Billionaire's Game of Seduction

Knight and The Raven

"Vielen danke mein Schatz."

She smiled as she accepted the glass of lemonade from the little girl behind the counter, who grinned as she accepted the money.

(Thank you so much, sweetie.)

"Sie sind willkommen. Besuchen Sie uns wieder!" She beamed as the girl's mother smiled from behind her, and Judith waved as she exited the small juice corner.

(You are welcome. Visit again!)

Summer had arrived in the city. The road was bordered with lush green foliage that had frozen in the August heat. Judith lingered in their shadows before allowing the sun's rays to warm her bare shoulders. She enjoyed the heat, but the shade in between provided her with the needed respite. She wanted to skip down the mild slope like she did as a child, but instead, she walked. It wasn't a tourist attraction, and there weren't many people walking on the blacktop roadway. She always felt connected to one place when she explored the back alleys where ordinary people reside. She could observe how they lived and how they went about their daily lives, and those people always pulled her closer to the city she was visiting. Judith had gone shopping at a few tiny local boutiques and purchased a pair of black slacks and a simple white shirt.

Her hair was twisted up in a messy bun, her work boots were on her feet, and those pilot shades were on her eyes, and she felt alive basking in the sun. She'd stopped at a local cafe, eating a simple lunch and staring out the window at the few locals on the street. The street becomes a visual embrace to her imagination, with people walking, talking, holding hands, and linking arms. She unwittingly smiles as she stares at the passers-by. Her attention was drawn to a particular couple of people. A small girl tugged on her father's arm, a warm joyous smile on her face illuminating the way she walked with her father. She was rambling to her father in a little but excited voice, while her father strolled behind her, laughing and beaming. As they passed her, the small girl gave her a full-fledged smile, which she returned and waved at her.

Her gaze returned to her father, and as they walked away, Judith continued to stare at them. After a while, the little girl began to run, and her father pursued her, holding her in his arms. Soon, he swung her in the air as her excited squeals filled the air, and Judith's face was graced with a sad smile, her eyes welling up slightly. She shook her head and headed into the cafe, where after cleansing her face in the little restroom, she took out the white shirt from her bag and slipped it over the tank top she was wearing.

The sun was setting and the temperature was dropping, which made her feel chilly. After neatly tucking in her shirt and leaving the top button undone, she headed out to the city, which was now vividly lit up with neon. It's amazing how a city can transform from a warm, tranquil setting to one filled with lights, buzz, people, and life.

Evening comes to the city in the stillness of deepening blue, always illuminated, always awake, always with a pulsating heart. The city comes to life with music and light on the edge of evening, when there is still the strength of day but the gentleness of night. Each brilliant hue obtains its boarding pass for the world of dreams in the graphite-lullaby. As she walks down the lamp-lit sidewalk towards the bustling city, her soul is once again illuminated in a new light. People have begun to converge to enjoy and dance away their nights. On Friday nights, individuals leave their respective workplaces and return home to enjoy a hearty dinner with their families and spend the night with their loved ones who are patiently waiting for them at home. The couples holding hands walk past her, their laughter filling her ears to the brim. Girls are talking and laughing in anticipation of their night out, and in the midst of it all, she walks with a smile on her face, witnessing the city come to life. This was her solace, and this was the very reason why she loved flying so much. Being able to travel to new places, discover new cities, cultures, and people, losing and rediscovering herself in the midst of them.

When her legs were fatigued from walking through the colorful city, she entered a tavern. Her gaze roamed throughout the tavern as she sat on the bar stools. The tavern soaks in the mood of this good night, from the sluggish spin of the fans to the reclining light of eventide that will soon be starlit black. "Was kann ich Ihnen bringen?"

(What can I get for you?)

She turned to face the bartender when she heard his voice. With a smile on his face, he was rather endearing. "Warum überraschen Sie mich nicht?"

With a wink and a very prominent accent, she offered, and his smile widened.

(Why don't you surprise me?)

She sluggishly leans towards the counter, her elbow resting on the counter and her chin resting on her palm. Her gaze was riveted on the bartender, who expertly spun the bottles in his hands, occasionally glancing at her.

"Ein Jägermeister bitte." The heavy voice drew her attention away to her left, and an annoyed groan escaped her mouth. She rolled her eyes, averting her gaze from the bartender once more. (A Jägermeister please.)

Her loud sigh drew the male's attention, and with a smirk, he enthusiastically cheered, "Well if it isn't our Captain!" She rolled her eyes at his remarks.

"At this point, I feel tempted to ask!" His voice dipped slightly as he leaned in nearer the woman seated on the bar stool. "Are you following me, Ms. Callahan?"

He'd leaned in so close to her that she could feel his hot breath brushing on her skin.

She pushed him back with her palm firmly on his left shoulder.

"I could ask the same thing, Mr. Agnor. I walked in here first. Just as I did when I first walked into the hotel suite." She stated with a phony smile, and his smirk deepened. "I just happen to be the owner of this pub and that room was booked under my name. So Ms. Callahan, are you following me?" He asked again, and her eyes widened slightly.

"I walk into one pub out of several, and it happens to be yours. Great!" She exclaimed with a phony glee and rolled her eyes. "It doesn't matter if you chose the others; they are mine as well." He stated with a proud arrogant smile.

"Good for you!" She uttered it in the most uninterested tone she could muster.

At that moment, the bartender placed her drink in front of her.

"Hier ist dein getränk, schöne."

he said, to which she smiled.

(Here's your drink, beautiful,)

"Danke schön."Her eyes widened and she moaned at the taste as she took up the glass and sipped the liquor. "Dies ist ohne Zweifel einer der besten! Danke!"

(Thank you,) (This is without a doubt one of the best! Thanks!)

"Mein Vergnügen, wunderschön!" The bartender grinned and winked.

(My pleasure, gorgeous!)

"Könnte ich noch etwas für Sie besorgen?" He inquired, and Judith raised her head to respond. But she was silenced when Drazhan spoke up.

(Anything else I could get for you?)

"Wie wäre es, wenn sie mir meine bestellung holen getränk, während Sie die anderen bedienen, die warten?"

His smile faded in the face of Drazhan's stern remarks, and he excused himself with a small bow of his head to prepare the orders of others. Judith's brow furrowed at his sudden sterility and change in attitude. She noticed him motioning for another bartender to come forward and serve them.

(How about you grab me my drink while you serve the others who are waiting?)

The bartender quickly handed him his wine, and as he sipped leisurely from the glass, he occasionally glanced at Judith, who sat silently. She quickly gulped down her drink and set the glass on the counter.

"Ich hätte gerne einen Scotch, bitte." She placed her order, and the bartender nodded and moved forward to prepare her drink.

(A scotch please.)

Drazhan's brows were scrunched as he stared at her. She lifted her brows in question and shifted her eyes to him.

"What?" She inquired. "You shouldn't drink so much, Captain." He remarked this while sipping from his glass.

"And why is that exactly Mr. Agnor? Would you like to elaborate?"

"I think you shouldn't drink and fly." He responded casually.

"I'd be completely sober by the morning for my return flight to Hawaii." She reached out her hand to take the glass the bartender had placed in front of her. However, Drazhan's hand seized hers, preventing her from bringing the glass to her lips. He leaned forward,

"If you were mine, I would have made sure you couldn't sit for a week for defying me, but you are not." He whispered and her eyes widened,

"What!" She hollered,

"Nothing, Ms. Callahan. You might be sober the next morning, but I don't prefer having my pilots drunk and hungover." His tone was stern, but he had a playful smirk on his face. "What do you mean, your pilot?" she asked, her head shooting towards him in anger.

"My pilot, who flew my plane, who would fly my plane, who works for me, to fly my plane," He replied casually, and she began to simmer with fury.

"I'm not your pilot, just so you know! I don't work for you!"

"You flew my plane yesterday and will continue to do so in the future. Captain Callahan, you are my pilot." His voice was low while he spoke.

"I just flew you and your tiny plane here because it was requested of me. And the order was merely for you to be flown here. After that, I'm going back to enjoy my vacation. I would never fly that puny plane of yours again!" She hissed and swatted his hand away and gulped down the scotch. He leaned back against the bar counter and spoke quietly as he sipped his drink.

"Captain, I'll see to it that your order is stretched to my liking. Prepare yourself for your next order and flight." He set his now-empty glass on the counter and told her good night with a wink and a smirk.

"Ms. Callahan, good night. Drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest. I'm looking forward to meeting you soon and like I said before, I look forward to fly with you soon." She became enraged at his statements, and as he turned to leave, he waved his hand and said with an authoritative voice,

"Stellen Sie sicher, dass niemand Frau Callahan noch mehr schnaps anbietet."

(Make sure no one offers Ms. Callahan any more alcohol.)

The staff turned their attention towards him and said in unison as he gave the instruction. "Jawohl!"

(Yes Sir!)

Her rage was fueled by his command and their unified response.

"I'll never fly you anyplace again, you arrogant jerk! I hope to god I never see you again!" She roared loud enough for him to hear, and after tossing some money on the counter, she stormed out of the pub, enraged.

Her blood boiled with fury as she stormed down the lamp-lit sidewalk, her feet pounding on the concrete pavement. What does he think of himself? She would never work with someone who was so arrogant!

When her phone vibrated within her pocket, she slowed down. She grimaced and pulled out her phone. As she unlocked her phone, a new mail notification flashed across the screen. She opened the mail, and the contents made her want to scream.

"That bastard!" She stuffed the phone back into her pocket and began walking down the street, cussing Drazhan Agnor and everyone working for Delta Airlines. She was supposed to fly him again the next day! To Belgium!