Chapter 2

Rowan's heart nearly stopped. Five years ago, she'd schemed to drive Kingsley away, destroying their beautiful first love.

Now, with nowhere left to turn, Kingsley had forced her to sign a contract to be kept.

What a cruel joke fate had played on her.

"Either strip, or get out." Kingsley stared at her coldly.

His deep eyes held nothing but indifference. And hatred.

Kingsley hated her.

The realization shattered Rowan's heart.

He should hate her. She was the one who humiliated him, crushed his sincerity and dignity.

She was the one who forced him to disappear from Emerald City the day after her birthday party, vanishing without a trace.

Now, everything she was enduring—she deserved it all.

Rowan bit her lip and slowly turned around, using every ounce of strength to control her trembling hands.

One by one, she unfastened the buttons of her blouse. As the last button came undone, the blue shirt she'd carefully chosen for her first day fell to the floor.

Revealing the black half-cup bra underneath.

Watching Rowan's pale face, Kingsley frowned, tugging at his tie in irritation.

"Keep going."

Faint wisps of smoke drifted from behind her. Rowan knew he was smoking again.

Once, he'd known she hated the smell of cigarettes. Now, he didn't care anymore.

"Ms. Lavien, are you planning to sleep with me in your work clothes? I suppose that's not a bad idea."

His deep voice carried a seemingly gentle tone, but the words were cold as ice.

"Kingsley, I—"

The documents on the desk were swept to the floor. Before Rowan could react, she was pulled into an embrace that smelled faintly of tobacco. Her chin was forced up, meeting the viciousness in his eyes.

"You don't get to say my name!"

Rowan flinched, her eyes dimming. Her red lips parted slightly. "Mr. FitzRoy..."

Kingsley kissed her with fury and hatred, showing no mercy, no tenderness.

Soon, the metallic taste of blood spread through her mouth.

A large hand gripped her throat tightly.

The suffocating sensation made Rowan instinctively open her mouth, desperate for air.

Her black bra was violently torn open.

"No—don't!" The assault on her sensitive areas snapped her nearly-lost rationality back. She struggled, pushing against his powerful chest.

Kingsley pulled back, the blood at the corner of his mouth a shocking sight.

"Rowan, you have no right to refuse me." The sound of ripping fabric filled the air as her skirt tore. Rowan closed her eyes weakly.

Her hands, which had been pushing against his chest, slowly lost their strength and fell limply to her sides.

No resistance. No response.

A knock at the door interrupted Kingsley's next move. He glanced coldly at Rowan and shoved her away. "If you don't want anyone seeing how pathetic you are, get into the lounge."

Rowan picked up her disheveled clothes, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up—just in time to see Kingsley pull out a tissue and wipe his hands with what looked like disgust.

Meeting her gaze, he sneered and tossed the used tissue at her feet.

"Filthy."

Rowan flinched again, pain lancing through her heart. Head bowed, she walked step by step toward the lounge.

"Come in."

The office door opened. A tall figure entered, his face carrying a faint smile—so different from Kingsley's coldness.

"No way. You're really playing this wild in the office? Who was that I just caught a glimpse of? Nice body."

"What, interested? Want me to let you have a turn?" Kingsley's face was grim as he spun the pen in his hand, glancing at the casual Blake Nolan standing before him.

"No, no, no. After all these years, you finally have a woman around. I'm not gonna compete with you." Blake waved his hands quickly. "I gotta say, Kingsley, I thought you'd be hung up on Rowan for the rest of your life. Didn't expect you to—"

Kingsley cut him off coldly. "Are you done talking?"

Blake fell silent for a moment, the playfulness vanishing from his face. "I heard you hired Rowan as your private secretary. What are you thinking?"

"She's nobody important."

Kingsley glanced casually toward the lounge door, catching Rowan's figure flash past.

His fingers drummed on the desk, eyes thoughtful.

"Good. Good. As long as she's nobody important. After all, when the Lavien family went bankrupt back then... Never mind, forget it. Tonight we're throwing you a welcome party. You interested?"

Kingsley nodded. "Send me the time and place."

That was exactly what Blake wanted to hear. The trip hadn't been wasted. "Kingsley, don't go soft over some woman. Remember your late foster parents—Ewan and Gaia. How they died."

Kingsley lit a cigarette and let out a cold laugh. "You think I'd forget?"

Blake nodded knowingly and turned to leave.

Tonight's party needed careful planning. Rowan, Kingsley was back. After all these years of patience, it was time to settle some old scores.

After Blake left, the office fell silent again.

Rowan sat on the lounge floor, her tear-stained face full of shock.

Thinking back to their conversation—the Lavien family's business had collapsed within a year, all funding sources cut off. Could it have something to do with Kingsley?