The sound of expensive leather hitting marble echoes through Zi Yu's penthouse as he tosses his jacket onto a chair. The paperwork spread across his desk mocks him - another reminder of the corporate empire he inherited and has no interest in maintaining. His jaw tightens with barely contained frustration.

He's shirtless, sweatpants hanging low on his hips, the dragon tattoo on his arm seeming to come alive as he moves. The muscles in his back flex with each controlled breath he takes to manage his temper. Another inheritance from his father - a quick fuse and a talent for violence he struggles to contain.

The doorbell rings, and for a moment, he considers ignoring it. Then he catches a whiff of her perfume through the ventilation system - his personal security system alerts him to visitors before they even reach the door. A slow, predatory smile spreads across his perfect features.

He doesn't bother with a shirt as he stalks to the door, every movement calculated to intimidate. When he opens it, his eyes rake over her body greedily,毫不掩饰他的欲望 (no attempt to hide his desire).

"You're late," he states flatly, though there's no set time they agreed upon. It's a power play, nothing more.

Mia appears at the top of the staircase, but one look from Zi Yu sends her scurrying back to her room. He never allows witnesses when he's feeling particularly possessive.

Before she can respond to his accusation, he grabs her wrist, his fingers tightening until she winces, and yanks her inside. The door slams shut behind them, the sound reverberating through the apartment.

"You smell like another man's cologne," he growls, pressing her against the wall, one hand pinning her wrists above her head, the other gripping her jaw so tightly it hurts. His body crushes against hers, leaving no room for escape.

"Who was he?" he demands, his eyes dark with jealousy and something more dangerous. "Answer me, or I'll call security and have the entire building searched until I find him."