Page 16 of His Ruthless Match

“Not the word I’d use, but sure.” He had the nerve to wink. And just like that, he was gone.

Fuming, I clenched my fists at my sides. The nerve of him.

Grabbing my phone, I typed furiously, jabbing the keys harder than necessary.

Eva:What the hell, Raffaele? Seriously? Jareth?

I didn’t have to wait long for his reply.

Raffaele:Good morning to you too.

I rolled my eyes.

Eva:Don’t “good morning” me. He just showed up in my apartment soaking wet and half-naked because of a pair of bracelets YOU made us wear.

Raffaele:He’s doing his job.

Eva:Babysitting isn’t a job. It’s a punishment. For both of us.

Raffaele:He’s not that bad.

Eva:False.

I threw my phone onto the bench, then ran a hand through my damp hair. I didn’t have time for this nonsense. My schedule was already packed, and the last thing I needed was my brother’s assassin throwing himself into my personal space whenever he felt like it.

My phone buzzed again, and I snatched it up, ready to chew Raffaele out some more.

Raffaele:Focus on your day. I’ll come by tonight, and we can talk.

Eva:Fine. But he’s your problem, not mine.

When Raffaele didn’t respond, I tossed the phone back down with a huff. If Jareth thought this bracelet gave him free rein to pop in whenever he wanted, he was sorely mistaken. Tonight, I’d make that clear to Raffaele…and to Jareth if I had to. I didn’t care who Jareth was or how fucking skilled he was, I didn’t want anyone interfering in my life. I’d made it this far with no issues and had no plans of giving up my hard-won independence and the carefully controlled life I’d developed.

I needed a shower. Preferably one long enough to wash off the lingering irritation and the image of Jareth’s stupid smirk burned into my brain.

Balancingthe precariously stacked drink carrier in one hand and my tote bag in the other, I elbowed the door to the office open with a bit more force than necessary. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, immediately catching Theo’s attention.

“Morning, boss!” Theo chirped, appearing out of nowhere like the office elf he apparently moonlighted as. His grin was as vibrant as his suit—navy today, paired with an offensively bright tie dotted with tiny pineapples. “Did you bring me my liquid lifeline? Oat milk, too? Be still my heart. Youarethe best.”

“You only love me for the coffee,” I muttered, setting the drinks down on the reception desk. My oat milk latte perched precariously on the edge of the carrier, and I snatched it before it could tip over.

Theo winked. “You’ve figured me out. Guess I’ll just take this and slink away in shame.” He snagged his cup, sniffed the lid theatrically, and sighed in mock contentment. “Ah, bliss.”

Nadia adjusted the sleek braid that fell over her shoulder before reaching for her drink. “Thanks, Eva,” she said softly, her warm smile making me feel just a little less like I’d already failed this morning. “You didn’t have to.”

“Yes, I did. If you didn’t take this one, Theo would just drink it, too.”

“True,” Theo chimed in shamelessly.

They laughed, but I had too much on my mind to join in. “All right, you two. Back to work. I’ll be in my office if you need me.” Latte in hand, I retreated before Theo’s morning energy could annoy me.

My office was as I’d left it: meticulously organized, every file and paper in its place. I dropped my bag in its usual spot and settled into my chair with a sigh, savoring the first sip of my latte. It was bliss—creamy, warm, and just sweet enough. Perfect.

That perfection shattered the second I glanced at my computer monitor.

A neon sticky note was taped dead center, its obnoxiously bright edges practically vibrating against the sleek black screen. The handwritten message was impossible to miss.

Hate that I missed you. Sorry if I left some cat hair on your screen.