Chapter 2

LUCIAN POV

“What do you want today, Lucian?"

Jessica's voice carried the same confidence it always had. She stood across my office, one hand resting against the polished mahogany desk, completely unbothered by the silence stretching between us.

Most people feared silence around me.

But Jessica never had.

"I told you to stop seeing Gavi."

My words landed like a verdict.

She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before looking at me again. "You dragged me all the way here because of that?"

"I don't repeat myself, Jess."

And that brought a faint smile to her lips.

"No. Because you threaten people instead."

She knew me too well. Yet wouldn't learn.

And I think that was the problem with keeping someone alive long enough. They mistake familiarity for immunity.

"Gavi has become careless," I continued. "And careless men become liabilities."

"And what does that have to do with me?"

She asked spitefully, like she dared to hate my words.

"Everything."

She folded her arms. "Or maybe you're just looking for someone to control because your little obsession won't let you breathe."

The room immediately grew colder, and wider.

"Kira."

"Isn't that her name?"

She laughed softly, but I know her better. I could see through her eyes. She was equally hurt, as her ridiculous words had me too.

"There it is."

But I was quiet, studying her. I know her after all, and she knew who she was bargaining with, fully.

She walked around my desk until she was standing close enough to study my face.

"You've built an empire from fear, Lucian. Men twice your age shake when your name appears on their phones." Her eyes narrowed.

“Yet one college girl has you acting like you've forgotten how to sleep."

My jaw clenched. And a smug smile appeared on my face.

"I have seen you torture men without blinking."

She shook her head. Probably hating the fact she couldn't dare hit me.

"But now you're wondering whether a fatty likes flowers or coffee."

"Watch your mouth."

I said, hating that I was losing the fight. That is what she wants after all. To turn me into a monster. And if Luke could be any faster in bringing Kira, she would be terrified by the man I am.

"No, Lucian." Her cool had disappeared but I wasn’t having it, her chances are slipping and that’s bad if you ask me.

"I'm serious Lucian . Good girls don't survive in your world, and you know it."

Neither do innocent ones.

And the thought alone struck harder than it should have.

"Kira would call the police before she ever belong to a man like you."

The words although true, scraped something inside me.

Belong?

But no.I didn't want ownership.

Not when what I wanted was far worse.

I wanted certainty.

I wanted to know she would wake up every morning where I could find her.

And that no one else would speak to her.

Touch her.

Or convince her that the Devil deserved redemption.

Because they didn't,

Especially not me.

"Don't cross her path, Jessica."

My voice was almost gentle. But she knew better than anyone that my calm was infinitely more dangerous than my anger.

"If you involve Kira in anything..." I leaned forward, locking eyes with her. "I will erase every privilege I have ever given you."

I saw pain flicker across her face. Pain, not fear. And something else equally satisfying. Disappointment.

She nodded once and walked away without another word.

And as the door clicked shut, I snapped a finger to my back.

"Maron."

I called and my assistant appeared immediately.

"Yes, Sir?"

"Find out where Gavi is." I ordered, and he scrolled through his smartwatch.

"He will disappear before sunrise." He said fiercely, but that is not what I wanted, not yet.

"He doesn't need to disappear."

I said and Maron frowned.

"He needs to remember that loyalty has a price."

A slow grin crossed Maron's face, but he bowed slightly, his eyes vicious as ever.

"I will handle it."

"And Jessica?" He asked.

"I will make sure no one sells to Gavi through her connections again."

He nodded, knowing more than anyone else that I would restore my businesses, no matter who bleeds for it.

And now my control is restored.Or perhaps that is what I told myself.

Then my phone vibrated.

I got Kira. We will be there in twelve minutes.

My pulse thrummed loudly, betraying me, betraying the calmness I had practiced for hours.

Twelve minutes?

It seems ridiculous how that felt like a painful wait. When head of state had waited hours outside my office.

And even billion dollar negotiations had never made me this restless.

Yet here I was, checking the entrance cameras every thirty seconds because one university student was on her way to dinner.

"Pathetic fool."

I cussed out , yet I stood before the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Blackthorn Tower.

My own city, where politicians who owed me favors were waiting in lines to repay it. And even judges did not hesitate to pick my calls.

Power, the one that I sought and found, had become my routine.

But Kira had not. And that alone felt like failing.

She was slow, but not unintelligent.Like she was untouched by the speed the rest of the world worshipped.

Because I have seen her listen deeply before speaking.

Seen her smile at strangers.

She even apologized when someone else bumped into her.

She was in fact the kind that believed kindness solved every problem.

Every instinct I possessed told me that Jessica was indeed right. An innocent girl like her couldn't survive in my world. In my city. But I will burn before I see her get hurt.

A message flashed across the security tablet.

"They've arrived."

It said, so I turned toward the private VIP entrance.

Then I saw her.

And for one impossible second, everything else blurred.

She stepped inside beside two of my security men, nervously smoothing the skirt of her emerald dress.

It wasn't expensive. It didn't need to be.

But the dress embraced every generous curve she carried with a softness that made my chest tighten. She was as though created specifically for me.

I watched her eyes wander through the private dining floor.

The crystal chandeliers, to the live strings, and private chefs.

Like this was a room in the north wing of paradise, if something like that is correct to existing.

Then she looked at me, deeply, and then disappointment flashed in her eyes.

"You are LB?"

She asked and I nodded, pretending I haven't practiced welcoming her alone in my private estate this morning.

"And you rented the entire floor?" She asked, disbelief laced with annoyance clear at the edge of her tongue.

But I also saw the way her eyes took me in, fast and quick like she hate to admit she wanted a touch.

And I’m glad my good looks will keep her if I was close to lucky.

"I did."

And she frowned.

"Why?"

Interesting. I almost blurted, since I never have to explain to nobody in the past, but indeed, she is different.

"So that we would have privacy."

Her brows knitted together and she scowled, like she hadn't been dumped in the most annoying way possible by that loser, Peter Stiles, who I had in fact removed his father, Shaw Stiles, from the university board of directors.

"You know..." She glanced around again. "This must have cost a fortune."

"It wasn't expensive."

I say and she looked at me as though I had spoken another language.

"Maybe not for you, because I don't even know you. Maybe you work for the Devil..."

She stopped as if she was afraid of that word and I almost wanted to shield her, even from myself.

"I heard Lucian Brookmoore is a narcissist, a killer, and that he has his hand full in dirt and shit."

And there it was again. That honesty. No calculation. No attempt to flatter me. Just curiosity. Her only true weapon.

She pulled out the chair herself and sat.

"You really shouldn't waste money trying to impress me, and don't get involved with people like the Devil."

A smile almost escaped me. Almost. As if I wasn't laughing at her innocence and naivety, like I also wasn't scared if she truly would run if she knew who I was.

"And why not? He's handsome and wealthy."

She shrugged and winced softly, and as hard as it could get, I ache to feel the softness of her mouth on mine.

"Lies. I heard he's ugly and that's why he never allows his image or pictures on the internet."

Maron coughed discreetly somewhere behind me.

And I ignored him. Enjoying yet afraid of this judge. This poison that is so good yet tears me open to the danger of even my own heart.

Every woman I had knew who I am.

Always wanted what they could get. Wanted more.

More jewelry, more status, and attention.

Yet Kira wanted nothing to do with the same man that has everything.

God help me.

"I honestly thought you're a scammer and gonna ask me for money."

"But you outdid yourself and I can only try to do same.”

She said and I only allowed myself to listen, and study her.

Since none of my billion dollar deals merges with less difficulty than sitting across from this woman without reaching for her.

And since control had always been my greatest weapon.

But tonight...

Control felt like the weakest thing inside me. And her innocence is doing nothing to ease my troubles.

“I have got four hundred bucks, if it could count as something “

I laughed this time and love the look on her face, I want this woman, I wanted her more than anything in the world…

"Lucian Brookmoore, you have got yourself a very funny quest."

Jessica reveals and my little Miss Perfect's eyes popped in surprise, shifting her eyes from me to Jessica's face.