Page 18 of The Dragon 1

“DoIneed a reason?”

Zo quickly spoke, “No, sir. Not at all.”

“Well. . .” I gritted my teeth. “It would be really nice if you provided a reason or even compromised with me so that I could do my observations—”

Zo loudly inhaled his breath, desperately trying to stop me.

Tension thickened the room.

“Naughty Tora,” Smiling, he raised a finger and wagged it at me. “I don’t compromise, but. . .”

I stood there desperately waiting on his next words.

Mr. Sato kept his gaze on me. “Everyone leave.”

What?

Swallowing, I edged away and tried to rush off with Zo as he left the office. But I wasn't so lucky. Mr. Sato seized my arm and gently pulled me. “Not you, Tora. We’re going to talk aboutcompromises.”

Fuck. What did I get myself into?

Chapter three

When the Dragon Saw Her

Nyomi

All the suited men that had lined the walls marched out and didn’t even glance my way.

Mr. Sato didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t lift a finger. But the way the room responded to his silence told me everything I needed to know—power didn’t shout.

It watched.

Zo, being the brave man he was, fast-walked out of there as if his life depended on it.

“Mr. Sato, should I shut the door?” Jun placed his hand on the knob and waited for a response.

Ignoring him, Mr. Sato continued to sear me with his gaze.

My skin heated.

My heart beat so fast I thought it would detonate.

Granted, I knew he wouldn’t kill me. I believed he wouldn’t rape or hurt me. There were too many witnesses.

And I had my rights as an American.

Right? He can't just kill me?

But I had no idea why Mr. Sato wanted us to be alone and once he said I couldn’t do the study at his place, I was ready to go. Hot or not, I didn’t like him so close. Especially, when he assumed he could command me like his men or touch me like a lover.

Then the door slammed shut and with it left my quick escape.

For a second, Mr. Sato didn’t speak. He just watched me like I was both the question and the answer.

I gathered up my confidence. “Is there something wrong, Mr. Sato?”

“Call me Kenji.”