Chapter 1
My BFF invited me to a spa, I said no, then changed my mind, and sent the message to my boss, Jonathan Frost, by mistake.
Eloise: [Wanna do it. Come out.]
Five minutes later, the guy rumored to have severe bipolar disorder and supposed to be locked up in a psych ward replied.
Jonathan: [Address.]
I was about to explain when he sent a photo.
It was a picture of the street right below my apartment, snapped from inside his car, angled straight up at my window.
Jonathan: [Open the window. I'm watching you.]
Jonathan: [If you want it, I'll make it happen.]
The harsh glow of my phone screen cut through the darkness.
That photo felt like a bucket of ice water poured over me.
In the picture, a faint sliver of light slipped through the gap in my bedroom curtains. That was the anchor for his gaze.
He was downstairs.
Jonathan, the infamous madman, was rumored to send his rivals straight to the ICU whenever he snapped.
Fear crawled up my spine, making my scalp tingle as my fingers trembled over my phone.
Eloise: [Mr. Frost, I sent that to the wrong person. Really, it was a mistake.]
The moment I hit send, a red exclamation mark popped up.
Did he block me?
No.
Then a heavy knock sounded at the door.
That wasn't knocking. It was a beast slamming against the cage.
I rushed barefoot to the door, holding it shut with all my strength, my voice breaking, on the verge of tears. "Mr. Frost? Is that you? I swear, I sent it to the wrong person. I was trying to send it to my friend."
The pounding outside stopped abruptly.
A suffocating silence fell.
Through the thin door, I heard the crisp snap of a lighter.
Then I heard a deep inhale, and the scent of smoke slipped in under the door.
"Open the door." His voice was husky, low, and carried a metallic chill.
"I... I really can't. It's too late, Mr. Frost. How about we talk at the office tomorrow?" My teeth were chattering with fear.
"Eloise Klein," he said my name like he was testing the weight of each syllable. "I'm counting to three. One."
"Don't do this."
"Two."
"Jonathan, you're breaking into my home!"
"Three."
Then the crash was so loud that it shook the whole apartment, and the lock sounded like it was about to snap under the force.
The sheer force of his kick sent me sprawling to the floor, and I stared in terror as the lock warped and cracked apart.
The door swung open.
Under the dim hallway lights, Jonathan stood there in a black windbreaker, so tall and imposing, like a mountain pressing down on me.
He wasn't holding a cigarette after all. That smoke smell was my imagination.
Instead, he was gripping a car key, his knuckles white from how hard he was clenching it.
Those eyes, bloodshot, pupils widened, not a hint of light in them, fixated on me, like he was watching a rabbit about to run.
He stepped inside, closing the shaky door behind him with a backward motion.
The click of the lock sounded in the room.
I backed away frantically, hands and feet scrambling, until my back slammed against the cold wall. "What... What are you doing? I'll call the cops."
Jonathan stalked closer, each step of his boots landing heavy, like stomping right on my chest.
He crouched down in front of me, his eyes level with mine.
His face was dangerously handsome, so sharp that it was almost intimidating, but right now, it was completely expressionless.
"Call the cops?" He tilted his head, as if he was genuinely pondering the word. "You really think the police can do anything about me wanting you?"
"I don't want you. That message was sent by accident," I screamed as loud as I could, hoping the sound would mask my terror.
Jonathan reached for me.
I squeezed my eyes shut and shrieked, bracing myself for a blow.
Instead, a burning-hot hand seized the back of my neck.
With overwhelming force, he pulled me straight into his arms.
He didn't kiss me or try to rip my clothes off.
He buried his face deep in the crook of my neck, his nose pressed right against my throat where my pulse beats.
Then he took a deep, greedy breath.
"My remedy," he murmured, and his muscles, tense and rigid, suddenly relaxed the moment he inhaled my scent. "You tempted me first."
His lips pressed against my skin, his hot breath spilling across my collarbone. "Since you started this, don't even think about stopping."