Diane couldn't speak. Her heart thundering so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Llewllellyn's gaze lingered on her, those dark, intent eyes tracing the soft lines of her face, drawn to the way her lashes fluttered beneath the glow of her makeup. There was something in his smile, something quietly dangerous, as though he saw through every layer she tried to hide behind.
She gathered what little composure she had left and slapped his hand away from her jaw, her stubborn pride finally surfacing. He let his hand fall slowly, deliberately, watching her the way one studies something rare. Something tempting.
"You're interesting," he said softly, amusement laced with something deeper.
Diane cleared her throat, trying to steady herself. When she looked up again, his hand was extended toward her, open, patient and inviting. His smile was calm, confident… devastating.
"I can walk on my own," she said, lifting her chin, even though her heart was fluttering wildly.
He stepped aside, letting her try. But the moment she rose, she forgot the seatbelt. The sudden pull sent her back, breath stolen in surprise. Llewllellyn's brow creased not with concern, but with restrained amusement.
"You see," he murmured, eyes glinting, "you don't look very bold when you act like this around me."
She opened her mouth to retort, but his gaze dropped slowly, deliberately tracing the line of her form, lingering just long enough to make her skin burn. She coughed, flustered, and he lifted his eyes again, unbothered, almost lazy, as though she had interrupted something important.
Then he noticed the seatbelt.
She fumbled with it, hands unsteady, and the moment it released, his hand closed around hers. Warm. Firm. Possessive. Her breath caught.
She looked up at him then at their joined hands and back again. His grip tightened slightly, as though reminding her she was there with him. That she belonged in that moment.
When he finally led her out of the car, she barely noticed the world around her. His attention was focused, intense. When his gaze snapped to Jecey, it carried a warning so sharp it made the air feel colder.
"Why were you sitting in the front?" Llewllellyn asked, his voice calm but edged.
Diane answered quickly, brushing her hair back. "What if he tried something?"
"No one would dare," Llewllellyn said quietly, his eyes never leaving her. "Not when you're with me."
The words settled over her like a spell. She felt it, the heat, the pull, the strange safety wrapped in danger. She hated how much it stirred her.
His gaze snapped to Jecey, sharp and deadly. Every subtle movement of Jecey's eyes was tracked, a silent warning radiating from Llewllellyn. Jecey mumbled under his breath, clearly unsettled by the boss's possessive glare.
"Hey," Llewllellyn called, jealousy threaded into his voice.
"Boss… I—" Jecey stammered, realizing fully that his superior was dangerously, undeniably jealous.
Llewllellyn tore his gaze from Jecey and turned to Diane, taking her hand and leading her to his own car, sleek and commanding, just like him, a vehicle even more commanding and glamorous than the one she had just ridden in. Diane realized, belatedly, that Jecey hadn't even driven far from her neighborhood.
Get in!" Llewllellyn commanded, his tone sharp but measured, the kind that brooked no argument.
"I… why not that car? Why do I have to ride with you?" Diane asked, her stubbornness rising despite the flutter in her chest.
He opened her door, exhaling slowly, lips pressed in a thin line, almost tired from her relentless independence. "You're my date. And you expect to ride in another car? Not with me?" His voice carried a low, teasing edge, threaded with just enough frustration to make her pulse quicken.
"Kind of… off," she muttered, raising her hand toward Jecey's waiting car, though it barely moved from her side. "I think I'll go with that," she added, stepping forward but Llewllellyn's hand caught hers.
Frozen in place, Diane's heart raced. She wasn't insisting on Jecey's car, she just couldn't face the long drive alone with Llewllellyn without feeling every nerve in her body tighten.
"Get in," he repeated, gently but firmly turning her shoulders so she could only comply.
The door closed, sealing them in a space suddenly too small for her racing heart. She tried to calm herself, but sweat pricked at her skin as her pulse thudded.
As he took the driver's seat, his fingers tightened around the steering wheel. He glanced at her first then really looked. And something in his expression softened. Her presence filled the car, her scent lingering, delicate and intoxicating. Somehow he like the fact that he could smell her this close. "I like this" he said to himself.
"You sweat a lot when you're with me," he murmured, his eyes tracing her in a way that made her chest tighten. Almost lost looking, his gaze went down and his eyes rested on he tiny scarf shielding her, and he frowned just enough to make her notice his expression.
"Here", handing her a handkerchief. "I'd rather you look flawless when we arrive."
The word 'flawless' echoed through her, making her breath hitch.
She dabbed at her skin, careful not to ruin her makeup. He watched her, unashamed, eyes dark with something unspoken.
When they arrived at the hotel, the world seemed to shimmer around them. The grand doors opened, and a butler appeared, bowing respectfully. Diane's eyes widened; she had seen such entrances in movies but never imagined experiencing one herself. Her steps faltered, caught between awe and self-consciousness. Is this really his world? she wondered, nearly whispering aloud.
"Madam, please, this way," the butler said politely.
But before she could move further, a deep voice cut through the air. "She will be walking in with me," Llewllellyn said, straightening his jacket. Diane froze, stunned. He was breathtaking—more imposing and elegant than she remembered. The tailored black suit hugged his broad shoulders perfectly, his sharp jaw and high cheekbones catching the ambient light like carved marble. From polished shoes to glinting watch and silk-dark hair, he seemed almost unreal, like a modern-day cheabol, commanding the space around him effortlessly.
His eyes flicked to the scarf at her chest. "Take it off," he said, reaching for it.
"Stop…" Diane protested softly, but he handed it to the butler with a quiet command. "Take care of this. Bring it back to her later." With calm efficiency, the butler obeyed, and Diane was left feeling exposed yet strangely liberated.
Then his hand extended toward hers. Her pulse jumped; her fingers trembled slightly before she placed them in his. Llewllellyn's smile was slow, charming, confident—the kind that made her knees weaken without her admitting it.
As he guided her toward the entrance, she felt a firm brush of his hand along her waist. Intentional. Commanding. It rested there, warm and steady, and Diane gasped softly, breath hitching.
"What are you doing?" she whispered, half scolding, half breathless.
"What?" he replied, eyes meeting hers.
"You don't really need to touch my waist, you know," she said, voice soft but firm.
A deep sigh escaped him, tinged with amusement and something darker. "I'm not touching you. I'm holding you in place. That's what a date with me looks like."
Her chest fluttered at his words, a curious pull radiating through her. For a heartbeat, she wondered what he truly meant by "a date with me."
Then, teasingly, he added, "You've never had a boyfriend, so you don't know what a date is like, huh?" His voice was low, rich, laced with mockery that made her cheeks flush.
In reflex, she swatted his hand from her waist. His eyes darkened slightly with mock disappointment. "Okay," he muttered under his breath, a faint edge of longing in the tone.
The hotel doors opened, then wider, and Diane could feel her chest hammer within her like it was about to break free from her chest. And immediately, all eyes turned toward them.