Chapter 19: Chapter 19

\# JADE #

"To the Blackwood Industries building," I told the taxi driver as I climbed into the backseat.

I was wearing a heavy wool coat  to hide the scandalous silk dress Sandra had picked out for me. Just as she’d instructed, I was wearing absolutely nothing underneath. The cool air against my skin was a constant reminder of what I was going to the CEO’s office to do.

In the rearview mirror, I caught the driver’s eyes lingering on me too long. And each time I caught his eyes he would looked away.

"Any problem, misters?" I asked, my voice rough  than I intended.

"No, not at all, ma'am," he muttered, quickly looking away.

The rest of the drive was suffocatingly silent. My hands were shaking so violently I had to tuck them into my pockets. I was really doing this, offering myself to the most powerful man in New York to bury my father’s failures. The thought of his dick going in her out of my V^^ made me clinch my laps and a moan nearly escaped from my mouth.

"We’re here," the driver’s voice cut through my thoughts.

"Thank you," I murmured, stepping out of the cab.

The security guard at the towering glass entrance opened the door before I even reached it. "Welcome to the Blackwood Empire," he said with a practicd nod and fake smile.

"Thanks," I replied faintly.

I made my way to the lobby of the main reception desk. The moment the secretary looked up and saw me, she let out a loud, audible hiss of annoyance. Rolling her eyes so hard that I thought they would fall out of thier sockets.

"You again? Why are you back here? I’m sure you didn't get the job yesterday, so why don't you just get the fuck out of here?"

I didn’t even bother to reply to her hateful remark. The turmoil in my mind was far louder than her petty insults. I leaned against the desk, trying to keep my voice steady. "Can you check the system? I have an appointment with Mr. Blackwood today."

She let out a dry, mocking laugh. "An appointment for what, exactly? To spread yourself over his desk? Let me make this clear to you, you’re not the first bitch to use that same excuse today. And look around you, there are many fishes here in this building waiting to have a taste of his massive dick deep inside of our cunts. Wait till we finally have our own chance then you can come for yours.”

"What is going on here?" a deep, authoritative voice boomed from the hallway behind her.

Vane stepped out from the private corridor, his presence instantly draining the oxygen from the room. He looked impeccable in a midnight-blue suit, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, but his eyes were like flint.

The secretary’s face went from smug to ghostly pale in a fraction of a second. "Mr. Blackwood! I was just... I was telling this girl…"

"I heard exactly what you were telling her," Vane said, his voice dangerously low. He walked toward us, his gaze never leaving mine. He didn't look at the secretary, his sinful eyes were on me, his eyes scanning the heavy coat I was clutching closed.

"Mr. Blackwood, she doesn't have a formal…"

"She has an appointment with me," Vane interrupted, his voice cutting like a blade. "And as for your comment about my desk... clear it. By the time I’m done with Miss Sterling, I want your things gone. You're fired."

The woman gasped, her mouth hanging open, but Vane didn't give her another glance. He reached out, his hand firm on the small of my back, and the heat of his palm through the wool of my coat made my knees weak.

"Get her out of here. Now," he commanded.

I watched as the security guards stood over the secretary, her hands trembling as she swept her belongings into a box. Despite the way she had treated me, a pang of sympathy tightened my chest,  I knew the bitterness of losing everything.

"Mr. Vane, please... can you…"

"Are you here for her, or for your father’s debt?" he cut me off, his gaze as cold and sharp as a winter frost.

The question hit me like a physical blow, reminding me exactly why I was standing there. I instinctively pulled my heavy coat tighter around my body, hiding the secret of the silk beneath it. Vane didn't say another word. He simply turned and walked toward the private wing, while five security guards followed at a respectful distance. I trailed behind him, feeling like a lost puppy caught in a thunderstorm.

We reached his private elevator, a masterpiece of gold wood and velvet. It was so luxurious, that it felt like a world away from the cold glass of the lobby. The guards bowed their heads as the doors slid open, remaining outside as we stepped into the small, secluded space.

The moment the doors hissed shut, the air in the elevator changed. It became thick, charged with a sudden, suffocating heat.

Before I could even draw a breath, Vane’s hands were on me. He pressed my back against the wall, his large frame looming over me, blocking out the light.

"Tell me, Jade," he rasped, his voice dropping into a dark, gravely register that made my toes curl. "Tell me you're here to give me exactly what I asked for. To let me spread you apart on my desk and rammed myself deep inside of your virgin cunt."

"Mr... Mr. Vane," I stammered, my heart thundering against my ribs.

He didn't wait for an answer. He reached down, getting a hold of one of my legs and wrapped it around his waist. He buried his face in the crok of my neck, inhaling deeply, his stubble grazing my sensitive skin.

"You have no idea of the things I’ve been thinking about doing to you," he whispered against my pulse, his breath hot and possessive. "You have no idea how much I’m going to make you scream my name today, if you do then you wouldn’t have come back here."

"I’m going to fuck you hard, Jade," he groan, his lips brushing against my ear. "So hard that you’ll always come back for more. You still have the chance to run, just like you did yesterday. The door isn't locked yet."

I looked up at him, my breath hitching. His eyes were dark, swirling with a raw lust and hunger I hadn't expected. It wasn't just cold business anymore,  it was a craving. I realized then that a man who had everything still wanted to devour me.

"I’m staying, Mr. Vane," I whispered.

The moment the words left my lips, I felt my body betray me. My core twitched with a sharp, needy ache, and the way his fingers dug into my skin sent a delicious shiver straight down my spine. I wasn't just doing this for my father anymore,  my own body was screaming for his touch.

He let out a low, dark chuckle that vibrated against my chest. “Wrong answer, Jade. You should have run. Because now, I’m never letting you go."