Fatal Transaction

Chapter 4

The atmosphere in the luxurious room suddenly turned quiet after the intense tension subsided. The dim light reflected off the marble sink, which now felt cold against Vivienne's skin. Maximilian pulled away, taking a deep breath with a satisfied expression still lingering on his face.

Vivienne quickly got down from the sink, trying to gather what remained of her dignity. Her still-slightly-trembling fingers reached for the scattered clothes, intending to leave immediately and end the night. For Vivienne, her task was complete.

"My job is done, Maximilian. The payment is as agreed," Vivienne said, her voice flat and professional again, without looking into the man's eyes.

"Don't rush off, Vivienne," Maximilian's voice sounded deep and authoritative. The man was now leaning back casually, watching her with an unreadable gaze.

"Stay here. Keep me company and talk, and I will pay you twice the agreed amount for tonight."

Vivienne's steps halted. The offer was substantial, and technically, staying to talk did not violate her principle of not engaging in a second physical encounter in one night. She decided to agree, hoping to use this time to find a weakness in this highly dominant man.

Maximilian began to talk. He recounted his background, how he had built his empire, and the pressures he faced in the ruthless world of business.

Vivienne listened in silence, trying to analyze every detail of the information coming out of Maximilian's mouth as future ammunition.

However, the atmosphere changed when Maximilian approached and gently touched Vivienne's hand.

"Now, tell me about yourself. Why did a woman like you enter this world?" he asked in a calmer but demanding tone.

"It's just a necessity for me to survive," Vivienne answered curtly, trying to keep her privacy tightly sealed.

Maximilian was not satisfied with that answer. He pressed on, asking about the family that should have protected her. Vivienne could only laugh bitterly at the question.

"Family? The only family I have left is a father who won't even acknowledge my existence," she revealed in a cold tone that hinted at deep wounds.

"Why is that? You've become a woman with no empathy at all, especially toward me, your client. You won't accept a second time. What if I always want you, Emerald?" Maximilian's voice as he called the name Emerald somehow sounded so gentle, contrasting with his hard-looking yet handsome face. But Vivienne was sure this man was not the type to show mercy to anyone who dared to cross him.

"That's my business. Give me a cigarette. I want to smoke," Vivienne said indifferently, not caring whether this luxury hotel allowed her to touch that damned thing or not.

Maximilian stared at Vivienne for a moment, as if weighing the audacity of the woman before him. He then reached for his jacket hanging nearby and pulled out a pack of expensive cigarettes and a silver lighter from his pocket.

"Let's move to the balcony," Maximilian said as he stood up, his movements calm yet authoritative. He gestured with his head toward the large glass door covered by velvet curtains. "You can smoke as much as you want out there."

Vivienne frowned but still followed the man. Maximilian slid the glass door open, letting the cold, fresh London night air sweep over their skin, providing a sharp contrast after the heat of their earlier struggle.

Maximilian leaned his elbows on the balcony railing, staring at the twinkling city lights in the distance before glancing at Vivienne with a thin, provocative smirk.

"Besides, which high-end hotel allows its guests to smoke inside the room, Emerald?" Maximilian lit his own cigarette, then handed the lighter to Vivienne.

He chuckled softly, his baritone voice low amidst the whisper of the night wind. "Don't tell me you've been in and out of luxury hotels around the world this often but don't know that basic rule? Or did that passion earlier really dull your sharp brain a little?"

Vivienne snorted in annoyance, snatching the lighter from Maximilian's hand with a rough motion. She lit her cigarette, inhaling deeply as if trying to wash away the irritation caused by the man's taunts.

"Don't pretend to know me, Maximilian. I just don't care about the rules. Usually, people like you will pay any fine as long as I stay there," Vivienne replied sarcastically, blowing smoke into the dark night sky.

Maximilian wasn't offended. He actually seemed to enjoy Vivienne's resistance. He turned his body, now leaning fully against the balcony railing, continuing to observe Vivienne's side profile, which looked so beautiful yet fragile under the moonlight.

"You're truly fascinating," Maximilian murmured softly, his voice now sounding more serious. "Many women wear masks in front of me, but you... you wear armor. I'm curious, what would happen if I succeeded in completely breaking down that armor."

Vivienne fell silent, her fingers holding the cigarette trembling slightly, but she quickly covered it by taking another puff. This conversation was starting to feel dangerous—not physically dangerous, but something that threatened the emotional defense walls she had built over the past nine years.

The silence of the night on the balcony was suddenly shattered by Vivienne's wildly beating heart. Without warning, Maximilian stepped closer and wrapped his strong arm around Vivienne's waist from behind. Their bodies pressed together perfectly, letting Vivienne feel the warmth of the man's chest contrasting with the cold London night breeze.

Vivienne gasped, the cigarette between her fingers nearly falling.

"Maximilian, what are you—"

"Shh!" Maximilian whispered that instruction right into her ear, while his arm locked Vivienne in a possessive embrace.

Vivienne tried to straighten up, intending to give a cold rejection, but her tongue suddenly went numb as Maximilian swept her long hair to the side. The man's lips landed softly on her slender neck, placing naughty kisses that slowly turned into teasing little bites.

"See, your defenses are starting to crack again, Emerald," Maximilian whispered hoarsely, his warm breath tickling Vivienne's sensitive skin.

Vivienne squeezed her eyes shut.

Damn it!

The passion she thought had completely died after their struggle at the sink earlier now crept back up, burning every nerve in her body. The touch of Maximilian's lips on her neck created an electric shock sensation that spread all the way to her toes, paralyzing whatever logic remained.

Maximilian's fingers didn't stay still. He stroked Vivienne's stomach with a slow, torturous rhythm, while his lips now moved to Vivienne's earlobe.

"You said no repeats," Maximilian murmured between his deepening kisses.

"But your body is saying something very different. You're trembling in my arms, Emerald."

Vivienne let out a low moan, her head falling back against Maximilian's shoulder. The hatred she had carefully stored for nine years seemed overwhelmingly defeated by her body's biological reactions to this man. She hated herself for wanting the touch of the devil who had destroyed her, yet the heat spreading through her veins was too difficult to ignore.

"Maximilian... this violates the contract," Vivienne said weakly, even though her hands were now gripping Maximilian's arm wrapped around her stomach, pulling the man even closer.

"To hell with the contract," Maximilian hissed. He spun Vivienne around in his embrace so they faced each other. Under the pale moonlight, Maximilian's icy eyes glinted with a desire he no longer hid.

Without waiting for further consent, Maximilian silenced Vivienne's mouth with a kiss far more hungry than before.

The finished cigarette fell from Vivienne's fingers to the balcony floor, completely forgotten as Vivienne kissed him back with equal intensity.