7. Chapter Seven Dante
Chapter Seven: Dante
T he first light of dawn spilled through the curtains, casting a soft glow on her skin. There she was, Jade, curled up on the bed, a serene expression on her face. It messed with my head, how different this morning felt. That bed never held more than cold sheets and the ghosts of last night’s sins. But here she was, a quiet storm sleeping next to me, her dark hair spread out on the pillow.
“Jade,” I whispered, though not loud enough to wake her. Last night wasn’t just skin on skin; there was something else, something that could either be my damnation or salvation.
As the city stirred awake below, so did she. Her eyes, clear and focused, always scanning the horizon for the next discovery, now blinked lazily at me. She hadn’t heard me slip out of bed to get breakfast ready and I assumed she was hungry.
“Morning,” she murmured, stretching like a cat, unaware of the chaos she could unleash in my world.
“Did you sleep well?” I asked, even though the answer lay in the softness of her smile.
“Better than I have in a long time,” she replied, and I wondered if I could say the same.
I ushered her out to the terrace where the New York skyline was a backdrop to our breakfast. She wore nothing but her panties and it was really hard to keep my eyes off her. But I served myself coffee and told myself that this was a great chance for us to talk, though what I really wanted to do was fuck her again.
I should’ve probably asked if she wanted to borrow some clothes, but I really liked looking at her like this.
The table was set with precision; delicate pastries were arranged alongside fruit, and the coffee smelled like promises and power plays.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice a gentle hum over the noise of the city. She reached for a croissant, not bothering with a plate, and bit into it, the flaky crust scattering over her bare thighs. I couldn’t help but watch as she brushed off the crumbs, her fingers swift and sure. “Last night was…unexpected.”
I smiled at her. “You had fun?”
“Yes,” she replied. “A lot of fun.”
“So did I. Jade,” I started, pouring us both a cup. “We’ve got a good thing here, you and I.” She looked at me, curiosity lighting up her features. “Our connection...it’s rare. And I’m not just talking about what happens behind closed doors.”
She took a sip of her coffee, her brow furrowing slightly as she waited for me to continue.
“Your brain, your work with biotech—it’s groundbreaking. And I’ve got resources, connections. Together, we could create something untouchable, unbreakable.”
“You’re talking about work already? I haven’t even finished my coffee.”
“Please,” I replied. “We both know you’re just as obsessed as I am. I mean, probably more, since you’ve dedicated your entire life to studying it.”
“True,” Jade conceded, setting down her cup with a soft clink against the glass tabletop. “But there’s something we need to address before we go any further.”
“What’s that?” I leaned back in my chair, watching her.
“My NDA with BioHQ,” she said, her eyes not leaving mine. “It’s ironclad. I can’t just share sensitive information, even if...well, even if it’s with you.”
“Understandable,” I replied, my mind already turning over the legalities. “But there are ways around that. We can draft a new NDA, one that covers both of us, tailored for our partnership. It won’t conflict with your existing commitments but will ensure our collaboration is protected.”
“Can we do that?” The question came out tinged with hope, and it struck me how much she wanted this—how much she believed in what we could achieve together.
“Yes. We’ll have it navigate the parameters of your current agreement with BioHQ, keep everything above board. Our partnership will remain as confidential as necessary.” I watched as the tension eased from her shoulders, her posture relaxing slightly.
“Right, but you still haven’t told me what kind of partnership you want. You didn’t just get into bed with me because you wanted to talk business, did you?” she asked, a horrified look crossing over her face. “Wait. You’re not like, a science groupie, are you?”
I smiled. “I don’t think that’s a thing. And no, look, I’m just…entrepreneurial. It’s how I’ve managed to expand my father’s fortune. You’re here, and I figured you would like to talk more about this than about…I don’t know, any awkwardness around last night.”
“Ah,” she said, not quite meeting my gaze. “That’s...much better than being a science groupie.”
“Good,” I said, inching close to her and putting a hooked finger behind her chin. “But if you prefer, Jade, I can talk about how hot you are. How fucking tight your pussy is.”
“I—,” she started, then cleared her throat. “That isn’t necessary.”
“No?” I asked, my grin widening. Her bluster was adorable, and I couldn’t help teasing her.
“Absolutely not,” she insisted. But her eyes were glinting with intrigue and something else...desire. Her nipples got hard at my words. It took a lot of willpower to continue talking business when I wanted to make her come again and again again.
“Okay,” I agreed, pulling my hand away to reach for my coffee.
We sat in silence for a moment longer, the noise of the city below providing a soundtrack to our quiet breakfast. She busied herself with picking at the rest of her meal while I sipped at my drink.
“I guess what I want to know is how this benefits you,” she said, tucking a strand of her behind her ear, her breasts bouncing when she did. “BioHQ has contracts with pharmaceutical companies, with giant producers of biological material. But you…you’re in real estate, right? I mean, your last name is all over the real estate scene. And when I’ve seen you at conferences, you said you were a science hobbyist. So I need you to explain this.”
I took another sip of my coffee, relishing the bitter taste. It was time to break it down for her, to explain what I saw in this partnership that she was missing. “You’re right about my family business,” I began. “We’ve got our hands in real estate, construction, you name it. But we also have a significant investment in pharmaceuticals. And your work, Jade...it has the potential to revolutionize the industry.”
“I’m still not following,” she said, her brow furrowed.
“Think about it,” I pressed on. “Your research could lead to breakthroughs in medicine we haven’t even dreamed of yet. And the manufacturing process...well, that requires facilities and infrastructure, doesn’t it? And yes, it needs meticulous work at BioHQ, but imagine if you could streamline some of the process.”
“Definitely,” she admitted, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. “But hiring a team like that takes resources that BioHQ doesn’t have.”
“Exactly,” I said, leaning forward. “That’s where I come in. I provide the resources, the facilities...everything you need to bring your research to life. We don’t cut any corners or rush anything; we just create an environment where your work can thrive.”
“And in return...?” she asked, her voice trailing off as she looked at me for answers.
“In return, my investment pays off when your research leads to new drugs, new treatments...new hope for people who need it.” Suddenly everything was out in the open, and I could see her mulling over my words, turning them over in her brilliant mind.
“But what about BioHQ?” Jade asked. “I mean, the work belongs to them. It’s their intellectual property.”
“Look, I’m not suggesting we steal anything from BioHQ,” I said, my voice firm. “We do this the right way. You keep your commitments, and we work around them. That’s why we need that complementary NDA. It’ll keep both sides safe while we build something monumental together.”
Jade hesitated, her lips parting slightly as she considered my words. She reached into her purse, searching for something. “I should show you the email from legal about my current NDA stipulations.”
Her hand emerged clutching her phone, but in the process, a slim plastic card edged its way out of her overstuffed bag, teetering precariously on the table’s edge. She was so engrossed in her search that she didn’t notice it slide out.
I caught a glimpse of the keycard—the one that granted access to the heart of BioHQ’s labyrinthine labs. The very labs where her life’s work breathed and grew. My eyes flicked to Jade, who was still scrolling through her phone, oblivious.
As if by instinct, I continued talking, maintaining eye contact with her, ensuring she remained absorbed in our conversation. With a casual sweep of my hand, I brushed the keycard off the edge of the table and into my lap, where I expertly palmed it and slipped it into the pocket of my black pajama pants.
“Found it,” Jade said, finally looking up from her phone. She seemed none the wiser, her focus solely on the screen as she showed me the email.
“Good,” I said, nodding as I glanced at the digital document. “This is good. We’ll craft our agreement to complement this perfectly. Your work with BioHQ will remain untouched and protected.”
“Okay,” Jade said slowly, still reading through the email with me. “If you think it can work without causing any legal issues, then... let’s proceed. If I had a team of researchers, I would certainly be able to go faster.”
“Trust me,” I assured her, my voice smooth as silk. “I have a vested interest in making sure everything goes smoothly—for both of us.”
She nodded, seeming to relax a little, and tucked her phone back into her purse. Unaware of the keycard now hidden in my pocket, she took a sip of her coffee and sighed, the weight of responsibilities momentarily lifting from her shoulders. I couldn’t help but admire her—the way she dedicated herself to her research, her unwavering ethics, even if they made my life more complicated.
“You can email that to me and I’ll set up a meeting with my legal team,” I said. “We need to make sure every aspect of our partnership is covered.”
She looked at me, her dark hair falling like a curtain around her face. “You’re right. I need to understand all the legalities involved.” Her eyes, filled with that steely determination I’d come to admire, met mine. “But Dante, I want everything transparent and by the book. No grey areas.”
“Transparency and compliance,” I echoed firmly, my gaze never wavering from hers. I hoped she couldn’t tell I was bullshitting her. “Those are our foundational pillars. You have my word on that, Jade.”
As breakfast began to wind down, I noticed Jade’s focus drifting back to her work—her true passion. It was time to kindle that fire she had for making a difference. She didn’t get into this because she was really into convalescent bonds, I didn’t think. I pushed aside the last of my croissant and leaned back in my chair.
“Jade,” I said, voice low and compelling. “Imagine the lives we could save, the diseases we could cure with your expertise and...our resources.” I gestured broadly, encompassing the world outside the penthouse windows. “We’re not just talking local impact here—we’re talking global.”
Her eyes lit up, and I knew I had her. “The advancements we could pioneer together will be groundbreaking. We could reshape the future of medical technology.”
Jade’s excitement was palpable as she leaned in, drawn to the vision I painted. “That would be incredible, Dante. To make such a transformative change... it’s what I’ve always wanted.”
“Then let’s make it happen,” I said, standing and rounding the table to her side. The promise of what the future held energized me, and I could tell it did the same for her. This venture wasn’t just another notch in the belt of the Moretti empire—it was personal. It was hope—a rare commodity in my world.
“Come on,” I urged, offering my hand. “Let’s get started on making history.”
I put my hand on her back and it took everything in me not to slide it lower.
“You have big plans,” she said.
“I have a lot of money,” I replied. “That helps.”
“Yeah?”
I nodded. “Once we’ve got the legal side buttoned up, nothing will stop us,” I told her, conviction steeling my tone. I had to do this. She didn’t know it yet, but I would move heaven and earth to make sure this happened.
Walking her to the threshold of my bedroom, I motioned toward the plush space. “You can get dressed in there,” I said, doing my best to keep my tone professional despite the intimate undercurrent. “Your blue dress from last night is still hanging up.”
“You hung it up?”
“Well, yeah,” I replied. “I wasn’t just going to let it get wrinkled on the floor.”
“Alright,” She responded, disappearing into the room without a second glance. As I turned away, I caught sight of her silhouette through the thin fabric of the door. It was tantalizing, yet all I could concentrate on was the weight of the stolen keycard pressing against my leg.
A few minutes later, Jade returned, looking as stunning as she had the previous night. The fitted blue dress clung to her curves in all the right places, and her dark hair cascaded down her back in soft waves. The sight was enough to weaken any man, but I forced my attention back to our partnership.
Reaching the elevator, I pressed the call button, the soft ding echoing in the hushed corridor. The doors slid open with a whisper. But instead of ushering her inside, I pulled her close, my arm snaking around her waist, and claimed her lips with a hunger that betrayed the control I typically wore like armor.
Jade gasped, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she melted against me, her curves pressing into my growing desire. My hand found hers, guiding it down to feel the effect she had on me. The raw need coursing through my veins demanded satisfaction.
“You want this?” I breathed against her lips, seeking confirmation, craving her surrender.
“Yes,” she whispered back, her hand gripping me through the fabric of my trousers.
“Good.” I kissed her again, harder, sealing the promise of what was to come. “But first, dinner,” I said, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes, smirking at the flush spreading across her cheeks. “Even I’m not uncivilized enough to skip wining and dining you first—though believe me, Jade, I really want to fuck you.”
Before she left, as the elevator dinged, I grabbed a random business card and scribbled my name and my personal phone number on it. This was a direct line to me, not one my underlings or my father could intercept.
“Use this if you need anything,” I said, my voice low. “Day or night.”
She took the card, her fingers brushing against mine, sending an electric jolt up my arm. Her eyes locked onto mine for a moment, filled with a mix of emotions—curiosity, excitement, maybe even a hint of fear. Then she tucked the card into her purse without breaking eye contact.
“Thank you, Dante,” she replied, her voice steady despite the charged air between us.
“Jade.” I paused as the elevator doors began to close. “I’ll call you soon.”
“Because of work.”
“Sure,” I replied, smiling at her. “Because of work.”
She nodded, and then she was gone, swallowed up by the closing metal doors and the building beyond. I stood there for a second longer, staring at the brushed steel as though I could still see her face reflected there.
Back in my study, the weight of our interaction—and all its implications—settled over me. I poured myself a drink, the amber liquid catching the light as I swirled it in the glass. It was too early to drink but I didn’t give a shit.
I sank into the leather chair behind my desk, the one that had seen too many late nights and difficult decisions.
Dr. Jade Bentley. She wasn’t just brilliant; she was fucking stunning. And now, she had a direct line to me, to my life, which was something I never gave out lightly. I trusted few people, and for good reason. In my world, trust could be exploited, turned against you in ways you couldn’t anticipate. Yet with her, it felt different. Dangerous, but necessary.
“Fuck,” I muttered, downing the drink in one go. My father would have my head if he knew what I was getting myself into. Hell, Marco would probably laugh himself hoarse before warning me off. But this wasn’t about them. It was about me and Jade, and whatever the hell we were starting.
If I played my cards right, maybe I could prove to my father that this was worth it after all.
The risks were high, but the rewards...
If we both played this right, the rewards could be higher than either of us had ever dreamed.
I just had to keep us both alive long enough to reap them.