I went into his walk-in closet and paused. It was even cleaner and more put together than the one I had. He even had a revolving closet, for fuck’s sake.

I started to peek through the watch-filled drawers, but by the third one, it was obvious Warren used it for nothing more than to get dressed.

With a sigh, I left the closet and then his room.

I guess I have no choice but to look at the last door.

I prayed it was his office. At least then I might be able to get some type of valuable information about just how corrupt his business practices were.

Holding my breath, I pushed the door open and… immediately regretted it.

Warren was sitting at his desk, looking fucking decadent in that same silk button-up he had been wearing the night before. This time it was slightly more open, showing his bare chest. He had pushed up the sleeves, giving me a good look at his corded arms.

His scruff was heavier, indicating that he hadn’t shaved that morning and likely hadn’t slept at all. It should have been illegal for him to look that hot.

Stop drooling.

It turned out it was easier to listen to the voice of reason when we weren’t alone, since two men turned to look at me. I remembered seeing one of them at the auction.

He had dark brown hair that slightly curled under his ears. His tawny face was clean-shaven, and he was wearing a suit, looking every bit the businessman Warren was, just younger.

The second guy, on the other hand…

“Oh? Someone’s here to see you, boss.”

He was wearing a leather jacket with a thin, white shirt underneath, combined with black jeans and Dr. Martens. His dirty blond hair was pushed out of his face messily, and his skin was littered with tattoos.

He looked nothing like the type of people Warren worked with.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to⁠—”

I tried to close the door, but Warren’s protest stopped me.

“Come in, Addi.”

Fuck.

I hesitantly slipped into the room, leaving the door open behind me as an escape route.

The blond-haired one’s smile told me he saw it all.

“Addison Mercer.”

“And you are?” I asked. “I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.”

Warren growled something under his breath. We all ignored it.

He walked a few steps toward me, but never close enough to enter my personal space. He might look cocky, but he was obviously respecting Warren's property.

Regardless of the reason why I sold myself to him, the word still left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Remember why you’re doing this.

I forced myself to replay images of my mother in the hospital. Images of my father’s funeral and of the explosive headlines that followed.

It forced my mind to be even clearer. More focused on my mission.