Sydney

I shut the door to the sleek washroom and took a few deep breaths. Aiden was steadily getting under my skin, and I didn't like it. I needed to think of something quick. I returned to the room once I was finished. Aiden had vanished. I decided to go outside and look around, so I reached for the doorknob, which twisted and opened up before I could grab it. Aiden was standing in front of me, holding a plate of food.

"I assumed we could eat in here if that's ok?" he asked as I moved to the side to allow him to enter. He placed the trays on the bedside table and shut the door behind him.

Fuck! Why was he acting so friendly all of a sudden?

"Thank you. You didn't have to do that." As I sat in the chair against the wall, I said.
He simply nodded and drew the other seat in closer. He then snatched up the bedside table and rolled it between us. I squinted at all of the food he had brought in. Pancakes, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, and wheat toast were on one tray. Bananas, strawberry jam, butter, coffee, and cutlery were in the other.

"I'm not sure what you usually have for breakfast, so I hope this is acceptable."

"That's a lot! How did you manage to cook everything in such a short amount of time?" I inquired.

"Martha made it, not me. She works as a housekeeper for me." He shrugged his shoulders.

Yes, of course! How stupid of me to think that the all-powerful Mr Reiner would do anything as simple as cooking.

"Oh! Thanks to her." I responded.

He smiled at me, took a plate, and began stacking food on it before passing it to me.
I cheerfully ate the majority of what he provided. I realised I hadn't eaten since noon the day before, and the buffet was making my stomach growl. Aiden, who had a serious expression on his face, stated once we were finished. "I wanted to talk to you about this last night, but you weren't in the right state of mind," he said, pausing.

I put down my coffee and fixed my gaze on him.

"Do you want to file a complaint? Against William, perhaps?"

Was he serious? I almost spilt my coffee. Was he requesting that I file charges against his brother?

"Is this for real? He is, after all, your brother!"

He pinched his lips together, as though disgusted by the inference.

"William is my half-brother. That isn't the point, though. His actions were...." He struggled to find the proper words "despicable, and I'd be betraying you if I just let it go. I guarantee you that I will see to it that you are treated fairly."

He became all business all of a sudden.

"That is admirable of you. But wouldn't it be bad for your family's reputation if I went to the cops?"

"Don't worry about it; what exactly are you looking for? File charges or an off the court settlement? Compensation?" I couldn't stop admiring how his biceps bulged out of his sleeves as he said it, reclining back in his chair.

"Compensation?" I inquired, perplexed.

"Yes, the majority of these litigation result in settlements; what do you want?"

"Do you think this is a business transaction?" Incredulous, I inquired.

He groaned and said, "Please don't put words in my mouth; that's not what I meant. If you want to get legal, I am willing to assist you. I'm only presenting you with possibilities." In a frustrated tone, he said.

I pondered my options while looking down at my hands.

"That's fantastic! I don't want to press charges; instead, I'd like to be compensated." I said this while staring down at the lush spotless grey carpet.

His brows were furrowed, and his gaze were little disappointed. I couldn't figure out why.

******************

Aiden

I don't know why I was disappointed when she uttered the word compensation. What was I expecting? Last night had been an emotional roller coaster for me. She looked so beautiful and vulnerable, that I wanted to protect her. That urge to dominate and tame her had simply taken a backseat.
I had never believed in relationships. I had treated everything as a business arrangement. So, why was I disappointed when Sydney wanted compensation? She was free to treat this as a business too.

"A compensation? Very well. How much do you want?" I inquired.

Her lovely face, which was disfigured by an unsightly bruise, seemed to think about what I said.

"I don't want monetary compensation. I just want you to waive off that $50k bond money and one-month notice period in case I resign. That is all."

"What? Are you planning to resign?"

She smiled. " Not yet, but that depends on you."

"Me?"

"Yes, if you fulfil my second condition."

"And what is your second condition?"

"Leave me alone. Stop pursuing me. Stop trying to force yourself into my life. There is no 'us' and never will be. If you agree then I would continue working at Reiner groups, otherwise, I have no other choice than to resign." She said in one breath.

I was speechless, she had trapped me in my own game. She was something! I stood up and started pacing.

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure Mr Reiner. I am grateful for your help so far. But I can't......we can only have a professional relationship. That's all."

Being around Sydney made me have sexual fantasies about her. I was sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss, and I still hadn't gotten my hands on her. Her predicament had only added to the thrill of the hunt.
I approached her and leant down, imprisoning her with my hands on either side of her.
Her emerald eyes were filled with worry and apprehension as she looks at me.

"Do you truly want that?" I said quietly.

She gave a slight nod.

I yanked her hair back, she inhaled deeply, as I kissed her pale, beautiful throat.
She sighed and relaxed a little. I kissed my way up her throat, placing butterfly kisses on it until I got to her lips. I kissed her lips gently, being careful not to injure her. Her lips opened in response, and I savoured her sweetness. She was intoxicating.
I stepped back and grinned after a while. She blinked open her bleary eyes. Her facial expression indicated that she needed a few moments to recollect where she was and what she was doing. When she realised what she had done, she sought to push me away.

"Get off of me!"

"You may deny, but you are lying, and you know it," I said, clutching her delicate wrists.

She came to a halt and fixed her gaze on me. Her emerald eyes were perplexed. I took a step back and straightened up.

"I agree to your conditions. I'm not going to pursue you any longer."

Her mouth opened in surprise.

"Don't judge me by my appearance; I am a man of my word. I agree to your conditions. Isn't that what you want?" I smiled.

She reddened and muttered "Thank You."

"Is there anything else?" I inquired.

"I'd like to return home." She spoke up abruptly.

"Of course! Martha has left some clothes from you. Help yourself, then I will drop you home."

She nodded and stood up. I watched her as she walked away. I wanted her. I wanted to claim her and take care of her, but I couldn't. No, that would give her some sort of control over the situation. Normally that would be ok but not right now, not in this situation. She had no idea what I had planned for her.
But before that, I had to take care of the little problem called William. I had been ignoring his antics, but this time he had crossed the line. He had laid hands on something which was mine.

I dialled a phone number and inquired.

"Where is he?"

"We've been keeping an eye on him at home. Since we brought him home, he hasn't left." From the opposite side, Clifton said.

"All right," I said as I hung up the phone.