Chapter 1 - The Choice
Adriano stopped three feet from her.
Up close, he seemed larger.
Not because of his height.
Because he was completely still.
The entire ballroom held its breath, waiting to see what the devil would do.
Martin Hale let out a nervous, high-pitched laugh.
He stood up, hastily buttoning his tuxedo jacket.
"Mr. Moretti, please excuse my assistant."
"She had a bit too much champagne."
"We were just playing a harmless little game."
Adriano did not look at Martin.
His dark eyes remained locked entirely on Clara.
"Is that true?" Adriano asked.
His voice was a low, steady rumble that vibrated over the ambient noise of the room.
"Were you playing a game, Miss Bennett?"
Clara felt the terrifying weight of his attention.
She could smell his cologne, a sharp mix of cedar and cold rain.
Martin reached over to grab Clara's elbow.
"Of course she was."
"Tell him, Clara."
Adriano's hand moved with frightening speed.
He caught Martin's wrist mid-air.
He didn't twist it or strike him.
He simply held it, his grip locking like a steel vise.
Martin gasped, his face draining of color.
"I asked her," Adriano said softly.
He released Martin's arm, letting the executive stumble backward into his chair.
Then Adriano offered his hand to Clara.
His palm was broad, his fingers slightly calloused.
"You pointed at me."
"Are you going to make me walk over here for nothing?"
Clara looked at his hand.
She looked at Martin, who was rubbing his wrist and glaring at her with a promise of absolute ruin.
If she took that hand, her career at Hale Mercer Capital was over.
If she stayed, she would be Martin's invisible punching bag for the rest of her life.
Clara took a deep breath.
She placed her hand in Adriano's.
A jolt of electricity shot up her arm the moment his fingers closed firmly around hers.
"No," she whispered.
"I choose you."
Martin slammed his fist on the table, rattling the crystal glasses.
"If you walk out those doors with him, Clara, don't bother coming to work on Monday!"
"You're finished in this city!"
Adriano didn't even flinch.
He gently pulled Clara toward him and guided her toward the exit.
"Don't worry about Monday, Miss Bennett."
"By Monday morning, your boss is going to be in federal custody."
Clara stopped dead in her tracks, her heart slamming against her ribs.
May you like
Adriano leaned down so only she could hear his next words.
"Unless, of course, you want to go to prison for what he forced you to sign."
