Chapter 212.
He sets the glass down, clearing his throat, but he doesn’t look at me again immediately and that alone tells me everything I need to know.
I walk further into the room slowly, pretending like I didn’t just witness that.
"Morning," I say, keeping my tone casual like this is just another day.
He doesn’t respond right away until I pull out a chair and sit down, feeling his gaze flicker toward me again...briefly then away.
"Morning," he says finally, voice a little rougher than usual.
I glance at him and I catch it—
The tension and the way his jaw is slightly clenched and The way his shoulders are just a bit tighter than they were a minute ago.
And the way....He’s very deliberately not looking directly at me.
I almost laugh.Almost.
Margaret walks in then, greeting me warmly as she places food in front of me, completely unaware of the shift in the room.
I thank her, picking up my fork but I don’t eat immediately.
Instead, I lean back slightly in my chair and watch him a little
Because one thing is very clear now...,Zane might be ignoring me.
But his body? Is not cooperating with that plan at all.
I’m still trying to act normal....picking at my food, pretending I don’t feel his attention brushing against me every few seconds...when I feel another presence so I glance up to
See it’s Thomas.
He’s standing just by the doorway, like he walked in halfway and suddenly forgot why he came and he is very deliberately looking anywhere but at me.
The wall, the floor, Zane...the damn ceiling if he could manage it.
My lips twitch slightly despite myself.
"Good morning, Thomas," I say, like nothing is out of place.
He clears his throat immediately, stiffening.
"Good morning, ma’am." Polite, short, and still not looking at me nor even once.
If anything, his discomfort makes it worse. Makes me suddenly hyper-aware of myself. Of the dress, of the way it sits on me, of the fact that....Yeah, this might have been a little much.
Zane notices....i don’t even have to look at him to feel the shift in the air.
"Thomas," Zane says, voice low but cutting through the room like a blade.
Thomas straightens immediately. "Yes, sir."
"That file you mentioned yesterday," Zane continues casually, like nothing is wrong. "Bring it to my office. Now."
There’s a beat them Thomas nods quickly. "Yes, sir."
And he’s gone.The moment the door closes behind his.....the silence changes,
It’s heavier now.
I barely have time to process it before I hear the soft scrape of Zane’s chair against the floor.
My fingers tighten slightly around my fork as he takes Slow footsteps towards my direction
I don’t look up immediately, I can feel him before I see him.
Then....His hand wraps around my throat in a firm possessive hold. Not enough to hurt....but enough to make my breath hitch as My head tilts back slightly on instinct, my eyes snapping up to meet his.
And God....The look in his eyes, It’s dark controlled anger sitting right beneath the surface.
"Keep your body," he says quietly, his voice low and dangerous, "for my eyes alone."
My heart stutters hard against my chest as his grip tightens just slightly....not choking, just reminding
"If I ever see you pull something like this again," he continues, leaning in just enough that I can feel his breath against my skin, "with any of my men around..."
His thumb presses faintly against my jaw, forcing me to hold his gaze.
"I will pluck their eyes out in front of you."
The words are calm so calm my breath comes out uneven.
I nod quickly.
"I understand," I whisper.
For a second....He doesn’t move and doesn’t let go as his eyes stay locked on mine like he’s trying to read something deeper, something I’m not even sure I understand myself.
Then....He releases me just like that’ and steps back and the absence of his hand on my throat Hits me harder than I expect.
I blink, trying to steady myself but all I can focus on is.....The warmth that’s still lingering on my skin, the faint pressure and the way his cologne is still wrapped around me, sharp and clean and him.
And then it hits me....My stomach flips as heat rushes through me so fast it almost makes me dizzy.
What the hell...i swallow, staring down at the table. What the actual hell is wrong with me?
He just threatened me and I....i liked it?
My fingers curl slightly against the table.
I liked it....his grip on my throat.
The closeness and the way he said it like I belong to him....My breath catches.
When did I become this.....This...
I shake my head slightly, trying to clear it, but it doesn’t help.Because my body is still reacting Still.....God. I am actually turned on.
"What is wrong with me?" I mutter under my breath, barely audible.
Zane straightens his sleeves like nothing just happened, completely composed again like he didn’t just completely throw me off balance.
"I’ll be assigning you another guard," he says, his tone back to that controlled, distant calm.
I look up at him slowly.
"What?"
"A more trusted one," he adds. "Since Aaron... failed."
The name snaps something back into place.
Everything that’s happened. The kidnapping, the betrayal. My chest tightens slightly.
"Aaron..." I start, hesitating. "Where is he?"
Zane’s expression doesn’t change Not even a flicker.
"He’s in the cellar."
My stomach twists.
"Is he..." I swallow. "Is he still alive?"
Zane’s gaze flicks to me briefly, something unreadable passing through his eyes.
"For now."
My breath catches slightly and I don’t know what to say to that, don’t even know what I feel about that before I can form anything.....
He turns clearly already done with the conversation.
"I have work to do," he says, walking toward the door like this is just another morning. "Eat your food."
And then he’s gone.Leaving me sitting there....Heart still racing, and stil very turned on.
And one very clear, very unsettling realization settling in my chest. I might have more problems than I thought.