A DANGEROUS GAME
942 Words
CHAPTER FIVE: A DANGEROUS GAME
"CLOSER THAN SHE LIKES"
"You’re staring, sweetheart."
Zyrah nearly choked on her wine. "Excuse me?"
Aziel leaned against the balcony railing, his lips curled into a smirk as he watched her. "You’ve been watching me all night. Can’t blame you. I do look devastatingly handsome under Parisian lights."
Zyrah set down her glass with an exasperated sigh. "You’re unbelievable."
Aziel tilted his head, amusement flickering in his storm-gray eyes. "Admit it, Vexley. You’re a little obsessed with me."
Zyrah crossed her arms. "I tolerate you. Barely."
Aziel chuckled, stepping closer. "Funny. You tolerated me on a private jet. You tolerated me at a gala filled with enemies. And now, you’re tolerating me alone on a balcony. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you enjoy my company."
Zyrah’s jaw tightened. "If I had a choice, I’d be anywhere but here."
Aziel let out a low, mocking sigh. "Ah, but you do have a choice. Yet, here you are."
He was too close. Too warm. Too intoxicating.
Zyrah refused to let him win.
She took a deliberate step back, straightened her posture, and met his gaze with a cold smirk.
"You mistake obligation for interest, Rune. I’m here because I have a job to do. Not because I want to be in your orbit."
For once, Aziel didn’t have a comeback.
And that? That was her victory.
---
"THE OTHER WOMAN"
Before Aziel could recover from Zyrah’s brutal shutdown, a sultry voice interrupted them.
"Aziel, darling."
Zyrah turned to see a gorgeous blonde in a silk dress approaching—her heels clicking against the marble floor with practiced confidence.
Aziel’s expression shifted into something unreadable. "Aurielle."
Zyrah didn’t know much about her, but she didn’t need to.
The way Aurielle looked at Aziel? It was clear—this was not just a -fling. This was something deeper.
Aurielle’s eyes flicked to Zyrah. "And who is this?"
Before Zyrah could speak, Aziel answered.
"My assistant. She’s a little obsessed with me."
Zyrah gave him a deadpan look. "I will throw you off this balcony."
Aurielle let out a soft laugh. "Still charming as ever, Aziel."
Aziel smirked. "I try."
Zyrah wanted to strangle him.
Aurielle, however, looked amused. "I’ll see you inside, Aziel. Don’t take too long."
As soon as she walked away, Zyrah turned to him with a glare. "Did you bring me here just to watch you parade around your ex-lovers?"
Aziel raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?"
Zyrah scoffed. "Of what? Your terrible taste in women?"
Aziel laughed. A real, deep laugh.
"Damn, Vexley. You’re ruthless."
Zyrah picked up her glass. "You bring out the best in me."
---
"A BUSINESS MEETING OR A TRAP?"
The next morning, Zyrah was up early, dressed in a sleek black suit, preparing for the meeting that could clear Aziel’s name.
Aziel, however, was lounging on the hotel couch, shirt unbuttoned, sipping coffee like he had all the time in the world.
"You should hurry," Zyrah said.
Aziel yawned. "You should relax."
Zyrah exhaled sharply. "If you get thrown in prison for fraud, don’t expect me to visit you."
Aziel grinned. "You totally would."
Zyrah grabbed her tablet. "Get dressed, Rune."
Aziel placed a hand over his heart. "The way you boss me around? It’s kind of hot."
Zyrah ignored him. "Five minutes."
Aziel smirked. "Four, if you undress me with your eyes."
She turned on her heel and walked out.
The sound of his laughter followed her.
---
"THE SETUP"
The meeting was held at an elite Parisian law firm, filled with men in expensive suits and rival business sharks waiting for Aziel to fail.
Zyrah stood by his side, arms crossed.
Aziel, however, looked annoyingly at ease.
"Mr. Rune," one of the firm’s executives began, sliding a folder across the table. "These are the documents leaked about your company’s offshore accounts."
Aziel glanced at the file but didn’t reach for it. "And?"
The man smirked. "And we believe this evidence is enough to launch a full investigation."
Zyrah tensed. This wasn’t just about business anymore.
Aziel leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "So let me get this straight. Someone steals confidential company documents, fabricates financial records, and instead of questioning the source, you go straight to prosecuting me?"
The executive hesitated. "We’re only following the evidence."
Aziel smirked. "No. You’re following whoever paid you off."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Zyrah swallowed. Holy s**t.
Aziel had just called them out.
And judging by the sudden tension in the air—he was right.
---
"A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION"
After the meeting, Zyrah and Aziel returned to the hotel.
The moment the door closed, Zyrah rounded on him.
"Are you insane?"
Aziel shrugged off his suit jacket. "Possibly."
"You just accused an entire legal team of bribery!"
Aziel grinned. "Because they are bribed. And now, they know that I know."
Zyrah ran a hand through her hair, frustrated. "Do you even have a plan?"
Aziel smirked. "Always."
Zyrah folded her arms. "And? What is it?"
Aziel stepped closer, voice dropping.
"We find the real culprit. And we make them pay."
Zyrah felt a shiver down her spine.
Because for the first time since meeting Aziel Rune…
She believed him.
---
"UNEXPECTED HEAT"
Zyrah sighed, running a hand over her face. "I don’t know why I put up with you."
Aziel smirked. "Because I’m irresistible."
She rolled her eyes. "You’re exhausting."
Aziel stepped closer, his presence almost overwhelming.
"Maybe," he murmured, voice softer now. "But I make life exciting, don’t I?"
Zyrah held her breath.
Because for the first time—he wasn’t joking.
And that? That was dangerous.
---
- Writer
