22 – Power Plays

22 – Power Plays

Adrien’s POV

Liam thought he was clever.

Sitting there in his expensive suit, smirking like he had the upper hand.

But I didn’t play games unless I knew I could win.

The second we stepped out of his club, I pulled out my phone. “Lucien.”

“Yeah?”

“Find out who Liam’s investors are. His real ones. The ones he doesn’t want anyone to know about.”

Lucien chuckled. “Already ahead of you. I’ll have something by morning.”

I ended the call and slid into the backseat of the car, Ellie climbing in beside me. She was quiet, tense.

She had no idea what kind of war she was caught between.

Good.

I tapped the divider, and the driver pulled away from the curb.

Ellie shifted beside me. “What was that back there?”

I tilted my head. “Clarify, little lamb.”

Her eyes narrowed. “The tension. The way Liam looked at me. The way you looked at him looking at me.”

I smirked. “Are you asking if I’m jealous?”

She scoffed. “I don’t think you know how to be jealous.”

Smart girl.

Jealousy was for men who lacked power. I didn’t get jealous. I took what was mine.

And if Liam wanted to play, I was more than happy to teach him the cost of challenging me.

Ellie turned her body toward me, her brows furrowed. “Is this about the property, or is there more I should know?”

I reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She stiffened but didn’t pull away.

“Some things,” I murmured, “are better left unsaid.”

Her breath hitched. Just slightly.

She didn’t realize how much she already belonged to me.

By the time we got back to the penthouse, Lucien was waiting.

He leaned against the bar, sipping whiskey like he owned the place. “You’re going to love this.”

I shrugged off my jacket. “Tell me.”

Lucien tossed a folder onto the counter. “Liam’s been making some... questionable deals. Underground investors. Dangerous ones.”

I flipped through the documents, a slow smile curling my lips. “How dangerous?”

Lucien’s grin widened. “Let’s just say if the wrong people found out, Liam wouldn’t be able to breathe without permission.”

Ellie shifted beside me, glancing between us. “What does this mean?”

I snapped the folder shut. “It means I have leverage.”

And leverage was everything.

Later that night, I found myself restless.

Power plays had always thrilled me. The rush of control, the high of outmaneuvering an opponent.

But tonight, something else was crawling under my skin.

I stood by the window, drink in hand, watching the city stretch beneath me.

And then I heard it.

A soft gasp. A moan.

Coming from one of the guest rooms.

I knew that sound.

I smirked, swirling the amber liquid in my glass before making my way down the hall.

I didn’t knock.

I opened the door, stepping inside just as the woman on the bed arched her back, a man’s mouth trailing down her stomach.

“Don’t stop on my account.”

The couple startled, the man lifting his head, his eyes widening. “M-Mr. Devereaux—”

I waved a hand dismissively. “Relax.”

The woman flushed, pulling the sheets up. “We didn’t—”

I leaned against the doorframe, sipping my drink. “You think I don’t know what happens in my own house?”

Her breath hitched.

I set the glass down, stepping closer, watching the way her pupils dilated.

“I could show you,” I murmured, my voice silk and steel, “how it’s really done.”

She swallowed hard, her gaze darting between me and the man beside her.

He looked terrified.

Good.

I reached out, trailing a slow finger down her arm. “But only if you beg for it.”

Her breath came faster, her chest rising and falling.

And then, she did.

She whispered a plea.

And I granted it.

By the time I left the room, satisfaction hummed through me.

But as I stepped back into the hallway, I saw her.

Ellie.

She stood frozen, eyes wide, lips parted.

She’d seen.

Every muscle in my body tensed.

Slowly, I smirked. “Enjoyed the show, little lamb?”

She didn’t answer.

But she didn’t look away, either.

And that?

That was even more interesting.

Ellie’s POV

I couldn’t move.

Adrien’s words curled in the air like smoke, suffocating, intoxicating.

Enjoyed the show, little lamb?

My fingers clenched at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. I should have walked away. Should have turned around the second I saw him step out of that room, that predatory smirk still clinging to his lips.

But I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

Because for the first time since meeting Adrien Devereaux, I felt something close to fear. Not because he was dangerous—I already knew that.

But because I wasn’t sure how much longer I could resist him.

His gaze dragged over me, slow, deliberate.

Then, he stepped closer.

I swallowed. “Do you always make a habit of—”

“Taking what I want?” He cut me off, his voice dripping with amusement. “Yes.”

My pulse spiked.

His scent clung to the air—whiskey, spice, something darker, more primal.

His head tilted, his eyes locked on mine. “You could have walked away, Ellie.”

I forced my shoulders back. “I was about to.”

His smirk deepened. “Were you?”

Something in his voice curled inside me, hot and wicked.

I hated that he did this to me. That he made me question myself.

He lifted a hand, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You want to know why you didn’t leave?”

I held my breath.

His fingers trailed lower, ghosting over my pulse. “Because you’re curious.”

I exhaled sharply. “Adrien—”

“Say my name again,” he murmured.

I glared. “You are—”

“Addictive?”

I scowled, shoving his hand away. “Insufferable.”

Adrien chuckled, a dark, rich sound that did terrible things to my body.

Then, just like that, he stepped back, hands in his pockets, his expression shifting into something unreadable.

“Go to bed, little lamb, our business is far from finished.”