Chapter four
Cassius's Office – Midnight
The city glittered below the floor-to-ceiling windows of Beaumont Tower, but inside Cassius's office, the air was icy.
Cassius sat behind his desk, rolling a crystal glass of whiskey between his fingers. He barely glanced up as she walked in.
"You look shaken." His voice was maddeningly calm.
Leila slammed her phone onto his desk. "Someone threatened me."
Cassius took a slow sip of his drink. "I'm aware of it."
Her nails dug into her palms. "And you're just sitting here drinking?"
He finally looked at her then, something sharp in his gaze. Something dangerous.
"What would you have me do, Leila? Panic?"
She exhaled sharply, trying to steady herself. "You knew this would happen."
He leaned back in his chair. "Of course."
Her stomach twisted. "And you didn't think to warn me?"
Cassius set his glass down and stood, moving toward her with deliberate ease. Predatory. Calculated.
"I needed to see how you'd react."
Leila stiffened. "Excuse me?"
His expression was unreadable, but there was something darkly amused in his eyes.
"There's no walking away now, Leila. The moment you signed that contract, you became a player in this game." His voice dropped lower. More dangerous. "So tell me—are you ready to play?"
She held his gaze, something hot curling in her chest—not just fear. Determination. Defiance.
The old Leila would have said no. Would have backed away.
But that Leila was gone.
She lifted her chin. "I never back down from a challenge."
Cassius's lips curved into a slow, knowing smirk.
"Good."
Leila paced the length of her penthouse suite, her fingers tightening around the silk robe she had thrown over her nightdress. The weight of Cassius Beaumont's presence still lingered in the air, thick and intoxicating. The man had a way of getting under her skin—calculated, cold, and yet devastatingly irresistible.
She had made a deal with the devil, but she wasn't sure if she could keep playing his game without losing herself.
A sharp knock at the door snapped her from her thoughts. Her heart stuttered. She knew who it was before she even reached for the handle.
Cassius.
She inhaled deeply before opening the door, willing herself to appear unaffected. But the moment she saw him, standing there in his signature dark suit, his presence commanding as ever, her resolve wavered. His sharp eyes scanned her lazily, yet something was unnerving about his stillness—like a predator watching its prey.
"You didn't return my call," he said smoothly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Leila forced herself to remain calm, despite the way her pulse kicked up. "I didn't know I was required to."
His lips curved slightly, but there was no humour in his gaze. "When you sign a contract with me, Leila, you don't get the luxury of ignoring me."
She exhaled slowly, folding her arms. "I agreed to your terms, Cassius. But that doesn't mean I belong to you."
He took a slow, deliberate step forward, closing the space between them. "No," he murmured, voice like silk and steel. "But you will."
Leila's stomach twisted, a war raging inside her. She had been around powerful men before, but Cassius was different. He didn't need to raise his voice or resort to threats—his presence alone was enough to shake a person. And the worst part? He knew it.
"You like control, don't you?" she said, tilting her head. "That's what this is about. It's not the contract you care about—it's making sure I remember who holds the power."
Cassius's jaw tightened for the briefest moment, but he quickly masked it with a smirk. "Smart girl."
Something about the way he said it—mocking, teasing—made her blood heat. She wasn't sure if it was anger or something far more dangerous.
She stepped closer, closing the distance between them even more. "I may have signed your contract, but let's get one thing straight, Cassius—I don't fear you."
His dark eyes flickered with something unreadable. Amusement? Challenge? It was impossible to tell. Then, in one swift move, he reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing her skin.
A simple touch, but it sent a jolt through her.
"Fear?" he murmured, his voice almost a whisper. "No, Leila. You don't fear me. Not yet."
Her breath hitched.
He lingered there for a second longer, his fingers trailing lightly along her jaw before he pulled away, his expression unreadable once again.
"I'll expect your cooperation moving forward," he said, his voice returning to its usual cold, controlled tone. "Don't test my patience again."
With that, he turned and walked toward the door, his presence still suffocating even as he left.
Leila stood frozen, her heartbeat thrumming wildly.
A dangerous game. A contract was signed with a man who played by his own rules. And a woman who refused to surrender, no matter how much her heart betrayed her.
She had no idea if she could win against Cassius Beaumont.
But she damn sure wasn't going to let him break her.
Leila stood in the middle of her suite, staring at the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The neon lights painted the night sky in blues and purples, but her mind was too clouded to admire the view.
Her fingers brushed against her jaw, the exact spot where Cassius had touched her. The warmth of his skin still lingered there like a brand. It was infuriating.
She hated how he could shake her resolve with a single touch.
This wasn't part of the plan.
She had signed the contract to secure her future, to outmanoeuvre the people who had underestimated her. But now? Now, she felt like she was slipping into his game, one where she had no control.
Her breath came out unsteady as she grabbed her phone. She hesitated only for a moment before dialling a number she hadn't called in years.
It rang twice before a deep, familiar voice answered.
"Well, well," the man on the other end drawled. "If it isn't the last person I expected to hear from."
Leila closed her eyes briefly. The sound of his voice stirred something old inside her—memories she had buried, choices she had left behind. But there was no room for emotions right now.
"I need a favour."
A low chuckle hummed through the receiver. "This should be interesting. What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into, Leila?"