Chapter 262: A Girl Like Holly

David’s POV

I’ve never met a girl like Holly Rodriguez.

This is madness. This is wrong. This is fucking insane. And Jesus Christ, it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever felt in my life.

The way she shattered under my fingers at that table…drenched, swollen, pulsing around me like she was trying to pull my whole hand inside her. I could ride her all night and not get tired. She matches every dark, twisted level of freak I’ve got, and that scares the shit out of me more than any challenge I’ve ever stared down.

When I whispered about her crawling under the table and taking me right there in front of everyone, I saw it flash in her eyes. Hunger. She would’ve done it. No hesitation. Just dropped to her knees and swallowed me whole while the rest of them talked about wine pairings.

Knowing that sent another vicious spark straight to my cock.

But I can’t lose focus. Not now. The mission is everything. Seduce her. Own her. Use her to get inside Ava’s world, dismantle the Miller-Jameson stranglehold once and for all. And disappear. Holly’s the key. She’s the perfect pawn. And pawns don’t get to make me feel like this.

I was still riding the high of her surrender when Tyler slid back into his seat like nothing happened. He grabbed her chair, dragged it even closer to him, and cupped her cheek with that soft, boyfriend bullshit tenderness that made my blood boil.

My jaw locked as his thumb stroked her skin like he owned it. Like she’s his.

Jealousy hit me like a sucker punch to the throat…sharp, ugly, possessive. I want to rip his hand off. I want to drag her onto my lap right here and show him exactly who she’s dripping for.

Before I could decide whether to break his fingers or just break his face, the double doors exploded open.

Everyone jumped.

And there she was.

Ashley.

Dressed like a woman who came to burn the whole place down…skin-tight red dress that screamed “look at what you lost,” black stilettos sharp enough to stab, hair wild, eyes glittering with that special brand of crazy I used to think was passion back in those days. Now I just see the grenade with the pin already pulled.

She locked onto Holly first. Pointed one trembling, manicured finger like it’s a loaded weapon.

“You,” she hissed, voice shaking with rage. “You stole my man. We were finally working things out. We were getting back together. And you…you slithered in from nowhere and ruined everything!”

The table went dead silent as everyone stared.

My former secretary, Amber, blinked. “What the actual fuck?”

Tyler frowned, shielding Holly with his arm. “Who the hell are you?”

One of the employees was already on his feet, going towards the door and yelling, “Security. Now. Get this crazy bitch out of here!”

Ashley ignored them all. Her gaze swung to me, then back to Holly. “This whore—” she jabbed the finger again “is sleeping with her boss. Right under all of your noses. In the office. I saw it!”

Maybe she expected every one to look stunned or turn on Holly and I. But everyone watched her quietly. Like she was performing a show.

I rubbed my temple hard, feeling a migraine bloom behind my eyes. Of all the nights. Of all the fucking nights.

Tyler’s arm snaked around Holly’s waist, pulling her tight against his side. His voice came out calm, but there was steel underneath. “Young woman, I don’t know what you’re on about, but this woman you keep calling a whore? She’s my girlfriend. So whatever problem you have with your boyfriend, take it up with him. Leave my girl out of it.”

My girl.

He said it out loud boldly. Like he had the right to.

The words burned straight through my chest. I felt my hands curl into fists under the table. I wanted to flip this entire goddamn table. I wanted to drag Holly out of his grip and remind her who made her come so hard she almost blacked out ten minutes ago.

But Ashley kept spiraling harder. “Girlfriend? Please. She’s a homewrecking whore! She was flirting with him…my David…right in front of me when I came down to fix things!”

Amber sighed again like she’s exhausted. “Are we really doing this? Okay, everybody, this is Ashley. The crazy ex who shows up every few months to cause chaos. She’s the boss’s ex. Ancient history.”

Honestly, the fact that they all know about my messy past with Ashley is more embarrassing than anything.

I remembered how she’d worked with Chloe before…how close she came to ruining everything when I was trying to take down the Millers. I just hope she doesn’t interfere this time. I really don’t want to get my hands dirty dealing with her.

I stood up slowly. Voice low and cold. “Ashley. Leave. I’ve said it a hundred times. We have nothing. We ended years ago. Let it go. Let me fucking breathe.”

She shook her head, tears streaking black mascara down her cheeks. “No. You’re only saying that because she…” she glares at Holly “came into the picture and ruined us!”

Holly slammed her palm on the table at that moment, so hard the glasses rattled.

“Stop,” she snapped, voice cutting clean through the noise. “Just stop embarrassing yourself. Whatever you think you saw in the office that day? Amber told me to do whatever it took to get you out. So I acted. I played along. I don’t even have to explain myself to you, but I’m clearing the air. Have some self-respect and walk away.”

Ashley looked like she was seconds away from pulling the trigger at Holly. Her chest heaved. Mascara rivers carve black tracks down her face. For a second she looked small. Broken.

Then her expression hardened into something deadly calm.

“This isn’t over,” she said quietly. Too quietly. “It’s either David chooses me…or I kill any woman he chooses.”

She spinned on her heel and stormed out. The doors slammed behind her like a gunshot followed by a sudden silence crashing over the table.

Nobody moved.

I stared at the empty doorway, pulse thundering in my ears.

Ashley was gone, but the air stayed thick, poisoned. Everyone at the table was still frozen…Amber muttering curses under her breath, Norman pretending to check his phone like nothing happened, Tyler’s arm still wrapped around Holly like she was fragile china he needed to protect.

And Holly?

She hadn’t moved. Hadn’t looked at me since Ashley stormed out or even stormed in. Her hands were flat on the table, fingers spread, knuckles white. Her chest rose and fell too fast. That pretty flush I’d put on her cheeks earlier was still there, but now it was mixed with something else…anger, embarrassment, maybe fear.

I hated it.

I hated that Ashley had the power to put that look on her face. That she wiped the perfect disheveled look I worked for.

I hated even more that Tyler was the one whose shoulder she was leaning toward right now.

My blood was still roaring from the jealousy that hit when he called her “my girl” out loud, like it was fact. Like it was permanent.

It wasn’t.

She was mine tonight…mine under the table, mine dripping down my fingers, mine shaking and begging in whispers only I could hear. And I wasn’t done claiming her.

Ashley’s unhinged. Always has been. But that threat? That wasn’t just empty words. That was a promise I’m sure she would fulfill.

I don’t love Holly. I can’t. She’s a means to an end. A tool. A beautiful, addictive, dangerous tool.

But the thought of Ashley’s crazy ass coming after her…hurting her, touching her…made something dark and violent twist in my gut.

I can’t risk it. Not tonight.

I looked at Tyler. Looked at Holly tucked against him.

For tonight…just tonight… I’ll let her go with him. Let him play protector.

Because if Ashley’s watching, if she’s planning, the safest place for Holly right now is away from me. Until I’m sure Ashely will not be a problem anymore.

But afterwards?

I’m kicking off in full speed for this mission. I'll ruin Holly to the point where she would breathe and live for me.

To the point where she would betray her sister just because I said so.