<b>Chapter </b>476


    I rolled down the window, and Nathan said softly, “Drive carefully, and stay safe on the road.”


    I waved at him and drove off, but in the rearview mirror, I could see Nathan still standing by the entrance.


    Who else would stand there and watch me leave like that, unless his feelings for me were truly deep? Victoria thought.


    By the time I got back to Shaville, night had already fallen. The wind was howling, dark clouds rolling in–a Reavy storm was on its way.


    I was having my assistant contact a high–end club to arrange a party tonight, celebrating the closing of several deals.


    The date had been set in advance, and this was the main reason I’d rushed back.


    Our team had grown to more than forty people, and everyone wasing to the party tonight.


    The rain wasing down in buckets as I barely managed to make it to the club entrance. The whole team was already there, just waiting for me to pou


    the champagne.


    I ducked into the restroom to touch up my makeup, shaking off the exhaustion. When I walked out, I looked totally refreshed and ready to go–like hadn’t just driven through a storm.


    “Ms. Murphy’s here! We can finally get this party started,” someone called out.


    “Ms. Murphy, you said there’d be a rafflest time–did you set it up?” someone called out,


    I immediately hád


    my


    teasing me.


    assistant bring a box over to the table. “Everyone has a chance to win–let’s see who’s lucky tonight.”


    The team was buzzing with excitement. Before anyone even touched their food, the prizes were all gone. The first five winners let out whoops of joy, while those who didn’t win looked a bit bummed, but it didn’t kill the vibe at all.


    We popped open three bottles of champagne, and everyone gathered around the table, digging in. In the middle of all the fun, I ended up having a couple more drinks than I meant to.


    #


    At first, I didn’t feel anything, but soon enough, my face started to heat up. The room was packed with people singing, ying cards, and getting wild. As their boss, I had to act like I was in charge, but seeing them let loose, honestly, I just wanted to step out for some air.


    I knew there was a terrace nearby, and after the rain, the air would be cool and refreshing.


    I let my assistant know and stepped outside. With the boss gone, the team loosened up and the vibe got even livelier.


    The terrace was lush from the downpour, and the cool, rain–fresh air cleared my head, washing away the restlessness that came with the alcohol.


    I found a seat and settled in, when suddenly, two guys stepped out from another privat


    suite, looking like they were heading out for a smoke.


    But as they passed by my terrace and spotted me sitting there alone, they got all sleazy and decided toe over and mess with me.


    “Hey, gorgeous. You here all by yourself?” one <i>of </i>them called out.


    “Holy crap, are you some kind o


    the other chimed in.


    “Damn, you’re beautiful,” the two of them said, clearly blown away by how I looked.


    I gave them a frosty look and said coolly, “Not interested, thanks.”


    But they just wouldn’t back off. “Hey, don’t be so cold. It’s not a crime to make friends, you know. We’re legit businessmen, not bad guys,” one of them insisted.


    As he spoke, one of them pulled out a business card and tried to hand it to me. “Come on, beautiful, let’s swap contacts”


    I turned my face away, refusing to even acknowledge them.


    Maybe my cold attitude bruised their egos, because one of them suddenly got nasty. “Quit pretending to be all innocent. Dressed like that, you’re obviously out here hustling. If you’re selling, just name your price–how much?”


    “Richie, seriously, just drop it. She’s not interested. Let’s go have that smoke,” the older guy said, trying to rein him in.


    “Drop it? I’m a shareholder here! If I can’t even get a woman to listen to me, how am I supposed to get any respect around here?” Richie, clearly drunk, was getting all fired up.


    Scowling, I stood up to leave.


    Suddenly, Richie grabbed my arm and gave it a gross squeeze. “Trying to y night with me.”


    hard


    get


    for


    <b>? </b>


    higher price, huh? Just name your price and spend the


    I couldn’t believe how sleazy this guy was. I thought giving him the cold shoulder would be enough for him to back off.


    “Let go,” I said coldly, my tone leaving no room for argument.


    “Not happening,” Richie replied, clearly getting off on touching my skin. His grin turned predatory. “You’re on my turf now, so you’d better y nice.”


    I was beyond fed up. I shook his fingers off hard, but he suddenly got rough and yanked at my shoulder, tearing at


    my


    clothes.


    There was a loud rip–my whole left side was suddenly exposed. The guy didn’t even have the decency to look embarrassed. Instead, he just smirked, looking way too pleased with himself. “Since you won’t name a price<i>, </i>guess I get a free show.”


    I was frozen in ce,pletely shocked. Maybe I’d been protected by Jared for so long that I’d forgotten there are real monsters out there in this world.


    I couldn’t believe someone would actually do something this vile to a woman in broad daylight.


    Just as I was shaking with rage, a charcoal gray suit jacket suddenly draped over my shoulders. That familiar woody scent hit me, making my heart skip a


    beat.


    I spun around–and there he was, Edward, his face all sharp lines and icy calm.


    AD