Chapter 846

Rosalind parted her lips to speak, but Lucian swiftly pressed his palm against them. "Hush, darling. We don't want to startle him."

She exhaled sharply, frustration simmering beneath her skin. "We found him. What are we waiting for?"

Lucian's grip tightened subtly. "Julian already got to him first. If we drag him back now, who's to say he won't turn on us? One wrong move, and Whitmore Holdings collapses completely."

Rosalind clenched her jaw. He wasn't wrong. The company's stocks had already nosedived, teetering on the edge of ruin. Another scandal would be catastrophic.

This man was a viper—unpredictable, dangerous.

"So what's your plan?" she demanded.

A slow, knowing smirk curled Lucian's lips. "Asking for my help now, are you?"

"Obviously."

He leaned in, his breath warm against her cheek. "Then answer me this first."

"What?"

"Did you get my messages?"

Rosalind stiffened. "...Yes."

Lucian's gaze darkened. "And you ignored them. Why?"

"Because I had nothing to say to you."

Anger flashed in his eyes. In one fluid motion, he yanked her against him, his arms locking around her waist. "I'll handle this for you."

Her pulse jumped. "How?"

This wasn't just about some rogue employee. Powerful players were involved—shadows with influence and agendas. But if Lucian said he could fix it, she believed him.

His lips brushed her ear, voice dropping to a velvet murmur. "On one condition."

Her breath hitched. "Which is?"

"One night. With me."

Her stomach flipped. "Doing what?"

Lucian chuckled, the sound rough and intimate. "What do you think? I'm not some chivalrous knight, Rosalind. You and me. Alone. All night."

Heat flooded her cheeks. "You're blackmailing me?"

His teeth grazed her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine. "You left me hanging last time. Didn't even let me—"

Rosalind slapped a hand over his mouth, silencing him.

Lucian's eyes gleamed as he studied her—flushed, flustered, utterly captivating. Like a deer caught in headlights, all wide-eyed and breathless. His chest tightened.

"Tick-tock, sweetheart. Three seconds. Three... two..."

"Fine!" she blurted.

His smirk deepened. "I'll hold you to that."

"After you deal with him."

"Ordinary methods won't work here."

"What does that mean?"

"Watch and learn."

With a sharp gesture, Lucian signaled his men. Shadows detached from the alleyways—black-clad figures moving like ghosts.

The worker, dozing against a dumpster, bolted upright. He took one look at the approaching figures and ran.

"Stop him!"

They tackled him to the pavement. He thrashed, wild-eyed. "Let me go! I'm nobody! What do you want?!"

One guard crouched, gripping his collar. "Mr. Blackwood sends his regards."