A DEAL WITH DESIRE

d suddenly grown unfamiliar. I stood at the edge of the Aramanthe estate, the grand gates behind me now a distant, fadin

uncaring, unforgiving. I was alone. Truly alone, reminding me of my mother's death..how cold that nig

but as part of my father's plan, equipping me to take my supposed place in his sprawling empire, to assume control when the time came.

skills I had once believed would lead me to power were just words o

g simple, something I could afford to risk. A place where no one knew my name, no one would r

, even. My potential employer had examined my resume with clinical detachment

here?" he asked, his vo

f the chair, refusing to waver under

brow arching slightly. "Tha

ters," I said evenly, keepi

eaned back in his chair, studying me as though

. "With your background, you could be working anywhere. Yet here you are, si

ify me?" I countered, lifti

mile tugging at the corner of his l

ur curiosity," I said sharp

, perhaps crossing his face. "Fair enough," he murmured. "Tho

s gaze head-on, refusing to let h

re determined to keep your secrets, I suppose I can respec

if I couldn't handle

circling each other, two predators in a silent battle of

seemed to see through every wall I tried to build. He wasn't flashy or overly charming. In fact, he had a way of keeping things su

something that didn't sit right. Like he was always

in the background. I was used to following orders, used to being part of a system, but this...this felt diffe

mbling more than once, my confide

for the third time that week. His voice was patient

him. The way he seemed to notice everything, the way h

mething I was used to, after years of dealing w

Theo approached my desk. The office was mostly emp

id, his tone calm but firm. "There's a

guard. "Tonight? I w

gaze steady. "We need it, and I expect it com

on stopped me. I couldn't afford to fail. This job was more

most of the office had cleared out. The quiet of the space pressed

reets deserted. I stretched my arms, my body aching from hours hun

uldn't quite place. I found myself lingering in the doorway, half in shado

as entirely on his work, the sharp angle

gaze away. The cold, clinical nature of his work con

behind me. Theo didn't look up. His attention remained fixed on the documents in fro

ght in my throat. I wasn't sure what I wanted

eyes meeting mine, sharp, un

id softly, the hint of a s

to respond. "I finished the re

ak, unconvincing..ev

s arms, his fingers laced together. There was something calculate

e light but edged with something I cou

s disarmingly composed, his features sharp and yet impossibly elegant. And desp

served, his voice low a

, but I didn't lo

ddenly, the air between us

ice softer now, but still laced with authority. "It

he mystery, the quiet power that radiated from him. And as t