Chapter 109

William Johnson's breath hitched.

The phone screen lit up again as the fourth voice message popped up.

"Let me come up tonight, please? I promise I'll behave..."

That soft, nasal voice brushed against his eardrums like feathers. His Adam's apple bobbed as he abruptly flipped the phone face down on the desk.

"Damn it." He cursed under his breath and grabbed the landline to dial the butler's extension.

Emily Smith answered immediately. "Mr. Johnson?"

"Bring Emily up here." His voice was hoarse. "Now."

"But she—"

"Do I need to repeat myself?" The sharp tapping of his fingers against the desk intensified.

Silence fell on the other end.

Outside the mansion, Emily sat hugging her knees on the stone steps. Night wind swirled fallen leaves past her feet as she stared at her phone screen flickering between light and dark.

The elevator's chime startled her.

A woman in stilettos emerged, her perfectly made-up face twisted in displeasure. "Follow me."

Emily's eyes brightened. She nearly tripped when pushing up with her crutch. The woman was already three meters ahead without a backward glance.

Their reflections appeared in the elevator mirror. The woman suddenly sneered. "Playing the victim card again? How predictable."

"Thanks for the compliment." Emily adjusted her bangs in the mirror.

Sensor lights flickered on with each step down the 67th-floor hallway. As the woman raised her hand to ring the doorbell, a beep sounded from behind them.

Emily's fingerprint still worked.

"Goodnight." She winked at the frozen woman before hopping one-footed into the foyer.

The heavy oak door clicked shut behind her. Emily leaned against it, taking a deep breath. The blinding lights revealed an air scented with cedar and red wine.

William lounged on the sofa, his robe loosely tied to expose a bronzed chest. Crystal-cut wineglass dangled from his fingers, refracting prismatic dots across the room.

"Come here." He commanded without looking up.

Emily swallowed hard. The crutch's rhythmic taps echoed on marble as she limped forward, her injured ankle throbbing.

William finally lifted his gaze.

His eyes raked over her like barbed wire—from red-rimmed eyes to trembling fingertips. The glass met the coffee table with a sharp clink.

"Explain." He yanked open his robe belt.