Chapter 4 The Cold CEO to the Rescue

Camden William stood in the doorway.

The CEO of Vantage Group looked like a god of death in a bespoke charcoal suit. Several terrified executives hovered behind him.

Alex, Camden's executive assistant, stepped forward, his expression completely devoid of warmth. "Mr. Donovan," Alex said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Our executive board is conducting a highly sensitive meeting in the adjacent suite. The disruptive noise level emanating from your private dinner has become entirely unacceptable. Mr. William decided to personally ensure that our corporate partnerships were being... adequately managed."

Camden's eyes-cold, bottomless, and terrifyingly sharp-instantly locked onto Kaia sitting in the corner.

He saw her rigid posture. He saw her defensive distance.

Eric Donovan leaped out of his chair. His predatory sneer morphed into a pathetic, fawning grin.

"Mr. William!" Eric practically tripped over the carpet, extending his hand across the table. "What an honor!"

Camden ignored the hand completely.

He walked into the room. The sheer physical dominance of his presence sucked the oxygen out of the space.

He stopped near the head of the table. He glanced at the untouched wine glasses and the papers on the floor.

Alex, Camden's executive assistant, stepped forward. "Mr. Donovan, why are you occupying this room?"

"Just having a deep business discussion with your lovely employee here," Eric chuckled nervously.

Camden's gaze shifted to Kaia's hands.

He noticed the microscopic tremor in her pale fingertips against the dark wood of the table.

Camden turned his back to the table. He looked at his executives. "Move the meeting next door. The air in here is filthy."

As Camden turned, Kaia's phone buzzed on the table. It was a text from her director demanding an update.

Kaia looked down at the screen for exactly three seconds.

In that tiny window of time, Eric Donovan flicked his wrist.

A pinch of white powder dropped directly into Kaia's glass of ice water. It dissolved instantly.

Camden saw it.

He caught the distinct movement in the reflection of the decorative mirror on the far wall.

Camden's boots stopped mid-step.

The muscles in his broad back locked tight. The air around him turned to absolute ice.

Kaia finished typing her text. Her throat was painfully dry from the adrenaline.

She reached out and wrapped her fingers around the condensation-slicked glass of ice water.

She lifted the rim toward her lips.

Before the glass could touch her skin, a massive, warm hand clamped down on her wrist like a steel vice.

Kaia gasped and jerked her head up.

She crashed straight into Camden William's eyes. A terrifying, violent storm raged behind his dark irises.

Camden's fingers dug into her skin. He violently ripped the glass out of her hand.

In the chaotic fraction of a second as the heavy crystal was wrenched from her trembling grip, the glass tilted sharply. A small splash of the icy, tainted liquid sloshed over the rim, hitting Kaia's chin. She instinctively gasped at the sudden cold, and a single, fatal drop slipped past her parted lips.

He slammed the glass down onto the table.

Water exploded outward, soaking the sleeve of Eric Donovan's expensive suit.

Eric stumbled backward, his face turning pale.

Camden towered over Eric. His voice was a deadly, quiet whisper.

"Vantage Group is terminating all contracts with your firm. Effective immediately."

Eric's jaw dropped. "You-you can't do that! There's a process!"

Camden let out a dark, cruel laugh. "I am the process. Get out of my sight before I have you thrown out a window."

Two massive men in black suits stepped into the room. They grabbed Eric by the armpits and dragged him out the door while he sputtered and begged.

The heavy door clicked shut.

The room was completely empty except for Camden and Kaia.

Kaia opened her mouth to thank him, but the words died in her throat.

Her vision suddenly swam. The edges of the room blurred.

A bizarre, terrifying heat bloomed in the pit of her stomach, spreading rapidly through her veins.

Kaia gripped the edge of the table. Her knuckles turned bone-white. She tried to stand, but her legs felt like liquid.

She swayed violently to the side. Gravity pulled her toward the floor.

Camden lunged forward.

His strong arm wrapped securely around her waist, catching her before she hit the carpet.

A wave of intense, masculine cologne and pure heat enveloped Kaia's senses.