Page 61 of Kentrell

“Kentrell.”

“That’s it? Just Kentrell?” she teased, still sizing him up.

“That’s all you need.”

I damn near choked on nothing but air.

Ayesha turned back to me, one brow arched, then looked at him again. “Well… alright then.”

Something shifted.

Kentrell didn’t move. Didn’t raise his voice. But the room felt heavier somehow. Like we’d all just realized who we were really standing next to.

Ayesha noticed it, too.

“Mmhmm,” she muttered, easing toward the door. “I see what’s happening here.”

I shook my head. “Ayesha?—”

“Nope. I’m gone,” she said, pulling the door open like she wantednoparts. “My name Bennett… And I ain’t in it.”

She paused, glancing back at him. “Be gentle. She’s stubborn, but she’ll crack.”

He gave her one small nod. “I know.”

The door clicked shut behind her.

I glanced out the glass and saw her slipping into the elevator like she’d been waiting for that escape.

Kentrell didn’t move.

Just stood there, watching the numbers drop on the panel above the elevator. Waiting like he had all day to deal withme.

My pulse was damn near everywhere—neck, chest, fingertips.

Then he turned to face me fully, and I swear the air thinned.

“I told you stop fuckin’ playing with me, Zoe,” he said.

“Mr. Caldwell?—”

“I gave you a choice, ma,” he said, stepping toward me. “You act like I ain’t have my tongue down yo throat. Like you wasn’t moaning in my mouth, damn near ready for me to crack yo shit. Like that pussy ain’t been humming ever since.”

My lips parted, but I had nothing.

“You thought I couldn’t get up here without a keycard?”

He kept coming. Each step deliberate. Like he knew I wasn’t going anywhere.

“I’on do emails,” he said. “I’on do none of that back and forth. Zoe… you making shit hard when it don’t have to be.”

He stopped just a foot away from me. Close enough that I could smell his cologne. Feel his heat. Lose all damn logic.

And then his voice dropped low—quiet, but sharp.

“I told you what I wanted from you.”

I couldn’t move.

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