5|JADE
692 Words
Aurelius Sinclair.
Thirty-two. Ex-Navy SEAL. Special Forces. A weapon carved from shadows.
A b***h.
That’s what he was.
Six-foot-seven of tanned skin, muscle, and menace, built like a goddamn tank with the face of a fallen angel and the personality of a landmine. Jet-black hair, jaws sharp enough to cut glass. Eyes like blades—piercing, unfeeling—the kind that made men stutter and women forget their own names. And that aura—like a storm given human form, calm until it destroyed you.
Perfect.
Too perfect that he’s like those men I wrote on my books.
I’d spent half the night fantasizing about those eight-pack abs and the other half wanting to strangle him with my bare hands.
Especially after Alestor’s lecture.
That smug, silent bastard had just stood there, arms crossed, listening like he was judge, jury, and executioner—while Alestor roasted me alive for sneaking out. Not a word. Not a flinch. Just that goddamn gaze, cold and amused, like I was a child throwing a tantrum.
Right now, he stood. He pointed out the flaws to our security system. This man just started just right now and has the audacity to order us right to his first day?
“The cameras are useless,” he said, voice mechanical, like he was reading off a death certificate. “The failed securities are evident. You all noticed how the kitten sneak out last night.” He added which makes the vein on my forehead throbbed.
“Who are you calling a kitten?” I countered bitterly as he didn’t spare me a glance nor gave me an answer as if he owned the damn place. God, I wanted all of my patience back because this man is draining the s**t out of me.
“Blind spots wide enough to hide a corpse. The locks? A joke. The lighting? A predator’s best friend.” He didn’t even look at me. Just gestured at the mansion like it was a rotting carcass. “And the gate? Decorative. Might as well hang a sign: ‘Welcome, Intruders.’” I clenched my jaw to that comment as Alestor instantly closed his mouth. I had never seen Alestor shut up like that so I gotta protect my best — obviously— bodyguard.
“It works just fine and Alestor’s been keeping an eye to this place for a decade. So far, there's no issues encountered. You’re just belittling this place as if the whole thing is unprotected and Alestor wasn’t capable,” I said, my hands clenching as I shakes with each contained rage.
“Exactly. Ten years without incident does not mean ten years of safety. It means ten years of luck,” he stopped as his piercing gaze looked through my eyes. And damn, if it isn’t my peaks hardening with that. Scratch what I just said – that b***h dares to insult my bodyguard and use my own words against me for the second time.
“Alestor’s watch may be loyal, but loyalty does not replace evolution. Threats adapt. Systems age. What worked a decade ago is now a relic, and relics are what predators exploit,” Aurelius continued, I could feel his amusement dancing on his eyes as he looked at me. It feels like his eyes pierced deeper to my soul rather than just looking.
“Y-Yeah. Let's just… listen to him,” Alestor said in defeat. I’ve never seen him so defeated like this.
“Alestor…” I instantly snapped my head towards my original bodyguard. Poor guy just surrendered to this b***h.
“Listen to him, Jade. I knew he knows what’s best for you,” Alestor added and sigh.
Never mind. Bastard. Both of them.
Aurelius smirked—actually smirked—like he’d won. Like he owned me. Like I was just another variable in his perfect, controlled world.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to kick him.
I wanted—
“Fine,” I spat. “Do whatever the hell you want. But if you touch my freedom, I swear—”
His eyes gleamed.
Challenge accepted.
- Writer
