Chapter 252: You’re Mine, Holly

Holly’s POV

Amber’s face went bright red the second Mr. Hunt…David…spoke. She mumbled something about needing to check an email and bolted toward her side of the office like her shoes were on fire.

I watched her go, a mock-offended expression plastered on my face. ‘Really, Amber? I almost get assaulted trying to get justice for you…and the second your boss shows up, you ditch me to save your own head? Typical.’

I rolled my eyes so hard I probably saw my brain.

David didn’t even glance at her retreat. He just folded his arms, that signature eyebrow arch higher than ever, and repeated, slow and deliberate, “What bastard, Holly?”

I lifted my chin. “Not your business.”

His eyes narrowed, that dangerous glint I knew too well flashing in them. “It is my business. It happened during work hours. You disappeared without a word to anyone. So you’re going to tell me. Because if I hear it from someone else first, you really won’t like what I’ll do. So spill.”

The threat hung in the air, low and velvet-rough. I sighed. Fine. Better from me than the office gossip mill.

“Long story short,” I said, keeping it quick, “there’s this creep…Mr. Cruz…who’s been blackmailing and assaulting women for months, including Amber. I set up a sting in a hotel room with hidden cameras to get evidence. I thought I had it all figured out, but he attacked me. Justin showed up, beat the crap out of him, and the police got involved. Evidence is solid. Cruz would be locked up for a long time. End of story.”

David’s face went through stages…fear, shock, then pure fury. His jaw locked so tight I heard the grind.

“You did what?” he asked, voice deadly quiet. “You went alone to a hotel room with a known predator? That was reckless, Holly. Stupid. What if something worse had happened to you? What if no one got there in time?”

I shrugged, trying to play it cool even though my heart was still raw. “But nothing did, boss. Justin saved the day.”

His brows shot up, genuine confusion breaking through the anger. “Justin? You saw Justin today?”

“Yeah…what’s wrong with you two? Haven’t you guys talked to each other?”

David exhaled sharply, looking away for a second. “I’ve seen him, yeah. But he disappeared for days after your accident. I couldn’t reach him..no calls, no texts, nothing.”

He shook it off, refocusing on me with that intense stare. “I’ll find a way to talk to him later. But you, young lady…what were you thinking? Did you want someone else to touch something that’s mine alone to touch?”

I froze. His alone? Is he…is he saying what I think he’s saying?

Heat crawled up my neck, flooding my cheeks so fast I probably looked like a tomato. “What…what did you just say?”

He stepped closer, voice dropping. “Did I stutter?”

I shook my head, words completely gone as I tried to fix my composure.

David reached out, fingers brushing the collar of Justin’s leather jacket I was still wearing. He slipped it off my shoulders in one smooth motion, then shrugged out of his own suit jacket…tailored, dark gray, expensive as hell…and draped it over me instead. It was warm from his body, smelled like his cologne, and swallowed me whole.

He leaned in, close enough that his breath grazed my ear, voice soft and way too romantic for an office hallway.

“Take better care of my property, Holly,” he murmured. “Only I should make you tremble…and only for all the right reasons. Not because some jerk put his hands on you. Do you understand?”

I coughed…loud, awkward, choking on air…because my brain had officially short-circuited.

‘What the hell is happening right now? Did David Hunt just…claim me? Out loud? In the office? After weeks of acting like I’m just his annoying employee? Shock…check. Surprise…check. Excitement…racing heart, butterflies on steroids. Overjoyed…yes, God, yes. But I was confused as hell…why now? What changed? Do I let him see how much this is wrecking me in the best way? Doesn’t he still see me as Ava’s little sister? What fucking changed? Should I show him how excited I am?’

No. I wasn’t giving in that easily. If he wanted to play, I could play. I will definitely play the hard game. Have him beg and grovel.

I shrugged his jacket off dramatically, handed it back, and slipped Justin’s leather one on again…even though David’s had felt warmer, safer, like armor made just for me.

“I can take care of myself, sir,” I said, lifting my chin. “You should focus on the company. Maybe chase a few more investors rather than chasing a little girl.”

Then I turned on my heel and walked toward the bathroom, hips swaying just a little extra, pretending my heart wasn’t hammering like it wanted to escape my chest and run straight back to him.

What the hell?!

I took maybe five steps toward the ladies’ room before I felt him.

Not heard…felt. Like the air pressure changed, like the hallway narrowed to just the space between us. His presence pressed against my back, hot and unavoidable.

I didn’t turn around. I kept walking, slower now, heartbeat kicking up because I knew he was following. I could hear the soft, deliberate fall of his expensive shoes on the marble floor, measured, unhurried, like a predator who already knew his prey had nowhere to run.

When I reached the corner where the hallway bends toward the restrooms, his hand closed gently but firmly around my upper arm.

“Holly.”

One word. Low, rough, laced with something that made my stomach flip.

I stopped. Turned slowly.

David was closer than I expected…close enough that I had to tip my head back to meet his eyes.

Those dark, infuriatingly unreadable eyes that had starred in way too many of my late-night fantasies. His suit jacket hung over one arm now, the one I’d handed back. The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up, exposing strong forearms, and his tie was just slightly loosened…like he’d been tugging at it in frustration.

Frustration because of me? Very sexy.

“You think you can just walk away after shrugging off what I put on what’s mine?” he asked, voice velvet-dangerous.

My mouth went dry. “I’m not anyone’s—”

He stepped forward, crowding me until my back met the wall. Not roughly…never roughly…but deliberately. One hand braced beside my head, the other lifting to brush a stray strand of hair from my cheek with a tenderness that completely contradicted the fire in his eyes.

I turned away, my eyes coming to land at the cctv blinking at the corner of the hallway.

He pulled my face back, his fingers softly tilting my chin. “Don’t,” he said softly. “Don’t look at anything else, Holly. Keep your eyes on me,” he whispered so sexily that I felt my legs clench.

His thumb traced my cheekbone, slow, reverent, like he was memorizing the feel of my skin. My breath hitched in anticipation and excitement.

I could smell him…clean, expensive cologne, warm skin, something darker underneath that made my knees weak.

“David…” I meant it to come out firm and cold. But instead, it came out breathless…more like a moan.

His gaze dropped to my mouth and lingered. “You’re shaking, Holly.”

Am I? I hadn’t even noticed.