Chapter 2

Aurora yanked the hidden hook of her dress shut, snatched her clutch bag, and bolted out of the bedroom barefoot across the thick Persian rug, not even pausing to put on her heels. She hurried through the living room, her eyes darting to the security monitor by the foyer. Confirming the elevator lobby was empty, she pushed open the heavy metal front door with trembling hands.

The cold air of the hallway hit her face. She had just slipped her feet into her high heels when a sharp ding echoed from the end of the empty corridor.

The metal elevator doors slid open. A young man in a tailored suit with a loose tie leaned against the cabin wall, flipping a sterling silver lighter in his hand.

Aurora gasped and spun around to retreat into the suite, but a pair of eyes—three parts drunk and seven parts vicious—had already locked onto her back. The silver lighter snapped shut with a crisp click. Kaden Bentley straightened up and stepped out of the elevator, his leather shoes clicking against the marble floor.

Aurora pressed her back flat against the cold metal door of the suite, trapped. She could only watch as the man who had promised her forever on a Hamptons beach three years ago closed the distance between them. Stopping less than two feet away, Kaden dragged his gaze over her messy hair and wrinkled hem, his lips curling into a sneer.

"Look who it is. The pure Ivy League campus queen, reduced to selling herself in Manhattan?"

Aurora clenched her jaw and forced herself to meet his hateful eyes, keeping her voice flat.

"Step aside, Mr. Bentley."

Instead of moving, Kaden stepped closer, trapping her between his body and the door. The heavy stench of alcohol mixed with his cologne made her stomach turn. He lowered his voice, dripping with upper-class arrogance.

"What, climbing into Blake's bed in the Hamptons three years ago wasn't enough? Now you're after my uncle's trust fund?"

Aurora's hands balled into fists at her sides, her fingernails digging into her palms. The humiliation of being framed for cheating three years ago washed over her, making her stomach cramp. Taking a deep breath, she glared back without giving an inch.

"I signed an NDA. My employer is Mr. Hopkins, and it has nothing to do with you. Now, get lost."

Kaden laughed as if he had just heard the biggest joke in the world. His hand shot out and grabbed Aurora's chin, squeezing hard enough to bruise the bone.

"Employer? Who the hell do you think you are? You're nothing but a cheap whore my uncle bought with cash!"

Aurora swung her hand to slap his arm away, but Kaden twisted her wrist and pinned it. In the struggle, her clutch fell to the floor, spilling her lipstick and keys across the marble. Just as Kaden raised his other hand, the heavy metal door behind Aurora was pulled open from the inside. Losing her balance, she stumbled backward.

A large, firm hand wearing a Patek Philippe watch caught the small of her back, pulling her against a broad chest that smelled faintly of bourbon.

Dante Hopkins stood inside the doorway in a dark, tailored suit. His cold eyes swept over Kaden's hand still frozen in midair, dropping the temperature in the hallway to freezing. The arrogance on Kaden's face vanished instantly. Looking like a rooster caught by the neck, he scrambled half a step back and stammered.

"U-Uncle... I was just..."

Ignoring him, Dante looked down at the pale woman in his arms. His hand tightened slightly on her waist, his voice calm yet terrifying.

"Did he touch you?"

Leaning against Dante's chest and feeling the rumble of his voice, Aurora lowered her eyelashes to hide the panic in her eyes and shook her head.

"No, Mr. Hopkins."

Only then did Dante look up at Kaden, viewing him like a piece of unrecyclable trash.

"I believe I told you to wait for me in the garage."

Kaden's face flushed dark red. His eyes darted to Dante's hand resting on Aurora's waist, a flash of twisted jealousy crossing his face before he ground his back teeth together.

"Sorry, Uncle. I thought your guest had already left."

"When my guest leaves is none of your business," Dante cut in coldly. "Now, get back to your car."

Kaden clenched his fists, his chest heaving. Crushed under Dante's absolute authority, he turned around and walked back into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, Kaden stared at Aurora through the narrowing gap, his eyes Promising crazy retaliation.

Silence returned to the hallway. Dante let go of Aurora's waist, bent down to pick up her clutch, and placed her scattered belongings back inside. Handing the bag to her, his dark eyes lingered for a second on the red mark on her chin before his voice turned businesslike again.

"My driver is downstairs. He will make sure you get back to your apartment safely."

Aurora took the clutch, whispered a thank you, and walked quickly toward the private elevator at the other end of the hall without daring to look into Dante's eyes. Stepping inside, she pressed the ground floor button and watched the metal doors close, cutting off Dante's piercing gaze. Leaning against the cabin wall, all the strength drained from her limbs. She slid down the cold metal onto the floor, buried her face in her hands, and shook violently as the elevator dropped.