The Devil's Desire

Plan is in motion

DARIO

She's been staring at me all this while I've been filling the questionnaire. Does she like what she's seeing or is she just thinking of the asshole I am? For some reason, I’m leaning towards the former. The way she’s staring at my chest, it’s like her jaws are about to drop.

“I could be yours for the night?” I wink.

Her cheeks flush while she tears her gaze away from me.

“Why would you think I want to have you for the night?” she asks.

“Because you've been admiring me. I have a side eye, you know, and you cannot convince me otherwise.”

She goes silent. She doesn't deny it either.

“Don't worry, I don't mind a night with you. We could take this questionnaire to your bedroom and it won't be the only thing I'll be filling,” I still tease.

Did I see her cheeks flush again? Someone had got her claws then and now I see some vulnerability. Or was that too charming?

“Well, Mr. Morata,” she looks at me sternly this time, like she’s just refilled her energy, “I don't intend to have a stranger in my room.”

“And like I said, Miss Vargas, get the perfect house and I won't be a stranger in your room, because we'll be sharing one.” I counter.

“Are you done ?” she asks, ignoring all my other words.

I hand the papers over to her. God knows what I've just filled in there. I have no idea either. Okay, I know. It's bullshit.

“There you go, beautiful.” I push the papers slowly on her side of the table.

This is not going to go well since I have another plan in mind. I can't wait to see the surprise on her face when the plan is executed.

“Are you sure you've filled in the correct thing?” she asks, looking at the papers.

“Nope, because that's not what I wanted to fill tonight.” I wink.

To be fair, the first few documents have everything filled appropriately, even though there’s nothing true about what I just filled. Especially because a house is the last thing I’m interested in.

“Let me take a look,” she mumbles, ignoring my words. She scans the first two and I stop her before she can go further. Well, at least I’ve trapped her with that.

“You can... Look at them at home. Can I get to know you for now?” I ask, trying to push this a little longer.

“You know, maybe feel something else later tonight?” I add, leaning forward, trying to get the papers from her hand.

“No can do. However, you're right about one thing. I want to go home. I'll call a cub,'' she says, arranging the papers. That's got to be the greatest joke I've heard today. “You're joking, right? I'd rather die than let you get a taxi when I was the one who brought you here.”

I’m not sure when I became that kind of person. Maybe it’s just for tonight.

_____________

I'm driving Luciana back home and she's silent the entire drive. Being a great multitasker, I’ve been balancing between focusing on the road and selling glances at her.

I've seen beauty before, but this one has got to be a special type of beauty. Just the way she is. She's special. Part of me feels it’s such a shame that she’s going to be caught up in the Vargas-Morata war that’s about to erupt. Either way, nothing can stop me from my quest.

I can’t tell her that. Neither can I switch her to my side that easily. She seems so connected to Hugo and Lara, to turn her back on them. I remind myself again; I have to play my cards so well.

The drive is awkward. She blocks every conversation that I try to spark up.

“Well, here we are, Miss Vargas,” I tell her when the car finally halts.

This time we're not stopped at the entrance since I'm with her and the guards would still remember me. That doesn't mean I have forgotten the stunt they pulled earlier. I hope they keep this face in their brains for a very long time.

I get out of the car to open Luciana's door before she's done untying her safety belt.

“Gentleman stunt?” she asks, stepping outside the car.

“Only for you.”

I'm standing before her when she gets out of the car. I know that my next step is to tell her goodnight and hightail out of here. Enough of the enemy’s territory for the night. However, there’s that part of my brain that wants to keep talking to her.

“How was the night with me?” I ask instead.

“Oh, it was good. You're the best client I've ever had,” she says, and her face is so serious that you could actually believe her. There’s nothing true about what she’s saying. Not that I’m a voice expert, but in this case, it’s so easy to judge the situation.

“Are you sure about that?” I ask.

“Yes,” she lies.

“Your eyes say otherwise.”

“And what do you know about my eyes, Mr.Morata?” She probes.

“Well, there's only one way to find out.”

I close in on her until there's less than an inch between us. She blinks in confusion.

When she moves a step backward, I move another one forward, and it makes no difference.

Our eyes lock. We're close enough that I can feel her breath, together with her charming scent.

I take a glance at her lips. They are so sexy, I can't deny it. They look so enticing. The thought of my lips on them sends blood rushing to the lower part of my body. Every nerve in my body is screaming for her lips.

Good Lord.

I want to kiss her so badly, but the part of my brain that's still functioning snaps me back. I was only supposed to tease her. How did it get that far? I have no idea.

“Goodnight Luciana,” I whisper before getting back into my car, leaving her, looking like someone who's panic-stricken.

________________

It's ten o’clock by the time I arrive home. It's not so early for the mansion to be this quiet, but it's not late either. My first stop is in the cellar; surprisingly, someone else is not asleep. Fidel is quietly gulping drinks.

“Honey, I'm home,” I joke, taking a seat opposite.

He gives me the 'what the hell is that look’.

“Honey?”

Okay, I forgot we were born in different centuries.

“How was your date?” he asks, taking another glass for me before pouring some tequila in it.

“Uhm. Nothing much happened, just the usual.

I managed to stall some more and prolong the deal,” I say.

He still glances at me like I'm supposed to tell him more.

“Now what, old man?” I ask, gulping another shot.

“That's not everything that happened,” he says.

And what else do you think happened?

I don't ask him. Instead, I ignore whatever conversation he's thinking of sparking in his head.

“I left you some assignment.” I remind him.

“What, you think I'd fail to do my assignment?” he questions.

The conversation is interrupted when Rex walks in and takes his seat.

“I'm getting back to you, Fidel.” I turn my attention towards Rex.

“So, what did you find about the PI?” I raise a brow in question.

“I'm still on a dead end…”

“Incompetence, Rex. We always try to avoid that,” I cut him short.

“Twenty-four hours,” I add and he understands what I mean.

“Fidel?”

“Oh, my assignment is done. Three hours from now, Hugo Vargas will be receiving very heartbreaking news.” he reports. He's all over himself because he doesn't have to suffer my wrath because of incompetence.

“Now that's more like it,” I comment as I take a sip of tequila. Sadly, I won't be able to see Hugo Vargas’ face when he gets the news. But it's the thoughts that count. I'm just glad that my plans are taking root.