𝟹. "... 𝙻𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚎"

PEARL'S P.O.V

I chuckled, leaning on the table, my hands over my chest. "Oh my gosh, Mr Cassian" I peeked, reaching for the wine glass on the table.

"I'm being honest, Miss Vega. I want to show you the world, show you everything" he mused, his Russian accent heavy and I grinned, taking another sip of the drink. "But I've seen everything"

"Then I've got a lot to live up to" he replied, leaning back on the seat, staring at me, I held on a gaze with him, my gaze unwavering, not giving anything away.

"Not much" I answered, crossing my leg over the other. "You just gotta sign the papers, remember that's why I'm here" I reminded, bringing the attention back to the documents on the table.

He glanced at it and looked away at once, his eyes settling on my chest. I guess he has mistaken this business dinner for a date, but I couldn't blame him, I blame Caius. And I was gonna deal with him later.

"I've got a flight this evening back to my home town. Have you been to Russia?" He asked. "Few times, for business purposes"

"Тогда как насчёт другой причины? (𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗)" He requested in his native tongue and I held up a look with him, the smirk on his lips infuriating.

"Ты должен постараться лучше, так просто ты меня не поймаешь (𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚢)" I replied, grabbing my cutleries and digging into the meal again. He was thrown aback by my response, "You speak... Russian?" He stuttered in shock and I grinned and looked back up at him.

"I told you I've been there few times" I reminded and his jaw was still open in shock. "A woman that could speak...any other language aside English is so fucking hot" he praised and I laughed.

"Where did you learn?"

"I travel a lot, it's nothing serious" I shrugged, downplaying it but he didn't have it. "Now you're even more intriguing" he dawned, leaning on the table.

"Are you gonna sign the papers now? " I beamed and his smirk widened. "On one condition"

"Mr Cassian... "

"Зови меня по имени (𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝚖𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎)" he interrupted, his voice holding an edge and I paused. "Alright... Cassian. What do you want?" I asked, leaning on the table again.

"A twirl. I want a full view of you" he requested and it didn't surprise me one bit, in fact it amused me. These men were all the same and they only wanted one thing—me.

I smiled, it wasn't forced, it was something I had gotten used to. I knew what I wanted and I knew how to get it, I was always in power.

I gently pushed my seat back and got up, his eyes following me, mapping out every single curve of my body like he was drinking it in.

The little grey dress I wore hugged every inch of my body, leaving a trail behind. I turned around, flicking my hair behind my back, lingering for a second, I turned back to him.

His eyes unblinking and stuck on mine, he was in my web. Slowly, he reached for the documents like he was being hypnotized and he popped the pen open to sign.

➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣

We stepped out of the building, his hands fixated right below my waist, he was at the edge of crossing the line but he didn't, his hands rested just below and didn't move any further.

He led me towards the car parked at a distance, I fixed my coat lightly, checking out the time on my phone. "Do you have other plans?" He asked noticing, and I looked up at him.

"Of course not" I lied and we stopped at the car. "Where are you off to now?" He asked, fixing my coat to cover me up. "Back to base, now"

"Italy" he said and I smiled. "Well, I wish you a safe trip" I mentioned and he still didn't move away from me, still holding up that look.

"Поцелуй  (𝙺𝚒𝚜𝚜) " he requested, tapping his cheek, I held myself back from rolling my eyes before tiptoeing to peck him but he tilted my cheek and kissed me.

Of course.

Pulling out, he rubbed my lips. "I'll see you again"

"Of course, we are business partners now" I reminded and he smiled. "Safe trip too, Pearl" with that he turned on his heels and walked towards the cars parked at a distance.

His men got out and pulled the door open immediately, I waited till they drove out before letting out a long sigh. "That must have been stressful" Tobi said, getting out of the car.

I groaned, tucking my hair behind my ear. Straightening out my hand, he dropped the sanitizer on it before taking my bag and the documents from me.

"Let's go. I need to unwind" I said, hopping into the car and he took the driver's seat. We drove out of there and I glanced at my phone which has been buzzing all through dinner.

"Why the hell is Kendra trying to blow up my phone?" I asked and Tobi chuckled, his gaze fixated on the road. "There's been a recent update in Rome" he answered.

"I know, Caius wants me back but I'm not taking a flight tonight" I replied, scrolling through the texts. "Are we going to be making a quick drop somewhere or-"

"No" I answered, dropping my phone beside and letting out a sigh. "He will be elated since you got Cassian to agree to the deal" he mentioned and I hummed, twirling my hair in my hand as I stared out the window.

"Call the service tonight" I ordered and he nodded, noting that. "Are we gonna be flying to Italy first before Greece? "

"Yes, I still gotta drop the update first on Cassian" I replied and he focused back on the road.

Moments later.

I sent the last message before getting up and walking to the table in front of the window, where I laid out all the documents. It's already been a long night and I still had much to do.

The newspaper underneath peeked out and I glanced at it before pulling it out. The headline brought a smile to my lips.

Breaking News: Devastating Warehouse Bombing in Sicily

Palermo, Sicily -Authorities are investigating a catastrophic explosion that tore through a warehouse in the industrial district of Palermo late last evening, leaving destruction and panic in its wake.

Interesting.

The explosion, which occurred around 6:32 pm local time, shattered windows and sent debris flying across the surrounding area. Initial reports indicate that the warehouse was used for storing imported goods, though suspicions are mounting about possible illegal activities linked to the site.

Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud blast followed by a towering plume of smoke visible from miles away. "It felt like an earthquake," said, a local resident. "The ground shook, and we saw flames lighting up the sky."

Emergency services rushed to the scene, battling the fire for hours before bringing it under control. No official casualty count has been released, but authorities confirm that multiple workers were on-site during the explosion. Efforts to account for all personnel are ongoing.

Preliminary investigations suggest the possibility of foul play. Officials are examining whether the incident is connected to organized crime, which has historically plagued the region. A police spokesperson state.

A hand made way to my waist and I felt his lips on my neck bit I didn't react or turn around but I just flipped to the next page of the papers.

Local authorities have cordoned off the area, and forensic teams are sifting through the rubble for evidence. Residents have been advised to avoid the vicinity due to lingering safety concerns.

The Italian Prime Minister has since been silent without making a statement about the unrest in the city.

How could he say anything? He was still  grieving about the lost on his side, Sicily wasn't the only city that was unrest, the whole country was. And it made it clear on where he was, chaos always followed.

I gasped sharply as his lips brushed against the curve of my collarbone, sending a jolt of electricity through me. The papers I held fluttered to the ground, forgotten, as I spun around, crashing my lips onto his with an urgency I couldn't contain.

My hands snaked around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened, raw and consuming. Time blurred. Within moments, I was astride him, my fingers digging into the firm muscle of his shoulders, grounding myself as I moved.

He hissed softly, his head falling back, eyes shut tight. That wasn't enough for me. I gripped his jaw, tilting his face back to meet mine. "Look at me," I commanded, breathless, the intensity of my voice cutting through the haze.

For a moment, he struggled, lost in the sensations overwhelming him, but I wouldn't allow it. My palm met his cheek—not harsh, but firm enough to snap his focus back to me. "I said, look at me," I repeated, my voice low but insistent, laced with authority.

His eyes locked onto mine, dark and smoldering, and the connection burned through every fiber of my being. I slowed my rhythm, savoring the depth of his gaze, my nails pressing into his shoulders as a shudder coursed through me.

The climax hit like a tidal wave, my body tightening as I broke, my breath catching in his name. He didn't look away—not even for a second—and the power in his gaze held me captive, even as I unraveled completely in his arms.

My phone began buzzing at the other side and I looked up at it, tucking my hair behind my ear. I got off him, fixing my underwear and shirt as I walked back to the table.

I first grabbed the pack of cigarettes, popped one in and lit it up without turning to the man still on my bed. I first took a drag before picking up my phone and answering. "Kendra, I'm not taking your shit this evening"

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting" she apologized first and I rolled my eyes, taking another drag from the cigarette. "The summit has been moved" she informed and I paused, pulling the cigarette from my lips.

"Why the hell?!"

"I don't know, it's this Thursday" she added. "Are you fucking kidding me?! I got other plans after Italy, wasn't it like in...two weeks or so? "

"Something came up. The unrest in Italy has fueled things to move faster" she explained and I hissed, taking another drag of the cigarette.

"Who made the decree?" I demanded, the whole shit was ruining my plans. "The Capo" she answered and I paused, slowly lowering the cigarette as I leaned by the window.

Of course.

"I'll be in Italy tomorrow" I answered before ending the call and letting out a breath of smoke. I'm guessing phase two is already in motion.

Turning back around, I glanced at the man still on my bed. "Get dressed, Tobi will settle you outside" and with that I headed out to the bathroom.