Chapter 5

Clarissa stood in front of the massive, sunken marble bathtub. Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely grip the vintage brass faucet.

She twisted the handles. Hot water roared out, crashing against the marble.

Thick, white steam immediately began to rise, clinging to the mirrors and filling the large room with a heavy, suffocating heat.

She picked up a small glass bottle of expensive bath oil. She poured a few drops into the rushing water. Her movements were stiff, robotic. She was desperately trying to keep her mind blank.

The frosted glass door clicked open.

Giovanny walked in. His footsteps were silent on the tile.

Clarissa spun around. She pressed her back flat against the cold marble wall, her chest heaving. She looked like a cornered animal.

Giovanny didn't even glance in her direction. He walked straight to the double vanity.

He looked at his own reflection in the mirror. He reached up and pulled the silk tie from his neck, tossing it onto the counter.

His long fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt. He unfastened them one by one. His movements were slow, elegant, and completely terrifying.

Clarissa quickly turned her head away. She stared hard at the bubbles forming on the surface of the water. The steam made her face flush, but the heat in her cheeks was from pure panic.

She heard the soft rustle of fabric hitting the floor.

Giovanny stepped into the tub. The water displaced, sloshing against the sides.

He sat down and leaned his head back against the marble edge. He let out a long breath. The water covered his stomach, stopping just at his waist.

He turned his head slightly toward her.

"Come here," Giovanny ordered. His voice was a deep, magnetic pull. "Start."

Clarissa bit the inside of her cheek. She picked up a natural sea sponge from the tray.

She forced her feet to move. She walked to the edge of the sunken tub and slowly dropped to her knees on the hard floor.

She dipped the sponge into the hot water. Her hand trembled violently as she reached out.

She pressed the wet sponge against his broad, muscular back.

The second her hand made contact with his hot, wet skin, both of them flinched. The muscles in Giovanny's back instantly locked up tight.

Giovanny closed his eyes. A tiny, almost invisible smirk touched the corner of his lips. He leaned into her touch.

Clarissa rubbed the sponge in two quick, awkward circles. She immediately pulled her hand back.

"Done," she said, her voice tight.

Giovanny's eyes snapped open.

He twisted his torso. His hand shot out of the water and grabbed her wrist. He yanked her forward with terrifying speed.

Clarissa screamed as she lost her balance. She fell forward, catching herself on the edge of the tub just before plunging into the water.

A massive wave of water splashed over the side. It soaked the front of her silk dress. The thin fabric instantly clung to her skin, turning completely transparent against her thighs and stomach.

Giovanny's eyes dropped to her wet dress. His gaze turned dark, heavy, and incredibly dangerous.

"That was pathetic," he said coldly. "I told you to massage my back."

"I don't know how to massage!" Clarissa yelled, pulling frantically at her trapped wrist.

A sharp ping echoed through the bathroom.

Giovanny's phone, sitting on the marble vanity a few feet away, lit up.

Giovanny kept his grip on her wrist. He reached his long arm out and grabbed the phone. He tapped the screen.

It was a message from his executive assistant, Alex Stone. It contained a video file.

Giovanny tapped play.

Suddenly, soft, highly suggestive music filled the bathroom. It was followed by the unmistakable sound of a woman moaning softly.

It was a full-body oil massage tutorial. The visuals on the screen were explicit, bordering on pornographic.

Clarissa's eyes widened in absolute horror. The blood drained from her face, then rushed back in a wave of burning humiliation. Her entire body began to shake.

Giovanny turned the phone screen toward her. His lips curled into a cruel, mocking smile.

"Watch it," he commanded. "Learn the technique."

He leaned closer, his wet chest almost brushing her face. "If you can't figure it out, I will personally demonstrate it on you."

Clarissa stared at the screen. The degradation was too much. Her throat closed up.

A hot tear spilled over her eyelashes. It tracked slowly down her flushed cheek.

Giovanny watched the tear fall. The cruel smile vanished from his face. A strange, dark conflict flashed in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the air in the bathroom suddenly shattered.