Chapter 125: The Devil’s An Ass "Where do you wanna do it then?" I asked bitterly, gauging his reaction, but I had better luck steering the North Pole. "The table or against the wall. Let’s get on with it, since it’s the only reason I’m—" Ares snatched my neck at lightning speed, his lips smashing against mine in a bruising kiss. I fought him, but I was backed to the wall, the breath knocked out of my lungs, only to be taken away once again when he covered my mouth fiercely. This wasn’t a warm-up for a quick fuck, this was something else... and before I knew it, I was kissing him back at the same frequency, trying to keep up as we both fought for dominance. I easily freed my wrist, which he had trapped above my head, gripping his broad shoulders before desperately gliding my hand. I thought Ares would stop me, but for some reason, he couldn’t at that moment, and with delight, I slipped my hands into his hair. I moaned, relishing the feel of the full texture between my fingers, shudders breaking through my body as I tried to savor this moment as best as I could, only for it to be ripped away from me when he pulled away. Walking to his desk, resting his hands against it, and panting harshly for a reason I can’t explain. I was glued to the wall, trying to have a grasp of my mind, but all I could think about was his lips on mine, his body pressed against mine, and his hands everywhere in a span of seconds. I leveled my gaze at my blouse; the buttons had popped open, my bra was showing, and my tits were almost spilling out of it. When did he—! "We’ll be attending an event this weekend. The All Hallows’ Gala. I’m listed, and it’s crucial we attend. Our appearance will dull the heat on the leaked image and quell my father’s suspicions." All the while he talked, he had his back to me. All Hallows’ Gala, that’s the term for a Halloween party for the elites. An occasion where everyone comes to showcase their wealth and show the city how better they are. I recalled seeing something like that on TV, but only the red carpet; the event itself was more private. Tori and I would joke about the things that played out inside. "Leave. I’m done with you." I scoffed, fixing my blouse with a speed I didn’t know I had, and walked out of the office, making sure I slammed the door shut loudly. ~☆~ "Thanks..." I said as Tori handed me a glass of Coke. "I thought you were gonna ask me for something stronger." She nudged her head to Nico and Reed at the booth, comfortable. "You have two men really to sweep you up your feet." I rolled my eyes. "More like to make my day worse because I can’t go anywhere without two men breathing down my neck." I was never against the thought of a bodyguard, but now it seems like I’m being watched, not guarded. "That guy in a wine-red suit keeps staring at me." "Nico?" "Ew! He just winked at me." "Ignore him, he’s probably high. Everyone should be at this point, at least you can’t worry about shit and you’re on top of the world." "I take it the not-so-romantic date didn’t go well." I nodded, and her nostrils flared. She was pissed, but she shoved that emotion away and took my hand. "I’m sorry." "Don’t be. This was all my fault for getting carried away." "What happened exactly? I don’t wanna side with him right now, but I thought Ares King was the king of timekeeping." "Yeah, he is. But a workaholic will always be one. His work was more important. He could have just texted me and said so, but no, not worth it, and coming back drunk was the final nail on the wall." "Drunk?" "Uh-huh." I took a sip of my drink, my eyes moving to the TV where a news program was ongoing. It wasn’t loud, but it looked like something serious. "What’s that?" "Oh, that! It’s been never-ending. There was a shootout three nights ago. No bodies were found, and the cops came up with nothing. The crime scene showed violence, but nothing to trace." "That can’t be possible, can it?" I blinked. "It can be if gangsters are involved. The crime wave of this city is like a myth, but you know it’s there... like the underworld." I was tense. "W-What was that? What you said last." She shrugged. "The Underworld. I came across some theories about it." "I-I didn’t know you followed things like that. I mean, I know you watch documentaries, but this is..." "Just like you have your smutty books, I have my guilty pleasure. Recently, I have taken an interest in things like this." She drew close to me. "After this shootout three days ago, I heard Noel Voss’ son, Noah, was hospitalized from a minor wound, but the timing is just so convenient." "W-What are you trying to say?" "That Noah Voss must have been part of the violence." Tori leaned close and whispered. "He could be mafia." "You’re not buying that, are you?" "Girl, have you seen the crime waves in this city? There are definitely mafias." I suddenly remembered Jenna’s words, how desperate she was, stating the King’s involvement. "So hypothetically, it’s possible old families might be involved in this...?" "It’s possible, but in the end, it’s all theories. If there is a crime foundation here, then I bet a million I don’t have that cops are in their pockets. It’s a rigged system altogether." "Tori...!" I looked around, hoping no one was listening to her calling the cops corrupt. "I’m just saying, you know? Remember, five years ago, after MC, you filed a report about having a stalker? Did any of them ever respond?" "Okay, I get your point... You really didn’t have to remind me about that." "Sorry, munchkin, but hey, you moved out and no more stalker." Yeah, that’s how it played out, but the memories of it still creeped me out. Dan and I just began dating, and after college, he got a job that demanded most of his time. I haven’t started working for King Corp, so I worked at a diner. The feeling of eyes on me as I walked back to my apartment at late hours was haunting. My neighborhood then was really dangerous, and most of the time I was scared someone was gonna rob me or worse, but after two years of living on that street, there wasn’t any crime, almost like all the bad people vanished. However, my paranoia only increased because it felt like someone was stalking my every move. Dan didn’t believe me when I told him I had a stalker, only Tori did. "Damn! I shouldn’t have brought it up. Now I can’t stop thinking about it either." I smiled. "It’s okay, as you said, I survived, and now that I think about it, maybe I was probably paranoid because of my bad neighborhood. Someone always got stabbed or robbed more than fifteen times in a week." Tori sighed. "I really hated that place." "It was cheap, and you were out of the city. Dan squatted with a friend, if I remember. There was nowhere else to turn to." "It was really tough, huh?" "It really was." "I was very happy you finally moved from that death street." I giggled. "It was only possible when I got a job at King Corp. Now let’s leave that out already... no dwelling in the past, remember?" "So, this Halloween event, is it really like those we saw on TV?" "Yup!" "Lucky you! I mean, a social event right when the devil stood you up. I could only imagine the pressure of acting whilst hating his guts." "It’s nothing I can’t handle." I raised my glass. "I have to bring my A-game." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎 A lie because what happened in the office and how quickly I was to submit told me this was gonna be me digging my own downfall. I wish I could say no to this event, but I can’t, if I don’t keep my end of the contract, God knows I might not get paid. My phone rang. It was Gramps. I picked swiftly and pressed the phone to my ear. "Gramps, are you okay?" "Calm down, will ya? I’m just calling to check on you." I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "Sorry, I was just... How are you? Is Granny okay?" "We’re fine, pumpkin. You worry too much." "Can you blame me?" "Now, now, don’t be like that." I heard a rustle in the background. I could already picture him sitting on his couch. "The bills are being cleared so fast and up to date. Are you starving yourself to do this? Because Catherine Lane, if you’re then you’re in a whole lot of trouble, young lady."