Chapter 9

Sebastian Valdemar leaned against the second-floor railing, gazing down at Evelyn Roland in the booth below.

His slender fingers idly swirled the glass in his hand, a flicker of mockery in his eyes.

Evelyn suddenly looked up, as if sensing his stare.

Their eyes locked across the space.

As he turned to leave, she distinctly heard a derisive scoff.

"Hmph."

Evelyn averted her gaze, focusing on the two persistent heirs vying for her attention.

"Beautiful, care for a drink?"

"Back off. I asked first."

The men bickered like rutting peacocks, faces flushed with competition.

A wave of boredom washed over her.

With a twist of her wrist, she effortlessly broke free from their grasp.

"Get lost."

Dylan Orlando immediately took three steps back.

He knew his boss's temper all too well.

Dominic Laurent, however, refused to give up. He reached for her shoulder.

Evelyn drove her elbow into his stomach with surgical precision.

"Gah—"

Dominic doubled over, sweat beading on his forehead.

The woman hit like a truck.

Irritated, Evelyn left the booth and headed for the secluded lounge area.

In the shadows, Isabella Langley clenched her phone.

"Slut. Can't resist flirting, can you?"

She dialed a number, her lips curling into a venomous smile.

Meanwhile, Sebastian was ushered into the VIP section by his friend Zachary Merouin.

"Rare to see you here. What brings you?"

Zachary slid a freshly mixed drink toward him.

Sebastian's eyes unconsciously scanned the room.

"Keep this place clean."

"Excuse me?" Zachary looked baffled.

"No illegal activities." Sebastian's voice was ice. "Especially trafficking."

Zachary nearly leapt from his seat. "Sebastian! Who do you take me for?"

"Then control your patrons."

The memory of those cool, composed eyes unsettled him.

He'd misjudged her.

That woman wasn't some doctor. She was just a...

"Something's off." Zachary narrowed his eyes. "Since when do you care about this?"

Sebastian ignored him, downing his drink in one go.

Soon, a group of women approached.

He rejected each with a frosty glare.

Not far away, Evelyn scoffed.

Playing the prude.

As she turned to leave, she caught the bartender slipping something into Sebastian's glass.

The lighting was dim, but she saw it clearly.

"Serves you right."

She headed for the restroom.

The moment she pushed the door open, a strange sweetness filled the air.

"Damn it!"

She held her breath, but not before inhaling traces of the drug.

Her limbs grew heavy. Heat pooled low in her abdomen.

Aphrodisiac.

Three hulking men blocked the exit.

"Hey pretty, don't rush off."

The leader licked his lips as he advanced.

Fighting the haze, Evelyn pulled a silver hairpin from her updo.

"Who hired you?"

Their hesitation gave her an opening.

She struck with lethal precision.

Silver flashed. One man collapsed, clutching his throat.

"Try me."

The remaining two faltered under her murderous aura.

Evelyn bolted past them into the hall.

The drug's effects intensified. She needed refuge fast.

The upstairs VIP area was her only option.

Stumbling, she shoved through a door and locked it behind her.

Footsteps pounded outside.

"Where'd she go?"

Back against the door, Evelyn slid to the floor.

Sweat dampened her forehead.

She bit her tongue hard, using the pain to stay conscious—

Only to freeze at the icy voice behind her.

"Who gave you permission to enter?"