He was the complete opposite of Bizaar Magazine eligible bachelor of the city. Here he stood like an angry God in a suit, frowning at me and handsome as sin. My stomach coiled and my heart dropped. In that instant, I knew I had no business asking him for any help. I legitimately screwed any chance of getting it when I stole $165,000 from him. Despair tightened my throat the moment Agent Mathis told him who I was.

Ch1m3ra!....His Hacker.....

After admitting the truth, I watched all sorts of emotions melt over his face. Everything from confusion, doubt, disbelief then Anger. I never expected his doubtful gaze or his laugh to sting. More or less, singe my ego but it did. I had to bite back the urge to flick him off, despite the predicament I was in. Gone were the fantastical dreams of the knight in shining armor, Damien Frost, sweeping in on his white stallion to save me.

Screw that!

Despite the goosebumps, his deep, masculine voice caused, I had to call him out for what he was. An egotistical jerk!

I simply could not stand by and have him think that just because I was a girl, I didn't have what it takes to be the best hacker there is.

As we face off, the tension in the room is wound tighter than an overly stretched rubber band. What goes from witty banter to an angry exchange of words is over the minute he threatens me.

I don't like threats.

My challenging gaze only darkens his.

Before he reaches for me, the other agent steps in and they begin to argue.

This was a mistake.

All hopes of getting the help I needed evaporated into thin air. I stand and walk out as they continue to argue. I wasn't read my rights. That's good...so, I can leave.

And I did.

I make my way as quickly as I can down the hall to the elevators. I am a nervous wreck as my heart pummels in my chest filled with fear. Fear that he will catch up to me. I felt relieved when the elevator opened up in the lobby. I was free. A few steps away from the revolving doors and I am completely free. I couldn't push this metal thing faster than I wanted to as it made a short round to the opening making me spill out of cool air into the warm balmy city air.

I ran quickly to hail down the yellow cab that had just dropped off a passenger but just as quickly took off.

"Ugh," cursing under my breath, I glanced at the clock on my phone. I looked around and took in the day. It wasn't that much of a bad idea to walk. I really did not live that far. I take to the sidewalk and follow the flow of people walking into the downtown area. I walked and replayed my day and how it went. It really didn't go as planned. I suddenly feel the effects of hunger as I realize I hadn't eaten anything all day. I look up and my vision zeros in on a nearby Chinese restaurant. I have a couple of dollars for a bowl of wonton soup and egg rolls. Its pitiful, I know. But, it's all I can afford and it's my reality.

When I enter, the mouthwatering aroma hits me, and I am suddenly at the counter before a girl with a wide smile.

"Welcome to China Wok, what can I get you today?"

I return the smile and give my order of Wonton Soup and an egg roll. Once she give me the total I pull out my prepaid card and pay.

Within minutes she places a container of hot soup and a little paper wrapper with an egg roll on the counter. I pick it up and look around for an empty spot. I find one in the corner, and I sit. I know I should be out and about doing the impossible to find my brother, but I can't think straight on an empty stomach. I relax some and pull off the lid to my soup, blow it and take a sip. I pull my phone out and still don't see any messages from Jeremy at all and his calls still go to voicemail.

A couple of minutes pass as I continue to look through my emails and other text messages then suddenly, I feel someone join me at my table. I look up and I am staring into familiar angry gray eyes. I felt a spike of fear as I nervously look around for a way to escape and the idea withers away as he shifts in his chair and stretches out his long legs so that they block me from scooting out of my chair.

I swallow hard on my now dry throat as his muscular frame leans over the small table and his gorgeous face inches closer to mine.

"Let's go," he says.

Flustered I look around, but my efforts of escaping are fruitless as he quickly reaches for my left hand and closes his fingers around my wrist. My stomach plummets. Shit.

I look at my soup. I really wanted to finish my soup. My stomach said as much as it painfully churned.

"NOW!," his voice growled.

I tried pulling my hand away, but his grip tightened and turned painful.

"Either you stand and walk, or I drag and haul your ass out of here. It matters little to me if I cause a scene."

I feel my cheeks warm; I casually look around at the semi-empty establishment and turn to look back at him. His glare says he will and the reckless part of me wants to tempt fate and see how far this will go but the rational part of me; The weak, hungry, and sickly part of me can't muster up the strength for such a showdown.

"Fine!" I whisper. I place the lid back on my soup, reach for my backpack and grab everything then stand as he leads me out the door into his car.

The whole ride through out downtown sitting next to him was long, too quiet, and terrifying. I had no clue what awaited me. What he was about to do? I look around out the windows and notice we are leaving the downtown district and heading to the inner city. A little too far away from home. Panic seizes me.

"Where are you taking me?" I turn to him and ask.

But he remains quiet and stoic beside me. I wait for his response, but he gives me none.

"This is kidnapping. It's a serious offense you know?" I struggle for composure.

"And so is hacking and stealing." He responds barely looking at me.

I lower my head and look away. Guilt flooded me. He was right. I sit back stewing in my fear as the city grows and high rises are on just about every corner. We bend a corner and turn into a garage and towards an awaiting valet. My door is opened, and I step out. I look at the door in the far distance where another valet stands. I hear Damien mumble something to his driver and shortly he climbs out and waits for me. Our eyes lock. I want to run but I seriously don't think my wobbly legs will get me far.

We walked in and I remained quiet as he exchanged a few words with the valet. I kept my head down as he looked at me and then at Damien. I knew that look. It was a look of warning that I didn't belong. I was out of place.

Standing in the elevator beside him just about had every inch of me trembling. I tried my damnedest to not show it and I locked my legs in place to steady myself as the elevator ascended slowly. He stood beside me staring forward barely looking my way. Everything about him radiated poise and stamina. His cologne lightly hinted in the air around us. Clean and masculine.

My chest locked. Here I was in an elevator with the city's wealthiest bachelor, ogling him when my brother's life was on the line. He needed me and I could not fail him.

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