Chapter 27

**Hannah**

By 8:05, Leonardo still hadn't arrived. I checked my phone, but there were no messages. I sent him a quick text:

"Hey, Daddy, I'm at the penthouse. Everything okay?"

No response.

By 8:10, I was getting hungry and a little annoyed. I put on a simple T-shirt and jeans from my new collection and felt strangely comfortable in expensive clothes.

At 8:20, I gave up waiting and ordered food. The delivery guy arrived promptly, looking slightly intimidated by the building. I tipped him generously and carried my feast to the dining room.

As I ate alone at the massive table, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I'd been looking forward to seeing Leonardo again, to feeling that electric energy that seemed to surround him. But here I was, sitting in his penthouse, wearing his clothes, eating food I'd paid for with the money he'd already transferred to my account.

I checked my phone again. Still nothing.

"Great," I muttered, taking another bite of pasta. "My sugar daddy's ghosting me."

I scrolled through my phone again, checking to see if I missed his text somehow. Nothing. Not even a "running late" message. The least he could do was let me know if he wasn't going to show up on time. I mean, I rearranged my entire evening for this meeting. I could have been studying instead of sitting here alone in this ridiculous penthouse.

I stabbed at my pasta more aggressively than necessary, which was exactly why I shouldn't get too comfortable with this arrangement. Leonardo Salvatore might be incredibly hot and paying my bills, but he clearly operated on his own schedule. He probably didn't think twice about making someone wait.

My phone buzzed, and I nearly knocked over my water glass, lunging for it.

"Be there in 15 minutes. Wait for me."

That was it. No apology, no explanation. Just a command to wait for him like I was at his beck and call.

Well, technically, I was at his beck and call. That was literally the arrangement.

I rolled my eyes at my own thoughts. What had I expected? A heartfelt apology from a man who killed people and ran some kind of criminal empire? "Sorry, I'm late, baby. Had to murder some guys who crossed me, but I'll make it up to you with flowers"?

I snorted at the absurd image. Maybe this was normal for him – showing up whenever he wanted, keeping people waiting. Maybe in his world, being only an hour late was actually considerate.

I finished my pasta, cleared the dishes, and glanced at the clock. Ten minutes until he arrived. I looked down at my casual jeans and t-shirt and bit my lip. This wasn't exactly the look of a seductive sugar baby.

Part of me wanted to stay in these comfortable clothes just to make a point, but another part – a louder part – wanted to see that hungry look in his eyes when he saw me. I hurried to the bedroom and rifled through the new clothes he'd bought me.

I pulled out a dress that made me gasp. It was a deep burgundy color, made of silky material that felt like water between my fingers. The hem was so short I wondered if it would cover anything at all.

"Challenge accepted," I muttered, stripping off my clothes.

I dug through the underwear collection and found a black lace thong that barely covered anything. The matching bra pushed my breasts up and together, creating cleavage I didn't know I was capable of having. I slipped the dress over my head, and it clung to every curve like it had been painted on.

When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The dress was obscenely short, ending just below my ass. I looked like I belonged on the arm of a powerful man – exactly what Leonardo had paid for.

I applied a fresh coat of lipstick and ran my fingers through my hair to give it that tousled look. Just as I finished, I heard the elevator doors open.

My heart raced as I heard his footsteps. Should I wait in the bedroom? Go greet him? I decided to grab my textbook and pretend I'd been studying all along. I perched on the couch, crossing my legs in a way that hiked the dress up even further and opened my book to a random page.

Leonardo walked in, looking impeccable in a tailored suit. His eyes found me immediately, darkening as they took in my appearance.

"Eager for me, Hannah?" he asked, his voice low and amused. "Waiting all dressed up?"

I forced myself to look up from my book casually as if I hadn't been counting the minutes until his arrival.

"Actually, I've been studying," I said, gesturing to the textbook. "After I sorted through all the clothes. Thank you for those, by the way."

He smirked, clearly not buying my nonchalant act. "Studying in that dress?"

I shrugged, trying to ignore the way my body responded to his presence. "It's important to be comfortable while learning."

"And are you comfortable?"

"Very," I lied, acutely aware of how the dress rode up when I shifted. "Did your business run late?"

Leonardo loosened his tie, his eyes never leaving me. "You could say that. Some unexpected complications."

"You could have texted earlier," I said before I could stop myself.

He raised an eyebrow, looking amused rather than annoyed. "Could I have?"

The challenge in his voice made me sit up straighter. "Yes. Common courtesy and all that."

"Common courtesy," he repeated as if tasting the words. He moved closer, towering over me. "Is that what you want from me? Courtesy?"

My mouth went dry as he reached down and closed my textbook, his fingers brushing against mine. "I... I just meant—"

"Stand up," he said, his voice soft but commanding.

I obeyed instantly, the textbook falling forgotten to the couch. Standing this close to him, I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes.

"Turn around," he ordered. "Let me see what you choose to wear for me."

I turned slowly, feeling his eyes on me like a physical touch. When I completed the circle to face him again, his expression was hungry, predatory.

"Look at you," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Dressed up like my personal little toy."

"You're the one who sent these clothes."

"And you chose to wear the most revealing one." His eyes traveled down my body, lingering on my thighs where the dress barely covered anything. "That dress is meant for one thing only."

I swallowed hard. "Easy access?"

"Smart girl."