Chapter 4 Into the Lion’s Den

• Even without seeing her face clearly, Lennox found himself uncharacteristically unbothered by this woman’s presence.
• “Move, please.” Serena clamped a hand over her mouth, clearly fighting nausea as she tried to rush past. But Lennox, now able to see her face, grabbed her arm before she could escape.
• Serena was dressed to the nines that night, wearing a bold, sleeveless red dress that clung to her slender frame, showcasing her sharp shoulders and delicate collarbones. Few could pull off such a striking color, but her porcelain skin made the dress seem perfectly natural on her, even giving her an almost ethereal glow.
• Lennox, a man accustomed to beautiful women, felt a sudden rush of heat. This woman looked like she’d been born to cause trouble.
• There was something hauntingly familiar about her features, her eyes, and the curve of her face. He frowned, trying to place where he might have seen her before. “Have we met—”
• Before he could finish, Serena’s stomach gave in, and she couldn’t hold back any longer, emptying her stomach right onto Lennox’s expensive Italian suit, ending his question abruptly.
• Lennox glanced down at the mess now smeared across his tailored suit, his brows knitting with disgust.
• “Mr. Savill…” his secretary, Vanessa Zeller, stammered, her face drained of color. She knew full well about Lennox’s fastidiousness—he couldn’t stand even a wrinkle on his clothes, let alone a stain on his suit. Glancing at Serena, still heaving, Vanessa silently pitied her.
• The air turned icy. Lennox’s face darkened as he shoved Serena, who was slumped against him, away from his arm. He peeled off his ruined jacket, tossing it unceremoniously into the trash can nearby.
• The sharp stench in the air was unbearable. Lennox grabbed Serena before she could slump to the floor, his gaze as frigid as ice.
• Vanessa cautiously took a few steps back. She had worked under Lennox for over five years and had never seen him this visibly furious. She approached cautiously, “Mr. Savill, should I… prepare a change of clothes in the suite?”
• “Do it.”
• “And this young lady?”
• Lennox turned a cold, scrutinizing gaze onto Serena, who had now passed out completely. If he hadn’t been holding her, she’d have already collapsed to the floor. Normally, he would’ve tossed her aside without a second thought, but there was something vaguely familiar about her. He was certain they’d met before, though he couldn’t pinpoint when. With a face like hers, he should remember.
• After a moment, he thrust her into Vanessa’s arms. “Bring her up with me.”
• …
• Serena drifted into a strange dream, one where she was still the B-list actress, still wrapped up in a romance with Shawn. She dreamed of their secret rendezvous, the thrill of sneaking around to avoid paparazzi.
• In her dream, she lay in Shawn’s apartment, too lazy to get up after a late night. He’d gently kiss her forehead and tiptoe out of bed to make her breakfast. Everything was perfect, like a scene straight out of a movie.
• But then the dream warped, like film slowing down in a horror movie. Blood filled the surgery room, and its metallic tang invaded her senses. The weight of betrayal crushed her, stealing her breath.
• She jolted awake, gasping.
• The room was pitch black, dark as midnight. She couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. Beneath her was a plush bed, but above her… above her was the heavy breathing of a man, his weight pressing down on her. This wasn’t a nightmare anymore—there was an actual man, suffocating her with his presence.
• Serena’s mind went blank with fear.
• She remembered drinking with Victor, trying to keep him drinking so he’d sign the contract. She’d had to keep pace with him, so she’d ended up drinking a lot herself. Then… What happened after that?!
• She recalled dragging Victor into a hotel room and handing him a glass of water laced with a sleeping pill. But after that… her memory was a blank.
• The man’s breathing grew heavier, his hands wandering over her skin.
• A creep! That was her first thought.
• “Get off me, you jerk!” she spat out, her voice laced with venom.
• “You came onto me first, sweetheart,” came the man’s hoarse reply. His voice wasn’t unpleasant, but that didn’t matter now. Apart from Shawn, she’d never been this close to another man.
• She struggled, thrashing against him. “Get off of me!”
• Lennox let out a low hiss of irritation. He’d had no intention of touching her at first. But in her sleep, Serena had clung to him like he was some kind of stuffed teddy bear. He was a man—a perfectly healthy one without any reason to hold back.
• And he didn’t plan on holding back now, either.
• He gripped her wrists, pressing them above her head to stop her struggling. His voice turned cold. “You threw yourself at me, and now you’re playing hard to get?”
• What nonsense! Serena cursed him silently. When had she ever thrown herself at him? When had she ever wanted him? But her strength was nothing compared to his; fighting him was impossible.