Chapter 174 A Dangerous Gamble

The place reeked of wealth and rot. Genevieve stepped inside the dimly lit suite of The Marquess, a hotel known for its discretion and its taste for scandal. Her long trench coat draped open, revealing the emerald dress clinging to her like wet silk. Her dark curls had been hastily pinned, but one tendril snaked free, brushing against her jaw as she scanned the room with practiced caution. Caldwell stood near the window, backlit by the hazy city skyline. He was elegant personified, tailored suit, hand-polished shoes, a glass of cognac swirling in his hand. But there was something in his smile that chilled her more than the night air creeping through the cracked window. It was the smile of a man who believed he already owned her.