Her shoulders were slumped as she continued gazing out at the water. He didn’t tell her again it was time to go, he just hovered over her. The discussion wasn’t over, but Nick wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to say or do next. But he would feel a hell of a lot better if he could at least see her face.

After several moments, Chloe finally rose. Without looking at him, she began walking up the dock. He followed her, staying about a foot back the entire trail to the house. It felt like the damn green mile.

When they came in the back door, Chloe turned as if she were going to flee to her room. Nick wasn’t going to allow that. Without saying anything, he took her arm and steered her into his den. She didn’t fight him, but he felt the stiffness of her muscles as she reluctantly followed.

Nick took her to the couch and waited until she sat, then he moved to his bar and grabbed the good Scotch. Without hesitation he poured a glass and swallowed the amber liquid. The soothing numbness made its way down his throat but barely even touched his emotions. He’d probably have to down the entire bottle for that to happen.

“What do you want to drink?” The words were harsh. He didn’t care.

“I don’t want anything. I would just like to go to bed,” she said. He gazed at her as she shifted, her head down, her fingers twisting in her lap.

Nick placed some ice in a glass and poured her some Scotch, then he walked over and handed it to her. She took it with a confused expression. But after he stood over her for a few tense moments, she lifted the glass and took a sip. Her expression soured as the burning fluid made its way to her gut.

“If you’re trying to intimidate me, then it’s working, Nick,” she said after several more moments of silence. “I’m sorry I feel the way I do.” The last part came out with a bit of bite. She lifted the glass and forced herself to take another swallow, this time making herself cough. He stood there and waited.

“You’re employed by me, aren’t you?” he said, his voice deceptively calm again.

His words startled her enough to get her to look up at him this time. Her rounded eyes took in his appearance for the first time, and he saw a flicker of fear in her expression. Maybe his fury wasn’t hidden as well as he’d thought it was.

“Well, sort of,” she slowly said.

“There’s no sort of about it. You either are or you aren’t. Were you hired to do a job?” Nick hadn’t even known he could speak to someone so coldly before this moment. He didn’t necessarily like what she was making him become.

“I was hired to help you,” she said. “But you are fine now. I was going to tell you tonight that there’s no need for me to be here any longer.” Her words came out in a rush as if she might be afraid she wouldn’t say them if she didn’t speak quickly.

“The contract isn’t up,” he told her.

“Nick, you know you don’t need my help. You’re far enough now to do this on your own,” she said on a huff of impatience.

“I say when I think you’re done.” Damn, his voice was like ice.

“You are just wasting more money by trying to keep me here,” she told him with a bit of a glare.

“That’s not your call to make, Chloe.”

He moved back to the bar and poured himself another drink. The liquor still wasn’t calming him, but he feared how angry he’d be without the numbing fluid.

“I’m not your prisoner, Nick. I can leave anytime I want,” she informed him.

“Then go. Say good-bye to the deal you have with my uncle.”

He was satisfied when he saw her flinch. She needed the bonus she was promised. Probably to use the money to screw over some other man. Why in the hell wasn’t he kicking her the hell out of his house and his life? He honestly didn’t know.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to stay,” she said.

Nick smiled. It wasn’t a smile of friendship and goodwill. It was that of a predator about to strike. He wasn’t willing to play the games Paul had told him to play, but he was certainly willing to get something from her before he sent her on her way.

Chloe lifted her glass and downed the rest of the liquid. He could see her nervously swallow as she shifted in her seat. He towered over her before leaning down, boxing her in. She gripped the glass tightly in her hands as he forced her to look at him.

Nick was silent as he read emotions flicker through her eyes: fear but also pain. If only he could rely on what he was seeing, but that was a huge risk. She’d been deceiving him, at least in part, for a couple of weeks. Could she be faking the emotions crossing her features now?

“Nick . . .” His name came out on a sigh. He moved closer. “I don’t want to play games with you. I have no doubt it’s something I won’t win,” she admitted.

He grinned at her. Maybe she wasn’t as foolish as he’d been thinking she was.

“There’s no doubt I’ll win,” he assured her.

“If you’re trying to scare me, congratulations, you’ve done it,” she said.

His smile grew, but there was no happiness in his expression.

“You should be scared, Chloe, you should be very afraid. I’m not even close to being done with you―not by a long shot. I don’t like being lied to and I don’t lose when I enter into a game. You started something with me, and now you’ll damn well finish it.”

He licked his lips as she gulped. If only he felt better.