"Take it off!" The icy command echoed through the lavish hotel suite. Winona Williams shuddered, a chill crawling down her spine at the unsettling demand.
"Or should I do it for you?" The man, lounging in a silk robe, had part of his sculpted chest exposed under the glinting lights that only emphasized his perfect, chiseled features. But his stare was razor-sharp and utterly detached. He swirled the wine in his glass lazily, casting Winona a look of pure contempt.
Winona had been dragged here under the pretense of discussing a business deal. She'd expected some kind of trick, but the scene was way more disturbing than she could've imagined.
Despite the man being drop-dead gorgeous, Winona held her ground. If it weren't for her mother's situation, she'd never have let Elia manipulate her into this mess.
"You women always play the saint. Your boss sends you to negotiate, and here you are, acting all high and mighty. Isn't cozying up to me part of your job description tonight? Don't waste my time."
Standing a few feet away, Winona clutched the file tighter. "I'm here on behalf of Horizon. To discuss a partnership."
The man let out a cold laugh. "There's nobody else here. Who do you think you're fooling?" He closed the distance between them, snatching her black-rimmed glasses off her face in one swift move.
Winona flinched, her eyes meeting his head-on. The sheer intensity in his gaze mixed with that striking face made her mind go blank for a second.
"Seen enough?" His sneer jolted her back to reality. She quickly averted her eyes, determined not to cave.
She was here to negotiate. Not to be someone's plaything.
"The Morales Group is a big name. I believed your company had standards. I didn't expect this kind of low blow from Mr. Morales's office. I came in good faith to discuss a partnership, yet you've completely ignored the proposal. Aren't you worried Mr. Morales might catch wind of this, damaging the company's reputation and costing you your job?"
Her gaze met his, bright and unyielding, full of defiance.
"You've got a sharp mouth on you," he chuckled, "but that doesn't faze me."
Truth was, Zayden Morales didn't need to handle these things personally. He'd intended to have Mohamed deal with other issues, but he'd seized this opportunity. The woman in front of him had mistaken him for his assistant, yet her intentions were as clear as day, no matter how much she played innocent. It disgusted him.
He wanted to see how long she could keep up the act.
He grabbed her chin. "Are you doing it yourself, or am I?" Her plain outfit was totally calculated, but up close, Zayden couldn't help noticing her captivating, flawless face.
Her lips, naturally tinted without a trace of lipstick, were just begging to be kissed. He couldn't fight the impulse.
The unexpected kiss blindsided Winona. Her eyes flew wide open, stunned by his audacity. She struggled against him, but his grip held her fast.
His unfamiliar scent threw her off. She bit down hard, refusing to give in, but then a sudden coldness hit her chest. Her shocked gasp gave him exactly the opening he wanted.
Furious and defiant, she sank her teeth into him. Zayden hissed, releasing her, his brow furrowing in pain.
Winona stumbled back, panting and clutching her collar, her face burning with a mix of rage and humiliation.
Zayden savored the sting, his lips tingling with intrigue. Beneath that frumpy disguise, there was a natural allure that made him crave more.
"Deputy Morales, the way your company handles negotiations is certainly... educational. Partners like you are beneath Horizon's standards," Winona spat, her voice fierce.
She scrubbed her mouth with the back of her hand and whirled around, stalking off with her head held high.
At the door, she paused and turned back to face him.
"Oh, and your kissing skills, Deputy? They seriously need work. With moves like that, you'll only pull desperate women with money. Tonight felt like being mauled by a dog."
With that final shot, Winona strode out, leaving behind the image of her proud, defiant silhouette.
It was the first time a woman had insulted him like that—comparing him to some kind of gigolo. Zayden, usually the picture of self-control, couldn't bite back a curse.
"Well, hell!" His lips still throbbed where she'd bitten him. Winona Williams—the name carved itself into his memory.
Winona rushed out of the hotel, unwilling to linger a second longer. Her blouse was torn, buttons dangling. Clutching her collar, she fled the Royal Hotel in a hurry.
What she didn't know was that her disheveled state and frantic exit had been caught on camera by someone lurking in the shadows.
She stumbled through the night, her heart heavy with anguish as she wiped her lips over and over, fighting back the tears.
They wanted to see her crumble, to witness her break. If she gave in, she'd fall straight into their trap. Showing any weakness wasn't an option.
Lifting her head, Winona forced back the tears.
Nine years ago, her once-happy family had shattered when her mother discovered her father's affair—an affair that had produced another child. Her parents divorced, and soon after, her mother suffered a brain injury from a fall, losing her sanity in an instant.
Within weeks, her father married the other woman, making her Winona's stepmother and introducing a new sister. Winona was forced into a life where she had to walk on eggshells.
If it weren't for her mother's close ties with Mr. Castro, which led to an arranged marriage, her stepmother would've thrown her out onto the streets ages ago.
As the eldest daughter of the Williams family, Winona had lived a life harsher than most young women could imagine. Tonight, Elia had forced her hand by threatening her mother's well-being to make her secure a deal with the Morales Group.
It was all Elia's trap. She'd promised to convince their father to send their mother abroad for treatment if Winona landed the deal. Now Winona saw the deception for what it was.
She slipped quietly into the house, only to find Elia lying in wait at the door.
"Well, well, sister dearest! I sent you to negotiate a deal, and you come back looking like this? Anyone would think you'd been up to something trashy. You're such an embarrassment to Dad."
Winona, full of bitterness, met her sister's taunts head-on.
She let out a harsh laugh. "You know damned well why I'm in this state, Elia! I've done nothing to you, yet you keep pushing. If you take this too far, don't expect me to just roll over."
Elia scoffed dismissively. "Look at yourself. Push back? How? You were born to be used. I threw you a bone by giving you a shot at working with the Morales Group, and you should be groveling with gratitude. This is exactly where you belong!"
The hallway echoed with the sharp crack of a slap as Winona struck her. She could endure a lot, but she refused to be broken.
Lights flickered on, and Dennis Williams stormed out of his room, his expression contorted with fury. "Winona Williams, have you lost your damn mind?"
