Chapter 230 The Boss’s Office

Chapter 230 The Boss’s Office
>>Riona
I shoved the door open and slammed it shut behind me, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. My back hit the wood, fingers gripping the handle like it was the only thing keeping me upright.
My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. I had lost Ava somewhere in the crowd—I didn’t know when or how, but she was gone. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t much of a runner. Well, compared to me, she wasn’t much. I was always a star runner.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to steady myself.
Then, I heard it.
A low, sharp growl.
My eyes snapped open, and my breath hitched when I saw Demos.
!?!?!?
Oh! Right! I ran into his room! I didn’t think, I just went where my legs took me… Where I thought I’d be safe…
And I came here…?
He stood near his desk, shoulders tense, his back partially turned toward me. But his head was tilted just enough for me to see his expression.
He was glaring at me.
The air in the room shifted.
A slow, sinking feeling curled in my stomach.
“What—” My voice barely came out. I swallowed, trying again. “What’s wrong?”
Demos turned fully, his eyes dragging over me in a way that made my skin prickle. His gaze burned, intense and unreadable beneath the anger simmering there.
Then, his voice cut through the silence.
“Who,” he said, slow and sharp, “gave you those clothes?”


>>Ava

I turned another corner, only to realize—again—that I had no idea where I was going.
Damn it.
The casino was a maze. Every hallway looked the same, and the flashing lights and distant chatter did nothing to help my growing frustration.
I had lost Riona somewhere in the crowd, and now I was wandering aimlessly, completely out of place.
I sighed, rubbing my temple. I should have just stayed at the table. No, I should have left.
NO
I should have never come here in the first place! Annamae was right. Now that Milo was out of the hospital I should have stopped seeing him. He was alright now, I didn’t need to feel bad anymore.
I had suffered way more loss than him.
Yet when he begged me to come with him, saying he wanted to show his appreciation, I gave in.
I bit my lips hard. Then closed my eyes in defeat.
I should look for the exit, I opened my eyes slowly and then took a quiet deep breath, ready to turn back, when a shadow moved in front of me.
!!!
I tensed.
A man stood a few steps away, watching me.
Tall. Sharp features. A suit that fit a little too well. There was an easy confidence in the way he carried himself, but something about him felt dangerous—like he wasn’t the kind of man you wanted to owe a favor to.
He studied me for a second before his lips quirked up in a smirk.
“Are you lost?” He asked as he came over and I recognized him immediately. It was him. The man who saved me from Milo
His voice was deep, smooth, and way too calm.
I exhaled sharply. Unsure how to reply to him, “Maybe.” I said reluctantly.
His smirk widened. “Thought so.”
I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. “And you are?” I wonder if he followed me here.
“Riker.” He told me his name.
That didn’t tell me anything.
He must have seen my confusion because he let out a short chuckle. “You’re looking for someone, aren’t you?”
I hesitated.
I didn’t know who he was, but…he wasn’t wrong.
I sighed. “Yeah. My sister.”
His expression flickered, interest flashing across his face. “Riona?”
Now I was the one staring.
“How do you know Riona?”
He let out another quiet laugh. “Let’s just say we work together now.”
That didn’t sit right with me, “You work together?” I paused, “Does Riona work here now?”
“Yes,” he answered and I glanced around the place. Unsure what to make of that information, but it would make sense why he followed me. I was following his colleague.
He tilted his head toward the hallway behind him. “I can take you to her.”
!!!
I hesitated but quietly turned to look at him.
I didn’t know if I could trust him. But if he knew Riona, then maybe…
I exhaled. “Okay...”
His smirk returned as he gestured for me to follow.
And despite every warning in my head, I did.
As I walked beside Riker, I kept stealing glances at him, my curiosity getting the better of me.
It wasn’t just that he was attractive—though, damn, he really was. His sharp jawline, tousled hair, and those piercing eyes made it impossible not to notice. But there was something else, something about the way he carried himself. He moved with an easy confidence, like nothing could catch him off guard, like he was always in control.
I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to look away. I was being ridiculous. I always had a thing for good-looking men, and where had that ever gotten me?
Besides, he was just doing his job.
But still…
I thought back to how he had stepped in when Milo grabbed me, how he put himself between us without hesitation. He hadn’t just stopped Milo—he had destroyed him. Protected me, without asking for anything in return.
But then again… maybe he was just doing his job.
I glanced at him again.
He didn’t even seem annoyed that I had gotten myself into that mess. If anything, he was patient. A gentleman, in a way I hadn’t expected.
I shook my head
Get a hold of yourself Ava. He’s just being kind.
As we walked through the casino, he matched his pace with mine, never walking ahead or making me feel like I had to catch up. A small thing, but I noticed it.
I glanced at him again.
Maybe he was just another man doing his job.
But…I liked the way he helped me. And Goddamn, I had never felt so attracted to a man in our first meeting.



>>Riona

I sat on the couch, my back pressed against the plush cushions as I watched the scene unfold before me.
Demos stood near his desk, his arms crossed, radiating fury like a thunderstorm ready to crack the sky open. His glare was locked onto Nick, who, for once, didn’t have his usual cocky smirk. Instead, he looked like he was trying to decide whether it was worth arguing or if he should just shut up and let the storm pass.
“I asked you to get her ready for the job, not dress her up like a goddamn escort,” Demos snapped, his voice cutting through the air like a whip.
Nick raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, man, she looked great! The whole point was to distract the guy, and—”
Demos took a step forward, and Nick shut his mouth fast.
I blinked, my astonishment finally catching up with me. “Wait, hold on,” I said, looking between the two of them. “You’re the one who gave me this job.”
Demos’ glare barely flickered as he turned to look at me. “Yes,” he said, his voice flat, but then he gestured toward my outfit. “Not the dress.”
I looked down at myself—the silk clung to my body, the high slits revealing almost the entirety of my legs with every shift. It was practically a second skin, leaving very little to the imagination.
I tilted my head, watching Demos carefully.
Was he angry because the dress had done exactly what it was supposed to? Because it made men gouge their eyes out just looking at me?
A slow realization crept up my spine.
Was Demos… jealous?
The idea was so absurd that I almost laughed out loud. But then I caught the way his jaw tightened, the way his hands curled into fists at his sides, and suddenly it didn’t seem so ridiculous.
Oh my god.
Demos was jealous. Really??? But why? Why would he get like that for me-
I paused as I recalled his words and his love confession.
“...”
A grin tugged at my lips before I could stop it. It was kind of… cute.
Wait.
My entire body stiffened in horror as my own thoughts slammed into me like a freight train.
Cute?
I thought Demos was cute?
I grabbed my own face and shook my head as if I could physically rattle the thought out of my brain. No. No, absolutely not. Demos was not cute. He was a crime lord with an anger problem and a stare that could probably kill a man.
This was insane.
I snapped my head back up, straightening in my seat. I needed to get my head on straight—before I actually lost it.
Demos glared at Nick who was slowly backing away towards the door with his hands raised, “Move another inch and I’ll snap your neck.” Demos growled.

Nick froze, “This wouldn’t have happened if you decided to take me with you.”

Wait
What? I looked at Nick. Take him where?

“You little!” Demos felt infuriated, “You’re definitely not going!”

“Going where?” I ended up asking and before either of them could answer, the door opened again and Riker entered the room.

But that wasn’t what caught everyone by surprise, it was the woman he brought along

Ava

And seeing her made my heart drop to the pit of my stomach