Wayne’s reaction was instant. “Cole’s a playboy. If he bothers you again or tries anything, tell me.”
I nodded, keeping my eyes on my plate.
Wayne added, “Your company uses male models for events? I’m curious—mind if I check it out when it happens?”
He wasn’t interested in the event; he wanted to test me. I smiled like it was no big deal. “Sure.”
The word slipped out so smoothly it probably looked like I had everything under control. But inside? Total panic. There was no event. I’d made the whole thing up on the spot. Now I was stuck. I’d have to rope Ron into helping me put together something real.