Zara's POV
"What?" I gasped. "I really didn't do anything." "We shall see about that." he said, stood up, hissed, and left for the dining room. Fuck. My body still tingles from his hand on my nipple. Is that how he played with everybody's feelings? Zara, I think you are really the person here playing with someone's feelings. But I haven't even done anything. "Crystal." I heard his voice as I quickly adjusted my top and raced to the dining room. "Am I supposed to serve myself?" I bit my lip and bent over to dish his food as I stood before him as he dipped the fork into the food. "Are you going to stand and look at me?" he asked, and I scoffed and took my seat opposite him. "Are you going to be counting the amount of food I eat, or did you poison it, and you are waiting for me to die?" How I wished I had poisoned it, bastard. I stood up and went to sit in the sitting room. Then, I saw his phone on the table and I looked toward him to see he wasn't looking. Then, a message popped up on the phone from the contact saved as Shadow: 'It's happening tonight.' What the hell is happening tonight? Is he going to kill people as well? I really need to keep an eye on him. "Bring my phone here." he yelled from the dinning room. He must have heard the pop-up notification sound. I picked up the phone and headed towards him as I handed it to him. He looked at the phone and looked at me, then looked back at the phone as he typed something and placed the phone back on the dining table as he continued eating. "Did you check my message?" he asked as he scanned me. "What's there to see?" I retorted back. "Are you talking back at me?" he demanded. "I am just answering you." I replied and in a swift motion, he stood up from his chair and headed towards me as he pulled me toward the table pinning me on it as his gaze went to my boobs who was clearly visible. He used his other hand to push my boobs upward, making the mould more visible. I almost let out a gasp but i didn't wanted him to stop like the other time."I told you, you are playing with fire." he said as his gaze left my boobs to mine, he let go of the hand beneath my boobs. "What will happen if I continue playing with it?" I said. "You will get burnt." he said. "Does that mean you would fire me?" I asked. Heck. I was starting to leave Crystal Greene, now I am becoming Zara Singh. I really should stop if I don't want to lose my chance at him. He can fire me right now and nothing would happen. "That would be for me to decide, not you." He said and I bit my lip to stop words from coming out. If I don't do that, I really would say what I am not supposed to. "Stop doing that." he said, letting go of me as he went back to the table. "Stop doing what?" I asked, but he groaned instead. I wonder what he asked me to stop doing? Stop behaving like that? Fuck him! I went back to the sitting room and barely sank into the cushion when his voice rang through. "Come and clear the dishes." I stand straight and went back to the dining room, and made to pack the dishes. "I am not done." he said and I sighed controlling myself from saying what's on my mind. If he wasn't done, why the hell had he called me? I took my seat opposite him and then the idiot voice came again. "But, I didn't ask you to sit down." and I quickly stood up and waited until the devil was done eating before packing the dishes into the kitchen. I have to find a way to keep an eye on him today, I can't let him out of my sight. I have to make sure he doesn't kill any innocent body tonight as well. But how? "You can go now." he said as I emerged out of the kitchen. "Is there any other thing you want me to do?" I asked. "Coming from someone who was squeezing her face on mere little errands." he said and I scoffed as I rolled my eyes. "Well...I am ready for any work now." I said. "I have somewhere to be in an hour." he said. "So, you can leave so I can start preparing." Yeah, he's definitely going to kill more people. Bastard. "Where are you going?" I had said before I regretted it. "Do I need to tell a kid like you where I am going?Moreover, it's not a place for kids like you." He said and I scoffed. "You will really lose your job if you continue behaving that way, Crystal." he said and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Wait...I can just follow him secretly. Perfect. Why didn't I think of that before? "I am feeling sleepy." I said as I pretended to yawn. "Goodnight sir." I bowed slightly. "Stop pretending to be respectful." he said as he stood up from the chair and went upstairs as I hissed behind him. Handsome devil. I quickly rushed into my room as I rummaged through my closet, I needed to wear something that would allow me to move freely. After a moment of deliberation, I settled on an orange shirt and fitted jeans, pairing them with a black face cap. A quick shower invigorated me. I was supposed to call Xander, but Cassius would soon be out, and I didn't want to miss him. I could inform Xander of my findings later. I sank down on the couch in my living room, anxiously waiting for the sound of Cassius opening his door. Finally, I heard his voice, faintly talking on the phone. My heart sank a little as his voice faded away. I opened the door slightly and crept through the hallway to the elevator. The elevator beeped as I pressed the button, and the doors slid open and I stepped inside. Once outside, I scanned the area. All the bodyguards were gone, and I caught sight of Cassius's car driving away. "Fuck," I muttered under my breath. I wished I had brought my own car, but Crystal was supposed to be a struggling rat, making ends meet. I stopped a taxi, urgency propelling my words. "Follow that car at a close distance," I instructed the driver, pointing at Cassius's sleek black Mercedes-Benz. I had studied my surroundings as part of my work and knew Cassius owned at least five cars—those were just the ones parked in his compound The taxi driver nodded, and we took off, following Cassius's car. It stopped in front of All Enjoyment Club, the only five-star club in all of New York. My stomach twisted with dread. Is he planning something terrible in a club? OMG! Devil! A bodyguard jumped out of the driver’s seat, swiftly opening Cassius's backseat door. He stepped out, and the two security men at the club's entrance bowed as he entered. Where are his other bodyguards? I thought, but I pushed the question aside. I had to focus. I paid the taxi driver quickly and made my way to the club entrance, only to be stopped by a stern security guard. "Where's your entry card?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. Dammit. I hadn’t thought of that. Before I could respond, a strange voice interrupted me. A man suddenly held me by the waist, declaring, "She's with me." The security men bowed, and I was swept inside. I had no idea who he was, but I didn’t question it. "Thank you," I said as we crossed the threshold, finally getting a good look at him. He was undeniably handsome. "Not yet," he replied with a smirk, pulling me toward the dance floor. Fuck me. What have I gotten myself into? I thought, covering myself with the face cap as I forced myself to dance with him. Then, fortune smiled on me when a man approached and whispered something in my companion's ear. He let me go and left the dance floor, and I seized the opportunity to slip away to a quieter corner of the room. Where is Cassius? I scanned the crowd but found no trace of him. Suddenly, a commotion erupted from a corner, and I hurried over to investigate. My heart dropped as I saw a group of girls collapsing to the ground. I moved closer, inspecting the scene—they had been drugged. Some girls were shouting in panic, and anger surged through me. Is this Cassius's handiwork? Just as I was about to intervene, a hand spun me around, and I stumbled against a solid chest. It was the guy who had helped me enter. "Don't get involved," he said firmly. "Let's go enjoy ourselves." "We need to save them! They’re being harassed!" I protested, pointing at the girl being dragged away by some guys. "No, there's nothing you can do," he insisted, pulling me by the waist. This bastard won’t let me go! I leaned in closer as if I had accepted his words. In a split second, I kicked him where the sun doesn’t shine. He let out a cry, doubling over in pain. Two guys who seemed to be his bodyguards rushed toward me, but I was ready. I grabbed a glass from a nearby counter and smashed it over the head of one of them, blood gushing out as he crumpled to the floor. The other lunged at me, but I twisted his arm behind his back and kicked him hard in the stomach; Xander trainings helped. I darted toward the girls, but just as I was about to reach them, I felt a sharp pull on my leg that sent me crashing to the ground, my face cap flying off. I turned to see the guy I’d smashed the glass on. He was the one who had pushed me down. But before he could react further, he suddenly fell to the ground, and I looked up to see another guy had kicked him from behind. Then, to my shock, I saw Cassius standing behind the guy. Panic surged through me, and I instinctively ducked my head, scrambling to retrieve my face cap. I really don't seem to understand what happened but Xander can help find out the rest. I just need to get out of here first. Cassius mustn't see me!Cassius's POV "What time is the flight?" I asked, my voice low as I closed the drawer of my desk. "It's scheduled for an hour's time," Raven replied, eyes flicking to the ticking clock on the wall. I nodded, tapping a finger against the cool surface of the table. “Good. That should be enough time to sort things.” The image of Crystal’s lifeless body flashed across my mind again. Was it the people planning on attacking that attacked her? But why was she left there? Something about that wasn’t sitting right. Was it a warning? “Did you find out why Crystal was lying on the floor?” “No. The security footage around that side is smashed.” Before I could curse, the office door creaked open, and Tyler strolled in with his usual smugness. “Hi, Brother. This one that you called for me...I wonder what it's about,” he said, grinning as he flopped lazily into the seat across from me. I didn’t even bother responding to his theatrics. “Just keep checking, okay?” I told Raven, shoot
Zara's POV There are no words to absolutely describe what I'm feeling right now as my gaze locked with Cassius standing at the door. It was as if the air had been knocked clean out of my lungs. My heartbeat wasn’t just loud—it was frantic, thundering against my ribs like it was trying to escape. My stomach twisted into knots so tight it was hard to breathe, let alone think. I felt stripped bare. Exposed. Like every carefully hidden thought, every buried truth, every fragile piece of me I’d tried so hard to keep hidden was suddenly illuminated under a harsh, unforgiving light. I wanted to look away. I should’ve looked away. But I couldn’t. My eyes stayed locked on his, frozen, as if breaking that connection would shatter whatever thin thread of composure I had left. My hands were cold and clammy, trembling slightly at my sides. I curled them into fists to stop the shaking. But it didn’t help. The dread had already sunk its claws into me. A part of me screamed to run. To fle
Zara's POV Torture. That's the only fucking word to describe what Cassius is making me go through. This...this is the kind of torment that doesn’t leave bruises, but cuts deep anyway. He’s fucking torturing the hell outta me right now, and every fiber in me is screaming to punch him in the damn gut and scream until I go hoarse. "I'm still waiting, Cara mia," he said, his voice a low, dangerous purr that sent a traitorous shiver down my spine. No, no. I can’t let Cassius get to me. I can’t give in, not now. If I show him a crack, he’ll wedge his way through and rip me wide open. I can feel his hard-on pressing into my thigh, his body betraying the control his mouth pretends to have. He wants this too. I know he does. But I’ll never give in. Never. "Well...I've learned not to do things without the person's permission," he said, his warm breath grazing my cheek as he let me go. He stepped away and the sudden distance made my body ache with need. I hated it. I hated how much I want
Zara's POV I sat down on the bed slowly, wincing as a fresh wave of pain throbbed through my shoulder. I’d worn myself out punching that damn wall like a lunatic. Every muscle in my arm screamed in protest, reminding me just how useless all that rage had been. I feel like screaming right now, but what was the point? No one would hear. I was locked in a room that felt more like a prison than anything else. No windows, no furniture worth throwing, just a sleek AC unit humming quietly like it was mocking me. Who the hell builds a room like this unless they’re hiding something? My nails dug into my palms as I clenched my fists. "Zara," I muttered to myself, "he didn’t even ask you to snoop. This is on you. You brought this on yourself." I let out a shaky breath and stared at the pristine walls like they might offer a solution. They didn’t. “I swear, if I had something to throw, I’d shatter it.” My voice cracked around the fury, but there was nothing here. Just polished nothin
Zara's POV "Where are you going? I told you you're gonna sleep in my room," Cassius said, stepping out of the bathroom. I blinked—twice—because, holy hell. The man was a walking Greek god. The shirt he wore was unbuttoned, teasing toned skin beneath, while the shorts he had on stopped just below his knee, revealing more muscular thighs than I was mentally ready for. But it was his hair that stole my breath. Wet and tousled from the shower, brown strands falling slightly over his forehead, dancing with the breeze from the fan... God. I didn’t know it was possible for someone to look this dangerously good. I always saw him with his hair slicked back—but like this? It felt illegal. "Did I have that much effect on you?" he asked with a smirk. Shit. Shit. Shit. I had been caught. I had been caught red-handed. My jaw was still slightly open, and I felt the embarrassment crawl up my throat like fire. I snapped my mouth shut, praying to every god I’d ever heard of that my cheeks wer
Zara's POV I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding as I stood there, frozen, watching the door click shut behind Delia. My hand was still clutching the burner phone, but I could barely feel it anymore. My palm was slick with sweat, my fingers numb, like they didn’t even belong to me. My lungs were screaming. I’d held in too much air for too long, and now it came rushing out in a broken, shaky exhale. I stumbled toward the sink and stared at my reflection in the mirror. God. I looked horrible. No—worse. I looked wrecked. My eyes were wide and red, lips pale, hair slightly disheveled from how tense I’d been. My skin had gone ashen, and there was this haunted, raw look behind my gaze that I couldn’t scrub away. That bitch had a recording. My thoughts spiraled out of control, frantic, tangled like a web of thorns. My heart was thudding against my ribs so hard I could feel it in my throat. Every second ticked louder than the last. 'Now I’ve got your whole betrayal on aud