Chapter 4.

Vince's pov.

I reached out for her but she was gone.

A smile formed on my face, as I recalled the way we had been tangled up a few hours ago.

"She could not have gone far." I muttered as I pulled up the CCTV footage of my house on the laptop.

My eyes narrowed in keen interest, seeing how she confused my men using childish games and literally walked out of my house through the gate.

"Interesting." I noted, before lazily picking up my phone and calling my right hand man. "Phil, gather everyone in the torture room."

"Yes boss." He responded.

After a cold shower that took an hour, I heard the alarm sound. The entire house was on lockdown, no one could get in or out. 

When I got to the torture room, I could see the fear on their faces even if they were trying hard to conceal it. I smiled feeling good about their reaction.

"A woman." I began. "With no form of experience in our world, managed to get past my well trained men."

I paused to let the gravity of the situation sink into their thick skulls.

"Phil, what happened?" I asked, turning to my right hand man.

"I was out on some checks boss, I have no idea when..." He paused, noticing the change on my face.

Phil knew I hated excuses above everything else.

"It's my fault, for not tightening security." He quickly added.

"Fair enough! I'm in a good mood, so you all get to pick the punishment you want. Prepare the papers and box, Phil." I ordered with a smile on my face.

Phil nodded and set up the box with multiple papers in it. 

"You all have to pick between losing a toe or a finger. I know it sounds really simple, but you make it fair you'll lose whatever you draw up from the box." I explained as I took my seat.

The mutilator looked upset that he was not chopping bigger body parts. But one the first of my men went up to him, I noticed the smirk on his face which only came out when he was content.

The first man had picked finger and I could see the fear in his eyes, as he walked over to the mutilator.

"Arrrrrrrghhhhh!" He screamed in pain, as his finger git chopped off.

The sound of his voice was irritating. "I don't want weak men in my gang. Lock him him for a week, with no food and water. Torture him everyday, if he makes it out alive he can join us."

I looked at the rest. "I'm sure that is enough warning for you. Do not scream, I hate noise."

"Pass me the chicken wings." I told Phil.

"Yes boss."

I ate while watching the entire punishment process. After everyone had gotten a fair punishment, I made an announcement.

"You are all going to retrain for a month. Mistakes like this should never happen with my men, show me some level of respect by being the best."

"Yes boss." They all thundered.

I walked out of the room smiling in satisfaction. Phil was following me, limping from behind.

"Walk normally, will you?" His uneven steps were upsetting me.

He had picked a toe from the box. I could swear I saw relief on his face when he did but it was absent now.

"Sorry boss." He apologized.

I got to my room and tried hard to remember her scent which was faint on my bedcover now, when a knock on the door interrupted me.

"Come in." I was visibly upset. "This had better be something serious."

"We have a problem, closing a deal here in LA." Phil laid it out bare for me.

My eyes widened. "What happened? We are supposed to leave for Columbia, later on today."

"The client can't keep up his own end of the deal."

"What does he have?"

Phil listed a couple of companies and investments the client had, in order of importance.

"What's the one at the top of the list again?" 

"BGG Securities?"

"Yes, that one. How much annual revenue and profit does it make?" I asked.

Phil quickly drafted it up and shared it with me. As I looked through the file, I nodded in satisfaction. 

"Inform him to prepare to hand over the company to me in two days. I'll be the new CEO, that should cover up all he owes me."

"Yes boss." Phil said as he left to make necessary arrangements.

I went over to the bed, still trying to sniff her when I felt something underneath the pillow. 

It was a business card. Not just any business card, but one that belonged to my woman.

I was certain because she was the first woman to lay on my bed.

Iris Chris Piers. 

My smile widened when I saw what was written below it.

Secretary @ BGG Securities.

Chapter 5.

Iris pov.

Sneaking out was easier than I thought.

I took one quick look at the man who had taken me to heaven and back with his body and smiled.

Moving as quietly as possible, I opened the door and stared into the corridor. There were two armed men by the door. I threw my heels in the opposite direction and watched them run towards it, then sneaked out quickly without making a sound. 

"So much for bodyguards!" 

They looked mean and intimidating with all the guns they held, but turned into headless chickens as soon I started my game.

Within minutes, I had distracted a handful of them from their posts and walked out through the gate, hassle free.

"Oh God!" I muttered as I collapsed on a sofa in my room, immediately I got home.

"Where are you coming from?" I heard a man's voice ask.

"Jeez! Who is there?" I jumped and turned the lights on. It was Mike.

"Why are you startling me twice in a row on the same day?" I asked him without thinking.

"I'm sorry I scared you but this is the first time, what do you mean by twice and same day?" He looked at me confused.

I bent my head down, cursing under my breath. "Fuck!"

"What is going on?"

"My head is hurting." I lied and pretended to fell weak. "Babe, can you get me drugs?"

"Sure, hold on. I'll rush to the pharmacy now." 

A few months back, I'll be feeling giddy watching him act all caring but not today. I stared at him blankly as he left, my mind was hooked on someone else. 

Sighing softly, I stood up to take a bath. After that I took the morning after pill I had gotten from a pharmacy on my way home, making sure to wrap the pack carefully in different black nylons so Mike wouldn't see them.

That strange, fine man had fucked me raw and poured inside me. I loved every minute of it, but this was me just taking precautions.

Mike came in and met me on bed.

"Babe, I got some pain relievers." He brought a glass of water from the kitchen. "Sit up so you don't choke."

"Thank you." 

After taking the drugs, he placed his hands on my forehead trying to check my temperature. I felt disgusted and pushed his hand away before I could check my actions. 

"I'm sorry, I just want to sleep." I said in defense of my actions. 

"I'll make you some soup now, I think we should cancel the appointment with the designer given your current state."

"Okay." I mumbled in agreement.

Throughout the weekend, Mike stayed over taking care of me while I faked being sick. When he finally left on Sunday evening, I felt relieved.

***

On Monday, I strutted into the office in my usual demure look.

"Iris!" I heard someone call me from afar.

That was a voice I could recognize even in my dreams. It was Lena the whore, my best friend. She worked with the legal team in the same company. I hissed before turning around with a forced smile.

"Hey darl." I greeted her with a peck on her cheeks.

"Mike mentioned you had been down over the weekend." She started. "I'm glad to see you're doing fine."

"Maybe it was just the stress of preparing for the wedding and all."

Her face changed slightly, when I mentioned that. I was certain at this point, she was pained about it.

"We'll be over that in a couple of months." Lena pulled me closer. "We have a new boss now."

"What do you mean?" I was surprised.

"I have no idea but over the weekend while you were down, we at the legal team were working out butts off preparing the handover documents."

"That's out of the blue." I noted. "The company is doing well, there is no need for a change of power."

"I thought as much." She whispered. "The whole thing looks shady, it's almost like he's giving up the company for nothing. I wish I could tell you more but you know the policy. I signed an NDA."

"I understand, but who's the new CEO?"

"No need to ask, we're all having a meeting with him in ten minutes."

"Why are you just mentioning that?" I was freaking out. "You know I have to take minutes at the meeting and all, I'm not even prepared."

"Sorry boo, but we were too engrossed in the gossip. Maybe that's why I forgot."

I sighed. "See you at the meeting later."

My position was a secretary to one of the general managers, so I quickly prepared.

I'm less than ten minutes, everything was set. The new CEO walked in with a long trail of men in black following him, maybe for his security.

I did not bother checking his face, as I sat behind my direct boss. The meeting started and I began to take minutes. My eyes never leaving the iPad I was holding.

"I have heard all your reports, but there will be a major restructuring." Wait, that voice sounded familiar. "Many of you might lose your jobs, but will be compensated handsomely."

My eyes shot up and met his eyes looking directly at me.

It was the man who made me feel good in bed, days back.

I quickly put my head down, trying to hide my confusion or should I say uncertainty of what was coming next.

"All secretaries to general managers, should come to my office at once." He said in an authoritative tone. "Meeting is adjourned."

Everyone stood up as he walked out of the conference room. Immediately he was out of sight, the managers began to plot how to get on his good side while all secretaries, went to face their doom. Oh, I meant my doom.

I was the last to be called in.

When I got in, I decided to act all professional.

"Good morning Sir, I'm Iris Chris."

"Don't you recognize me, my lady?" He asked. "Or do you want me to help you remember?"

I almost lost my temper at that point. Thankfully the blinds were down and I knew the office was soundproof.

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean Sir. Can you rephrase that?" I asked in a low tone.

"Fate seems to think we need more of what happened between us." He joked.

"Can I go now?"

"You'll be working directly under me." He informed me. "I just thought I should let you know first, before the world. At least because of what we shared."

I could not believe my ears, but I bowed politely and left his office without saying a word.

***

After work that day, I was walking towards the exit when Lena called my phone.

"How was work today? I heard secretaries got an audience with him." She sounded excited.

"He's a total asshole!" I said before thinking.

Lena laughed. "That's your boss, take it easy. Can we go for ice cream? I miss you."

I was standing outside the company building, waiting for my ride.

"Sure. How is 5pm?" I asked her.

"Perfect!"

I was about to end the call, when I remembered I had forgotten an important document in my office.

"Lena, I have to go now."

"Sure, byee." She ended the call.

It was hard keeping up with this act, knowing fully well she was being this sweet so I couldn't figure out what was going on behind the scenes.

I heaved a sigh as I walked back to my office. The document I had forgotten wasn't on my desk, so I bent down to check if it had fallen under the table. 

Just then, I heard footsteps coming in my direction. It stopped directly in front of my office, I could see that the person was not facing me from the direction his shoes were pointed. All thanks to the transparent glass that was used in almost all offices.

"Antonio, do not test my patience. I want those parts delivered to me here in LA, I don't care how you do it." It was the new CEO. Vincent. 

I stood up, wondering why he was getting so worked up over work. 

"I can not make the trip to Columbia anytime soon." He stopped talking for a second, befo

re continuing. "I want to see his head, toes, fingers and heart delivered to me."

He was talking about about human parts, was he a human trafficker?

My phone and the documents I came to pick fell off my hand, causing him to turn instinctively. 

His eyes met mine.

Chapter 6.

Vince's pov.

I could see the fear in her eyes.

Iris looked mortified, like she had just seen a ghost or maybe heard one talk.

Withing seconds I ended the call and thanks to my long legs, I was standing right in front of her in her office.

"What did you hear?" I asked, with the hopes that she will lie and laugh it off.

"You asking for someone's head and heart." She said in a trembling voice, with her head down.

When she looked up, the fear I saw from afar was replaced with curiousity. 

"Are you doing something illegal?" That question caught me off guard.

"Is that what you think?" 

"Hmmm." She clasped her hands together. "What are the chances of you being a surgeon then?"

Without letting me answer, she continued. "A surgeon would not want a head, I mean what do you need a head for?"

"Right?" She probed me further.

Okay, I was intrigued. "You can never tell."

She walked out of her office and took a quick look at the right and left side of the hallway, to make sure we were alone.

When she came back, her eyes were looking serious.

"I do not give a fuck about what the call was all about, but there is something I can not stop thinking about." She lowered her voice. "Your men had guns that day, why?"

"Are you scared of guns?" I asked, ignoring her question.

She raised her brows in mockery. "Me?"

"Yes."

"This is top information, but I guess as the new CEO there is no harm in letting you know."

"Go on." I urged her.

"After being recruited here, we get to train specially before starting."

"Interesting, why?" 

"It is a security company, we all have to protect ourselves. There could be an emergency at any point in time." She moved closer to me. "You ignored my question."

"For a greater cause." I chuckled.

She seemed to have watched too many movies, so I let her have her fun. I had over an hour of free time, so I could definitely entertain her performance.

"Why are you here?" Iris asked me .

I smiled. "That is two questions now, which of the two do you want me to answer now?"

"Both."

"I like the answer to the second one though."

Watching her eyes narrow, was fun.

"Why?" 

"Because I am here for you."

Something in me was certain, that I had turned her sassy side on.

"I am sure you noticed already, I did not address you as Sir because we are past office hours already." She looked upset. "This feels personal and I am sure you can't use it against me..."

"Is that all you really want to say?" I asked cutting her off.

"Stay away from me, Mr. Vincent." She paused as if she had remembered something. "Or Vince?"

I was not expecting that comeback but, she looked hot while saying all of that. 

She picked up her bag, phone and documents, came up to me, tilting her head towards her right side and slightly bowing in that position before moving to the door.

"Hmmm." I hummed in a low tone. "How are you going to have your revenge, if you walk out on your only chance to do it now?"

I leaned back on her desk, picked up the signage that had her name on it and played with it.

From where I was, I could feel her stop in her tracks.

"What do you mean?" The surprise was evident in her voice.

"Lena and Mike, how are you going to make them pay?" I asked, raising my voice slightly. "I have you the option of skinning them alive as your therapist, but now, I think I should recommend something more exciting."

The color on her face drained immediately. "How did you find out about that?"

"A little bird told me." This was becoming fun. "You are quite the talkative, when the alcohol hits the right spot."

Her face broke into a smile as she nodded in understanding, before walking back to me.

"Do not tell anyone about this. They are mine and I will deal with them, the way I deem fit." She threatened me with a deadly glare in her eyes.

"Involve me." I calmly said.

She looked at me for a while, before shaking her head. " It is not your fight. Besides, you have a lot going on in the company to worry about."

"You are right." I said, tapping the desk. "My plate is really full and my schedule is tight."

She heaved a sigh of relief, as I smiled.

"But, you are the first woman to lay in my bed. I do not take that lightly." I whispered in her ears. "I will do that much for you."

As I stepped away from her, she parted her lips slightly, closed it and bit on her lower lips. It felt like she was thinking about that night or maybe weighing her options.

"How are you going to help?" She asked, breaking the silence.

"Do you want both of them sent back to the giver of life?" I tried to sugarcoat killing them.

There was pain mixed with fear in her eyes, as she looked up surprised by that response.

"Do you still love him?" I asked her, because of my observations.

"No." She blurted out without thinking.

"But your eyes." I said pointing to her eyes. "Seem to be longing for him."

"That is not true." She started. "I do not want him dead, I just want to make him regret toying with my feelings like this."

"You have got the spark, but you are missing the fire." I lectured her. "Revenge does not work that way."

My phone rang, breaking my lecture. It was Phil. I took one look at her, the poor thing was struggling with indecision. Maybe now was the right time to let her in to my world. I picked the phone and placed it on loudspeaker.

"Boss, we have confirmed the shipment. The rest will be redirected to LA, instead of Columbia." Phile explained.

"Was there any form of resistance?" I asked, my eyes lingering on her watching her reaction.

"Yes, but I handled it."

"How?"

"We eliminated the gang, caught their leader and dismembered him."

Her eyes widened in horror.

"Send me pictures."

"Yes boss." 

The call ended.

"What wassss that about?" She asked.

"Do you stutter?" I asked, suppressing the urge to laugh out loud.

"Huh?"

"You heard right, I kill people and get away with it."

Her body stiffened in fear.

"I am a mafia boss."