foreword

“So, Crystal Leonidas has finally come?" The entire room was silenced in anticipation. Meanwhile, Xander William lifted Crystal's chin with his cold fingers.

Crystal met Xander's eyes. The man was standing in front of Crystal, he was tall and strong. Without the warm glow in his eyes, his usual silly grin, or the mocking glare she had been used to. What was left was him as the head of Tygerwell—a cruel, untouchable, and dangerous man. Xander's eyes were icy cold, while the elegant black suit that replaced his jeans and denim jacket made it seem as if he had swallowed the light. All that was left was darkness and nothing more. 

The man who had been in a rusty truck with Crystal, laughing with her as they lied down on the grass, who hurled a sneer for the name engraved on his license plate, had disappeared. All that was left was this nightmare. Xander's aura scared Crystal as it should.

Like it had scared everyone in this black-dominated headquarters.

"Well, well, I'm flattered." Still touching Crystal's chin, Xander tilted his head. His warm breath caressed her neck, accompanied by a passionate glance. His lips curved upwards. "You know ... when you decided to enter my world. You should know that there is no way back, Princess," Xander said hoarsely.

Crystal's blood rippled, as his words passed through her ears. Her body stung as soon as their skin touched. Deep down she knew that this wasn't right, but it was far too late to run now.

"Suivez-Moi, Je vais vous y conduire (Follow me, I will take you there),” muttered Xander in a thick French accent, he sounded as sexy as how she had remembered him. Then, he took her hand, leading her through the giant black wooden door and onto the oversized chair at the end of the long conference table.

There he sat, smiling faintly as he stared at each of these meeting rooms in his headquarters along with the people who would not dare to move under his control.

With a single tug on the waist, Crystal sat on his lap. Like a stuffed toy. Her eyes widened, almost squealed as his cold forefinger ran down her thigh through the slit of her high dress. Slowly rose up and up. Until his fingers stroked gently there.

Damn. Crystal's plan was like this, but not like this. Not this much. 

"Sit down. Let’s start the meeting,” said Xander lazily to his men who were still standing stiffly, waiting for further instructions. "I want to do it with her on my lap."

Crystal turned her gaze to the men in suits who bowed respectfully then swiftly carried out Xander's orders. She tried her best to smile, putting on a mask. Even though her heart was pounding loud in her ribcage, she dared herself to ask, “Are you sure my presence is not disturbing?"

“It is not." His breath caressed her ear. She did not know what made her shiver, the damn warm breath, the fingers running down his thigh, or perhaps both? "You are very beautiful. All the men here are happy to see you, to taste your sweet lips. But, they must know what the consequences are if they dare to do that," said Xander coldly, full of persuasion as well as a stern warning.

Everyone looked further down and Crystal deliberately smiled mockingly.

When Xander's fingers caressed her knee, her smile froze. His light but seductive touch jolted her every nerve, caused her body to tingle. Moreover, his body odor wafted out. A pleasant mix of menthol and wood. Both sexy and manly.

Shit! This was not right.

Crystal really felt like a bitch, when her body reacted—closer and closer enjoying his soft bite on her ear, the tip of his nose started to creep up her neck, followed by the sensual caress of his lips. Heat began to spread on her face as Xander’s subordinates started the meeting.

She turned her head, trying to read the look on his face when she caught a faint twitch appeared at the corner of his lips. 

Damn Xander. Cursed him.

Crystal knew he had noticed her reaction. How he considered this as a game. However, she was sure he did not know how much she felt like she was being cursed. This was a mistake. She felt that she was no different than a bitch. Her marriage to Aiden was only three days away, she should not be on Xander William's lap in the first place.