Rob B. Illion

I tightened my leather gloves, the slight creak of the material oddly comforting.

Sitting behind my desk in the sprawling penthouse office, the city lights outside sparkled like stars against the night sky. Sometimes, very briefly, I tried to spot the actual stars. Though the city never offered anything genuine like that.

I tilted my neck from side to side, feeling the satisfying click of my bones.

Illion Industries kept me busy — very busy. I had a team of experts running departments across various industries: automotive, investments, technology, and more. Yet still after the day passed, the night had more work waiting.

After all, such less... moral activities were best left for after dark.

My eyes drifted to the tablet that Secretary Coy had placed on my desk earlier. It contained a series of reports: black-market dealings, illicit imports, and a few new territories I'd need to deal with.

I had once imagined myself as a legitimate businessman, but circumstances had forced me into this role. The moment my family had been threatened, I knew I'd have to adapt or lose everything.

A few days had passed since the incident with Miss Corday. She was cunning, I'd give her that, but she'd gotten sloppy and ended up in police custody.

I glanced up from the tablet as Secretary Coy shifted slightly, his fingers hovering over the screen.

"Anything else?" I asked.

He took the tablet, hesitated, then sighed.

"Miss Corday, Sir. She's asking for fresh air again," Secretary Coy said, his expression as impassive as ever.

I leaned back in my chair, rolling my eyes.

"Tell her no. Again. Remind her that freedom comes with competence, something she failed to display last time."

Secretary Coy nodded, but there was a flicker of something in his blue eyes — a slight softening.

"Of course, Sir. Although I will say, Miss Corday appears restless."

"Restlessness is not my concern."

"I know, Sir," he said. "It's just... A dog that doesn't go out much tends to develop aggression once it is let out."

I almost laughed at the analogy.

Though I envisioned Miss Corday to be something closer to a hamster, I couldn't quite deny his comparison either.

"This dog already bites," I joked back. "I'm trying to teach it a lesson."

With a wave of my gloved hand, I dismissed Secretary Coy and turned back to my work.

As I reviewed the reports, Miss Corday's words from the weekend bothered me.

'I didn't expect someone like you to show mercy.'

Had I gone too easy on her? I've never shown mercy before. And I certainly never gave a second chance.

An image flashed in my mind. From the first morning after bringing Miss Corday into my home. Her brows puckered into a frown... as though she carried the world's burden.

What was she dreaming about?

I shook my head, trying to dispel the thought.

She was a liability, not an asset. Yet, somehow, she had managed to worm her way into my mind, and that irritated me more than anything else.

The clock on the wall ticked away the minutes, and I found myself glancing toward the hallway, as if anticipating her appearance. It was late. She was likely asleep by now.

What did Secretary Coy mean by restless? Had he paid attention to a detail that I somehow missed? As soon as the thought stuck, it refused to leave. Although I tried to continue with work, Miss Corday remained a thorn in my mind that I needed to remove.

Giving in to the curious side of myself, I finally set my work down and headed for her room.

I knocked.

As per usual, no response.

I knocked again, but still nothing.

A faint light peeked through the bottom of the door, so I knew she wasn't sleeping.

Is she ignoring me?

That incessant thorn dug deeper, and I decided to enter all the same.

I swung the door open, only to freeze at the sight before me.

Miss Corday stood there, barely wrapped in a towel, dripping wet from the shower. Her eyes widened briefly, then relaxed. A sly smirk crept onto her lips.

"Well, well, well," she drawled, crossing her arms. "Decided you couldn't stay away?"

My jaw tightened, but I held my ground.

"I knocked but you never answered."

She raised a brow.

"So, you marched right in? What if I was in an even more precarious situation?" she asked with a suggestive quirk of her brow.

"What precarious situation?"

What could she possibly be hinting at?

Her mischievous eyes grated at me. Like she watched a joke fly over my head.

"Maybe you never developed such thoughts," she teased. "It would explain why you're still a bachelor at your age. And so... pent up."

The tips of my ears heated, but I willed my expression to remain unchanged.

"If you're attempting to provoke me, Miss Corday, it won't work."

"Oh, please," she replied, tilting her head. "I think I already did. Admit it — you're curious about me. Otherwise, why march into my room like this?"

"Curiosity has nothing to do with it," I said, my tone as cold as the marble floor beneath us. "I simply came to make sure you're still functioning normally. I can't have you losing your mind. I need you to be useful, nothing more."

Miss Corday's laughter was quick, an inviting sound that seemed to wrap around me.

"Useful? That's all? Seems like your company is quite lacking if you had to resort to blackmail and imprisonment just to acquire someone useful for your dirty work."

She moved past me and grabbed a nearby brush, running it through her damp hair.

My gaze followed her movements, unable to shake the faint irritation bubbling beneath my calm surface.

"Your freedom is a privilege, not a right. And it's one you're in danger of losing."

Miss Corday paused, glancing back at me.

"You don't scare me, you know. For all your power and money, you're still just a man trying to control everyone around you. And I'm hardly scared of losing freedom I never fucking got in the first place."

"Watch your tongue, Miss Corday," I warned.

She shrugged, unbothered.

"Or what? You'll blow my head off? I've been locked up in here so long the idea is starting to sound appealing."

I stepped closer, the tension between us thickening. For all her bravado, she couldn't even hide the trembling in her knees.

"I could end this arrangement anytime. As much as you like to joke about it. One wrong move and you're gone. You should remember that."

Miss Corday met my stare.

"Oh, I remember. Your reminder is starting to chafe my damn skin!" she barked with a tug at her choker. "But here's the thing — you can threaten me all you want. I know you won't follow through. You need me."

I clenched my fists, tempted to dismiss her with the same cold indifference I applied to everyone else. But Miss Corday wasn't like everyone else. Despite her obvious fear, she still challenged me, poked holes in my carefully controlled world.

"I don't need you," I said.

The woman leaned in, just enough to invade my space.

"Then prove it. Let me go."

I scoffed, taking a step back, unwilling to let her win.

"You're here because you must repay me. And you're locked up because you failed quite spectacularly at a rather basic task. You're not here for my own pleasure. Quite the opposite really. Keep that in mind."

"Oh, I will," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She picked up her brush again, clearly dismissing me as she ran it through her hair. "I'll just be here, serving as your useful tool. Enjoy your evening, Mister Illion."

Her eyes gleamed at a thought I knew meant nothing but trouble.

"Oh, and if you ever need a way to deal with all that pent up... tension," she smirked. "I don't mind helping out."

I turned and left the room, shutting the door with more force than I'd intended.

Her laughter followed after me as I strode down the hall.

I tried to ignore the irritation simmering beneath my skin, but it wouldn't go away. That thorn in my mind had only dug deeper.

Miss Corday was right about one thing: I did need her. But I'd be damned if I'd ever let her know just how much.

Nothing was more important than getting access to Alister's accounts... I needed to find something on him before he decided he didn't want any competition anymore. Because although there was nothing I could take from him, he could take a whole lot from me.

***

I straightened my cuffs and took a deep breath before stepping into the upscale restaurant. La Rose de Minuit was one of New Hale's finest, reserved for the elite — people like me and Henri Rousseau.

I spotted Mister Rousseau at a corner table, already raising a glass to me. Beside him sat a beautiful young woman with blonde curls and a practiced smile. My jaw clenched.

I had a faint idea what this was about.

Mister Rousseau rose to greet me, extending his hand for a shake. I took a measured step back, raising my gloved hand in silent refusal — a clear warning against any further attempts at contact.

"Ah, Rob, it's been too long," he said with a nervous chuckle, sinking back into his chair. "I trust the city hasn't changed you."

"As much as it ever could," I replied coolly, taking my seat with a nod to the woman beside him.

"Allow me to introduce my daughter," Mister Rousseau continued, his gaze darting between us with a sharp eagerness. "Claudette is my eldest. She has her mother's spirit, you know."

The woman flashed me a dazzling smile, but I could see the calculation in her eyes. Another social climber, I thought. No different from the rest.

The dinner was pleasant enough, though I didn't order anything myself. We discussed potential ventures between Illion Industries and Rousseau Holdings, ranging from luxury goods to rare commodities. I kept the conversation business-focused, steering away from the topic I knew would inevitably arise. But I could sense Mister Rousseau's anticipation, the way he kept glancing between Claudette and me.

"Rob," Mister Rousseau said, lowering his voice as their dessert plates were cleared. "I have to say, a man in your position... So successful, yet still... alone. Have you ever considered settling down?"

I smiled, though it didn't reach my eyes.

"My work doesn't leave much room for anything else, Mister Rousseau. You of all people should understand."

"Ah, but that's precisely why you need someone to share it with." The plump man's gaze shifted to Claudette, who batted her lashes at me. "You know, Claudette has a keen mind for business. She'd make a fine partner — both in business and otherwise."

My fingers tightened around my glass of water, the gloves between my skin and the glass an ever-present reminder of my boundaries.

I loathed these moments — where the lines between business and personal became blurred. Where I was expected to bridge that gap, I'd carefully maintained for so long. I forced myself to maintain an air of civility.

"Claudette is lovely," I said, glancing at her. "But as I said, my work is my priority. I'm not sure I could provide the attention someone like her deserves."

"Ah, but think of the alliance," Mister Rousseau pressed, undeterred. "Together, we could accomplish so much."

"Are my accomplishments lacking in your opinion?"

That seemed to halt the man's sweet talking. I kept my eyes on him, unblinking, willing him to say something funny. A bead of sweat formed by his brow. Even his daughter shifted awkwardly.

"R-Rob, I d-didn't mean to—"

"A joke," I cut him off before he had a heart attack.

Pure relief washed over his features as he used his napkin to wipe his forehead.

"Ahahaha yes, of course," he said.

I inclined my head, but my mind was already elsewhere.

I couldn't fault the man for trying his luck. I was at that age after all. But the idea of sharing my space with another...

Suddenly Miss Corday came to mind. My cornered little thief.

That woman was proof of what a horrible idea it would be to tie the knot. I'd known sharing my space with her would be intolerable, a constant test of my patience. And yet it was even worse than I had imagined.

If I had to hear one more whining sigh from her lips, I might be tempted to keep her gagged. Not to mention how she constantly struts around in her nightwear. How many times must I remind her to dress appropriately?

Yesterday's little run in with her still crept up on me whenever my mind wasn't fully invested in work.

Though that might've been partly my fault, I still couldn't get the image out of my head.

Her wet hair dripping all over my floor... That smug little smile I wish I could put an end to... And her trembling hands that grated at me the most of all.

If I wanted someone to obey me, I simply needed them to fear me.

Yet it seemed the more terrified Miss Corday was, the more that attitude of hers surfaced.

I shook off the thought.

Miss Corday was a temporary obligation, nothing more.

I returned my focus to Mister Rousseau, offering a polite smile.

"Your proposal is... interesting. Let's discuss it further in my office next week."

Mister Rousseau seemed to take the hint, though his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Of course. We'll be in touch."

***

The lights were dim when I returned to the penthouse, and I immediately spotted Miss Corday by the kitchen, sipping from a glass. As per usual, she wore her silky black nightdress. It clung to her in a way that left little to the imagination.

I might have to make some wardrobe changes if this keeps up...

When she looked up, her eyes sparkled with something I couldn't quite place.

"Back so soon?" Her lips curled into a playful pout. "Did you miss me as much as I missed you?"

My eyes narrowed.

"Must you insist on parading around half-naked, Miss Corday?"

She laughed softly, setting her glass down.

"What? This?" She smoothed the fabric over her hips, pretending to admire herself. "It's what you provided. And since I never leave this luxurious little prison anyways, why must I bother dressing modestly?"

"You might be allowed your indecency in other men's homes," I replied, my voice clipped. "But not here."

I stepped further into the kitchen, keeping a safe space between us, but she leaned forward, her gaze taunting.

"Why? Scared you might get tempted?" she teased. "Are you going to break your little no-contact rule for me, Mister Illion?"

My knuckles whitened as I poured myself a glass of orange juice.

"Women of much greater beauty and influence have tried, Miss Corday," I quipped back.

"Mmmm, but there's a difference between them and me," she teased.

"What's that?"

She stepped closer, walking much like a curious fox with her hands behind her back as she peered at me.

I shifted back, slightly uneasy at the distance she was closing.

Miss Corday seemed to notice this as her eyes sparkled with mischief.

"I'm a brilliant thief," she said.

"And?" I raised a brow.

"And before you know it, I'll steal your heart."

"Ha!"

I laughed louder than I intended, the sound rumbling from deep in my chest. When I met Miss Corday's pouty face, it brought on another fit of laughter until I thought I might've seemed mad.

I hadn't laughed that much in...

"It's no joke, I'm serious!" she insisted, arms crossed. "Since my fate is already sealed, I might as well gain your affection instead of withering away like a pet."

The smile still played on my lips.

"You can't be serious. Just yesterday you demanded to be set free."

"Yes, and as your beloved, I'm sure I would get my freedom."

"Beloved?"

A chuckle rumbled through me once more.

My shoulders felt lighter at that moment, and I had the strange urge to play along.

I took a step closer to Miss Corday — surprising her. Keeping our eyes locked, I smiled down at her in a way that made her go very still.

"What makes you think I would let the woman I love leave my sight?"

I watched her visibly shiver at the words.

"Quiet now?" I pressed mockingly.

Her gaze sharpened in a way that perplexed me. She put on her usual smirk and shifted her weight.

"What if I'm up for the challenge?"

My breath quickened just slightly as I held her pale green eyes.

Then, she shrugged, breaking the tension. She went to place her glass in the dishwasher.

"Besides the jokes, I've come to terms with my situation, and I wish to embrace my role more comfortably." She turned to me with something almost genuine in her expression. "I want to work for you. As someone you can trust."

Despite the authenticity of her gaze, I wasn't so foolish as to believe her words.

"How convenient that you've had a change of heart. I'm sure it has nothing to do with wanting a little more freedom."

"I don't expect you to just hand your trust over," she said. "Let me earn it. I'll prove my loyalty. Any which way. Just say how."

My eyes were caught on her lips, the subtle way she pressed them together.

When I felt I might be staring too long, I cleared my throat and turned around.

"We'll see if you can put your money where your mouth is, Miss Corday."

As I walked away, she kept talking.

"So, you'll give me a chance to prove myself to you?"

"Sure," I smirked. "I'll book a hotel this weekend."

"A w-what?"

I laughed at the panic in her voice.