This week had been surprisingly good. Work, which usually weighed heavily on your mind, went smoothly. You even had a nice date, though he wasn’t quite your type. Now, you found yourself at a bar with friends, enjoying a much-needed night out.

You excused yourself to go to the bathroom, trying to ignore the curious glances from your friends’ husbands and Simon, your frenemy. You didn’t notice Simon excusing himself as well.

Leaning against the bathroom door, you waited for it to empty. Suddenly, a tall figure approached, making you jump. Your tension heightened as you recognized who it was.

Simon.

Your back pressed firmly against the wall, your breath catching in your throat.

“If I ever catch you with another man,” he said, his voice surprisingly calm as he leaned in close to your ear, “I’ll fucking kill him and make it look like an accident.”

He pinned you with a final stare, one that was a mixture of murderous intent and something else—something darkly possessive. The intensity of his gaze made your heart race, leaving you trembling in the confined space.