DANGEROUS OBSESSION

20

LAUREN MOSS

I spent the whole way ignoring Jennifer, staring at the road and recapping everything in my head.

And trying, you know, to mentally practice being seductive… Definitely not something I’ve ever tried before, or even know how to do, right?

But I don’t want to be eliminated tomorrow, so even if I have to imitate Leandra or whoever, I’ll do it.

He was driving at an absurd speed, which meant we didn’t take long to reach the mansion in the middle of the mountains, with no nearby neighbors.

And oh, it’s hopping! You can see it from outside. “Focus,” Jennifer says, like I’m her subordinate.

I am focusing… Ugh, I’m getting tired of her already.

I roll my eyes as the taxi pulls up to the door. My stomach is in knots. Lauren, just don’t throw up here.

“Don’t forget your names and ID in your bags,” Sasha’s voice buzzes in my ear.

And imagine me, about to respond. Man, I’m really on a mission! Worse, the syringe is with me.

“And stay in character,” I hear Irika say, and I sigh as the security guard approaches. He says something to the driver and then opens the back seat.

“Hey there, gorgeous…,” what the hell am I saying?

I blurt this nonsense with a smile, getting out of the car and brushing my hand across his shoulder.

Dying inside.

His gaze slides over me, and I feel disgusted, but I pretend it’s normal.

“Your boss is waiting for us, we shouldn’t keep him waiting,” Jennifer says, and he looks her over as well, head to toe.

“The IDs,” he says, and my heart races as I open my bag and show them to him, along with Jennifer.

“Humn… So it’s you two?” he sort of asks, watching us and handing back the IDs.

“You may enter,” he says.

“See you later, cutie,” Jennifer says, while I worry about stepping inside.

“Cutie…” I murmur, teasing, over the insanely loud music, making my way through this chaos.

“Gorgeous…” she says in the same tone, and I smile, even though I don’t want to.

These words leaving my mouth…

There are all kinds of people here, doing the most obscene things I’ve ever seen with my own eyes. They’re extremely drunk, and my nausea level is off the charts, especially with people vomiting on the floor, completely out of control.

Help!

I grab Jennifer’s hand, which she was about to pull away, but she looks at me confused before doing so.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, rude.

“Lauren?” I hear Sasha’s voice. I try to compose myself.

“Nothing,” I say, disentangling from Jennifer, who rolls her eyes.

I’m not even going to mention that I feel sick—what if this mission factors into elimination?

How do you want to be an agent while feeling nauseous?

Jennifer starts dancing among them, smoothly entering the main hall and leaving me behind.

She’s doing it really well…

She’s swaying among the guests and has already caught attention. Some people here are sober, more so than the ones outside.

“Come on, Lauren,” Irika’s voice calls.

Yeah, you can move more than that. We’re going all out.

I start walking too, after spotting Eduard, who is surrounded by women.

How disgusting.

He met my gaze, unintentionally at first, and then at the speed of light. He definitely recognized me, there was no way around it.

Yeah, no messing around, Lauren, for God’s sake…

I do my best to throw the most seductive look I can, offer a smile, feeling like at any moment it might accidentally come off wrong, and walk as seductively towards him as possible. I have to use these boots right, you know, sway my hips.

“Humn, kitten…” some i***t says to me, and I resist rolling my eyes.

He smells of alcohol. His hand touches my bare stomach, and I have to remove it without breaking his arm first, smiling the whole time.

I have to pretend I like it.

I wink at him, feeling an absurd urge to throw him a glare instead.

Yeah, I think my period started. My cramps are getting worse.

I grab a glass from a waiter circulating nearby and down it in one go, hoping it will curb the nausea. And it helps.

“Eduard!” Jennifer calls, and he looks at me as I approach him. He stammers, then smiles.

“Lauren, what brings your illustrious presence here?” he asks sarcastically, and I smile, full of disgust.

“You called for Vienna, so here I am, just Vienna,” I say, running my fingers along the rim of his whiskey glass.

He watches the movements of my fingers until I sweep them across his face, wiping them, but he interprets it as a seductive gesture.

And that’s what matters.

He smiles, and ugh…

A man this old doing something like this…

I glance at Jennifer, and she’s just going to put her mouth on his. That’s my breaking point.

Disgusting, man…

I feel one of his hands slide along my waist.

Honestly.

And he even had the audacity to squeeze.

“Let’s get out of here,” I whisper in his ear, and he smiles, grabbing Jennifer’s hand and mine, pulling us out of there, leaving the group of girls around him staring at us, mad, as if we actually wanted it.

Who would voluntarily want some old guy like moldy bread?

“Good,” I hear, and I follow along. On the way, I can’t resist and take another drink. The disgusting man even kisses my neck.

I’m starting to feel sticky.

“I didn’t know you did that,” he whispers in my ear.

“No one does. I hope you enjoy it in silence,” I say, trying to hide just how disgusted I am.

“I always knew you were playing hard to get, just didn’t know you liked these little adventures, Moss junior,” he says, and I force a smile.

“Shhh…” I murmur seductively, but really just to shut him up.

“That makes me jealous, Eduard,” Jennifer says, catching his attention. He’s slightly drunk.

“Take him to the assigned room,” I hear Irika’s voice.

“I can handle both of them,” he replies to Jennifer.

I free myself from him, going up the stairs ahead of them, while he spouts nonsense at Jennifer, who, honestly, is outperforming herself.

“How you’ve grown…” he says.

Ugh, gross!

“You haven’t seen anything, Eduard,” I say, walking up and swaying my hips.

“Humn…” I glance back as I hear Jennifer moan.

What the hell?!

I return my gaze forward, taking advantage of the fact that he’s more than entertained. I subtly move faster up the stairs and delicately remove the syringe from my bag, already sucking the liquid from the small vial into it.

But as we reach the top of the stairs, I’m forced to quickly hide this little trick in my bra, under my cropped top. There are security guards here.

I close my bag and smile, pretending I didn’t do anything. “Sir!” they call out, and he nods just behind me.

“We need to frisk them,” the security guards stationed at the door say, and I turn to Eduard.

“I don’t want anyone else daring to touch me,” I say, and he studies me carefully, then smiles.

“I wouldn’t either…” he says, and I smile back.

I open the bedroom door, passing ahead of them. They enter, and poor Jennifer is immediately “attacked.”

I don’t even bother turning on the light, just close the door.

“Show me how much you’ve grown, La…” I hear him say, and I step closer. If I didn’t know Jennifer was equally disgusted, I’d think she was enjoying this.

“Vienna…” I correct him, climbing onto the bed. Jennifer kneels between this i***t’s legs and looks up at me, as if to say,

“Hurry it up.”

Of course I’m going to do this.

I go behind him and pretend to kiss his neck—nausea… how disgusting!

“Argh…” Why did he make that sound? I don’t know, but I take the opportunity to subtly remove the syringe. I run my hand through his hair and see Jennifer pretending to undo his belt.

“Where do you know Vienna from?” she asks, distracting him. And he tilts his head to the side and smiles.

Before he can say anything, in the most nauseated state I could be, I press my hand firmly over his mouth while injecting the entire liquid into his neck.

Jennifer stands, sighing and wiping her mouth, disgusted, while he simply collapses onto the bed. That was fast. I quickly put the syringe back, running my arm across my lips, disgusted.

“Great, we’re almost there,” I hear Irika say, and I just run to the door, which seems to be the bathroom.

“Stop exaggerating, girl,” I hear Jennifer, but I simply don’t respond and end up actually throwing up.

“Ugh…” I sigh, really uncomfortable and cramping. I turn on the water and splash it on my neck. I hear a noise, and immediately after, knocks on the door.

BLAKE WRAY

As expected, it was a mission with a minimal level of danger. A danger that would only exist if one of the guards had suspected something and attacked them. But, with both their smooth talk and perhaps Eduard’s absurd interest in Moss, that didn’t happen.

We entered through another door, an emergency exit. The other agents escort Eduard to headquarters.

He intended to take the friend’s youngest daughter. It will definitely be way too easy to extract the information we need to end Moss’s reputation as a ghostly criminal.

Because if he left any trace, I guarantee he would have been behind bars long ago.

“Collect everything,” I order, and they search the room thoroughly. Jennifer smiles at me, staring.

“Well done,” I compliment her, and she smiles, blushing.

“Thank you very much!” she replies.

“Go downstairs, the mission was successfully completed,” Samuel tells her, and she nods.

“Where’s Moss?” I ask.

“In the bathroom. I asked if she was okay, but she didn’t respond,” she says, not giving it much importance. But the truth is, during the mission, she didn’t seem okay, besides having drunk alcohol like water.

“Alright, go downstairs. They’ll take you back,” I say, and she nods, heading down.

“I’ll go down,” Samuel says, and I nod. I approach the bathroom door.

I hear the sound of running water.

“Moss,” I call, but she doesn’t respond. Then, she turns off the water and immediately opens the door.

“What are you doing? We need to go,” I say, but she’s simply blushing and pale. “What happened?” I ask.

LAUREN MOSS

“I’ve got terrible cramps, I feel nauseous, disgusted… so much is going on,” I reply, irritated and unwell.

“And you drank alcohol during the mission because of that?” Blake asks, and I lift my gaze to him, annoyed.

Yeah, I’m annoyed. What girl in my state wouldn’t be?

“I figured vomiting on one of those guests downstairs would be worse than drinking what I had to,” I respond, sitting on the floor, sore.

“What does one have to do with the other?” he questions, and I try not to roll my eyes as I pull off these boots from my feet.

“Do you want me to explain how periods work, Agent Blake?” I ask, nervously standing. “I’m in so much pain,” I whimper, really hurting, and I see him sigh deeply.

“Argh…” he sighs, as if asking for patience.

“Come on, let’s go,” he says, and I follow him. I’m in so much pain.

I should have taken my pill again. I’ve always suffered with cramps. I feel this burning heat and excruciating pain that makes me want to strip off and roll on the floor at the same time.

But I won’t do any of that. We have to pretend we’re a little accustomed to this hellish pain and act like someone who just turned twenty-two.

Up until two years ago, I was only a fresh out of teenage, and now I have to act like an adult with fifty years of experience and maturity.

He grabs my boots, and I notice an open door. I wonder if they took the guards outside as well or gave them a sedative because no one else is in this room.

Anyway, I descend the stairs ahead of him, and he simply says nothing more. That must be why they chose this specific room.

The floor is cold, but I go down.

SAMUEL LANGDON

Wray is taking his time.

“You may go,” I authorize the agents to take the girl back to the base, and they do.

“Ah, Wray…” I sigh impatiently.

I hope he didn’t lose control and managed himself with Lauren, that he didn’t let anger and hate ruin everything. I hope that’s not why they’re taking so long.

My phone rings, and I answer.

“Amanda, I can’t talk right now,” I say.

“You need to come now, ah…” What’s happening?

“Amanda?” I call, worried. She’s crying. I look ahead and see Lauren and Blake coming. She’s barefoot, and he’s holding the boots she was wearing, clearly without patience.

If I weren’t worried right now, this would be one of the most unexpected scenarios I’ve had the honor—or displeasure—of witnessing. Time will tell.

Blake holding the boots of the daughter of his father’s killer.

If that’s not ironic, I don’t know what is.

“Amanda?” I call again, confused.

“I… po… poisoned,” she says.

Damn it!

I hang up my phone, agitated and rushing.

“What’s going on?” Blake asks as I open the door to my car.

“Amanda has been poisoned,” I simply say, and without another word, I get in and speed down the road, calling someone who can help her before I arrive.

Damn…

BLAKE WRAY

Patience, patience.

On top of having to deal with Moss, the driver returned to the base, which I have no intention of doing. Samuel is in trouble, and I’ll have to take care of and bring along Moss’s daughter.

I can only be tested.

Patience, patience.

LAUREN MOSS

Who is Amanda? And why was she poisoned?

I hope she’s okay, and that Samuel gets there safely too, because the fuss he kicked up… She seems to be someone really important to him.

“Where’s Jennifer?” I ask, not seeing her and freezing from the cold.

“She went back to the base. If you hadn’t wasted so much time in the bathroom, you’d already be on the way with her,” he replies, and I lift my gaze to him, outraged.

They went without me…

I suddenly feel like crying.

“You’re going to leave me here?” I ask, and he doesn’t even answer. He just goes to the driver’s side of a Lamborghini.

“Are you just going to stand there?” he questions, and I sigh, walking to the car and getting in immediately.

Rude.

He put his boots in front of my seat, and even before I could buckle up, he accelerates as if trying to make me fly out of the car.

But I didn’t complain either. After all, I just want to get there and take my pill. He obviously doesn’t have one here.

I buckle up, and, unable to bear the pain in my abdomen, curl up in the seat and put my feet on it, trying to find a less painful position.

“Your socks are dirty, and you’re putting germs on my car seat,” he says. I’m in so much pain, I don’t even care and don’t remove my feet from the seat.

“You can take it to a car wash. I’m dying, and you’re worried about a car seat…” I say, frustrated, feeling his gaze on me, but I ignore it.

I hear him sigh as if forcing himself not to scold me and silently asking for patience. He really seems to have no patience at all.

I don’t care.

I roll down the window, feeling short of breath. I just want to not be a woman right now. I tried to behave during the whole drive, but we’ve been on the road for a while.

Then, out of nowhere, I pay attention to where we are because he simply slowed down. We’re on a private road, and as he turns, the gate opens automatically.

Not the base entrance…

This is a mansion, a private property of someone who certainly contributed over seventy percent of millions and millions to a charity gala.

Damn! Damn!

Because of the pain, it’s hard to take in everything carefully.

“Why did you bring me here?” I ask, not complaining, of course, but I thought he’d take me back to the base.

“I would’ve preferred to leave you there, but I had no choice,” he says, entering—not a garage, but a showroom.

It can only be a showroom! After all, who needs this many cars in a room that could easily be called a mansion itself, that it’s so huge?

Well, only my brothers.

And what cars! I know most of the brands here because of them.

Or he’s a billionaire… but he’s very young. Maybe an heir, a son of one, perhaps.

He barely parks and already gets out of the car. I don’t even care how rude his response was because it’s not like I was expecting a nice answer from him.

I don’t even take my boots off in the car. I just get out, close the door, and follow him. Splendid! I would appreciate it more if I weren’t in labor pains right now.

Is it the same pain, or could it be worse? Because I really suffer from cramps, but, honestly…

“Do you have any painkillers for cramps?” I ask, truly needing them, and he looks at me.

“I had them bought,” he says, and I didn’t notice when, but I already feel grateful. We enter the living area and… wow, does he live here alone?

That would be even more embarrassing.

The living room is open space, so we head to his kitchen. On the counter, there’s a bag. He takes something out, and… it’s not pills, but a syringe…

I don’t even complain. I’ve taken one of these before, because my cramps wouldn’t stop, and I ended up in the hospital and got injected with one.

Just so you understand my situation. Since then, I could manage with pills, but apparently…

Rest time is over.

“Thank you!” I say, taking it.

I fill the syringe and sigh, injecting myself below my stomach, where I had been given the shot last time.

He watches me.

But, really, only in this situation can I manage to invalidate his gaze or any reaction from him towards me.

I put it back in the box, open the trash can, and discard it. I knew it would be here, as the layout is almost the same as my kitchen at home.

In the bag, there’s also a package.

“Thank you!” I say again, sitting down in the chair in front of the counter, still in pain, waiting for it to take effect.

It doesn’t take long. Its action time is much shorter than a pill. But the effect is strong…

He simply steps away from me, ignoring my “thank you.” That’s fine. He goes to his cabinet. I stay quiet too, counting the time, feeling the pain gradually ease.

My consciousness starts to return after having a small meltdown.

When he places a cup in front of me, my face flushes as I lift my gaze to him.

“Thank you!” I say, taking the cup and sipping the tea. But he doesn’t respond again, and I start to get annoyed.

“You’re welcome, Lauren,” I mutter to myself.

“Actually, it’s a lot. I have a tight schedule, and you’ve just managed to mess it up, Moss,” he says, and I glare at him, frustrated.

“I’m terribly sorry, Agent Blake,” I say. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t born without menstrual cramps every month. You know, I love to suffer by choice,” I add, indignant, still in pain, but much more bearable now.

“That’s not what I meant,” he says, and I take a deep breath.

“I truly am very sorry, but I didn’t know I’d be pulled out of bed at dawn, or that I’d be on a mission and end up with unbearable cramps,” I say. “I had no intention of being a burden to anyone,” I make clear, and he just watches me.

“Finish your tea,” he simply says, and leaves.

Wow, he’s definitely the friendliest being ever!

At the charity gala, it seemed like it, but no. He isn’t.

At least, definitely not with me.

He disappeared into his enormous mansion while I slowly regain awareness, sipping the tea he had offered me.

I finish, go to the pantry, wash the cup, clean it, and put it away. Now, utterly exhausted.

Where is he? Did he really just leave me here?

I must really be a handful for him to simply abandon me here, in his house.

“Blake!” I call, but he doesn’t answer. It’s already late. He must be asleep. As if they hadn’t sent him to wake me.

I grab the bag and walk toward the direction I saw him leave.

“Blake!” I call again, and still nothing.

BLAKE WRAY

I just spoke with my grandfather. I had to say what my eyes made my mind want to refuse. Simply put, the daughter of my father’s killer, in my house, in my kitchen, and me helping her.

She’s not guilty of the things her father was involved in or committed, but she’s still his daughter. This fact is something my brain insists on reminding me of.

I had my trusted man buy a few things she’d probably need, since, whether I like it or not, she’ll have to stay here for the night.

And, since I’d completely removed any trace of Hailey here, I had him leave everything in the guest room.

I just ended the call with my grandfather.

I sent a message to Samuel and left the office.

“Blake!” Her voice makes me immediately turn in her direction.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, noticing her hand on the doorknob where she shouldn’t be near.

LAUREN MOSS

“Looking for you,” I reply. He’s holding his phone and, apparently, didn’t like that I was wandering around the house. But it’s his fault—he left me alone.

“I was going to come find you,” he says, and I sigh, watching him walk past me and descend a floor. I follow him.

“Normally, I’m not annoying. Only when I’m like this, so… sorry,” I say in my defense, and he simply keeps walking.

“Though you put up with Hailey every day, so it can’t be that hard,” I try to joke, but the man simply ignores me.

I think it’s better if I stay quiet.

He opens a door and shows me a room. I assume it’s a guest room.

“Make yourself comfortable,” he says, and then his eyes land on me. “But not too comfortable,” he adds, and I roll my eyes.

“Thank you!” I reply. “Or maybe, not so much…,” I say, stepping inside, and he smiles.

And what a damn smile.

“If you need anything, my room is at the end of this hallway. It has everything you might need right now,” he warns, and for some reason, my body ignites.

“Okay, thanks!” I respond, entering and closing the door immediately, before having a meltdown.

I’m literally sleeping at Blake Wray’s house!

Miriam better hold herself together.

I yawn from sleepiness and walk over to the bed, where there’s a bag with clothes…