His Sinful Revenge

Sophia:

I'll give you two days, Sophia. Two days." 

Jack's threat replayed in my head. Stealing from a billionaire like Lucas Louis?

That was crazy. A priceless da Vinci artwork? Even crazier!

Yet, here I was, palms sweating, in Louis' freaking' mansion. This was insane. Jail time was a real possibility, but hey, gotta do what you gotta do, right? For my sick mom at most.

Oh my God, I'm so nervous and scared!  

My heart pounded so fast as I reached the heavy glass door. With a quick press of the laser pointer against the keypad, and with a silent click, I was in. 

The room was dimly lit, with the smell of old money and leather-bound books thick in the air.

There were collections of paintings displayed around the walls, and there, amongst the masterpieces, hung the Da Vinci. It was smaller than I expected.

"Once you carry out this deal, I'll let go of all the money you still owe me." Jack's voice echoed in my head. 

"Alright, let's do this!" I mumbled.

In a practiced move, I went straight for it, straight into my backpack.

Rushing for the exit, I threw open the door and stepped into the hallway, eager to make my escape.

Suddenly, a deep voice startled me. "Lost, are we?" 

I turned around to see a tall, handsome man with a strong jawline; he had a hint of beards that shadowed his cheekbones and a warm smoky sapphire set of eyes.  

This had to be Lucas Louis. 

"Uh, nope," I stuttered, forcing a smile. "Just making sure I'm at the right spot for the delivery." 

He arched an eyebrow and had a hint of amusement playing in his eyes. "Delivery for me? Interesting. What is it?" he asked, still in amazement. 

Thinking fast, I pulled out a fake invoice. "Special delivery, sir. A one-of-a-kind hand-blown Italian crystal vase, as per your order." I said, my hands shaking as I stretched to show him. 

"You know, I was expecting a guest, and I thought perhaps she might have missed her way," he quipped. 

"And... you've never met this guest before?" I asked, with fear washing all over me. I needed to leave as soon as possible, even though his charisma made me feel drawn to him. 

He chuckled, a rich sound that sent shivers down my spine, both exciting and terrifying. 

"Crystal vase, huh? Now that's interesting. Come on, I'll show you where to put it," he continued, like my question was irrelevant.

Panic surged through me. This wasn't good. Leading him to the artwork meant getting caught.  

Time to improvise. 

"Sir," I blurted, "company policy says I have to deliver these fragile items directly to the designated room." 

He studied me for a moment, then shrugged.  

"Alright. Lead the way then." 

My mind raced. There was no designated room. As we walked, I faked a stumble. 

"Oh no!" I yelped, clutching my ankle dramatically.

Lucas reacted instantly, catching my arm. "Whoa dear, you alright?" His touch sent a jolt through me. a confusing mix of fear and something else entirely. Attraction, I guess. 

"Think I twisted my ankle," I whimpered, milking it for all it was worth.

"Here, sit down," he said, guiding me to a plush armchair on the landing. "Let me take a look." He said, his voice was tinged with concern. "You should probably ice it." 

"Thanks," I gushed, forcing a smile. "I should probably get going anyway."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on me a bit too long. 

"Maybe another time, then. We could chat...art." He gestured toward the fancy paintings on the walls. "I'm throwing an art gala next week. You seem to have an eye for the finer things." 

My breath hitched. This man, the very person I was robbing, was inviting me to a party? The audacity was...charming. 

"That sounds awesome, Mr. Louis," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "But I'll be, uh, out of town." 

 A complete lie but escaping with a priceless painting seemed like a more pressing engagement.