Chapter 247: Time To Trap The Rat

Holly’s POV

I sat at my desk, fingers hovering over the keyboard, pretending to type emails while my mind replayed everything on a loop.

His fingers. God, his fingers were magical. The way they circled slowly and perfectly, like he knew exactly how to unravel me.

Because obviously, he does.

I could still feel the ghost of his fingers on my clit, that teasing pressure that had me seconds from begging. My thighs clenched under the desk just thinking about it. I was mad…so damn mad…at him for stopping, for pulling away like I was some mistake he regretted. But underneath the anger was this throbbing, desperate need that made my skin feel too tight.

And the best part? He was unraveling too. I saw it in his eyes, that dark, hungry look right before the phone rang. I had him exactly where I wanted him. At my mercy. Finally.

It’s safe to say that my mission has been accomplished. David Hunt now sees me the way I need him to.

I glanced down at my blouse…or what was left of it. Buttons scattered God-knows-where, fabric gaping open. I had to hold it closed with one hand like some walk-of-shame rookie. A soft smile tugged at my lips anyway.

He did this to me. Ripped my shirt open with his bare hands because he couldn’t wait. And we didn’t even fuck.

This was going better than I’d planned.

Yesterday I’d been stupid…acting all distant and moody, pretending I didn’t care. I don’t even know why. Girl hormones, I guess. One minute I’m fine, the next I’m overthinking everything and pushing him away just to see if he’d pull me back. Classic dumb move. But today? Today he yanked me right into him. Literally.

All I have to do now is make him stop seeing me as “Ava’s little sister” and start seeing me as the grown woman who’s completely obsessed with him.

Whatever he had with Ava and my family is ancient history. I’m the present. And I’m going to drag him so deep into the present he’ll forget there was ever a past.

I’ll make him fall stupidly, hopelessly in love with me. I’ll make him grovel, beg on his knees. And when I finally hand him my heart? I’ll take his first, devour it whole so he can never get it back. Then I’ll force him to eat mine, just to make sure we’re even.

I paused mid-thought, blinking at my computer screen.

…Am I a cannibal now? Eating a heart? Well, I didn’t mean literally of course. But still…that was weird.

I snorted softly. Whatever. Dramatic works for me.

A faint trace of his cologne drifted past…woodsy, warm, expensive…and my head snapped around. But the hallway was empty. Then I caught it…the soft snap of blinds closing in David’s office.

He was watching me.

A thrill shot straight between my legs. He couldn’t stay away either. Isn’t that just fantastic?

I cleared my throat, smoothed my hair, and started mentally sorting through my playbook. Push, pull, tease, deny. Tonight I wanted him inside me, wanted to ride him until he was panting my name, begging for more. Then I’d leave him hanging, just a little. Keep him chasing.

The morning dragged on like normal…emails, calls, pretending I was focused. By lunchtime, I shook the David thoughts out of my head. Enough. Time to switch gears.

Amber needed me. That girl deserved justice, and I was going to help her get it.

I put on my jacket and grabbed my bag. I spared one quick glance at David’s closed office door…no movement…and slipped out quietly. Let him wonder where I went. Let him dump whatever busywork he wanted on my empty desk. I’d deal with it later.

First stop…the little boutique two blocks away. I couldn’t walk around looking like I’d been mauled…even if I kind of loved that I had.

I picked out a sleek black wrap blouse that tied at the side…corporate enough for the office, but the deep V and the way it hugged my waist screamed “look at me.” Paired it with high-waisted trousers that made my ass look unreal. Total damage: $380. Worth every penny. I stuffed the ruined blouse and skirt into the trash bin in the changing room without a second thought.

I’ll just call Ava tonight and sweetly ask for a little “sister fund” top-up. She can’t say no to her baby sis.

I stepped out of the boutique feeling like a weapon…hair fixed, lipstick fresh, confidence dialed to eleven.

Next… I made a quick stop at a mini mart to get…supplies for my mission.

When I was done, I hailed a cab, gave the driver the hotel address where I was meeting that scumbag.

Today, he was going to learn what happens when you mess with good women.

He’d spend the rest of his pathetic life running from anything in heels.

I pulled out my lipstick in the back of the cab…deep red, the kind that says “kiss me or regret it” and touched it up carefully in the little mirror on the compact.

The driver slowed to a stop in front of the hotel, a sleek mid-range place downtown with a glowing sign and valets milling around. Nothing too flashy, nothing too cheap. Perfect for what I had planned.

I handed the driver cash…no card trail…and stepped out into the crisp afternoon air. My heels clicked on the pavement as I paused on the sidewalk, scanning the street like I always do when I’m about to do something risky. Cars crawling by, a couple of pedestrians on their phones, a doorman smoking by the side entrance. Nothing looked off. No one was watching me.

I slipped my hand into my bag, fingers brushing past my wallet to check the two new additions…the ones I had to get at a mini mart earlier…the pepper spray canister (small, pink, innocent-looking) and the mini stun gun I’d borrowed from Kayla. Both fully charged, both ready if this went sideways. I wasn’t walking into this blind. Amber had been through enough…I wasn’t about to let this guy turn the tables.

Satisfied, I squared my shoulders and walked toward the revolving doors like I owned the place. The lobby was quiet…marble floors, soft jazz playing in the background. I went straight to the reception desk, taking my time to survey the hall…to know if someone suspicious was watching me.

What if he got here on time just to plan something stupid?

“Hi,” I said with a sweet smile to the guy behind the counter. “I have a reservation under Wild Rose.”

He barely looked up, just typed a few keys and slid a key card across. “Room 108, ma’am. Elevator’s to your left. Enjoy your stay.”

I thanked him, took the card, and headed for the elevator. My heart was already beating faster, but I kept my face calm. This was the easy part.

Room 108 was at the end of a long, carpeted hallway. I let myself in, locked the door behind me, and got to work fast.

First, the cameras. I’d bought three tiny wireless ones…stick-on, motion-activated, streaming straight to a secure app on my phone. One went high in the corner above the TV, one tucked behind the fake plant on the dresser, and the last one angled perfectly from the bathroom door toward the bed. All hidden, all recording in HD with audio. No way he’d spot them unless he was looking.

Next, the wine. I’d picked up a decent bottle of red at the mini mart…nothing suspicious, just something a girl might have chilling for a “date.” I uncorked it, poured half into one glass for show, and carefully tipped in the sleepy potion I’d gotten from a very discreet source. Colorless, odorless, fast-acting but not dangerous…just enough to knock him out cold for a few hours once it hit. I swirled it gently, set both glasses on the nightstand like we were about to toast to something naughty.

Everything was set.

I kicked off my heels, fluffed my hair, and perched on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, back straight. Phone in hand, I waited.

It didn’t take long.

My phone buzzed.

Him: Hey, beautiful, which room?

I smirked, typed back quick.

Me: 108. The door's unlocked. Can’t wait to see you ;)

I stood up, walked to the full-length mirror by the closet, and practiced the look…half-lidded eyes, slow smile, head tilted just enough to show off my neck. Seductive, inviting, harmless in the most intimate way.

Showtime.

I opened the door a crack, leaned against the frame like I was already impatient for him, and waited for the sound of footsteps in the hall.

Time to trap the rat.