Page 200 of Modern Romance September 2025 5-8

Resignation, because this was all fake—for him, absolutely—and he almost couldn’t be bothered with it. But for the trillion-dollar empire he viewed solely as his birthright, what wouldn’t he do?

Love for Lottie had Jane straightening her spine, and finally, she was in control again, able to tamp down on the fast-moving current of sexual attraction and focus on the end goal. Distract, distract, distract. Thwart, thwart, thwart.

This wasn’t a big deal. Men like Zeus were so used to thinking they could take whatever they wanted, regardless of who got hurt. Well, it was past time for him to learn his lesson, and Jane would relish giving it to him.

‘Where?’ She made a show of blinking up at him, her own long lashes flicking against the softness of her cheeks.

He gestured towards a booth in the corner, dimly lit and private.

Her heart trembled despite her assertion moments ago that she was back in charge. But she didn’t convey a hint of her doubt. Instead, she turned on her stiletto heel and walked steadily towards the booth, sliding all the way along, into the corner.

It was only when she sat down that she realised he hadn’t brought their drinks with them, and her throat was parched and her nerves in desperate need of stilling.

No matter—almost seconds later, with a flick of his fingers, a bartender appeared.

‘What will you have?’

‘I—was fine with the champagne in there,’ Jane pointed out.

‘Champagne,’ he said, then turned to face her, placing his elbow on the table and his other arm along the back of the banquette seat, so he effectively caged her in the breadth of his body. After Steven, Jane had been terrified of dominant men. She’d tried dating a few times, but had gravitated towards slim, slight cerebral types. Men who couldn’t hurt her. Men she could defend herself against. Zeus certainly didn’t fit that mould, and yet she wasn’t afraid. At least, she wasn’t afraid of him. The fear that was trembling at the base of her spine had more to do with the force of want pulsating inside her.

She stared across at him, half wanting to back out of this—even when she knew she never could.

‘You’re buying another bottle?’

‘You want more?’

‘There’s a bottle open on the bar in there.’

‘Would you like me to go and get it?’

‘It just seems a little wasteful.’

‘I’m not bothered.’

She didn’t act quickly enough to suppress her sneer. Yes, she’d known men like him before. So carelessly wealthy, so utterly taking their ridiculous bank balances for granted. They never realised what a difference that money could make to the less fortunate.

The waiter returned with a champagne bottle and two glasses. When he went to open it in front of them, Zeus took the bottle and waved the server away in that manner of his that was pure ‘I am king, hear me command.’

‘Well, Zeus,’ she drawled as he uncorked the champagne and poured two glasses. ‘Tell me about yourself.’

He quirked a teasing expression in her direction, then lifted his glass in a silent salute. She reached for her own, clinking them together.

‘To new friends,’ he murmured.

‘And old ones,’ she added, thinking of Lottie like a touchstone now, aware that she had to focus on her loyalty to the other woman so as not to quit this hare-brained scheme.

He dipped his head once, apparently accepting her amendment, then took a sip. ‘What would you like to know?’

‘Do you work near here?’

‘Yes.’

Her lips flickered into a smile, then tightened when he glanced down, his eyes staring at her mouth in a way that made them tingle. The room was not warm, and yet Jane’s body was. She felt awash with heat and sipped the ice-cold champagne gratefully.

‘Where?’

‘Two blocks away.’