Chapter 4 Her Scent, His Madness

Two days. Two agonizing days. And Zachary Bennett still couldn't get the mysterious woman out of his head. Her name, her past-nothing. She'd left no trace. Just a pair of forgotten earrings on the edge of his penthouse sink... and a scent that haunted him like a ghost. Lavender. Fresh, soft, and maddening. It clung to his sheets. His skin. His breath. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her again. The way she trembled slightly when he touched her face. The fire in her eyes when she pulled away. And her lips-God, those lips.

He didn't even know her name, and yet she had cracked through the armor he'd spent years building. He sat in the towering silence of his study, the city skyline blinking behind him. His phone buzzed with unread emails. Contracts needed signing. Reports were due. But all Zachary could think about was her. He'd gone back to the bar, hoping she'd return. She didn't. He'd checked the CCTV footage-but the camera facing the exit had been mysteriously out of service that night. It was infuriating. And terrifying. Because he didn't lose control. Ever. Until her. A soft knock pulled him out of his thoughts. Before he could respond, the door creaked open. "Zachary," came a voice, deep and full of aged mischief. "You're still brooding? At this rate, you'll marry your desk." Zachary didn't even glance up. "Hello, Grandpa." Albert Bennett strolled in with the air of a man who owned the world-and in a way, he did. The patriarch of the Bennett empire had built their wealth from blood, grit, and scandal, and now, in his twilight years, he found pleasure in one hobby above all: meddling. Specifically in Zachary's love life. Or lack thereof. Albert dropped onto the leather armchair opposite his grandson and crossed his legs. "So. Any plans to give me great-grandchildren before I die?" Zachary sighed. "You've got decades left." "Don't change the subject." "I'm not interested in marrying for obligation." Albert raised a silver brow. "You're thirty-four, Zach. No scandals, no flings, not even a steady girlfriend. At this point, I'm starting to suspect you've been cloned without a heart." Zachary offered a tight smile. "My heart's too expensive to risk." Albert leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. "I saw the look in your eyes the other morning. You came home like a man who'd been struck by lightning." Zachary froze. Of course he noticed. "She was different," Zachary said quietly. " "Who was she?" Albert asked. "I don't know," Zachary muttered, voice low. Albert blinked. "What do you mean, you don't know?" "I mean," Zachary growled, finally standing, "she disappeared." Albert studied him for a long moment before speaking. "Then find her." Zachary said nothing. "Use the resources we spent a lifetime building," the old man said. "I'm not asking for a fairytale, Zach. I'm asking you to stop pretending you're made of stone. If she made you feel something-start there." Zachary turned his back to the window, jaw tight. "I'm not promising anything." "Just promise me this," Albert said, rising to his feet. "If your instincts pull you toward someone... don't ignore it this time. You've shut the world out for too long." With that, he left the room, cane tapping lightly on the marble floor. The moment the door clicked shut, Zachary let out a slow breath and pressed a hand to his face. His head was a mess. But his gut was clear. He couldn't get her out of his system until he found her. He reached for his phone. "Gabriel," he said when his assistant picked up. "I need a trace." "Name?" "She didn't give it." A pause. "Sir... that's going to be difficult." Zachary's voice turned cold. "I don't pay you for easy." Gabriel cleared his throat. "Understood. What do we have?" Zachary closed his eyes, breathing her in again from memory. "She left the hotel two days ago. Small frame. Warm brown eyes. Dark hair. Scented like lavender and vanilla. She was wearing a long maroon dress when I met her at a bar near Clifton Shore." He paused. "And she's unforgettable." Gabriel's voice came back steady. "I'll begin the search immediately." "Good." Zachary lowered the phone. "I need to find her, Gabriel. No matter what it takes." And as he turned back to the skyline, his heart gave a thud he wasn't ready to admit was hope. Because the woman who disappeared after one night left behind more than a memory. She left behind a craving he couldn't silence. And Zachary Bennett had never chased anyone before. Until her.

And he will burn the world to find her.