Chapter 5

Audrey stepped out of the sliding glass doors into the warm, blinding Los Angeles sunlight. She took a deep breath of the smoggy air, planning to lead Julian quickly to her beat-up Honda Civic in the economy lot.

Before she could even point in the direction of the parking structure, a sleek, massive black Maybach SUV glided smoothly to a stop directly in front of them at the VIP curbside pickup.

A middle-aged man in a sharp, immaculate black chauffeur uniform quickly stepped out of the driver's seat. He rushed around the hood and bowed respectfully to Zane.

"Mr. Kensington," the chauffeur, Frank Sullivan, greeted him. He immediately moved to open the rear door, ready to load Julian's heavy duffel bag into the spacious trunk.

Julian whistled low in appreciation at the luxury vehicle. He playfully punched Zane's shoulder. "Show-off. Still insisting on traveling like royalty, I see."

Zane ignored the joke completely. He turned to Frank, his expression shifting into a mask of cold, absolute authority.

"Frank," Zane ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Take a cab back to the hotel. Leave the car here with me."

Frank looked surprised for a split second, his eyes widening slightly, but he immediately nodded. He knew better than to question his boss. He handed the heavy, leather-bound key fob to Zane without a single word and stepped away from the vehicle.

Audrey watched the exchange, her stomach dropping into her shoes. She realized instantly what Zane was doing. He intended to drive them himself. He was deliberately trapping them in his private, enclosed space where he controlled the locks and the destination.

Zane tossed the key fob in the air, catching it smoothly in his large palm. He turned to Julian, his smile returning. "I prefer to personally drive my good friends. It's more intimate."

Julian was touched by the gesture. He grabbed his duffel bag from Frank and immediately climbed into the luxurious, spacious back seat of the Maybach, sinking into the plush leather.

Audrey tried to quickly follow Julian into the back. She desperately needed to put physical distance between herself and Zane.

Julian blocked the door from the inside. He laughed, waving her away. "Audie, sit in the front. If we both sit in the back, Zane is going to feel like a hired chauffeur. It's rude."

Audrey glared at her brother, silently cursing his clueless, polite matchmaking. She wanted to scream at him, but she was forced to turn around and walk toward the passenger side.

Zane was already waiting by the passenger door. He held it open for her. There was a triumphant, mocking gleam in his dark obsidian eyes as she approached.

Audrey slid into the plush leather seat. Her body was completely stiff. She kept her arms pulled in tight, careful not to let any part of her cheap hoodie brush against his expensive suit.

Zane shut the heavy door with a solid, expensive thud, sealing her inside. He walked around the hood and climbed into the driver's seat. His large frame instantly dominated the confined space of the front cabin.

As Zane pressed the ignition button, the powerful engine roared to life. Simultaneously, his phone rang through the car's Bluetooth audio system.

The large digital screen on the dashboard displayed the caller ID in bright white letters: "Arthur (Grandpa)".

Zane tapped the screen to answer the call. His tone immediately shifted from cold authority to a relaxed, slightly arrogant banter.

"Hello, Arthur," Zane said smoothly as he pulled the Maybach away from the curb.

Arthur's loud, booming voice filled the car, echoing off the leather interior. "Zane! When are you going to stop playing around with these endless business trips and bring home a wife? The Kensington empire needs an heir!"

Audrey stiffened in her seat. She stared straight ahead at the windshield, her hands gripping her knees. She desperately tried to pretend she wasn't listening to this highly personal family conversation.

Zane chuckled deeply, the sound vibrating in his chest. His eyes cut sideways, looking directly at Audrey's tense, rigid profile.

"Don't worry, Arthur," Zane said, his voice dropping to a low, suggestive purr. "I'm working on it right now. The target is just playing a little hard to get."

Julian laughed out loud from the back seat, completely missing the heavy subtext. He thought Zane was just humoring the old man with a joke about his dating life.

Zane ended the call with a tap on the steering wheel. The silence in the car suddenly felt heavy, thick, and suffocating with unspoken tension.

While waiting at a long red light on Century Boulevard, Zane reached into the deep center console between their seats.

He pulled out a small, exquisite navy-blue velvet box.

Without a word, he casually tossed the expensive-looking box directly onto Audrey's lap.

The sudden movement startled her. Audrey jumped slightly, looking down at the heavy box resting on her thighs. She recognized the subtle, embossed logo of a top-tier luxury jewelry brand on the velvet.

She immediately picked it up, trying to hand it back to him. "I can't take this," she stammered, her voice shaking. "I absolutely cannot accept such an expensive gift from a... from a stranger."

Zane didn't even look at her. He kept his eyes fixed on the road as the light turned green.

"Keep it," Zane stated in a tone that brooked no argument. "It's just a simple meeting gift. A token of my appreciation for Julian's sister."

Julian leaned forward from the back seat, resting his arms on the center console. He saw the velvet box and smiled.

"Just keep it, Audie," Julian told her. "Zane is loaded. If you refuse it, you'll just insult him. Consider it a welcome home present from my best friend."

Audrey slowly lowered her hands. She gripped the navy-blue velvet box tightly in her lap. Her knuckles turned white from the pressure. She realized with terrifying clarity that Zane was using his immense wealth, and her brother's blind trust, to slowly trap her in a corner she couldn't escape.