T.S.Noir

  ??

  My eyes flickered open in the dark, my heart pounding in my chest.

  Nightmares of the past and memories of Li's innocent face haunted my dreams yet again.

  I cursed under my breath as I sat up, running a hand through my disheveled hair.

  My luxurious bedroom in the sprawling Bckwood Manor was shrouded in shadows, the only source of light spilling in from the moonlight filtering through the rge windows.

  Throwing aside the Egyptian cotton sheets, I padded naked across the hardwood floors to my walk-in closet.

  I spent a few minutes selecting my attire for the day: a charcoal gray Tom Ford suit, crisp bck shirt, and Gucci loafers. Dressing with practiced ease, I spshed on my signature scent—a custom-blend woody fragrance that lingered tantalizingly in the air wherever I went.

  Downstairs, I was met by my trusted confidant, Sebastian, who handed me a steaming cup of freshly brewed Geisha coffee.

  "Good morning, sir," he said in his disarmingly polite voice. "You have a full schedule today, should I y it out on you?” he said while pouring him a coffee. “Yes, Please Sebastian.”

  As I sipped my coffee, I listened intently to Sebastian's rundown of the day's itinerary. "The usual," he muttered, "Ah, but sir, there is one addition to your schedule that I believe you will find... interesting." Sebastian's tone was ced with a hint of smugness, piquing my interest. "What is it?"

  "A meeting with none other than Sabrina Greensky herself," Sebastian replied, unable to fully conceal his amusement.

  "She's requested a private audience with you at the Bckwood Tower, just the two of them and her bodyguard, of course."

  I thought for a moment “no I won’t be meeting her, not yet. Sebastian, have you found anything about my request st night, I asked you about John Dunham and Sabrina’s Retionship this past 12 years and their company financial report”

  Sebastian, always the consummate professional, didn't miss a beat at my attempt to the change of topic.

  "Right, sir. I've compiled all the information you requested st night. In short, John Dunham and Sabrina Greensky's retionship has been nothing but transactional from the very beginning. Their marriage was arranged to merge their respective companies and form the Dunham-Greensky conglomerate."

  "As for their company's financial standings," Sebastian continued, "their empire was unstoppable until 12 years ago."

  Sebastian said the st word with a knowing look. "Since then, their fortunes have taken a sharp nosedive. Corruption and mismanagement have pgued their ranks, and they've been scrambling to stay afloat ever since."

  "Interesting," I mused, stroking my chin thoughtfully. "And what about Sabrina's recent move? Requesting a private audience with me, I mean?"

  "It's rather intriguing, sir," Sebastian admitted.

  "My sources inform me that she may be looking to take over her husband’s company. She might be looking for some donation.”

  “Well, it’s not the time yet for me and Sabrina to have one on one session Sebastian. but it is time to take over Dunham company. Tell me Sebastian, how much can I spend on one company without hurting my net worth”

  Sebastian's eyes glinted with the cold, calcuting gre of a seasoned strategist. "Based on our current holdings and projected revenue, sir, you could acquire up to 80% of the Dunham-Greensky conglomerate without significantly impacting your net worth," he replied matter-of-factly.

  "However, I suggest proceeding with caution. While taking control of their organization would deal a significant blow to Sabrina's operation, she is still a formidable adversary. Engaging her directly may not be prudent at this juncture."

  I stroked my chin thoughtfully. "Excellent. Get me the Dunham-Greensky conglomerate's current market value and all the incriminating evidence you can find on John Dunham, Sabrina Greensky, and their inner circle. I want them both to hang by a thread before I make my move."

  "Of course, sir." Sebastian bowed his head in acknowledgment before turning to leave the room.

  He paused at the doorway and added, "One more thing, sir... being that close to Sabrina Greensky again... are you sure it's wise? You know what happened st time."

  My expression darkened as memories of Li's death flooded my mind. "I can handle it, Sebastian," I growled.

  "Besides, don't you think it's poetic justice that the woman who ruined Li meets her end by my hand?" My fingers curled into fists, knuckles white with restrained fury. Sebastian exhaled sharply, shaking his head.

  "This isn't justice, Sir. It's revenge. And it won't bring her back."

  My jaw clenched, but I said nothing. The weight of the past pressed against my chest, suffocating, relentless, ” It won’t but Sabrina needs to feels what Li Feels too”

  My icy demeanor softened for a fleeting moment as I swallowed the lump in my throat. "You're right, Sebastian. But I can't just let her get away with what she did. She took everything from me."

  I straightened myself, my composure returning like a well-tailored suit.

  Sebastian looked at me, appraising me with a knowing gaze. "I understand, sir." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "but are you sure you're ready to face these demons again? Sabrina Greensky is not someone to be trifled with; she's as cunning as she is beautiful."

  My lips curled into a cruel smile. "Tell me something I don't know Sebastian, Sabrina’s beauty truly knows no equal, and no ordinary man can ever resist her, I admit that I have a hard time controlling myself in front of her too. but my vengeance needs to be executed. but for Sabrina to feels what Li Felt that night it’s not going to be easy.

  She lives in this dark world; she enjoys the defilement act.” Sebastian nods in agreement, “but how Sir? ho do we break Sabrina?” I then went silent, and slowly said to Sebastian “Love Sebastian, one needs to be in love to feel sorrow” Sebastian furrowed his brows, a slow smirk forming on his lips as understanding dawned.

  "You want to make her fall in love?" he murmured, intrigued. "And then rip it away from her?"

  I leaned back in my chair, fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. "Not just love, Sebastian. Obsession. She needs to crave it, to believe in it. To think, for once, that she has something real in this wretched world."

  My voice dropped to a whisper, ced with venom. "And then, when she least expects it… we take it all away."

  Sebastian exhaled, studying me with a mix of admiration and unease. "You're pying a dangerous game, Sir. What if she sees through it?"

  I chuckled darkly. "Then we make sure she doesn’t. Now tell me Sebastian, how do we make a someone fall in love with you?”

  Sebastian leaned back, rubbing his chin in thought. "Sabrina isn’t like the women who swoon over sweet words and empty promises," he mused.

  "She thrives in chaos. She enjoys the game as much as we do. If we want her to fall, she has to believe she’s the one in control."

  My eyes gleamed with approval. "Exactly. She’s never known weakness, never tasted the sting of true loss. We give her something real—or at least, something that feels real."

  Sebastian smirked. "A slow burn, then. A challenge. She won’t want a man who chases her. She’ll want the man she can’t quite have."

  I nodded. "Make her work for it. Let her think she’s pulling you in, seducing you, breaking you. Let her believe, for the first time, that she’s found something worth holding onto."

  Sebastian exhaled, his smirk fading into something more serious. "And when she’s finally there?"

  My voice was ice. "We remind her what it feels like to lose everything."

  “But we need someone who can tolerate Sabrina, who won’t fall in love with her in the process, who won’t be seduce by her beauty” Sebastian considered my words for a moment, his mind racing through the network of contacts and associates they had amassed over the years.

  "There's only one person I can think of who might fit the bill, Sir." “And Who that might be Sebastian” I asked intrigued, “Well none other than you sir, no one can do this task better than you”

  I let out a low, amused chuckle, shaking his head.

  "Oh, Sebastian, you ftter me." I leaned forward, my sharp gaze locking onto my lieutenant. "But let’s be honest—you’re not suggesting this because you think I’m the best for the job. You’re suggesting it because you know I despise her too much to ever let myself be swayed."

  Sebastian smirked. "Exactly, sir. You are the only man who could walk through fire and not get burned. Sabrina may be beautiful, but you loathe her more than you desire her. That makes you untouchable."

  I leaned back again, my fingers steepled in thought. "An interesting proposition," I murmured. "But it does complicate things. If I’m the one she falls for, I have to make it believable. I have to give her just enough of my soul that she thinks she owns it."

  Sebastian nodded. "A dangerous game, but you py it better than anyone."

  I exhaled slowly, a wicked smirk curling at the corner of my lips. "Fine. Let’s give our dear Sabrina what she’s never had before."

  "And what’s that, sir?"

  "A man she can’t control. And maybe just maybe, Love. now let’s go we are heading for the Dunham’s Company”

  ??

  T.S.Noir