"What?"

"I'll fix it. Whatever the problem is, I’ll take care of it," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

He stared at her for a moment, eyes hard and confused. He let out a sharp breath, then barked, "I need to make a call. Can I use your phone?"

The girl froze in shock for a moment, but the next second, she scrambled to pull her phone out of her pocket and handed it to him without hesitation.

"Of course, sir. Please, here. Talk for as long as you need."

"Thanks," Dante muttered, taking the phone from her. She was too grateful, nearly bowing as she backed out of the room, practically running out as if to escape his wrath.

Dante took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He dialed Anya’s number once again, using the assistant's phone. After a few rings, she finally picked up.

"Hello?"

"Anya!" he snapped, his voice rough with anger. "How dare you cut off my call?!"

"Why can't I?" she retorted. "It's my phone!"

"Answer me," he gritted through his teeth. "Why did you take that ring from Luca?"

"Oh my god!" she cried out, exasperated. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you getting this jealous over something so small?"

"I'm not jealous!" Dante growled, his voice harsh. "I don’t get jealous. I have everything! Why the hell would I be jealous of anyone in this fucking world? Just answer the damn question!"

Dante could almost hear her rolling her eyes on the other end of the line.

“Dante Kingsley, you’re like that ex who refuses to accept what’s in front of them until it’s ruined. And now you’re calling me back, not even admitting you’re jealous. That’s rich.”

Dante's entire body stiffened. His voice dropped, the warmth evaporating from his words as he responded, his anger now taking on a dangerous edge. "Meet me at Skyline Dining in an hour. We're having dinner together."

Dante wanted to show her that she mattered to him the most. That he could give her everything that no one else could.

“I don’t want to have dinner with you,” Anya snapped immediately. “You can eat on your own. Or maybe you can take your new secretary with you. That should make you very happy.”

Dante’s grip on the phone tightened. His voice dropped into a dangerous growl. “I’m not jealous. I’m angry. How the hell could you take a ring from another man when I could give you ten times better?”

"Goodbye," Anya said coldly, her voice sending a chill down his spine. "I’m done with this."

Dante's entire body stiffened. His voice dropped, the warmth evaporating from his words as he responded, his anger now taking on a dangerous edge. "Meet me at in an hour. We're having dinner together."

"I don't want to have dinner with you," she snapped immediately. "You can eat on your own. Or maybe you can take your new secretary with you. That should make you very happy."

Before Dante could respond, she hung up, her voice leaving a chilling silence behind. He stared at the phone in his hand, his anger reaching a boiling point.

He cursed under his breath. He dialed her number again, this time from his own phone, but it went straight to voicemail. She had blocked him.

Frustrated and seething, Dante grabbed the other phone from the desk, rising from his chair with a ferocity that startled everyone in the office.

He stormed past the assistants, tossing the phone back to the girl who was sitting, staring at him in shock. Without sparing her a second glance, he left the office, his expression dark, his anger a storm inside him.

***

Anya was heading to the main road to wait for her driver to bring the car when, as she lifted her eyes, she spotted Dante leaning against his car. His arms were crossed over his chest, his eyes cold and intense, locked directly on her.

She immediately changed her path, walking in the opposite direction. But before she could take a single step, Dante wasthere, his movements swift and determined. He grabbed her, lifting her off the ground and throwing her over his shoulder.

"Hey! Put me down!" she snapped, struggling in his grip. "Let go of me!"