Karios's hands were still on her. His grip was firm—one hand wrapped around her waist, the other pressed against her ass.
Sorcha's fingers remained on his crotch, twitching slightly. A slow, knowing smile curled her lips. Neither of them moved. Neither of them breathed.
The air between them was thick and suffocating.
Then, footsteps were heard approaching, and Karios's jaw ticked. It was Elena.
Sorcha must have realized it too because she let out a small, fake gasp and quickly pulled away—but it was too late.
Elena entered the room just as Karios stepped back, her gaze flickering between them, eyebrows pulling together.
"What's going on?"
Sorcha exhaled and said in an innocent voice, "I tripped."
Karios kept his voice unreadable. "She almost fell, so I caught her."
Which wasn't a lie.
Elena looked at them suspiciously, then brushed it off. "I'm done. We can go now."
As Karios turned to leave with her, Sorcha whispered just loud enough for him to hear as he passed her.
"You liked it."
His stomach tightened.
But he said nothing.
Nor did he reveal anything on his face.
He wouldn't let her win.
---
The Next Day...
Sorcha stretched lazily, her nails running over her exposed thigh as she lay sprawled on the couch, her mind on Karios as usual.
Ava and Celeste sat beside her, flipping through magazines. They were the only best friends she had from university since she hated making friends.
Her university was currently on a national holiday, which was why they were home.
"I saw Karios's name in the news again," Ava smirked, tapping a headline. "Your daddy's best friend is getting richer by the second."
She was a blue-haired brunette, slim, sexy, and a party girl.
Sorcha hummed as if uninterested. "Of course he is."
Celeste raised an eyebrow. "You talk about him a lot."
She had dark hair, was timid, and had a small stature—a typical bookworm.
"And so?" Sorcha said, looking at them boredly.
Ava grinned widely. "I think you have a little crush."
Sorcha tilted her head back, smiling. If only they knew.
But she didn't say anything.
Ava nudged her. "Come on, let's go out tonight. New club, VIP section, and hot guys everywhere."
Sorcha yawned. "Not interested."
Celeste laughed. "She's not interested this time. Go alone."
Sorcha only smiled, swirling her drink in her glass.
There was only one man she wanted.
But he was off-limits.
Well, not for long.
---
Karios sat in his office chair, phone pressed to his ear.
"Have the contracts reviewed by Monday," he said, his voice firm. "I don't want any mistakes."
"Yes, sir." His assistant's voice crackled through the line.
He ended the call, exhaling slowly.
For hours, he had been drowning himself in work—anything to keep his mind off her.
But it wasn't working.
Still, he refused to let her get to him.
There was too much at stake.
His phone buzzed again.
It was his wife, Elena, calling.
He stared at the screen for a while, lost in thought, before answering.
"Are you coming home for dinner?" she asked, her voice emotionless.
"I have a dinner meeting."
There was a pause.
Then a short, "Fine."
And the call went dead.
Karios leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple.
His marriage had become nothing but mere formalities.
And he didn't have the energy to fix it.
Not like they had married for love in the first place.
It was a business marriage, after all.
---
Late that night, asleep in bed, Sorcha shifted under the sheets, her breath coming faster, her skin burning.
In her dream, Karios was on top of her.
His hands gripped her thighs, his breath hot against her ear.
She whimpered as he kissed her neck, holding her wrists up roughly, his voice deep and rough.
"You wanted to be punished, didn't you?"
Her body arched against him, longing for more of what he had to offer.
"Yes, Daddy…"
He slowly slid down between her legs—
And then his mouth was on her.
Her moans filled the air, her nails digging into his back as she pulled him closer, wrapping her legs around his neck, her body shaking in pleasure.
"Oh, fuck. Harder, Daddy. Deeper. Yes, right there. Yes, Daddy—"
BANG.
The door was pushed open.
Sorcha's eyes snapped open.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Who had pushed the door open this late at night?
She sat up quickly, still breathless, her body still aching from the dream.
A tall figure stood in the doorway.
She squinted against the darkness.
Her stomach knotted, fingers clenching the sheets as cold dread washed over her.
She swallowed hard, heart hammering against her ribs.
It was her father.
"Daddy…"
She called out hesitantly.
Damien stood there, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
But the slight twitch in his jaw betrayed something.
Was it… anger?
How long had he been standing there?
Had she moaned Karios's name in her sleep?
Her breath hitched as panic gripped her chest.
His gaze swept over her.
"You're awake."
Sorcha forced a small, casual smile, ignoring the wild thumping of her heart.
"Yes. Just woke up."
A long pause.
"Sorry for waking you up. I needed to discuss something with you."
Then he came to sit on the bed with her and narrowed his eyes.
"You've been acting strange lately."
Her stomach tightened in nerves.
"What do you mean?"
"You're not always around. You avoid conversations with me. And you've been too distracted lately. This is not like you."
She swallowed hard.
"I'm fine. Just been busy with school. But why do you suddenly seem to care? You never really had time for me. You're always busy with work and barely home. And now you're asking me what's wrong? What changed?"
She looked at him, waiting for an answer.
"Sweetheart, you know how demanding my job is. Everything I do, I do for you—to give you a better life."
Her father reached out to touch her, but she moved away.
"You claim you're doing this for me, but are you really?"
"It's as if I don't have a father. I don't feel any paternal love from you, Dad. You only keep giving me money. Money can't buy everything, you know. And it definitely can't buy the affection that I lack."
"Sorcha, I…"
Her father tried explaining, but she didn't give him a chance.
"Just leave, Dad. I want to sleep."
For a moment, something flickered in Damien's eyes.
Regret?
But just as quickly, it was gone—replaced by the same distant father she had always known.
He remained silent for a minute, then sighed.
"Fine. Get some rest."
And just as he made to stand up, her phone buzzed with an incoming message.
On the screen saver was Karios's picture.
Though it wasn't showing his face.
Her blood ran cold.
And her father froze—still bent as if about to get up, eyes locked on the screen.
His expression was neutral.
But his eyes…
They stayed on her phone too long.
Scanning. Processing.
A muscle in his cheek twitched—barely noticeable.
But she saw it.
And her stomach dropped.