The heat in his gaze was all-consuming, and Belinda felt her body respond before she could even think. She quickly lowered her eyes, but not before feeling a tightening in her core, a fire igniting deep in her belly—one she couldn't quite suppress, no matter how much she tried to fight it.

Quickly, Belinda scrambled out of his lap, and to her relief, he let her go. Her heart pounded frantically in her chest as she retreated to the far end of the cushion, putting as much distance between them as she could.

Belinda moistened her lips and glanced at Stavros, only to find him watching her intently with a wicked smile. He looked at her as if he could see right through her, as if he knew exactly why she had bundled herself away.

Her face burned crimson with embarrassment.

"Run all you want, honey, but you can never hide from me," Stavros said, his voice smooth and confident.

He stood with leisurely grace, his long legs unfolding as he strode to the desk in the corner of the room. With a press of a button, the atmosphere shifted. Moments later, Elise arrived.

Stavros conversed with her quietly, his teasing demeanor replaced by an air of steely authority that made Belinda's stomach twist.

The ruthless man she had glimpsed before was now on full display, exuding power and control with every word. Elise listened intently, nodding every few seconds, her posture tense.

Belinda's curiosity burned. What are they planning?

At last, Elise left, and Stavros turned back to her with a barely contained grin that didn't reach his eyes. He walked back to the cushion and resumed his seat, his movements unhurried yet purposeful.

She was right. Moments later, a group of models arrived, each one clad in a new outfit. They strutted in like goddesses of the runway, each with their own unique walk, their heels clicking against the floor in a rhythmic cadence that filled the silent room.

Before Belinda could process what was happening, Stavros reached out and dragged her to his side. His arm wrapped around her waist, his touch firm and possessive. She stiffened, her breath catching as his musky scent enveloped her.

Heat radiated from his body, seeping into her skin and making it impossible to think clearly.

What was it with him and trapping her in the cage of his body? Belinda sulked and sat stiffly, trying not to squirm as the models paraded before Stavros, presenting the various clothes they wore. She could feel his gaze flicker toward her now and then, an amused glint in his eyes that made her skin crawl.

He was enjoying this—watching her discomfort as he evaluated the models, judging and dismissing the clothes on their bodies with a flick of his hand.

Elise stood at one corner with a tablet and stylus pen in her hand, taking note of any item he had expressed interest in.

It was then that Belinda realized he was choosing those clothes for her. Her teeth gritted in annoyance.

Was there no limit to his bossiness? Stavros was selecting outfits she wouldn't even dream of wearing—skimpy, short, scandalous. Was he trying to announce to the world at a glance that she was his mistress?

At last, they reached the section that made her stomach twist. If she thought before that the situation was dire and embarrassing, now Belinda wanted the ground to open up and swallow her as the models strutted out in nothing but their lingerie.

She twisted her head to look at Stavros, but he was watching the models intently as one by one, the models stepped forward in barely-there lace, their gazes bold as they showcased each piece for Stavros, who didn't even attempt to look away.

The way he sat there, leaning back with one ankle over his knee, exuding control, stirred something in her she couldn't dare define—She hated it.

How can they not even feel embarrassed? Belinda wondered. They were wearing next to nothing, and there was a man here scrutinizing them.

If it were her, she'd never expose her body so comfortably in front of a stranger. But these girls—they were eating it up, enjoying Stavros' gaze on them. It was as if their sole purpose on earth was to gain his attention.

The girls were excited and giggled like they were in an all-girls school and suddenly it was announced a boy will be visiting. You can tell that in their way they were fighting for his attention.

One model did a seductive pose so close to them, pushing all her hips out. Belinda thought that if she bent any further she might catch a glimpse of something she definitely didn't want to see. Belinda's body stiffened.

What the hell? Was this what Stavros was into?

Scratch that. What she wanted to know was whether this was a regular activity for him. Has he done this before? He didn't seem in the least bit short of feminine attention.

So why her? With all these women practically throwing themselves at him, he could have anyone he wanted. Why had he chosen her?

Belinda hadn't realized her fingers were digging into her palm, nor that Stavros had been watching her the entire time.

It wasn't until she turned her head that she found herself face to face with his gaze, filled with quiet amusement. He was so close that Belinda could count his eyelashes, see the flecks of gold in his iris, and notice the faint stubble on his jaw.

The curve of his lips seemed to mock her, drawing her attention in a way she couldn't ignore. His breath brushed against her skin, so close that she only had to lean in slightly, and their lips would touch.

Belinda recoiled, a wave of shame washing over her as she realized what had just crossed her mind. Had she just now been lusting after Stavros? Her face burned crimson. What a hypocrite she was. She tried to step away from Stavros, embarrassed, but he held her tight.