Chapter 3

Krista sat frozen for five full seconds. The sheer absurdity of his words finally broke through her shock.

She shook her head violently. "Responsibility? Are you out of your mind?"

She didn't care about modesty anymore. She kicked the blanket off her leg, ready to scramble off the opposite side of the mattress and run for the door.

The man moved faster. His large hand slammed down on the edge of the blanket, pinning it to the mattress with a force that made the entire bed shake. He trapped her instantly.

"I never joke." His voice was lethal.

He turned slightly and snatched a custom black smartphone off the nightstand. His long thumb swiped the screen twice before he shoved the phone directly into her face.

It was a security camera feed from the hallway outside. The resolution was crystal clear.

Krista watched in horror as the video played. She was wrapped around the man like an octopus, her legs locked around his waist. Her hands were violently tearing at his expensive dress shirt, and her mouth was frantically biting at his neck.

Heat exploded across Krista's cheeks. Her face burned so hot it hurt. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head away, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

The man locked the phone and tossed it aside. He tilted his head to the side, drawing her eyes to the exposed skin above his collarbone.

Deep, red scratches and purple bite marks marred his perfect skin.

"The evidence is right here," he said, a cruel, mocking edge to his tone. "You were very... enthusiastic."

Krista was mortified. She forced herself to look at him, to beg for mercy. But as her eyes focused on his face-the sharp, arrogant eyebrows, the straight nose, the absolute ruthless power radiating from him-a memory clicked into place.

She had seen that face on the cover of Forbes magazine.

Her stomach plummeted. The blood in her veins turned to ice.

"You... you are Jasper Stone?" Her voice cracked, coming out as a pathetic squeak.

The youngest financial predator on Wall Street. The absolute ruler of the Stone family. The most ruthless, cold-blooded man in New York.

The panic in her chest morphed into pure, primal terror. She knew exactly how much trouble she was in.

She instantly folded. She brought her hands together in front of her chest, her voice trembling with desperation.

"Mr. Stone, I am so sorry. I blacked out. I swear." She looked down at her hands, a bitter, self-deprecating laugh escaping her lips. "And I have nothing. The Cain family kicked me out last night. I am completely broke. I can't possibly take responsibility for you."

Jasper stared down at her. Seeing her look so broken, like a bird with its wings snapped, sent a sharp, physical ache straight through his chest.

He forced his jaw to clench, burying the emotion. He kept his face an impenetrable mask of corporate cruelty. He let out a cold scoff.

"That is your problem, not mine." His voice carried zero emotion.

He turned his back on her and walked toward the massive walk-in closet.

"I, Jasper Stone, do not make bad investments," his voice echoed out from the closet.

Krista sat on the bed, hugging her knees to her chest, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had no idea what this monster was planning.

Three minutes later, Jasper walked back out. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored, charcoal-black bespoke suit. He looked like the flawless, terrifying CEO the world knew.

He walked to the foot of the bed, slowly adjusting his sapphire cufflinks. His dark eyes locked onto her, devoid of any warmth.

He opened his mouth and delivered the verdict.

"Since you can't pay me with money, you will pay off your debt with marriage."

The room fell dead silent. Krista's mouth fell open, her soul completely leaving her body.