Rohan arrives at the fashion show venue feeling a bit nervous. He hopes his preparation is already enough to make Rosalyn notice him more.As he walks down the long hallway, he feels the bright lights of the fashion show beaming down on him. He looks around and takes in all the beautiful people. Everyone is dressed in their finest attire, and they fixate their eyes on the runway.Rohan makes his way to the back of the room and tries to calm himself down. This is just mere pressure. He is ready for this.Then Rosalyn moves towards him. “Good luck,” she says.However, Rohan is surprised when she places a kiss on his cheeks. Of all the models here, she only kissed him. That’s already a good sign, right?The music plays, and the crowd erupts in cheers. Suddenly, Rohan’s nervousness is replaced with excitement. He takes his place at the start of the runway and waits for his turn. He watches as the other models parade down the catwalk, their outfits coming alive with the beat of the music.
The young woman pulls Rohan to the center of the dance floor, graceful with a slender frame that moves like a lithe river. She glides across the dance floor, mesmerizing those who watch.If Rohan did not know better, her beauty and style could have transfixed him, like all the other men and women around them.“Are you just going to stand there and watch?” she asks, her voice soft and gentle as a summer breeze. “Come,” she invites, extending her hand to his.Rohan takes her hand and follows her movements.“That’s it,” she says. She guides him, her hands never leaving his body, and he knows she’s starting with her seduction.At the chorus of the song, she steps closer to him and presses her body to him. “By the way, my name is Simone. I think you should know that so you can scream my name later,” she says.Rohan smiles. “I am Hansel Crago.”“Nice meeting you, Hansel.”And then, she suddenly kisses him. Not the shy type of kiss, but the one with tongues. When she pulls back, he is still
From what Rohan learned, Simone had been living and jumping from one foster family to the next, until she was of age and could take jobs. “Here we are,” Rohan announces. The car pulls into the driveway of Rosalyn’s house. Since it’s daytime, he can easily see the luxurious mansion and its well-manicured garden. Rohan watches as Simone’s eyes widen while she takes in the beauty and grandeur of the place. The Rugge’s mansion is definitely better than his. “Lovely place, right?” he asks, smiling at her. She clears her throat before saying, “What are we doing here, Hansel?” “Like I said last night, you will take a modeling career.” “Like you? So we will be colleagues who fuck each other?” “We will become colleagues, but we will not fuck each other.” She groans before asking, “Why would I take a modeling career? That’s just a hassle,” as she looks over the Rugge’s mansion. “I want you to bond with her. This is your chance to have a better life, Simone,” he says. “You are the one w
Rohan looks at Rosalyn, making it seem as if he is full of sorrow and worry. He hopes it works because it’s about time he needs to broach the subject. “I am sorry, Rosalyn,” he begins. “I know I should have told you about it, but I wanted to ensure that your daughter is comfortable with the idea first.” He takes a deep breath, hoping against hope that she will understand, that she will let it pass. However, Rosalyn sits motionless, her brows furrowed at him. “What do you mean, Hansel?” she asks, taking a seat in front of him. He follows suit. “I wanted to introduce your daughter because I am worried about you. I know that wherever you are right now, you are strong and don’t really need anyone, but I also know that you’ve been through a lot. Even though it intrudes on your personal life, I thought it was the right thing to do.” Rohan looks down, nervous. When Rosalyn reaches out and takes his hand, his face alights with hope. “Thank you, Hansel. I am glad you are thinking like thi
Rohan steps into the VIP clubroom with Simone. A wave of pulsing music, which sends shivers of excitement in him, immediately surrounds them. He looks around, taking in the dark walls, the glowing neon signs, and the lush velvet drapes adorning the walls. The air is thick with the scent of perfume, sweat, and alcohol, and Rohan feels a wave of anticipation as he takes a seat. Simone sits provocatively beside him. She is wearing a skimpy dress that barely covers her body. It is adorned with jewels, and she is wearing makeup, her eyes gleaming brightly with a mischievous glint. “Thanks for the private room, Hansel,” she says, her voice low and sultry. “Well, it’s your request for passing the test,” he answers, trying to ignore the body warmth coming off Simone’s. She is attractive, and he can’t help the sudden wave of desire when he makes the wrong move of looking into her eyes. As if sensing it, she places her hands on his chest. “I wonder until when before you give in to me,” she
Rohan watches Rosalyn as she climbs out of her car. She looks amazed as she travels her eyes around his mansion. Thankfully, the orphanage people do great with the lawns and pathways. The house is clean, and they manage to find a chef for him. Rosalyn walks up the step, and she greets him with a kiss on his cheeks. “This is a marvelous place, Rohan. I am shocked, given your kind and generous nature.” He smiles at her. “I am only kind and generous to people I love.” “Oh, you,” she says, lightly tapping his arm. “Don’t think that I don’t notice how you flirt with me.” “Well, at least you are aware of it,” he says, winking at her. He ushers her into the house. There is gentle music within, and he’s delightfully surprised when Rosalyn interlaces her arms in his. “Well, what can I say? You are attractive, kind, and rich. You are even dressed nicely,” she praises. “Only because you are coming over.” Rosalyn squeezes his arms. “I feel like a young woman visiting her boyfriend’s house
Rohan and Rosalyn are standing in the middle of the living room, their faces close enough to mistake that they are kissing. The way Rosalyn touches his arm and how she smiles, even at the way they hold each other’s gaze—it’s as if they are communicating silently. And the heavier the atmosphere, the closer they get, moving in for a kiss. But before their lips touch again, Tyrianne steps into the living room. “Oh!” she exclaims, her jaw slack, her eyes going back and forth between Rohan and Rosalyn. She clears her throat before saying, “We didn’t know that someone is here.” By ‘we,’ she meant the other orphanage girls she brought. “It’s okay, Miss Shephard,” Rohan says, pulling away from Rosalyn. “Will you be able to ask Nath to bring in our lunch?” “Of course. I will also leave the two of you here,” she says before stepping back and pulling the door close. Rohan looks apologetically at Rosalyn. “Sorry about that. Since I live alone here, they are used to barging into most of the r
Simone has been practicing her poses and runway walk for an hour. When she’s done, she turns towards him. She looks him up and down and beams, “Wow! It fits you so well!” Her eyes are twinkling with desire.“Thank you,” he curtly says. He just returned from the changing room and is ready to practice, same as her.“So hot,” she whispers which he answers with a heavy sigh. As time progresses, he finds it harder not to be affected by her teasing.“Come on now, don’t be so shy,” she says, her voice a purr of mischief and teasing.She moves towards him and interlaces her arms with his, their bodies only inches apart. Worse, she presses her chest against him.“Simone,” he starts. He takes Simone’s hand and says, “I don’t want to get into trouble, okay?”She pouts and moves closer still, her arm playfully brushing against his. “What’s wrong with colleagues linking arms?”“Nothing, as long as it’s not in the workplace,” he answers.“Why are you so afraid?” A faint smile appears on her lips. “
As Pablo finishes his testimony, the courtroom is in shock. Gertrude’s face is twisted in anger and disbelief, while her lawyer looks defeated.“Your honor, I object to these baseless accusations against my client!” Gertrude’s lawyer exclaims.The judge raises an eyebrow. “I have heard enough evidence from Mr. Pablo and the other witnesses to proceed with this trial. Do you have any more witnesses or evidence to present on behalf of your client?”Gertrude’s lawyer shakes his head, knowing that there is no way to defend against the overwhelming evidence presented by Rohan and his team.The prosecutor steps forward confidently. “Your honor, we have shown with irrefutable evidence that Ms. Gertrude is involved in various illegal activities. We request that she be taken into custody immediately.”The judge bangs his gavel. “Ms. Gertrude, you are under arrest for drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking.”The court erupts into cheers as Gertrude is led away by police offic
After a while, Tyrianne comes out of her room wearing a skimpy outfit. “Oh, I didn’t know you were awake,” she comments, lowering down the volume of the television. “Who could sleep with that kind of noise?!” he snaps, straightening from the sofa. She chuckles, unaffected by his irritation. “We might have a little too much fun.” “A little?” Rohan’s voice rises in disbelief. “That was not a little. You two were practically screaming your lungs out!” Tyrianne just shrugs nonchalantly. “Well, we can’t help it if we enjoy each other’s company,” she smirks. Rohan rolls his eyes and huffs in annoyance. “I swear, you two have no sense of decency.” “Decency?” Tyrianne repeats, raising an eyebrow at him. “You’re one to talk about decency when you are watching TV at such a loud volume.” He gives her a pointed look before turning back to the TV. He doesn’t want to admit that he was trying to drown out the scandalous sounds coming from her room. She walks over and sits beside him on the co
They spend the rest of the evening coming up with a plan to gather evidence against Gertrude. They decide that Douglas will sneak into her office during business hours and retrieve any incriminating documents or emails from her computer. The following day, Rohan watches from a safe distance as Douglas makes his move. He sees him looking around before slipping inside Gertrude’s office. Rohan can feel his heart racing with anticipation, knowing that this could make or break their case against Gertrude. Inside the office, Douglas quickly moves towards Gertrude’s computer and begins typing furiously. Rohan can see that he is nervous, but determined, as he sifts through files and folders on the computer. Then, there is a loud noise outside the office and Douglas freezes, looking around frantically for a place to hide. The door swings open, revealing Gertrude herself. Douglas hides behind the desk before Gertrude can see him. But as she heads straight for the desk, Rohan holds his breath
Rohan adjusts his tailored tuxedo jacket and straightens his silk tie as he enters the grand ballroom. “You look stunning,” he whispers to his partner, Tyrianne, as they make their way through the lavish crowd. “Thank you, darling,” Tyrianne replies with a smug grin, flaunting her designer gown that hugs her curves perfectly. “I can’t believe we blended in so well with these wealthy elites,” he chuckles, scanning the room for their target. “But I have a feeling Gertrude will stand out like a sore thumb.” Tyrianne mumbles something, her eyes already searching for their target. Rohan mimics her. They are using crystal glasses and extravagant decorations. There is also a huge chandelier above, which gives off a more opulent atmosphere that matches Gertrude’s persona. “She loves to show off her wealth and power? I guess this is a great place to do it.” As they carefully navigate through the throngs of people, Rohan and Tyrianne keep up a steady stream of discreet conversation, keepi
Rohan and Tyrianne quickly make their way towards their safe-house, the injured mercenary slung over Rohan’s shoulder. They have no time to waste, as they need answers from this man before he succumbs to his wounds. As they enter the safe-house, Rohan sets the injured man down in a chair while Tyrianne begins to prepare for the interrogation. She brings out various tools, including ropes and knives, that she knows will be effective in getting information out of someone. She also prepares medicines and bandages — another path for the mercenary if he chooses to cooperate. When the mercenary wakes up, he struggles weakly against his restraints as Rohan takes a seat across from him. His eyes flicker with fear and pain, but he remains silent. “Who hired you?” Rohan starts off calmly. The mercenary remains silent, his gaze shifting between Rohan and Tyrianne. “Are you not going to answer?” Tyrianne asks coldly, her fingers daintily touching the different tools setup for him. “I—I can’
Without a moment’s hesitation, Rohan and Tyrianne duck behind the staircase as Jackson starts firing his gun. The bullets ricochet off the walls, sending dust and debris flying in all directions. The two huddle together, trying to come up with a plan. “We need to disarm him,” Rohan whispers, his eyes darting around the area for any possible weapons they can use. Tyrianne nods in agreement. “I’ll create a diversion. You sneak up on him from behind,” she says, before dashing towards the opposite end of the hallway. Jackson’s attention turns towards her, and he starts shooting in her direction. Meanwhile, Rohan takes advantage of the distraction and stealthily moves towards him. Just as Jackson turns around, Rohan tackles him to the ground, sending both of them tumbling down the stairs. The impact knocks the wind out of Rohan, and he struggles to maintain his grip on Jackson’s gun. They wrestle on the floor. He can feel his muscles straining from the effort. “You think you can take m
Rohan and Tyrianne sit across from each other in a dimly lit room, sharing breakfast and visibly shaken. Dust fills the air and the slivers of light that sneak in from the outside illuminate the room. He shifts his gaze to her, and like him, her face is pale and drawn. He can see the worry in her expression, the same as what he is feeling now. Tyrianne breaks the silence. “How could it have been so easy?” Her voice is barely audible and there is a tremble in her voice as she speaks. Rohan shakes his head. “I don’t know,” he admits. “Do you think it’s a trap?” “But we’re still alive.” “A delayed trap, perhaps?” Still, Rohan feels like someone is laughing at him–as if he is being played around. “How safe is this place?” she asks. “You’re the only person who knows this place.” “I’m worried about my kids in the orphanage.” “I don’t think they would massacre them.” “Rohan!” she scolds, and she might not have noticed herself, but she just called him by his name. “Should I apolog
There are two places that Pablo has mentioned to Rohan where they can look for more evidence. One is in a mansion, the other one is in a derelict warehouse looming before them.“Why did Pablo even think that this warehouse has evidence?” Rohan asks as he walks inside.This place is more than abandoned. Shadows dance through the shattered windows as he and Tyrianne pick their way carefully over the debris on the floor.“He did say that Gertrude’s allies are using this place to store incriminating documents.”“Without a guard?”“We’re not yet sure of that,” she answers.Rohan keeps quiet as they delve deeper into the crumbling building.“Over here,” Tyrianne calls softly, her flashlight illuminating a stack of dusty file boxes tucked away in a corner.Rohan joins her, his pulse quickening as he opens the first box. “Look at this,” he murmurs
The following weeks are a flurry of activities. They set their plans in motion. Rohan and Pablo help gather evidence against Gertrude, while Tyrianne snakes her way into infiltrating Gertrude’s inner circle. Although, Tyrianne looks all harmless, innocent, and sincere—it belies the fact that she can ensnare anyone within her traps.The door opens, and Tyrianne comes into his office. She is wearing a purple dress that reaches half her thighs. Her hair is up in a lovely bun and her heels are at least five inches high.Sitting on a couch, she removes her heels and starts to massage her feet.“Gertrude Mendoza has her fingers in a lot of pies,” Rohan informs her.“Right,” she says. Clearly tired and annoyed by the recent social event she had just attended.“How’s everything on your side?”“Bad. I didn’t see Clint at all. No one from Gertrude’s side attended the event too.”“A waste for the get-up?”“What?” she asks, frowning.“Well, you look pretty in that dress,” he comments, almost trip