Chapter 11
Zach finally broke the surface with a whoosh after holding his breath for several minutes.
Spotting Donovan, he called out casually, “Uncle Don! You’re back?”
Then, leaning toward Giselle, who was still dazed, he whispered, “That hunk’s my uncle, the CEO of our family business. He always looks that serious, so don’t take it personally.”
Giselle thought she’d misheard. “He’s your uncle?”
“Yep.”
“Then, what’s your actual name?”
“Zachary Kane! You seriously didn’t know that?”
Giselle was at a loss for words. When she glanced back toward the poolside, Donovan was already gone.
“Let’s keep swimming,” Zachary said casually. “Uncle Don probably just came home for something. He’ll be buried in work soon anyway. Don’t worry about him.”
But how could Giselle focus on swimming now? Floating on her back, she couldn’t shake Donovan’s icy expression or Zachary’s shocking revelation. Her thoughts
twisted into knots.
Just then, Adrian walked up to the pool. “Mr. Zachary, Mr. Donovan wants you inside right away. He says it’s important.”
Though annoyed, Zachary had no choice but to climb out and head to the living room.
Giselle didn’t feel like swimming anymore, now that she knew this was Donovan’s place. Still dripping wet, she trudged to the nearest bathroom to shower and change.
As the warm water ran over her, her mind drifted back to what had just happened. She never would’ve guessed Zachary and Donovan were uncle and nephew.
That was beyond ridiculous–even cursed.
So, that villa where she’d met Donovan before was just his place for flings. This was his real home.
She shook off the thoughts, rinsed quickly, and within ten minutes, she was dressed and out the door.
Giselle had planned to slip away quietly, but her million–dollar bag was still in the living room, along with her phone and car keys. She had no choice but to force herself to stay calm as she headed that way.
But the moment she stepped inside–barely a few steps in, still searching for her bag–someone grabbed her hair from behind and yanked hard.
A sharp pain shot across her scalp. She gasped, her head jerking back, and when her eyes lifted, she met Donovan’s furious glare.
“Hey!”
Her gaze darted around the room, but Zachary was nowhere in sight. That was when it hit her–Donovan must have made up some excuse to send him away earlier.
“Tell me. When did you start screwing around with Zachary?“Donovan snarled, yanking her hair and jerking her face toward his. His teeth were clenched as he growled, “You came on to him on purpose, didn’t you?”
Giselle didn’t so much as blink at his menacing glare. She couldn’t be bothered to struggle, letting him drag her around and even daring to taunt him.
“What’s got you so worked up? Were you jealous watching me have so much fun with another man?”
The veins on his forehead bulged at her words. In a sudden burst of fury, he shoved her hard, sending her crashing onto the couch.
Giselle’s head slammed against the armrest. A sharp pain shot through her, and she winced, her mind spinning with dizziness.
“Who you hook up with is none of my business,” Donovan snapped, his eyes locked onto hers. “But stay the hell away from Zachary. Don’t even think about going near him again, or I swear I’ll kill you.”
So, her little “affair” with Zachary meant way more to him than she’d thought—a lot more.
But Giselle was done with his threats. She was an adrenaline junkie who laughed in death’s face. Did he really think she’d be scared?
Leaning against the couch, she flashed him a wicked grin and drawled, “Oh, I’ll hook up with him if I want. Go ahead. Try to kill me. I dare you!”
