Mario Wallace froze, completely caught off guard. Annika Price was even more shocked. Annika had always bent over backwards to accommodate everyone before. So why wasn’t Everest Kennedy’s gift enough to win her over this time?

To Mario’s utter surprise, Annika was a totally different woman right now. The second she found out the flowers were from Everest, not a flicker of joy crossed her face. Her refusal was clear-cut, straight to the point, no room left for anyone to misread her.

"Please give these flowers to someone else. I don’t want them here."

Mario was almost too shocked to speak. He’d never expected Annika to react this coldly. Just sending flowers probably wasn’t enough to win her over, he figured. Panicked to smooth things over, he rushed to add, "Annika, there’s an expensive gold necklace in the bouquet—worth over twenty grand. Mr. Kennedy sent it specifically for you."

Even that didn’t shake her. To his disbelief, she stood firm. "Send the necklace back to him. He can sell it. I’d rather put that twenty grand toward the five-hundred-thousand-dollar debt I owe him."

"What? Sell it for twenty grand to pay off a debt? What five-hundred-thousand-dollar debt? I’m sorry, I don’t get it," Mario stammered, completely thrown off by this random debt he’d never heard a word about.

"Annika, this is just Mr. Kennedy showing he cares. Selling it is kind of… too much…" Mario’s words cut off mid-sentence when he heard the cold, sharp beep of the call ending.

Annika’s mind was made up, solid as concrete.

"Finally got sick of tiptoeing around, huh?"

A deep, familiar voice rumbled from the doorway. Mario nearly dropped his phone in shock when Everest Kennedy stepped into view. He stood tall, backlit, his long shadow stretching all the way across the room.

An intimidating aura clung to him, his whole demeanor ice-cold. Mario already regretted making that call so recklessly.

Everest had overheard every word of his conversation with Annika, and he was clearly pissed—Mario couldn’t miss that. He fumbled for an explanation immediately. "Mr. Kennedy, I think she realized the gift wasn’t from you personally, that’s why she turned it down."

Everest’s jaw was set hard as he walked into the room, grabbed his phone off the coffee table, and walked out without another word. As he neared the elevators, he couldn’t help but overhear Hannah gossiping on her call.

"What? You landed a PR spot for that project meeting? If it goes well, there’s a fifty-thousand-dollar bonus? That’s way easier money than dancing at that rooftop club, for sure. You have to take it!"

Everest’s eyes darkened just a shade. He knew these PR gigs weren’t ever the easy walk in the park people pretended they were. Showing up to fancy parties was just the start—things got way messier, way higher-stakes than that. No smart businessman would drop fifty grand just for some girl to sit in on a project discussion, not when the whole thing smelled this fishy.

Everest didn’t stick his nose in any further and stepped onto the elevator. His mind drifted back to Annika—so dead-set on clawing her way out of her money problems, maybe even out of this whole dead-end life of hers, by any means necessary.

But Annika had already taken the job. She’d expected stuffy conference rooms and formal project proposals, not… this. The second she stepped into the private suite with Hugo Jameson, she already regretted saying yes.

Inside, a handful of men lounged around without a care, the same sick, sleazy debauchery she’d seen before playing out right in front of her. Some were canoodling with their dates, feeding each other grapes mouth-to-mouth. Others were doing even more vulgar things.

They were predators, nothing more, nothing less.

They pretended not to know who she was, and loud, leering whistles rang out.

"Whoa, fresh meat! C’mere closer so we can get a good look," one of them teased.

"Hugo’s new PR girl really is something, huh? Even dressed that frumpy, she’s easy on the eyes," another chimed in.

"C’mon, lose the jacket! Don’t be a party pooper!" they jeered.

One guy snuck a photo of Annika and dropped it into their group chat—their little digital hangout for gossip and dirty schemes—making sure to tag Everest and Selena.

[Mr. Kennedy, you’re not gonna believe this. The prey walked right into our trap. Annika showed up with Hugo tonight. Time to have some fun!]

[Showtime, baby. Once we’ve had our fill, our hero can come swooping in to save the day. Classic move.]

[Our guy’s got all the charm in the world. He’ll pretend he fell head over heels the second he saw her, get her hooked good, then dump her like last week’s trash. Never fails, right?]

[Mr. Kennedy, Selena—y’all aren’t gonna join us to get payback for our girl Selena?]

Selena typed back instantly: [I’m in! Wait up, guys!]

Annika’s dignity was just waiting to be trampled into the dirt, bruised and broken for their sick, malicious entertainment. Fearing Everest might step in and ruin their plan, Selena added a sneaky little line, tagging him again:

[Brother, I know you’re swamped with work. If it’s okay with you, I’ll just let my team handle this. Promise we won’t cross any lines.]

Selena hurried in, practically bouncing with excitement. She couldn’t wait to watch Everest’s crew take Annika down. What she didn’t expect, when she stepped through the door, was Everest himself walking in right behind her, cold fury rolling off him in waves.

"Big brother, what are you doing here? You’re late—I was gonna get to have some fun first," Selena chirped, plastering on her sweetest innocent smile while seething internally. What made Annika so damn special? Everest would ditch a billion-dollar deal just to rush over here the second her name was involved?

Selena clung to one hope: by the time Everest pushed through that door, Annika would already be ruined. The truth was, Annika wasn’t hurt… yet. But Zeke and his goons had her cornered, blocking every exit. Two more brutes stood guard outside, just to make sure she couldn’t slip out.

Mario, clueless about the messy history tangled up between all of them, tried to talk Annika down soft. "Look, Annika, just play along for now. You help me out here, I swear I’ll return the favor first chance I get."

A cold dread settled in Annika’s bones. Something really bad was coming. This wasn’t just some messy party she’d walk away from without a scratch. Sure enough, the rich brats started their garbage before long.

"Hey Mario, isn’t your PR girl just standing there doing nothing? Shouldn’t she be pouring us coffee? She’s just glued to the spot like a damn statue. C’mon—make her chug three cups first."

Annika’s jaw tightened. "I don’t drink coffee."

"Why the hell not? If you can’t even handle that, what good are you as a party hostess?" they jeered.

"Fine, but you better have a damn good excuse," one challenged. "If it’s convincing enough, maybe we’ll let you slide."

Annika stepped back, her mind spinning. Could she say she was pregnant? But if that rumor got out, Everest would drag her straight to a clinic to get an abortion before the day ended. Why he hated the idea of her having a kid so much was still a mystery, but every instinct screamed that admitting it was way too risky.

While Annika was stuck turning that over in her head, Mario jumped in smooth. "C’mon guys, Annika’s not feeling great tonight, let’s go easy on her. I’ll drink the coffee for her."

The heirs wouldn’t budge. "Mario, don’t let that innocent act fool you. You got paid to make sure she entertains us, so why the hell is she skipping out on her job?"

"Yeah, if we let this slide, every girl here will start doing it. Next thing we know we’ll be out of drinks and out of fun."

Annika knew there was no way out this time. Not with those bodyguards blocking the door. She set her jaw, picked up the coffee cup, and kept her tone as polite as she could manage. "Gentlemen, it’s true I misunderstood what this job needed when I took it. I’m sorry, so I’ll drink to make up for it. I’m not feeling well tonight, so I’ll only have one. And don’t worry—Mario doesn’t have to pay me for this gig. This is just me asking for your understanding."

With that, she lifted the cup to her lips.

"Hold up," one of the heirs cut in. "Drinking’s not that simple. Do it right."

He waved over the woman next to him to show how it was done. She poured wine into her own mouth, then sank down onto his lap, and let the wine trickle from her lips straight into his, ending with a sloppy, heated kiss.

Annika’s breath caught. This wasn’t just drinking. This was straight out of some sick, hedonistic nightmare.

The rest of them whooped and clapped. "C’mon, give it a go! Pick any guy you want, just do it. We’ll go easy on you, promise."

Annika squeezed her cup so tight her knuckles blanched. If she wanted to leave this room with even a scrap of her dignity left, she had to play their game.

"Excuse me," she said, keeping her voice as steady as she could. "Which one of you is heading the project I’m working on?"

"Smart girl," one heir snorted, nodding at Zeke. "Old Six here runs the whole thing."

Annika had guessed that right. Zeke was the only one without a girl hanging off his arm, and that cold, polished air he carried made him feel untouchable.

She walked over to him, already knowing he held the biggest grudge against her. She didn’t know why he’d gotten tangled up in this, but she knew what was on the line. She handed him the project proposal, dipping her head slightly. "Mr. Zeke, would you mind looking this over first? If anything’s wrong, I’ll follow your rules to the letter. I’ll drink whatever you want, and if you sign off on this, we can call it done."

Zeke took the proposal, his expression going serious for a minute as he scanned it. Then he gestured to Mario. "Proposal’s solid. I’ll sign. You know this, Mario—we got this deal because of Everest’s pull. Billion-dollar revenue? This kind of collaboration doesn’t come around every day."

As Zeke explained it, it clicked for Mario: Everest’s influence was the hidden force holding the whole coalition together, even if it looked independent on paper. They never lost, and Mario had come here specifically to network through this high-stakes project.

Before Mario could say a word, Annika lifted her cup. She had to drink to get out of this room. There was no other way.

So she’d drink. She could handle whatever came after. Right now, she just had to hold up her end of the deal. But just as she was about to tip the cup back, Zeke nodded at one of the other heirs.

"Hold up. You gonna drink with that coat still on? That doesn’t count. Take it off first."

The heirs started jeering, egging her on. "Take it off! C’mon, hurry up!"

Without a second of hesitation, Annika shrugged off her beige trench coat. The whole room went dead quiet. She wasn’t wearing anything provocative—just a plain white tee and jeans. It was totally modest, a stark contrast to every other woman in the room.

Her simple, unflashy look hooked the men’s attention, and it accidentally highlighted how sleazy their usual company really was. For a second, most of their interest fizzled out.

"You’re just playing games with us, acting all holy. This is just some performance, right?" they scoffed.

Annika realized they were digging up an old grudge over Selena’s leg injury, even if she couldn’t remember exactly what they were mad about. Suddenly, the room cleared out fast—everyone could feel Everest was about to walk through the door.

The air shifted hard the second Everest strode in, Selena trailing right behind him. Annika turned to face him, and held his icy stare without flinching.

Their eyes locked, and tension crackled so thick you could feel it in the air. Annika’s lips tugged up into a mocking little smile.

Was he gonna play the big, mighty alpha now?

Suddenly, she wasn’t scared anymore. Screw trying to please him. On impulse, she sank down onto Zeke’s lap. "Mr. Zeke, I’ve made my choice. Let’s drink… together."

Annika Price didn’t expect to end up sitting right on Zeke Lee’s lap.

Everest Kennedy’s eyes darkened to a stormy gray, and the whole room seemed to drop straight to arctic temperatures. His long, nimble fingers tapped once, sharp and light, against the private room door. The loud, lively chatter inside died instantly.

When Everest stepped in, half a dozen wealthy heirs scrambled to greet him—only for him to cut them off with one sharp, icy glance.

"Lad and gents, Mr. Kennedy sent me to bring Selena in for a little fun," Everest announced.

Zeke and the rest were used to following Everest’s lead, so they caught on right away and played their parts perfectly.

"Selena, why don’t you join us? Lots of good times to go around."

Annika huffed a cold laugh, already skeptical of this whole little charade. Was Everest just addicted to playing these games? Either way, as far as she was concerned, his little act of pretending to be poor was already over.

The steady thud of footsteps drew closer.

Even with her back to the door, Annika felt Everest bearing down on her. Whether it was from her own provocation, her stupid boldness, or just Everest’s overwhelming, commanding aura, her heart hammered so hard it felt like it would suffocate her.

A shadow fell over her, and a jolt of tension rippled straight down her spine. Suddenly, Everest’s warm hand curled around her delicate throat.

His grip was so tight she feared he’d hurt her.

Annika winced at the sharp pain, and the drink in her hand sloshed straight all over Zeke’s shirt.

"Let go," she snapped, putting on a whole act of not knowing who he really was, and scolded him sharp as a knife.

The other heirs exchanged loaded glances, amusement glinting bright in their eyes.

[Does this girl not get it? We’re just messing with her, and she’s out here provoking Mr. Kennedy. She’s gotta have a death wish.]

While they sat back waiting for the drama to unfold, Everest half-dragged, half-carried Annika out of the room like she was some defiant stray he’d rounded up.

"What is your problem? You’re hurting me!"

Annika fought like a wildcat, but she couldn’t break free of his hold. Ignoring every one of her protests, he hauled her into a nearby empty room, slammed the door so hard the frame shook, and cut off all the laughter from outside completely.

Seconds later, Annika found herself pinned flat against the cold wall.

Everest leaned in, his features sharper and more striking than any A-list movie star. "Annika, do you even realize what you’re doing, sitting on another man’s lap? When did you get so reckless?"

Annika buried her irritation behind fluttering lashes. "Everest Kennedy. This is my life. We broke up. None of this is any of your business."

"Broke up? Did I ever agree to that?"

Everest’s deep blue eyes narrowed dangerously, anger flickering hot in their depths. "Our contract runs for four years. We still have a full year left. Annika, are you really that much in a rush to shake off your ‘poor’ little assistant?"

Annika met his piercing gaze, unflinching in her defiance. "That’s right. I’m ending the contract early. I’ll pay the five million penalty."

A mocking smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Don’t tell me you can’t stand to let me go… or did you never think I’d be the one to walk away first?"

Their whole revenge plan had counted on him dumping her, leaving her broken and devastated. But she’d flipped the script entirely. Now he was the one who didn’t want to let go, wasn’t he?

Annika’s lips twisted into a sardonic grin. "So what now? Is Mr. Kennedy gonna throw a little tantrum, threaten to hurt himself ‘cause he can’t let me go? You don’t actually love me, do you?"

Everest had been playing the role of her devoted assistant so carefully, fawning over her like a naive, starry-eyed employee. Now that he’d blown his cover, she needed to use every edge she could get to escape these spoiled, dangerous rich brats. Getting out of this den of wolves unscathed was all that mattered.

With that thought in mind, Annika decided to push him even further.

"Everest, those heirs are making me serve drinks at this PR event like some 1950s waitress. I can’t leave until I’m done. As my assistant, you’re way out of line here."

With that, Annika made to push past him, heading back to go ‘serve her drinks’.

Everest caught her by her slender arm and wrenched her right back, fast as lightning.

He leaned down, his tall broad frame caging her against the wall, and challenged her coolly from above. "Annika, is your disdain really just about me being an assistant?"

Her fingers curled tight into fists, her nails digging sharp into her palm. Of all the people to play poor and helpless—him?

"I’ve moved on. I’ve got a new patron now."

Annika knew better than to mess with these people. The best outcome was to get them turning on each other. She raised her voice, sharp and cutting, as she snapped at Everest: "Everest, I’m running the event inside. Tonight I have to serve drinks to another VIP to get him to sign my project proposal. That’s the only way I can finish my job and leave."

She repeated "serving drinks" on purpose, stoking the fire of his possessiveness.

"Everest, do you get it now?"

Everest’s jaw tightened until it looked like it might crack. "Don’t try to justify what you’re doing, Annika. No one’s forcing you to stay. You could walk away any time you want. Is schmoozing with the elite really that worth it to you?"

"How am I supposed to walk away? Their bodyguards are posted right by the door. Do you have any idea how these spoiled brats get off on their excess?"

After her outburst, Annika slammed her heel straight down hard on Everest’s foot.

Caught off guard by the sudden pain, Everest let go of her.

"We’re done. Stay out of my life and I’ll stay out of yours. If you hate that I fell out of favor, that’s your problem, not mine."

Annika darted back toward the private room, desperate to get back to safety.

Left standing there, reeling from both rejection and public embarrassment, Everest refused to accept that she’d replaced him, that she’d dishonored him like this. He made up his mind to make sure none of those heirs messed with her anymore—especially not after Zeke already signed off on her project.

Annika had definitely won this round.

But Everest’s possessive streak blazed to life, and he followed her back into the room, strolling lazy and unhurried to take the spot at the center of the group. He crossed his long legs, and said coolly, "I’m here officially representing Mr. Kennedy. Relax, everyone."

In one sharp, swift movement, he hauled Annika straight down onto his lap. The speed, the force of it, left Annika too stunned to even react for a second.

Everest wrapped an arm tight around her waist, holding her firmly in place, and drawled lazy as anything, "As for projects and drinks, you can leave all that to me—"