Chapter 5 Another Encounter

No one ever managed to predict Kellan's moods, and the way he handled problems was ruthless enough to keep even seasoned men on edge.

Back when he first returned to seize control of Wright Pharma, he had dismantled half of the senior leadership in just three days, acting fast and without hesitation. The fallout was immediate. Complaints spread behind closed doors, resentment festered, and enemies multiplied, all waiting for a chance to drag him down.

Tension thickened the air inside the room. Clayton stood rigid and silent, praying he would not become the next outlet for his boss's anger.

After a long pause, Kellan finally lifted his gaze, his eyes colder than steel. "That Avery. He caught my attention. Do you think he was planted by that person?"

The pressure rolling off Kellan made Clayton's shoulders stiffen. The name left unspoken needed no explanation. Everyone in their world knew exactly who Kellan meant.

Clayton drew in a careful breath before answering. "I do not think so. From what I can tell, Avery was likely not sent by him."

The words barely left his mouth before he swallowed hard, bracing himself under Kellan's scrutiny.

"Then why has there been no report about this?" Kellan asked, his tone sharp enough to slice through the room.

Cold crept up Clayton's spine as he answered quickly. "I will look into it immediately. I will find out how Avery ended up with that key card."

Without waiting for permission, he turned and left the room at once.

...

Morning light crept through the curtains when Avery finally stirred, warmth brushing against her face. She lifted an arm to block the brightness and frowned, confusion settling in as she muttered, "Where am I?"

Startled, Avery turned her head and spotted a wooden plaque resting on the table, the engraved words unmistakable. Laurel Club.

Everything from the night before rushed back at once. This was Kellan's private domain, a place she had heard whispered about ever since joining Horizon Group. Exhaustion from the confrontation had drained her so thoroughly that she had passed out without even realizing it.

She shoved the blanket aside, swung her legs over the bed, and rolled her stiff neck, irritation rising as Kellan's face surfaced in her mind.

The man had barged into her room and even beaten her. The more she thought about it, the more absurd it felt.

Her eyes drifted around the suite. Along one wall stood a row of refined wardrobes, their surfaces polished smooth and releasing a faint, clean scent into the air.

The same rare wood used for the main door had been spared no expense here either.

Gold edged paintings lined the walls, each one depicting indulgent scenes of naked men and women sprawled in excess.

Disgust curled her lip as she muttered, "Meaningless decor."

After washing up quickly, she faced the mirror and carefully applied a specially made chest skin patch, blending it seamlessly with her own skin before pulling on her clothes and heading out without delay.

Staying here felt dangerous. Her instincts warned her not to linger.

Down in the club's parking area, Avery stayed alert, her gaze sweeping for her car until a sudden sound behind her made her tense. She moved too fast and collided straight into someone's chest.

She pulled back at once and lifted her head, her breath catching when a sharp, handsome face came into view. It was Kellan.

Did he have a habit of showing up without warning, always at the worst possible moment?

Their eyes met, and a brief flash of surprise crossed Kellan's face before it vanished behind a mask of cool restraint, leaving nothing readable behind his gaze.

Recognition followed just as quickly. The person standing in front of him was Avery, the same one who had traded blows with him the night before.

Avery's hand curled into a fist as the memory surfaced, every ache in her body reminding her of how that encounter had ended.

A crooked smile lifted her lips as she spoke in a teasing drawl. "Well, this is a surprise. Did you wake up early just hoping to run into me?"

She leaned in slightly, close enough to brush Kellan's chest, her tone careless and bold while her eyes traveled over him like he was something to be appraised rather than feared.

Her body still throbbed from the beating he had given her, and she knew better than to challenge him head on again. If she could not win with strength, then she would tease him instead.

The effect was immediate. Kellan's expression cooled, sharp and unforgiving. Disrespect was something he never allowed, especially not when others could see it.

To mock him again so openly meant this person had learned nothing from the night before.

The shift in his presence set off alarms in Avery's mind, and unease crept in where confidence had been moments earlier. She straightened at once, her fingers tightening as instinct urged her to put distance between herself and the danger standing in front of her.