Gianna stood on the sidewalk outside the upscale restaurant. The night air was chilly, but she was sweating under her thin jacket.
Dani Haynes, her agent, grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the heavy glass doors.
"Smile, Gianna," Dani hissed. Her nails dug into Gianna's skin. "This is a major investor. You need this role."
Gianna pulled her arm away. Her stomach churned with unease, but she walked inside.
Dani led her to a private booth in the back. A man was already sitting there. He was heavy-set, with thinning hair and a suit that looked too tight around his neck.
"Gianna, this is Gus Kowalski," Dani said, her voice dripping with fake enthusiasm.
Gus looked Gianna up and down. His eyes lingered on her chest. Gianna felt a wave of nausea hit the back of her throat.
She sat down on the leather bench, keeping as much distance between them as possible.
The dinner started, and it was a nightmare. Gus kept leaning into her space. He placed his sweaty hand on her knee under the table.
Gianna shoved his hand away. She shot a desperate look at Dani.
Dani just narrowed her eyes and gave a tiny, threatening shake of her head. The message was clear. Play along, or your career is dead.
Gianna pushed her chair back.
"I need to use the restroom," Gianna said. Her voice was tight.
She stood up and walked quickly out of the booth. She needed air. She needed to leave.
Dani caught up with her in the narrow hallway near the kitchens. Dani grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.
"Do not ruin this for me," Dani snarled. "You go back out there and you be nice to him."
Gianna clenched her jaw. She walked back to the booth and sat down.
She looked at her water glass. It was moved slightly to the left. The condensation on the outside was smeared.
Her heart kicked against her ribs. She picked up the glass and brought it to her lips, pretending to take a long drink, but she only let a tiny drop touch her tongue.
"Drink up," Gus said. He was smiling, showing small, yellow teeth.
Gianna set the glass down. The tiny drop she swallowed tasted bitter.
Within minutes, the room started to tilt. A heavy, unnatural heat bloomed in her stomach and rushed through her veins. Her vision blurred at the edges.
Gus slid closer to her. His arm wrapped around her waist.
"You look tired," Gus whispered, his breath hot against her neck. "Let me take you to a hotel room upstairs. You can rest."
Gianna tried to push him away, but her arms felt like they were filled with lead. Her muscles refused to obey her brain.
Gus stood up and hauled her to her feet. He pressed her body against his.
Adrenaline cut through the drug haze for one split second. Gianna reached out, her fingers closing around the neck of a heavy wine bottle on the table.
She swung it with all the strength she had left.
The thick glass connected with the side of Gus's head. He let out a loud, wet scream and dropped his hands.
Gianna did not look back. She stumbled out of the booth. Her legs wobbled like jelly. She hit the wall of the hallway and bounced off, pushing herself toward the back exit.
She burst through the heavy metal door into the alley. The cold air hit her face, but the heat inside her body was burning her alive.
She took two steps and crashed directly into a solid wall of muscle.
Gianna let out a small cry as she started to fall backward. Two large, strong hands gripped her upper arms, stopping her fall instantly.
She looked up. Her vision was swimming, but she saw sharp jawlines and dark, intense eyes.
It was Algot Vaughn IV.
The drug was fully in her system now. It was not just a sedative. It was an aphrodisiac.
Gianna's hands acted on their own. She grabbed the lapels of his expensive suit coat and clung to him. Her body pressed flush against his chest.
Algot frowned. He smelled the alcohol, but underneath it, a faint, acrid chemical scent clung to her-a smell he associated with the dirty tricks used in dark alleys and back rooms. His eyes turned instantly cold.
"What happened to you?" Algot asked. His voice was a low rumble that vibrated against her chest.
"Help me," Gianna gasped. She could not form any other words. The heat was unbearable.
A man in a dark suit stepped out of the shadows. It was Alex Stone, Algot's assistant.
"Sir, there is a commotion inside," Alex said quietly.
Algot did not hesitate. He bent down and scooped Gianna up into his arms. He carried her down the alley toward a sleek black car waiting at the curb.
He placed her in the back seat and climbed in beside her. The door shut, sealing them in the quiet, dark space.
Gianna was panting. She twisted on the leather seat, kicking her shoes off. She crawled toward Algot, driven by a blind, chemical need.
She threw her leg over his lap and straddled him.
Algot grabbed her wrists. His grip was like iron.
"Stop moving," Algot commanded.
Gianna whimpered. She leaned down and pressed her hot face into the crook of his neck.
The moment her skin touched his, Algot froze.
For the last week, a deep, agonizing pain had been building in his bones. It was the genetic curse of the Vaughn family. But right now, with her body pressed against his, the pain simply vanished.
It was replaced by a profound, shocking relief.
Gianna squirmed against him, crying out softly. The drug was torturing her.
Algot looked down at her flushed face. He felt the absence of his own pain. He made a decision.
He let go of one of her wrists. His hand slid down her waist, moving under the hem of her skirt.
Gianna gasped loudly as his long, cool fingers found exactly what she needed.
Algot kept his face completely blank, his jaw clenched tight, as he moved his fingers with precise, rhythmic pressure. He watched her fall apart in his arms.
Gianna cried out, her body arching violently before collapsing against his chest, completely drained.
She passed out instantly, her head resting heavily on his shoulder.
Algot sat perfectly still in the dark car. He looked down at the woman sleeping in his arms. The pain in his bones was completely gone.
