Chapter 3 I'm Not Working Here

Eleanor was yanked off the floor, dragged down the hallway, and shoved into a room.

She stumbled, her vision momentarily blurred by the glinting crystal chandelier above.

Instinctively, she reached for the door, but it slammed shut just as her fingers touched it.

Heart racing, she began pounding on it, desperate to escape, when Gemma's voice drifted from the other side. "Consider yourself lucky. Mr. Clark doesn't notice many women," she said. "But be wise—make yourself useful, or you'll regret every moment of this."

The footsteps faded, leaving Eleanor in stunned silence.

As her senses returned, the soft sound of running water from the bathroom caught her attention.

She blinked, absorbing the opulent surroundings— the sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a dazzling view of the city below, and a plush chaise lounge positioned perfectly for someone to relax and take it all in.

Despite the luxury, the room's cold elegance felt oddly impersonal, like a space designed for fleeting encounters rather than comfort.

The bathroom door opened suddenly, and Eleanor turned to see Andreas step out, steam curling around him like mist from another world.

His robe hung loosely, just enough to hint at the elegance beneath, an effortless grace that clung to him as naturally as the water droplets still glistening on his hair.

They traced down his chiseled features, lending an almost magnetic allure to his otherwise icy expression.

Beneath the robe, the contours of his chest were visible—a physique both powerful and refined.

His gaze was cold, piercing, a look that seemed to freeze the air between them.

In that instant, the room felt like a mere backdrop, Andreas himself the undeniable focal point, every movement deliberate, exuding a quiet, overwhelming command.

Eleanor found herself momentarily captivated.

She alone harbored a secret desire: a thrill for the chase of men who were distant, unreachable.

She'd perfected the art of drawing them close only to discard them when they were most vulnerable, savoring the raw heartbreak left in her wake.

But she had never expected Andreas—the one man she'd walked away from years ago—to return to her life in this way.

"Come over here." His voice cut through her thoughts, cold and commanding.

Eleanor glanced up to find Andreas seated on the edge of the bed, his piercing gaze locked onto her.

She swallowed hard, feeling an instinctive urge to back away.

His stare was cold, unyielding, and laced with an unsettling calm that sent a shiver down her spine.

Noticing her hesitation, Andreas raised an eyebrow, his tone edged with a touch of impatience. "Didn't Gemma explain the rules to you?"

Eleanor shook her head, catching the faint glint of mockery that flickered in his eyes.

"New here, then?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of disdain.

"No," Eleanor replied, her tone firmer than she felt. "I'm not working here—I'm a medical examiner."

Andreas repeated her words, amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth. "A medical examiner?"

He let the words linger, then added with a wry smile, "A part-time?"

Eleanor's gaze narrowed, anger flickering in her eyes as she took in the mockery in his tone.

"I didn't come here willingly—Gemma had me kidnapped!" Eleanor said, her voice steady but threaded with exasperation. "I'm not working here."

"Liar," Andreas muttered.

With an almost lazy stride, he closed the distance, his hand slipping around Eleanor's waist to press her firmly against the table.

Eleanor tried to pull back, but his hold was unyielding.

"Please, listen to me! I'm a medical examiner. I don't work here," she explained, her voice strained.

A flicker of amusement touched Andreas's mouth, his gaze sharp and unreadable. "Alright, let's play along with your little story," he murmured. "A medical examiner, then."

Eleanor's heart sank as she recognized the mockery in his tone.

No matter how she tried to explain, he had already cast his judgment. To him, she was just a woman working in this casino.

As Eleanor opened her mouth to protest further, Andreas moved in close, silencing her words with a sudden, unyielding kiss.

In a swift motion, he pulled her pants down and tore away her black panties.