Chloe's POV

Minutes pass, and he’s still not here. I hated waiting. I hated uncertainty. The wine has lost its appeal, and so has the wait. I set the glass down, its base clicking against the marble table, and head to the bathroom. Time to clear my head.

As the warm water cascades over my skin, I close my eyes and let the steam wrap around me like a cocoon.

I stood there in the bath, the water cascading down my body, soothing my mind as I replayed my plan over and over again. Every detail was perfect—or so I hoped.

But my moment of solitude is shattered when a hand grips my neck from behind, firm and unyielding. A gasp escapes my lips as I’m pulled against a hard chest. “You’re late,” I managed to say between shallow breaths. “Had to make sure I was ready to give you exactly what you deserve,” he growled, his voice deep and rough, sending a shiver down my spine. My breath hitches. My bare back presses into his heated skin. I could feel his arousal pressing against me—hard and ready. A teasing smirk spread across my lips as I tilted my head to the side, giving him access to my neck. "I see you came ready," I whispered, my voice already thick with desire.

His low chuckle echoed through me, sending shivers down my spine. His other hand slides around to cup my breast, his fingers teasing and tugging until I’m arching into his touch.

“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” he murmurs against my neck before trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses down my shoulder.

The tension is unbearable, every nerve in my body begging for release. His hand drifts lower, tracing over my stomach before slipping between my thighs. My head falls back against his shoulder as a moan escapes me, his touch igniting a fire deep within.

“Turn around,” he commands, his voice rough and full of need.

I do as he says, the water running between us as our eyes lock. His dark gaze holds mine for a moment before he spins me back around, pressing me against the cool tile wall.

A gasp turns into a cry as he enters me from behind, his grip on my hips bruising as he sets a relentless pace. The sound of skin meeting skin fills the bathroom, mingling with the rhythm of our ragged breaths and the splash of water. The sensations were too overwhelming, too consuming. I couldn’t hold back the sounds of pleasure escaping my lips. “You like that?” he asked, his voice a low growl in my ear. I nodded breathlessly, barely able to form words. He knows exactly how to hit the right spots, each thrust sending waves of pleasure coursing through me. I grip the edge of the wall for support, my nails digging into the slick surface as he takes me higher and higher.

“You feel so good,” he groans, his lips brushing against my ear.

The pressure builds, unbearable and all-consuming. My legs tremble, and my vision blurs as I finally shatter around him, my cries echoing off the walls. He follows moments later, his grip tightening as he groans my name.

We stay like that for a moment, panting and trembling, before he pulls away. But we’re far from done.

He leads me to the bedroom, our bodies still slick with water. Before I can catch my breath, he pushes me onto the bed, his weight pressing me into the mattress.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he growls, his lips capturing mine in a bruising kiss.

We lose ourselves again, the second round even more intense than the first. His hands roam my body, claiming every inch of me as his. We move in sync, our bodies tangled in a feverish dance until we both come undone once more, collapsing into each other with breathless laughter.

As the haze of pleasure fades, we lie together, his arm draped possessively over my waist. The room is quiet except for the sound of our breathing, but my mind is already racing.

“We need to deal with Ava,” I say, breaking the silence. My voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it—a cold determination that couldn’t be ignored.

He chuckles darkly, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin. “I’ve been thinking about that. Maybe we’ve been going about this the wrong way.”

I raise a brow, turning to face him. “Oh?”

“There’s someone who hates Orion just as much as I do,” he says, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “Mason Brown.”

The name sends a jolt through me. “Mason Brown?”

He nods, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “He’s in love with Ava. Hates Orion with a passion. If we play our cards right, we can use him to drive a wedge between them. Make Ava leave Orion and the company for good.”

My lips curl into a dark smirk. “You know how to please me, don’t you?” I trace a finger over his chest, my voice laced with mock affection. “If only you were Orion Miller.”

His expression hardens, and he grabs my wrist. “Don’t compare me to him, Chloe. We had a deal. When you’re Mrs. Miller, you get rid of him, and I take his place.”

Coward. The word flashes through my mind, but I keep my face composed. He’s nothing more than a pawn, a tool to be used and discarded. When the time comes, I’ll eliminate him just as easily as I’ve eliminated others.

But for now, I played along. I smile, tugging at his hair playfully. “Maybe you should convince me,” I purr, my voice dripping with seduction. “Make me understand why I should choose you over him.”

It worked. Too bad it doesn’t work on Orion anymore.

He flips me onto my back, his lips crashing into mine with renewed fervor. Our movements are frantic, desperate, as if proving his worth through our connection. We lose ourselves once again, our pace feverish until we’re both left trembling and breathless.

He leaves soon after, and I begin to dress. My mission is clear. If Mason Brown is the key to dismantling Ava and Orion, then so be it.

I slip into a black silk dress that clings to my curves in all the right places, the hem teasingly short. My makeup is flawless, a bold red lip and smoky eyes that scream danger. I let my hair fall in loose waves around my shoulders, adding the finishing touch with a pair of killer heels.

It’s time to hunt.

I’ll find Mason. And when I do, I’ll make sure Ava Miller never crawls her way back to Orion.

With one last glance in the mirror, I leave the mansion, a predatory smile on my lips.

Ava won’t know what hit her.