The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes twinkling like stars in the night sky.

The divine beauty of Vivienne’s face, akin to a masterpiece carved by the gods themselves, made even someone like her—who prided herself on being no stranger to handsome men and beautiful women—pause in sheer admiration.

She belonged to him, and the fierce surge of possessiveness that rose from the depths of her heart quickly spread to her eyes.

Unabashed by her desire, Vivienne discarded her drenched dress. Her pale arms wrapped around Percival’s neck. “What’s so funny?” she asked, her voice sultry.

Percival’s gaze flickered. “I’ve already shared my thoughts,” he said. “Now’s not the time, so we have to… postpone ‘it’ a bit longer.”

Vivienne rolled her eyes internally. Who was really being put out here?

“You’re not worried about Kaitlyn?” Percival asked just before their lips met, voicing the final question of the night.

Before Vivienne could respond, the sound of labored breaths filled the steamy bathroom, spreading throughout.

As her mind hazed over, she thought she heard her phone ring. But then she was pulled into a sea of desire by Percival, all thoughts forgotten.

…

At the Hawthorn residence, the clock struck midnight.

Dorian sat up in bed, sleep nowhere in sight. His gaze then shifted to the emails on his laptop, feeling as if a boulder weighed heavy on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

[By tomorrow, I want to see that Hawthorn Group has terminated the endorsement deal with Kala.]

He had been on edge for days, and those few words made his heart tremble once again.

He opened and closed Vivienne’s contact on his phone, looking years older all of a sudden.

The once gentle and resilient eyes were now filled with weariness.

long sigh echoed

was he supposed

The next day.

and Percival were determined not to follow the path laid out for them, which suddenly

to visit

with all the cars in your garage, do I really have to play chauffeur?” Leopold complained as he followed Vivienne into the house. He’d

knew it, he was waiting

was unrepentant. “Got

Leopold replied, shaking his head like a tambourine. “Besides, I’ve got nothing else going

and glanced back at him. “What? You’re on

Vanguard Agency. Right now, anyone not assigned to an important person is basically on house arrest. Micah and Vance, too. The ones with assignments get their orders directly

to mind. “Oh, and Thomas tried calling you yesterday. Said he couldn’t reach you. He asked me

nodded in acknowledgment. “I’ve already arranged for him to be taken back to the

family?” Leopold didn’t understand. Wasn’t that the same

response, apparently not inclined

both upstairs and

answer and wouldn’t have come over if it weren’t for the lack of news

ready to call on the Order of

the master bedroom on the second floor and pushed open the

the person inside, she paused, “Dorian, why

in a suit and tie, ready to walk out the door at a moment’s notice, yet he was just sitting there, typing away

just now hear Vivienne’s voice. “Vivienne,

noticed the fine sweat on Dorian’s

glanced at the air conditioner blowing above and spoke softly, “I called you yesterday, and you didn’t pick up, so I came

hot, so I turned it on to cool down,”

he was terrible at

around before turning to whisper something in Leopold’s ear,