03. The target

The kiss was fierce and possessive, leaving me breathless and dazed. I tried to fight against his strength, but Masato held me firmly, his hands gripping my wrists tightly. The bitter taste of regret mingled with the intensity of the moment.

When we finally pulled apart, I was panting and trembling, a mix of emotions roiling inside me. I looked at Masato with eyes full of anger and confusion.

"How could you do this?" I managed to whisper, my voice trembling with indignation.

Masato just stared at me with intensity, his eyes burning with a passion I couldn't understand.

"You're as wild as ever."

"I hate you," I whispered, but my words lacked conviction.

Masato merely smiled, a smile full of promises and dangers.

"I know," was all he said before stepping away, leaving me alone in the alley, with my heart in pieces and my mind in turmoil.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Three days after that strange and random incident, which, by the way, Masato didn’t mention at all, he and I were sitting inside an upscale café. The clientele was high-class, and soft music filled the room.

This time, I was dressed like an upper-class executive, wearing a dark blue business suit and flawlessly done makeup.

"You look beautiful."

The businessman’s words hit me straight in the heart.

"Do you think so?"

He smiled and winked, charmingly, as if his display of affection was limited to just a few kind words. Then the mood shifted, his expression changed drastically; the businessman was back.

Masato stared at me before taking a sip of his coffee and said:

"That’s your target."

I followed Masato's gaze and spotted a man in a pristine suit sitting at a table in the corner of the café. He seemed relaxed, flipping through a newspaper while enjoying his drink.

"Thomas Braxton. The man who wants to ruin my career and spreads lies about me."

I frowned, trying to understand what Masato was planning.

"Aren't you afraid he might see you?"

"Thomas only sees beyond his own nose when he feels threatened. This is one of his favorite spots... The only place where his woman isn’t constantly by his side, like a guard dog."

"And what do you want me to do, then?"

"Our dear friend is in need of a new housekeeper. The previous one had an unfortunate accident and is currently in the hospital, unable to work."

The way he delivered the information made me doubt that he wasn’t responsible for the so-called 'accident.'

"So, you want me to work for him as the new housekeeper?" I asked, my voice tinged with disgust.

He nodded, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"Exactly. You’ll become indispensable to him, earn his trust, and gain access to the information we need."

I felt a lump form in my throat. I didn’t like the idea of manipulating someone’s life this way, but I knew I had no choice but to follow his orders. After all, the money had already been deposited into my bank account, and the loan shark had left me alone, as promised.

"Alright," I murmured, resigned. "What do you want me to do first?"

"You’ll go to him. I want you to convince him to grant you an interview."

"But how will I—"

"I have here some fake credentials for your other jobs," he said casually, pulling a folder from his briefcase and placing it on the table. "If he doubts your skills, this will change his mind. But I want you to play the game. He loves a beautiful, voluptuous woman. Use that to your advantage."

I looked at the fake credentials in the folder, feeling a mix of disgust and determination.

"Bianca."

"Yes?"

"Why were you in so much debt?"

I immediately stood up, avoiding the subject.

"I'll go talk to him."

Without waiting for a response, I walked away from the table and headed toward where Thomas Braxton was sitting. My heart was racing, and I struggled to stay calm as I approached the man.

"Excuse me," I said, catching Thomas’s attention. "May I sit down?"

Up close, Masato Takahashi’s archenemy was extremely attractive. His wheat-blond hair was slicked back, and his blue eyes shone like two sapphires. He flashed a genuine smile when he noticed my beauty.

"Of course. How can I help you?"

Sitting down at the table in the most seductive way I could, I also gave him a charming smile.

"Thank you," I said, crossing my legs to draw Thomas’s attention to my curves. "My name is Bianca, and I heard you’re looking for a new housekeeper. I have experience in this area and brought some credentials that I think might interest you."

I placed the folder on the table, my fingers delicately sliding the cover to reveal the falsified documents. Thomas watched me with interest, clearly captivated by my presence.

"You came well-prepared, Bianca," he commented, picking up the folder and examining the documents.

I let out a soft laugh.

"Of course I did."

"And how did you know I needed a housekeeper?"

I bit my lip deliberately, and Thomas took the bait, his clear eyes fixated on my mouth.

"I have my contacts."

Momentarily ignoring the papers in front of him, he also leaned forward, causing me to lean back a little. The movement almost made me fall off my chair, but Thomas was quick to catch my waist, preventing my fall.

His grip on my waist was firm, but what really took my breath away was the intense look we exchanged. Our faces were so close that I could feel his breath on my skin, and the proximity made my breasts stand out under my blouse.

"Sorry," I murmured, trying to pull myself together.

"No need to apologize," Thomas said, his voice low and deep. "It was a pleasure to help."

Damn, that man was very handsome. His fingers lingered on my waist longer than necessary... And I admit, I liked it. I liked it a lot.

Pulling myself together as best as I could, I adjusted myself in the chair. The man did the same, but he didn’t seem embarrassed at all. He was also powerful, like a wolf, the other side of Masato.

I cleared my throat and said, deliberately charming but with a hint of truth in my words:

"I admire you and your great ventures. You’re an influential man, Mr. Braxton."

"You can call me Thomas."

Without any prior warning, the businessman subtly touched one of my hands.

"Give me your phone number. I’ll arrange for you to be at my office tomorrow, ready for your… evaluation."

That was extremely easy. Masato was right: this man loved beautiful women, especially beautiful women who offered themselves to him like a piece of meat.

"Of course," I said softly, pointing to the documents. "Keep one of them. It has all the information you need, including my phone number."

Thomas laughed, slightly embarrassed.

"Of course. What was I thinking?"

"Now, I have to go. Thank you very much for your attention, Mr. Brax—, I mean, Thomas."

When I returned to the table where Masato had been sitting, I saw that he was no longer there. Curious and intrigued, I left the café and found him in one of the adjacent streets. His expression was strange, his posture emanating tension. I walked up to him, confused.

A horrible atmosphere hung in the air. He watched me with narrowed eyes, his jaw tense. The calculating smile from before had disappeared, replaced by an expression of restrained frustration.

"I got the interview," I announced, trying to break the ice, but his coldness made me hesitate.

"Did you?" Masato murmured, his voice low and cutting. He set down his coffee cup with a bit more force than necessary, the clinking of the porcelain resonating through the space.

"Yes. He seemed very... interested," I added, choosing my words carefully.

Masato leaned forward, his eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"Interested? Did he touch you, Bianca?"

I was surprised by the intensity in his voice, noticing the slight tremor in his hands.

"It was an innocent touch. He just kept me from falling. It was necessary for the mission; it was nothing."

Masato was silent for a moment, but the dark look didn’t disappear. Then, he walked over to me, stopping so close that I could feel the heat radiating from him. His hand reached my waist, mimicking the gesture that Thomas had made moments before, but his touch was different, possessive, marked by a mix of desire and anger.

"Did you feel like this with him?" Masato whispered, his face dangerously close to mine. "Did that kind of closeness... make your heart race?"

I refused to back down, even though I felt my body respond to his proximity.

"Are you jealous, Masato?" I asked, my voice soft but challenging.

He pulled me even closer, his breath hot against my skin.

"Jealous?" he murmured, his lips dangerously close to mine. "I don’t like sharing what’s mine, Bianca. I never did."

The air between us felt electrified, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me right there, in the middle of the café, without caring about the people around. But instead, he let out a heavy sigh, releasing my waist reluctantly, as if fighting against an impulse.

"Remember, Bianca. You work for me, and no one touches what’s mine."

I took a step back, trying to reassemble my scattered thoughts.

“Of course, Masato,” I responded, trying to keep my voice steady. “This won’t happen again.”

"Good. And get ready for tonight. I’ll pick you up at eight."

With that, he simply walked away, leaving me with a racing heart and shaky legs.