Chapter 5 NOW YOU ARE MINE

Juanita's POV

My entire body froze.

Joachim Danvers.

The man I had almost slept with, or rather, who had almost slept with me. The man who had seen me - all of me - just last night, who had seen me vulnerable and defenseless-was standing in front of me, trading insults with my new fiancé.

Jefferson's brother.

My stomach twisted into a thousand knots. The moment I saw Joachim's smug grin, the knowing glint in his eyes, I knew he remembered me. And worse, he was enjoying this.

Jefferson stood with his arms crossed, his broad frame radiating barely restrained irritation. "What the hell are you doing here, Joachim?"

Joachim scoffed, adjusting the cuffs of his expensive black suit. "Last I checked, I have every right to be here. Or have you finally found a way to kick me out of the family business?"

"Not yet." Jefferson's tone was ice.

They were sizing each other up like two predators in the wild, and I was stuck in the middle, unable to breathe.

Then, as if remembering I was there, Joachim turned his gaze on me, slow and deliberate, his smirk deepening.

"And who do we have here?" he mused, his voice rich with amusement. "Your latest acquisition, Jefferson?"

I stiffened.

Jefferson's jaw ticked, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. "She is my fiancée. Show some respect."

Joachim's brows lifted in mock surprise. "Fiancée?" He turned to me, his eyes flicking down my body before returning to my face. "Now that is interesting."

I forced my expression to remain blank, refusing to let him rattle me, but my heart was slamming against my ribs. What the hell was he going to do?

"Well," Joachim finally said, flashing his teeth in a grin that sent a shiver down my spine. "Congratulations are in order, I suppose."

He extended a hand to me.

I hesitated for half a second before shaking it, hoping the contact would be brief. But Joachim held my hand just a little too long, just tight enough for his thumb to brush over my skin. It was barely a touch, but it sent a wave of dread through me.

"Juanita, was it?" he murmured, his grip lingering. "Lovely name."

Jefferson stepped forward, his presence looming. "You are done here, Joachim."

Joachim laughed, releasing my hand. "Relax, brother. I am just being polite."

Jefferson didn't move. His jaw was clenched so tight I thought he might snap his own teeth.

Joachim gave me one last lingering look before he turned away, sauntering off as if he had all the time in the world. But just before disappearing through the exit, he threw a glance over his shoulder and locked eyes with me.

And then he winked.

My breath hitched.

The moment he was gone, Jefferson exhaled sharply, running a hand through his thick, dark hair.

"Are you okay?" he asked, turning to me.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to nod. "Yeah. I am fine."

I wasn't.

Jefferson studied me, his dark eyes narrowing slightly, but he did not press. "Let us go. We have a lot to discuss."

I followed him to his sleek black car, still trying to process what had just happened. My mind raced with questions, my pulse refusing to slow.

The second I settled into the passenger seat, I blurted, "Your brother hates you."

Jefferson snorted. "That is an understatement."

I turned to him. "Why?"

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. For a long moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. But then he let out a slow breath.

"My father remarried after my mother died. Joachim's mother was a gold-digging whore who saw an opportunity to get her hands on the Danvers fortune. When she gave birth to Joachim, she thought she had sealed her place in the family." He scoffed. "She was wrong. My father made sure I was the sole heir. Joachim got nothing."

I frowned. "Nothing?"

"Nothing." Jefferson's jaw clenched. "Legally, he is still a Danvers. But in my father's eyes, he is nothing more than the product of a mistake. And he's spent his entire life trying to take what was never meant to be his."

A cold weight settled in my stomach. That explained the resentment. The animosity.

And suddenly, I understood why Joachim had latched onto me the second he saw me. He knew I was with Jefferson now. And if his hatred for his brother was as deep as it seemed...

He wasn't going to let this go.

~

That night, I barely slept.

I kept replaying Joachim's smirk, his touch, the way he had looked at me like he had already won some twisted game.

When I finally managed to drift into a light, restless sleep, my dreams were filled with fragmented images-Joachim's hands on my skin, Jefferson's possessive gaze, the cold sensation of power slipping through my fingers.

I woke up breathless, tangled in my sheets, my body burning with unease.

It didn't help that when I walked into the office the next morning, Joachim was already there.

He was sitting in Jefferson's chair, legs crossed, looking like he owned the place.

I stopped short, my heart hammering.

"What the hell are you doing?" I snapped.

He grinned. "Relax, sweetheart. Just getting comfortable."

I swallowed my anger and moved toward my desk, but he spoke again before I could sit.

"Does Jefferson know?"

My fingers froze on the chair's armrest. "Know what?"

His grin widened. "That we almost fucked."

My stomach dropped.

I forced myself to meet his gaze. "Nothing happened that night."

Joachim tilted his head. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He studied me for a long, excruciating moment. Then, finally, he chuckled.

"Doesn't matter." He stood, adjusting his suit. "Because I'm here now. And I don't lose."

Before I could respond, the office door swung open, and Jefferson stepped in. His sharp gaze immediately landed on Joachim, his expression darkening.

"Get the fuck out of my chair," Jefferson said coldly.

Joachim didn't flinch. He simply smirked and rose gracefully to his feet, straightening his tie.

"Relax, brother. I'm just keeping it warm for you."

Then, he turned to me, his gaze lingering a little too long.

"See you around, Juanita."

And with that, he was gone.

Jefferson's glare followed him all the way out before he turned to me, his expression unreadable.

"What did he say to you?"

I hesitated.

Nothing happened that night.

That was what I kept telling myself. If I told Jefferson the truth, he would call off this arrangement, and I'd be right back to being broke, jobless, and humiliated.

So I forced a tight smile and said, "Nothing important."

He didn't look convinced, but he didn't push.

Instead, he stepped closer, lowering his voice. "If Joachim ever does anything to make you uncomfortable, you tell me."

I swallowed. "Okay."

His dark gaze lingered on me for another moment before he nodded. "Good."

Then, before I could prepare myself, he reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing my skin.

I sucked in a breath.

"You're mine now, Juanita." His voice was low, possessive. "And I don't share."

My pulse skyrocketed.

I was in deep.

And I wasn't sure I could get out.