We had little time to prepare the entire event in any structured way. So we settled on one of the simplest solutions. In the now familiar "Royal" building, Theron would place all his invited employees on one floor, and in the main hall, on the highest level, his personal guests.
And since this was something grand—an event—Theron had to turn to Liana for help. Ostin and I selected certain people and mixed them in with the others so as not to arouse suspicion.
Even though Ostin said that Liana had earned the trust not only of the company but of the entire clan, I insisted that she remain in the dark.
I also insisted that Director Anna and her friends be seated at one table, and the rest be scattered randomly throughout the hall, without drawing suspicion. As a rule, if they are together, it may raise questions. But if it happens only once, they can pass it off as pure coincidence.
We had to act with extreme caution, so as not to scare anyone off. After all, we still had one unknown player—"Viv"—whom we also needed to identify. And to understand what was going on at all.
I still had serious questions regarding Liana. Perhaps I am judging with bias, but the fact that she had identified the rat in the past did not give me peace. I clearly saw her motives and intellectual abilities, but I could hardly believe she had done it. Perhaps this attitude toward her is because of Theron?
I should have spoken to him about her, as he had asked me to personally. But my uncertainty prevailed. Because every time we talk, it is like a battle or a fight. Better to find out everything myself. To be honest, I am waiting for this event to confirm or refute another suspicion of mine, which I will not voice aloud until I see it with my own eyes.
I stood in the store, lost in these thoughts, having not chosen a single dress. Damn…
I approached the neatly arranged row of dresses again and started over. My thoughts consumed me so completely that, without even looking, I simply ran my hands over fabric after fabric and had already reached the end.
As Theron said, the event would be more large-scale than before, and this time he wanted me to be present both before his clan and before his family. This idea did not please me, but there was no other choice.
"Surprise me." Those were his last words. And so, in this way, I had already been unable to choose anything for the third hour. Fucking shopping… I hate it with all my soul.
And then I stopped at one classic evening dress.
Yes… this is it.
I tried on the dress. The satin fabric concealed my chest, and then lace rose higher and wrapped around my neck with a barely perceptible shimmer. The back was open slightly below the waist, perfectly exposing all my scars and injuries on my back and arms.
The last time I wore an open dress, I realized: I should not hide it, but display it. So that people would be afraid to approach me.
And if not for Theron… perhaps I would have gone on hating myself for the rest of my life.
I grabbed a pair of white shoes with a small heel and immediately left the store with a lighter soul. I was already used to the fact that one of his guards was always somewhere behind me. I had even come to terms with the fact that every time they came to pick me up and take me away. It was that strange comfort to which I was getting used without enthusiasm. Because when Theron calms down and finds his new "diamond," all of this will disappear.
I shook my head, driving away unnecessary thoughts, already approaching another car. Theron stepped out and opened the door for me, inviting me in.
"I thought you were consumed by tomorrow's party," I smiled slightly at his worn appearance.
"Don't remind me. It exhausts me more than all my dirty dealings," he smirked, taking my bag and, guiding me by the hand, helping me into the car.
After that, the guards placed my bag, and I also noticed a bag from a restaurant. Theron got in after me.
"You're staying with me?" I asked in surprise. This definitely had not been in the plans this morning.
"I'll have dinner with you and leave," he said quietly, taking my hand in his. "I see it was hard for you to choose a dress, since you got stuck here until evening," he smirked.
"I don't like going shopping and choosing. I'm bad at making choices. I have terrible taste," I echoed his light tone and melted into the seat from exhaustion.
"Will I like it?" he asked and pulled my hand so that my body slid onto his lap. He caught my head and carefully placed it on his legs.
I held my breath in surprise and looked up at him with wide-open eyes. His fingers tangled in my hair and began to slowly massage my scalp.
"Mmm…" I moaned involuntarily with pleasure. His hands moved so magically that I could not control myself.
Theron froze. I opened my eyes and saw how he looked at me from under his brow, like an animal. His chest rose more heavily than usual.
"You could use some rest too," I said, trying to get up. But he only tightened his grip on my hair. It didn't hurt — it was controlling. But a second later, he immediately let go.
I lifted myself from his lap, leaning on one hand, freeing the other from his grip. But I did not move away from him.
"Your eyes look tired today," I gently ran my finger beneath the dark circles under them.
A rare sight—when Theron is not composed, not fresh. His gaze did not soften. A moment, another, he closed his eyes and leaned back.
"With your ideas, I am always tired," he smirked, recalling the pendant.
Back then he had also been exhausted, both physically and morally. I withdrew my hand and sat back in my seat.
"So what dress will it be?" he continued.
"You said to surprise you," I replied sarcastically. "Nothing was said about a dress."
"Don't tell me you bought another black tracksuit," he smirked. Even with his eyes closed, he found my hand and enclosed it in his.
For a couple more minutes until home, we rode in complete silence. And I allowed him to rest like that for a while.
He took a shower, and I set the table. He kept circling around the purchases, clearly wanting to peek inside, but I immediately stopped him and invited him to the table, reminding him that he had somewhere to rush to.
While we were having dinner, we discussed the details of tomorrow—what time it would begin. We also agreed that his personal security would monitor all the cameras and installed additional ones under the pretext of safety. But as soon as everything was over, we would immediately take all the recordings.
I would start from the floor of his directors and other employees. But for the main part of the celebration, he wanted me to go upstairs.
"You think I'm ready to meet your family and clan?" I said uncertainly.
Even though our relationship was hidden, and we would be there not as a couple but as boss and subordinate, it was still my first appearance at such a level.
"Of course. I have no doubts," Theron supported me.
"I'll just try not to disturb anyone… maybe they won't even notice me," I suggested aloud.
Theron laughed sincerely.
"Sunshine, you're completely wrong. Just be yourself. It will be perfect," he continued smiling and eating.
"And what exactly do you mean by 'myself'?"—Theron froze and set his utensils aside.
"Have you ever seen yourself from the outside?" he looked at me with bewilderment. "Straight. Like a proud bitch who looks at everyone around like they're all idiots. Who cares only about her own goals. Teating and drinking. It's hard to fall under your gaze, and if you look at someone, it's as if you humiliate them with a single glance. It doesn't matter whether it's a politician or a servant in front of you."
He looked at me and shook his head.
Shock pierced me. Do I really look like that to others?..
"I'm sorry for such a terrible impression…" That was all I could manage to get out.
"Don't apologize. It suits me just fine. Even pleases me," he continued eating. "In any case, you look at me differently."
"How?"
"Submissively," a smile touched his lips again. "Besides, you're like that only at events. So it's fine. I know you don't like them."
"And that's why you always make me appear there…" what an asshole. But I did not say it aloud.
"It's part of our job. And I like looking at you," he did not take his attention off the food.
Such a small confession — almost insignificant. But inside, Something inside me wavered again.
After dinner, he began to get ready.
"Wait a minute," I said and disappeared into the bedroom. Taking his tie, I returned to the living room.
Theron's expression changed the moment he noticed it. As if a lot of unpleasant words were about to pour from his beautiful lips.
"Listen…" I held my hands out in front of me, as if he had a gun. "This is a request from me. Personally."
"I'm listening," he said angrily.
I knew it would not be easy.
"Just for this evening… can you wear it, please?" I stepped closer, holding out the tie.
"Listen, Mirey, I can't put it on and take it off like some indecisive boy. Or pretend that the same woman rejected me again," he put on his coat and ignored the tie. "So if you're not going to bother explaining the reason, don't even think about it."
"I have suspicions, but I can't voice them yet. I need more data."
To tell everything now just because of my paranoia would have been wrong.
"That's not a strong enough reason for me to put it on again," he was already heading for the exit. And as soon as he touched the door, I grabbed his hand.
"She'll be there too, won't she?.." I said uncertainly.
Theron froze. I felt his body tense. He turned around, and I was right. His cheekbones, the muscles of his face—everything was so tense that veins were already visible along his neck.
"I know she's a topic you don't talk about with me. But for me to voice my theory, I need to see her reaction to the return of your tie," I finally admitted.
"You don't need to worry about her," Theron continued in the same strict tone.
"It's not about whether you're with her now or not. It's about…" I could not say these guesses. And that feeling I had. They were based only on small details.
Theron roughly, with one hand, grabbed me by the neck and lifted my head so that I looked straight into his eyes. Higher. Closer…
"Neither she nor anyone else will touch you," he leaned even closer. "I promise."
"Please…" I moaned as plaintively as I could.
He kept looking into my eyes and did not answer.
"Shit, Mirey…" he finally said, snatched the tie, shoved it into his pocket, and left.
The next day, as I was leaving the house, I noticed that the flower in the hallway was dry, and no water had appeared in the bottle beside it. Derek…
I quickly took out my phone and wrote him a message.
Upon arriving at the "Royal" building, I entered through the service entrance. Over the dress, I threw on my gray oversized blazer; on the directors' floor, I could not attract attention. Near the elevator, Ostin was already waiting for me. His gaze, as always, was skeptical about my blazer.
"If I take it off, there will be too much attention on me," I clarified.
"Fine," he agreed faster than usual. "So what are we looking for? What are we watching?" he asked.
"Their interaction. Their communication. As a rule, at first they should be constantly with the directors, but after the greetings, usually everyone is on their own…" I tried to remain strict. Anxiety today was unacceptable. "We need to understand: do they know each other and are hiding it, or in public they pretend they are strangers. And we need to understand what the difference is between the seven and the eight girls."
But inside, I kept replaying my conversation with Theron yesterday. And that anxiety before the evening on the floor above…
We stepped out, and he led us into one of the offices. Theron was waiting there.
And he was not wearing the tie.
Damn…
As soon as Ostin caught his gaze, he immediately left, tossing over his shoulder that he would go check the preparations.
Theron brazenly leaned his hips against the table and looked me over. And I tried to study him. And find the tie… maybe in his pocket?
"Take off the blazer," he ordered in a cold tone.
Cold, calculating predator… I had not seen him like this in private for a long time.
I took off the blazer and threw it onto a nearby chair. Theron, as if my own master, twirled his finger, hinting for me to turn around.
I slowly turned around myself and returned my gaze to him.
His jaws were clenched. I could have sworn I heard the grinding of teeth. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, and then that predatory look returned to me.
"The tie," I demanded. Though in this situation it was dangerous.
"I can't, Mirey…" he pulled the tie out of the pocket of his perfect suit. His voice and refusal cut into me.
"Theron…" I immediately stepped closer and took the tie into my hands. "I…"
But he did not let me finish. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me to him.
"I can't… so do it yourself," he pushed his neck slightly forward.
I looked at him in confusion, and he did not move, waiting for me… to put the tie on him. His fingers explored my open back, sliding down to my buttocks and rising again. It was agonizing, teasing. I lost myself in his touches and almost forgot about the plan, about the investigation, about the tie… Damn.
I pulled back slightly, draped the tie over his neck, and began forming the knot. A minute, and I tightened it, adjusting the collar, tucking it under the jacket. For a couple of seconds, I left my hands over the tie on this perfect man and stepped away.
"We need to go, they've probably already greeted each other," I was about to put on my blazer, but remembered something. "Happy birthday, Theron."
With all this chaos, I had completely forgotten that all of this was in honor of his birthday. And since our discussion about a gift the other day had dragged on, everything remained unresolved.
I stepped closer to him, rose on my toes, and gently, without pressure, kissed him on the lips.
He froze in shock and then carefully responded to the kiss, slightly pulling me by the waist. It was not like him. He was confused.
I pulled away, realizing the situation was strange. I did not understand whether he responded because he did not want to push me away and offend me, or whether he simply… did not like it at all.
After that day, everything had changed. And now I saw it clearly.
Disappointment grew inside me. Something sharp scraped from within, cutting through my throat.
I stepped away from him and put on my blazer, still seeing the uncertainty on his face.
"I'm sorry… I thought it would be appropriate," I tried to keep my face and voice steady, while everything inside was tearing apart. I wanted to run away from all of this. No…
I began searching inside myself for that Mirey who does not care. And I grabbed the door handle.
"Mirey, fuck…" he called after me. I heard his heavy steps behind me. "Never fucking do that… or I'll break my promise," he said even more coldly.
I did not quite understand what he meant.
His hands around my waist pressed me to him. And with the upper part of my buttocks, I felt his erection through the fabric of his trousers. His breathing behind my back was no longer so even.
The thoughts that had appeared a minute ago began to fade.
But why, if he wanted me, did he do nothing?.. What is wrong with him?
"Are you ready?" he asked, more calmly now, more like himself.
"Yes…" I tried to keep my voice steady, but it was difficult, considering that I felt his dick pressing against me through our clothes.
But I think he is right—we need to focus on the task.
I straightened up and opened the door.
"Go first…" but he still did not let me go. "I'll need a couple of minutes to compose myself," he whispered in my ear and released me.
I walked out confidently and headed toward the music and noise.
Without looking back. Without hesitation.