The Olympian's Concubine

Chapter 3

Shit, so the dude had figured me out in the short time I'd been with my friend. Great. I swallowed hard, desperately needing a moment to shake off the intensity of his gaze that felt like it was pinning me in place. To buy myself some time, I downed the rest of the drink, hoping the caffeine would give me a little boost of confidence—or at least blur the edges of the awkwardness.

The action only made him smile even more, that smug bastard. I was pretty sure he enjoyed this—watching me squirm a little, enjoying the show. "You really don't have to drink your way through this conversation, Aurora," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Yeah, well, it's either that or stare awkwardly at you, and I'm pretty sure I'd rather risk a caffeine overdose," I shot back, my heart racing. "Besides, it's not like you're making this easy."

"Making what easy?" he asked, leaning forward, intrigued. "The decision to help me? Or the choice to ignore how much trouble you're getting into?"

I narrowed my eyes, unwilling to let him see just how much his words rattled me. "Both, I guess. But I'm not exactly convinced that getting involved with you is the best idea."

He chuckled, a deep sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Oh, but I think you know deep down it could be the most exciting thing you've done in a long time."

"Exciting doesn't always mean safe, you know," I countered, crossing my arms again. "And I'm not looking to dive into anything that's going to blow up in my face."

"Trust me, I'm not that reckless," he replied, a spark of something serious flickering in his gaze. "I just need a partner who's willing to take a few risks. Someone who can think on their feet."

I huffed out a breath, trying to weigh my options. "And if I say no?"

His expression shifted, and for a moment, I could see the shadow of disappointment crossing his features. "Then you walk away, and I go back to finding someone else. But let's be real, Aurora: you're intrigued. You wouldn't still be sitting here if you weren't."

"Okay, maybe I'm a little intrigued," I admitted, my voice quieter now, almost hesitant. "But that doesn't mean I'm ready to jump into your world of secrets and whatever else you've got going on."

Adrian leaned closer, his voice low and persuasive. "But wouldn't it be better to find out what those secrets are instead of living in the dark? You're not the type to back down from a challenge, are you?"

I hesitated, biting my lip as I considered his words. The truth was, the thrill of the unknown was tantalizing, even if it scared the hell out of me. "You make it sound like some kind of adventure."

"Exactly. An adventure that might just lead to something bigger than either of us could imagine." He paused, studying me. "So, what do you say? Want to be my partner in crime?"

I felt a rush of adrenaline at his words, the thrill of the unknown beckoning me like a siren's song. But before I could respond, the air shifted between us, and I could sense a decision hanging in the balance—his gaze bore into mine, daring me to take the plunge.

But just as the words began to form on my lips, the moment was shattered. Adrian's expression shifted slightly, his eyes darting past me, scanning the room. "You know," he said casually, "I have to get back to work. But think about what I said."

"Wait, you can't just drop that on me and walk away!" I protested, trying to keep the edge of urgency in my voice.

He chuckled, that damn smirk returning as he stood up from the chair, towering over me like a looming shadow. "Why not? Sometimes the best decisions come from a little time to think."