Chapter I: Rope

The sheets were soft against his skin, and he almost drifted to sleep. His eyes scan the penthouse. The woman is tasteful. Not only was she great in bed, she also had an impeccable sense of style.

Atlas has a reputation for bringing women home, not the other way around. Something about her was different, enough to make him agree that they'd go to her apartment instead.

He didn't expect her home to be in the penthouse of a private building. He's not surprised, only the best goods for a man like him.

He never stayed long enough to sleep. He got what he wanted, and now it's time to leave. He stood up, the silk sheets leaving his body.

He leaned down to pick up his clothes and heard a movement from the bed. Atlas chose not to pay attention because he knew she would ask him to stay longer. They always ask for more.

"Hmm," she mumbled, half-asleep and yet seductive. "That's disappointing."

Quickly, with no hesitation, he looked at her. His initial reaction was to glare and act offended. But seeing how she was eyeing his body up and down, biting her lip, with drowsy but beautiful eyes, made him pause.

"Excuse me?"

"Those clothes," she said, propping her head up with her arm. She didn't bother to cover up, her hair was still messy yet still retained its glory.

Atlas consciously lined his fingers in the hem of his tailored shirt. He avoided her gaze, his eyes set on a painting that he once failed to buy at an auction. If she knows enough about art, maybe her words have weight.

He chuckled softly. He can't be rude to a woman he just fucked. He may be callous, but he still has manners. "I beg to differ. I see our tastes are only similar in bed. "

She let out an even softer and sultry laugh, enough to make him think of crawling back to her bed. "It's just disappointing how they cover you, I prefer you naked."

Atlas didn't hide his smile, holding her gaze as he buttons his shirt. "I admire your honesty."

"Isn't it the best policy?" She said, standing up and letting the blanket fall out of her. 

Atlas looked at her body one more time, trying to commit them to memory. He never fucks the same woman twice, they always get attached.

She picks up her dress and slips right into it, grinning at him as she does.

"Now I see your point," Atlas said once she was fully dressed. "Take it off again."

She laughed, slipped her arm through his waist. He didn't like it but he doesn't hate it either. She's too forward, too strong for his liking. It doesn't matter because they'll probably never see each other again.

It wouldn't hurt to make use of the remaining time that they're together.

He slips his arm on his waist and pulls her into his chest. His hands are already unzipping her dress.

Her lips are soft, and sweet. She ate the cherry from her drink when they met at the bar, and god, how he wanted to drain the flavor from her mouth.

She moaned his name, making his fingers dig into her skin. "Atlas, stop."

He didn't, pushing it further but she grabbed his jaw. It took him by surprise, enough to make him stop. And it turned him on even harder.

Her eyes were stormy and hard, her gaze fell on his lips and her expression softened.

"I have a flight to catch."

Atlas only raised an eyebrow, unamused. "I'll buy you another ticket."

She runs her hand on his shoulders, she clearly wants him as much as he wants her. He couldn't understand why she's playing hard to get.

"As much as I want to," she leaned in to whisper in his ear, biting it after. He's going to lose his mind, he hates that she's not the type he can easily push around. But that made her so much hotter. "It's a family affair."

She licked his jawline, her warm tongue against his skin.

"Did someone die?" He asked, fighting the urge to throw her back on the bed.

"As a matter of fact," she whispered, leaving a mark on his neck. "Someone did."

"Whoever it was, must be a horrible person for you to fuck me at the event of death."

"Oh he was," she said, already pulling away. Every inch of his body wants to drag her back under the sheets but something about her, from the way her eyes glints with power, tells him that's the last thing he should do. "Maybe we can do this the other time." 

"No," he said, straightening himself up. She's just a woman, and there's more of them. If he can't control this one, he might as well find someone else. "I don't do repeats."

She scoffed, not at all offended like most girls do. There's an amused look on her face, like she finds him entertaining. "How honest."

Atlas made a step towards the door but she slipped her hand inside his suit. Her lips brushed against his. 

"A little souvenir," she said, biting his lip one last time. "I hope I don't see you again."

"Why not?" He chuckled, putting an arm around her as they walked towards her door. "From all those screams, I don't think you were disappointed."

She playfully hit him, tilting her head back as she laughed. "If I see you again, I'll bite your head off."

"Bold statement," Atlas said, reaching for the door and stopping halfway. "If I see you again, I won't be as nice."

She smiled, taunting and mocking, like she cannot wait to see if he'll honor his words. Atlas decided the only thing he likes about her is her body.

That's the thing he hates about her kind of women. They take control in the bed, which he likes, but once out of it, they still hold to that illusion of power.

He closed the door behind him, checking the inner pockets to see the rope she used to tie him up. 

Atlas grinned to himself, shook his head to get rid of the thoughts and entered the elevator.

The moment Atlas left the building, he already forgot the existence of that woman. To him, she's just one of his many one night stands. She won't be the last and certainly, the odds of them meeting again is fairly low.

Atlas just came here for a business meeting. Tomorrow, he's back in his country and probably won't set foot here again.

***

Cassandra squirmed in her seat, if she could melt the seat in front of her with her glares, she probably already destroyed it. Once she arrives at the godforsaken place, she will wreak havoc on whoever bought her the ticket.

She wanted an upgrade but her card declined, it’s already bad enough that she’s going to be evicted from her penthouse apartment because apparently, her father failed to keep up with his promise of paying for them.

She didn't realize he was dying, and now that his life has come to an end, she still doesn't know how to feel about that.

Her initial plan was to move out of the apartment. She has their surname but that family wants nothing to do with her.

Cassandra only lived with their money because her father forced her too. She's not some saint to pretend she didn't like all the benefits. 

The last thing she wants to do is set foot in his mansion and breathe the same air as his legal family.

But his brother is playing the good uncle act, he's been contacting her nonstop. And when she refused to come, he freezed her accounts and threatened to evict her from the house.

She didn't care, she might be an opportunist and a parasite to their clan, she's not stupid enough to let her father control all her finances.

Cassandra knew that anytime, they would cut her off. She's nothing but a liability to them anyway.

Yet her uncle was persistent. He mentioned her inheritance, and they can say anything about her but money is still money.

The plane landed, she didn't even bring enough clothes. She has no plans to stay long. Her Gucci sunglasses framed her face, emphasizing her fierce features. His red lips twitched in annoyance, seeing that her forty year old uncle is already waiting for her.

"Cassandra," he called her out, she didn't move her head but her eyes darted in his direction. "Stop pretending you don't know me."

"I know you want to get rid of me, but a warning would be nice."

"What do you mean?"

"My card declined."

He fell silent. He's wearing a suit, tailored to fit every corner of his body. He's close to his late forties but the man takes care of himself. His graying hair swept in a clean manner, eyes still calculating and soft at the same time.

"It must be Veronica," he said, slipping a hand in his pocket. "How's your flight?"

"Economy, really?"

"I was trying to keep a low profile, Veronica has no idea that you're coming."

"Oh great," Cassandra said, eyeing the Mercedes that's driving towards them. "Even better."

"You didn't bring any money?"

Cassandra shrugged. "Fed me long enough, why bother using mine?"

He chuckled, rolling his eyes at her. He's always been friendly, kinder than her own father. Now that she thought of it, she met this man more times than him.

But she's also aware that he also wants her here because she's useful. The Carson family is in shambles, her father died unexpectedly and now everyone is going for the kill.

"You made quite good money for yourself," he said, waiting for her to enter the car first. "I'm impressed."

"And probably baffled on why I'm still living off your brother."

"At first I was," he gave him a side glance, amused and affectionate. Veronica was dumb enough to choose her balding father over this one, he's aging like fine wine. "You have every right to his money as much as your siblings."

"Half," Cassandra raised her finger, making a point. "Thank god I have my mother's features, have you seen the asymmetry of their faces?"

She smiled when it made him burst into laughter, even the driver stifled a chuckle. She liked him, he's the closest one to ever having a father.

"I forgot how funny you are."

"You flatter me, Michael. I guess whatever you need me to do is hard enough for you to butter me up right now."

Michael leaned back, relaxing himself and smiling at her proudly. "And you’re clever too."

Cassandra removed her sunglasses, flashing her newly manicured nails. She had them painted black to suit the occasion. "I’m the whole package."

"And yet, you’re still single."

She scoffed, dramatically showing that she was offended. Sooner or later, Michael would tell her what he needs her to do and she plans to do it. And when it happens, he won't treat her kindly as he does now. 

The world is full of men who adore power. And she loves playing their games. 

"You’re the one to talk, if you’re not careful, you’re gonna have to pay me to visit your grave and leave flowers. And my fees are high."

Michael didn’t respond quickly, she was curious if she stepped on a nerve. "I can afford it."

"Michael, I think you should go straight to the point." Cassandra chose to take control of the conversation, as much as she wants to play father and daughter games, she wants to leave as soon as possible. "Once we reach the lion’s den, all those predators are going to try to kill me as soon as they see me so you better tell me what you need me for."

"I miss the days when you were small and actually adorable, you used to be an angelic kid."

"You can’t tell an angelic kid to leave her home and help you to get an even bigger share of her dead father’s wealth."

"Oh not just a bigger share, I want it all."

Cassandra fell silent, the driver did everything in his power not to meet her gaze on the rearview mirror. Michael has always been kind and thoughtful but he was also greedy for power, she didn’t have to grow up with him around to know that.

Because it’s one of the reasons why he stayed in touch, he knows someday she will grow up and be useful for him.

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"I have a plan but I need to know if you are on the same page as I am."

Cassandra turned to look at him, he forced her to come here and he better make sure whatever he’s planning is worthy of her time. "What’s in it for me?"

"You get to sit on the throne."