Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 263

A wicked gleam surfaced in Silas's eyes.

The subordinate stammered out the rest of the news: "M-Mr. Draken... we just got word from the auction house... a massive crowd of clients just showed up, claiming we sold them fakes.

The people causing the scene aren't nobodies... they're all elites from the Capital's inner circle. The manager is too scared to handle it and is begging you to come back immediately."

Silas gripped the tablet so tightly the screen nearly cracked under his fingers.

The look he shot Jarred was as vicious as a cornered wolf's.

Sienna stood to the side, quietly watching the intense standoff between the two men, the undercurrents surging.

Though no punches were thrown, the air crackled with the heavy, unspoken war between two apex predators.

The tension was thick enough to slice with a knife.

Watching Silas caught between a rock and a hard place, Jarred's eyes flashed with triumphant satisfaction.

He pulled his gaze away, looking down at the woman in his arms, his voice softening. "It looks like Mr. Draken has his hands full. We won't take up any more of his time."

With that, he reached out to wrap his arm around Sienna's waist.

But the second his fingertips brushed against her, she twisted away and walked straight out the door without looking back.

Jarred's hand grazed her shoulder, grabbing nothing but air.

Watching her resolute silhouette walk away, he knitted his brows together.

The door to the private room slammed shut behind them.

Sienna stepped into the elevator alone. Before she even bothered to select a floor, she rapidly pressed the close button.

Seeing how desperate she was to shake him off, a dull ache pierced Jarred's chest.

He stepped forward on pure instinct, forcing his way into the elevator just before the doors slid shut.

He caught her arm. His grip was firm enough to trap her, but gentle enough not to bruise.

"Let go." Sienna's expression was utterly detached, without a ripple of emotion.

Jarred stared at her profile.

She couldn't even be bothered to give him a passing glance.

She always had a plan.

She knew Silas. She knew he was unhinged, but he was unhinged with boundaries.

She wouldn't have gone alone if she wasn't completely confident.

She had no desire to explain any of this to Jarred, because it was a waste of breath.

Sienna slid her phone back into her purse. Her long hair cascaded down, hiding half of her beautiful, stoic face.

Looking up at Jarred's dark expression, her voice was completely deadpan. "Thanks for the warning. Now, if we're done here, let go. I need to get back to the hospital for a meeting."

She paused, her eyes hardening as she added, "I want to be alone."

The implication was crystal clear.

She didn't want him anywhere near her.

Staring into the absolute indifference in her eyes, Jarred felt a nameless fury knotting in his chest, trapped with nowhere to go.