Chapter 5
PERCY'S POV
The moment I see Kat, I can't look away. She's absolutely breathtaking, even more so up close. Her dark hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders. Her deep brown were eyes filled with confusion. She looks exactly as I remember, yet somehow even more captivating.
But she's terrified.
"Are you a stalker?" she asks.
I laugh, raising my hands in surrender. "I promise I'm not. But yeah, I was following you just now. Not for anything sinister, I swear."
Her eyes narrow slightly, as if weighing my words, but she doesn't run. That's a good sign.
"Let me buy you a coffee," I suggest. "Just to talk. No pressure."
She hesitates but eventually nods. "Fine. One coffee."
We walk in silence to a small café just down the street. I hold the door open for her, and she steps inside with her arms crossed over her chest. She doesn't trust me yet, and I don't blame her.
Once we're seated, I introduce myself properly. "Percy," I say, offering my hand.
She eyes it for a moment before shaking it. "Kat."
"I know," I say with a small smile. "We've met before."
Her brow furrows, and I lean forward, resting my arms on the table. "Years ago, I had a ski accident. Pretty bad one. You showed up out of nowhere, stopped my bleeding, and called for help. You saved my life."
Kat's lips part slightly. Her expression shifts to one of distant thought. "I... I don't remember that."
"I do." My voice is firm. "I tried to find you when I got out of the hospital, but by then, you had already disappeared. I heard you got married."
At that, her face falls, and my stomach twists at the pain that flickers in her eyes.
"Yeah" she whispers "I was"
I look at her in confusion "Was?"
"He cheated on me.And he divorced me."
Her fingers tremble slightly as she wraps them around her coffee cup. I can hear the unsteadiness in her voice, the way she's barely holding herself together.
"Kat..." I don't know what else to say. Nothing I say will erase the betrayal she's feeling.
She takes a deep breath, then looks up at me with an intensity that takes me off guard. "I want to spend the night with you."
My heart stutters in my chest. "What?"
"I just... I need to be with someone," she says, her eyes pleading. "To distract me."
My throat tightens. "Kat, you're not thinking straight."
She leans closer. "I was faithful to him. The whole time. And what did I get in return? Betrayal."
She swallows hard and exhales shakily. "I don't want to feel like this anymore. I don't want to feel like I wasn't enough."
I look at her—really look at her. Her full lips, her soft curves, the vulnerability in her expression. I want her. God, do I want her.
But not like this.
"No" I say
She tilts her head. "Are you not attracted to me?"
I let out a dry laugh. My gaze involuntarily flickerS to her curves, the way her dress clings to her body. "Kat, trust me, I want you more than anything."
Her breath hitches slightly. "Then what's stopping you?"
I reach across the table, taking her hand gently in mine. "Because when I have you, I want all of you. Not just for one night, not as a distraction. I want you when you're ready to give yourself completely to me."
"What?"
"Trust me, Kat. When I fuck you, you're going to come back for more. I don't like to make love. I like to fuck. I want you to be fully ready when the time comes. That's why I want you to be absolutely sure"
She stares at me, lips slightly parted, as if she wasn't expecting that answer. Her fingers tighten around mine for a brief moment before she pulls away, looking down at her coffee.
The silence between us is thick. But I meant what I said.
When Kat is mine, she'll be mine completely.
And she will be.
My phone buzzes, interrupting the moment. I don't even want to check it—I'd rather stay right here, looking at Kat as she plays with the edge of her coffee cup, lost in thought. But when I see the name flashing on my screen—James, my head of security—I know I can't ignore it.
With a sigh, I answer. "Yeah?"
"Sir, Brittany is outside causing a scene."
I pinch the bridge of my nose, already feeling a headache creeping in. "What kind of scene?"
"She's drunk and yelling at the guards. Says she won't leave until she sees you."
I close my eyes for a brief second, inhaling deeply. Brittany. Of course. She always finds a way to make things complicated.
"I'll be there soon," I say, hanging up before he can respond.
I look back at Kat, having a feeling of regret. "I'm sorry, I have to go."
She lifts her gaze "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, just... something I have to deal with." I hesitate, then add, "Let me give you a ride home."
She shakes her head and a small sad smile tugs at her lips. "I think I'll stay here for a bit."
I study her. My stomach tightens. She looks so beautiful in the dim lighting of the café. Her hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders. There's something about her—something that makes it hard for me to leave. But I force myself to nod.
"Alright," I say, pushing my chair back. "Be safe."
She watches me go, and I swear I see something flicker in her eyes—something I don't have time to decipher. As I step outside and head toward my car, I cuss under my breath, realizing I forgot to ask for her number.
Damn it.
I shake my head, slipping into the backseat of my car and telling my driver to take me home. The ride feels longer than usual, and my thoughts keep drifting back to Kat. The way she looked at me. The way she said she wanted to stay. The way she almost—almost—seemed like she didn't want me to go.
I want her more than anything. I've spent years searching for her.
But not now.
When I finally pull up to my gate, the sight before me makes my blood boil. Brittany is standing outside, arguing with my guards. Her words are slurred and her movements seem erratic.
The second she sees me, her face lights up. "Percy!"
I step out of the car, keeping my expression neutral. "Brittany, go home."
She stumbles toward me, nearly tripping on her heels. "Not until you talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about."
She pouts, reaching for my arm and pressing herself against me. Her perfume is strong, too sweet, and it makes my stomach turn. "Come on, Percy. Don't be like this."
I gently but firmly push her back. "You're drunk. Go home."
Her hands slide up my chest. "I miss you," she whispers, tilting her head up. "Don't you miss me?"
"No."
She flinches at the sharpness in my tone, but she recovers quickly, pressing herself against me again. "Come on, Percy," she purrs. "Just one night. For old times' sake?"
"I'm calling you an Uber."
She tries to protest, but I ignore her, pulling out my phone and ordering a ride.
When the car arrives, I open the door and gently guide her inside. "Go home, Brittany."
She glares at me, but there's defeat in her eyes. "Fine."
I shut the door, watching as the car drives off before turning back to my house.
As I step inside, I run a hand through my hair, glancing at James. "Make sure another crazy person doesn't show up at my gate."
He smirks. "I'll do my best, sir."
With a sigh, I head upstairs, but my thoughts aren't on Brittany. They're on Kat. And the nagging feeling that I should've fought harder to stay with her tonight