Page 3 of Monsters Wear Crowns (Crowned Monsters Duet #1)

I didn’t know what I wanted from him. To see him react? To know that he felt it too, this slow, sick pull? Or maybe just to see how far I could take this before one of us broke. What would it even look like? Would he break down my door and pin me down on my bed? Would he take his time with me?

I stood there, lost in my wild thoughts, until my legs felt weak, and the weight of his stare burned through me. I was so dizzy from something I didn’t understand that I had to reach out, pressing my palm to the cool glass. And then, finally, I yanked the curtains shut.

But I didn’t step away.

I stood there for a long time, forehead resting against the window, breathing hard. How was I breathless? I slid into bed, wondering if he was still there and when I’d see him again.

** *

The next morning, the city outside was already awake, but I couldn’t shake the weight of the encounter from the night before. The same hum of traffic, the same people hurrying down sidewalks. Nothing had changed. Except that it had.

I pushed the thoughts away. I had a meeting to attend, and the world didn’t stop spinning just because I had a feeling something had shifted. After closing the curtain, I sank into my bed with one of my dirty stalker romance books. Imagining him breaking into my house and taking me was…

I shook my head.

God, I was so fucked up.

I stood in front of the mirror, surveying myself.

A tailored navy blue dress, knee-length, hugging my figure in all the right ways, paired with white heels.

Simple, elegant. Just the way I liked it.

I adjusted my bangs and drew some liner on my blue eyes.

My heels clicked sharply as I walked toward the elevator, the soft buzz of the building’s machinery filling the silence.

As usual, my assistant would be waiting at the office with papers to sign, calls to take, and the endless stream of work I kept at arm’s length.

The elevator doors closed with a soft ding , and I glanced at my reflection, catching the slightest trace of something unreadable in my eyes.

I couldn’t explain it, but something felt different recently.

It was almost as if my soul was withering under this lavish lifestyle.

Most would think I was foolish, but I knew they wouldn’t survive a day in my Saint Laurents.

The city below, the buzzing traffic, the people milling around–it all felt distant , like I was watching someone else’s life unfold.

I had always refused to believe that I had any mental health issues, but sometimes, I related a little too much with derealization.

So perhaps that was why he was the most interesting thing going in my life.

** *

When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out into the sleek marble lobby of my building. The concierge gave me a polite nod. Everyone was polite here. There were no surprises–nothing unexpected. Or so I thought. I was tempted to ask them about the man, but I was already running late.

When I stepped out of the elevator, I was hit by the familiar sight of Sinclair Solutions’ office.

The space was sleek, high-tech, and streamlined–just like everything else in my life.

A digital clock mounted in the lobby ticked away the minutes, a reminder of the time I couldn’t afford to waste.

The modern glass walls framed an open-plan workspace, with employees lounging behind sleek desks, their eyes glued to glowing screens and laughing with one another.

This was where I thrived . Managing my empire of cybersecurity, tech innovations, and covert operations was my life.

Sinclair Solutions wasn’t just a cybersecurity firm.

It was a fortress of secrets. To the world, we were an unassuming firm providing digital protection to some of the biggest companies.

In reality, we were a shadow empire, keeping the criminal underworld from being exposed.

My company had its fingers in every pie, from keeping public figures’ private lives under wraps to guarding digital criminal networks.

We were everywhere and nowhere at once. My father showed me all of the ropes to prepare me to take over.

I grew up within these walls, surrounded by kind faces and intelligent brains.

As I walked through the rows of employees, I made my way toward Laura’s office, which was located at the far end of the floor.

Laura had been with me since the very beginning–my closest confidante in both business and personal matters.

We’d been friends since childhood. Her fiery personality and sharp mind had helped me navigate the murky waters of the tech world and the criminal world that often collided with it.

I knocked on her door before entering, finding her hunched over her desk, her face illuminated by the screen. She had her long, blonde hair pulled into a messy bun, and her blue eyes were narrowed in concentration. She didn’t even look up when I stepped in, lost in whatever she was deciphering.

“Long night?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe.

She finally looked up, offering a smirk that told me she was more than aware of the clutter in our lives. “The usual. But I’m making progress on the encryption issue. It’ll be sorted by this afternoon.”

I nodded. Laura was a force. Brilliant, no-nonsense, and as relentless as I was when it came to work. But we also knew when to cut loose. “Good. We need it.”

She swiveled in her chair, studying me with a sharp gaze. “I can tell something’s off with you. What’s going on?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Someone’s been…stalking me. He showed up at my apartment the other night.”

“What!” Her eyebrows shot up. “Who? Why the fuck haven’t you mentioned this?”

“I don’t know.” I sighed heavily. “And...a man. Dressed in black, hood up. Stood outside the door like he was waiting for me to open it.”

Laura’s lips pressed together into a thin line. “That’s creepy. Did you call security?”

“I didn’t. He only rang a couple of times.”

She sighed, leaning back in her chair, fingers tapping the desk. “If you’re worried–”

“I’ll keep an eye on it. But it’s probably nothing,” I said, though the words didn’t sit well in my stomach.

“If he’s stalking you, it’s not nothing .” Laura pushed her chair back and stood up. “Look, I’ll walk you home if you need. You know I’ve got your back.”

“I know,” I said, meeting her eyes. “That won’t be necessary, but thank you.”

“Fine. Now,” she said with a quick change of subject, walking to the small fridge in the corner of her office.

“You’re coming out with me tonight, right?

I need to get out of this office. I’ve been pulling, like, twelve-hour days this week.

We can go to the bar lounge and let off some steam.

You’ve been working yourself to the bone, too. ”

I considered it for a moment. “Maybe. I could use a distraction.”

“ Maybe? No way. I’m dragging you out. You’ve got to stop hiding behind your work all the time.” She pulled two glasses from her shelf, swiftly pouring a shot of whiskey into each. “Trust me, you’ll feel better. And if anyone can show you a good time, it’s me.”

I took the glass from her. “Okay, okay. You win. But just a few hours. I can’t afford to be off my game. I have to fly to Fort Lauderdale and go over a few things with Bart.”

“Blegh,” she scrunched her face in disgust. “That man is scary. How’s his money laundering?”

I rolled my eyes. “As exciting as ever, trust me.” I pinched my sinuses, willing away the headache already forming.

Laura grinned, her mischievous smile almost as dangerous as the weapons we sometimes handled in our line of business. “Good. We’ll go, have a blast, and then you can return to your little fortress of control . Perhaps even with a little friend.”

As she returned to her desk, I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering feeling that something was about to shift. I felt my control shifting, like claws tearing around in flesh. With a sigh, I downed the drink and headed for my office.