MY LITTTLE BUNNY

Chapter 4

MY LITTLE BUNNY

Chapter 4

The meeting lasts much longer than Kraig anticipates.

The new investors are far more difficult than most people he has dealt with.

But that is exactly the kind of people he prefers.

Straightforward.

Intelligent.

Cautious.

Genuine.

People who question every clause instead of blindly chasing quick profits.

Such people think about the future, not merely the present. They are less likely to betray him later.

And Kraig admires that.

Nearly two hours later, the meeting finally comes to an end.

Kraig rises from his seat and shakes hands with each investor.

"It is a pleasure doing business with you."

"The pleasure is ours, Mr. Kraig."

He escorts them to the conference room entrance while his personal assistant follows at a respectful distance behind.

After exchanging a few final words, Kraig watches his assistant escort the guests out of the building.

Only then does he turn toward his office.

Oddly...

His curiosity reaches its peak.

The little girl he remembers from years ago...

Is nothing like the young woman sitting in his office now.

She is not a harmless kitten.

She is a tiger cub that has quietly grown sharp claws while everyone mistakes her for an innocent rabbit.

A sly smile tugs at the corner of his lips.

Interesting...

He unlocks his office door and quietly steps inside.

The room is silent.

Bella lies curled up on one of the large sofas, her eyes closed as though she has fallen asleep while waiting.

Kraig closes the door gently behind him.

He walks over and crouches beside her.

For a long moment, he simply watches her.

Her breathing is steady.

Her expression looks peaceful.

Until...

Her eyelashes tremble ever so slightly.

A smile flickers in his eyes.

Pretending to sleep?

Fine.

Let's see how long you can keep it up.

Without exposing her, he calmly stands and walks toward his desk.

He picks up several documents and begins reviewing them as though she no longer exists.

From the corner of his eye, he notices one of Bella's eyelids lift slightly before snapping shut again.

His smirk deepens.

Two can play this game... Bunny.

Minutes pass.

Then thirty.

Bella originally intends to fool him for only a few minutes.

Instead...

She becomes distracted.

Completely distracted.

Her half-open eyes wander toward the man seated behind the desk.

He works with absolute concentration.

His sharp jaw.

His composed expression.

His long fingers flipping effortlessly through files.

His commanding aura...

She cannot look away.

Whoever says serious men are the most attractive...

They are not lying.

He is actually... handsome.

Especially when he is working.

Before she realizes it, both eyes are completely open.

She is shamelessly admiring him.

Then...

The corners of his lips slowly curve upward.

Bella's heart skips.

Wait...

Did he catch me?

Their eyes meet.

She freezes.

"Oh no..."

A teasing smile spreads across Kraig's face.

"Have you seen enough?"

He leans back lazily in his chair.

"If not, feel free to continue."

"I understand."

"My face is rather pleasant to look at."

"I have always known I am—"

"Don't flatter yourself."

Bella interrupts him before he can finish.

"I was only observing how your permanently frozen face looks while you're working."

She folds her arms.

"You're definitely not my type."

"Too rigid."

"Too cold."

"And completely humorless."

She shrugs.

"Besides..."

"Your looks are lacking."

"Who knows what else you might be lacking?"

Silence.

For the first time that day...

Kraig genuinely looks surprised.

Where does the obedient little rabbit from this morning disappear to?

So this is your real personality...

Slowly, he stands.

Each step toward Bella is calm.

He stops directly before her.

"If you don't know what to do with that little mouth of yours..."

His deep voice drops another octave.

"...I can certainly find plenty of ways to keep it occupied."

He bends slightly, his eyes locking onto hers.

"Would you like to try one?"

Bella's heartbeat skips.

Yet she stubbornly refuses to look away.

Kraig straightens.

"And don't ever forget something."

His voice becomes cold once more.

"I buy you."

"I can sell you just as easily."

"You will call me Master."

"And..."

He looks directly into her eyes.

"I will call you Bunny."

"Bun—"

The protest dies in Bella's throat the instant she meets his warning gaze.

She immediately closes her mouth.

"Good girl."

He casually pats her head as though rewarding a well-behaved pet.

"My obedient little Bunny."

Bella nearly coughs up blood from anger.

Ungrateful bastard!

I save your life years ago, and this is how you repay me?

I should have left you there to suffer!

Completely oblivious to the storm raging inside her, Kraig walks toward the coat rack and slips on his suit jacket.

A smile quietly appears on his face.

Hidden from Bella's view.

Let's see how long you can keep pretending.

Sooner or later...

You will bare those claws, little wild cat.

He turns toward the door.

"Let's go."

It is not an invitation.

It is an order.

Bella stands reluctantly.

Her head remains lowered while her hair conceals the murderous glare in her eyes.

If a gun magically appears in her hand...

She is fairly certain she will finish what fate interrupted years ago.

Kraig does not need to see her face to know exactly what she is thinking.

She is probably cursing him hundreds...

No.

Thousands of times in her heart.

Does he care?

Not in the slightest.

Power has long made him immune to people's opinions.

He has spent his entire life giving orders.

Being feared.

Being hated.

Some call him ruthless.

Others call him a devil.

He answers to both without complaint.

If he had not become cold...

If he had not become unpredictable...

He would have died long ago.

His life belongs to no one but himself.

He has no interest in friendships.

No time for games.

No patience for unnecessary emotions.

Yet...

Ever since the day Bella unknowingly saved his life...

Something has changed.

Without her knowledge, he quietly keeps watching over her from afar.

He knows every hardship she has endured.

He knows how cruelly her father has treated her.

Along with the countless crimes her father has committed.

Human trafficking.

Drugs.

Illegal experiments.

They are the reasons why Kraig never interferes when the man met his downfall.

Some people simply reap what they sow.

The only question troubling him now is...

Why do I care so much about her?

He dislikes distractions.

Yet Bella has become one.

The longer she stays near him...

The more fascinating she becomes.

And it has only been a single day.

Should I just sell her and end this?

The thought surfaces briefly.

But for reasons he cannot explain...

It does not sit well with him.

By the time they drive out of K&N Group, night has already fallen.

The city lights glitter beneath the dark sky.

Inside the car...

Silence returns.

Bella stares out the window, trapped inside her own thoughts.

Kraig keeps his eyes on the road, equally lost in his own.

Neither of them realizes it yet...

But from the moment fate brought them together again...

Their lives had already begun moving toward a future neither can escape.

Kraig gave her glance at her briefly and look back at the road.

"Maybe I should send her away now." he thought as he increased the speed.

"But would he be able to do it?"