Page 11 of His to Possess
I paused, my gaze sweeping over Remy and Nolan. Their faces remained impassive, but I could see the doubt creeping into their eyes. Good. They needed to understand.
"What happened to them afterward was none of my concern," I continued, my tone softening slightly. "I provided them with every opportunity to thrive. If they chose not to take advantage of that, well… that was hardly my responsibility, was it?"
I felt my jaw clench as Remy responded, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. "We're not talking about financial compensation. We're talking about the emotional toll that often brings different issues. Issues that you may find yourself involved in. You don't want that, do you?"
His words hit me like a physical blow, and I felt my carefully constructed composure begin to crack. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but the irritation bubbled up, impossible to contain. At last, cold laughter escaped my lips—one I was unable to control. When had these two become such emotionally charged personas? That would most certainly not work in our lifestyle.
"Emotional toll?" I spat out the words, my voice dripping with disdain. "Since when have emotions ever been part of this equation, Remy? For any of us?" I turned to face them both, my eyes blazing with cold fury. "I have always made it crystal clear that being part of my collection never involved feelings. These women knew exactly what they were getting into, for God's sake!"
The room fell silent, the tension so thick it was almost suffocating. They were looking at me now as if they were seeing me for the first time. Or perhaps they were finally seeing the truth they had always known but chose to ignore.
"You act as if I deceived them, as if I lured them in with false promises of love and affection. But I never once pretended to be something I wasn't. They knew from the start that this was a transaction, nothing more." I paced the room, unable to stand still under the weight of their judgment. "What did you expect? That I would fall in love? That I would suddenly develop a heart and start caring about their feelings?"
"Her position at the Art Institute is tenuous at best," Nolan explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "The Paris scandal still haunts her, even here. She's had to take a significant pay cut just to secure this consulting opportunity."
I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing. "How significant?"
Nolan met my gaze unflinchingly. "She's practically working for free. Most of her salary goes towards covering the Institute's 'risk' in hiring her. It's a desperate move to rebuild her reputation." I felt a slow smile spreading across my face, unable to hide my growing fascination. Nolan continued, seemingly oblivious to my reaction. "She's living in a tiny apartment in a less-than-desirable part of town. Barely making ends meet. Her financial situation is precarious, to say the least. She may not appear that way, but she's fragile. More fragile than most women in your collection."
As Nolan spoke, I could almost see Laurel in my mind's eye—brilliant, beautiful, and utterly vulnerable. The perfect addition to my collection. My fingers twitched involuntarily, as if already reaching out to possess her. All these circumstances in her life, while unfortunate, were working in my favor. And I had every intention of utilizing them to my advantage. Like I always did.
Remy, ever observant, noticed my reaction. His voice cut through my thoughts, low and serious. "I'd suggest you be careful with this one. That's all."
I felt something snap inside me, a dam of carefully controlled emotions finally bursting under the pressure of their judgment. My composure shattered, and I whirled on Remy and Nolan, my voice rising with each word.
"You dare to warn me? You, of all people?" I snarled, my eyes blazing. "Let's talk about being careful, shall we? Let's discuss your own obsessions and perversities, my dear friends." I turned to Remy, my words sharp and cutting. "Shall we start with you, Remy? The way you molded and shaped your conquests, turning them into perfect little dolls? How many women have you 'fixed' and discarded when they no longer met your impossible standards? You do exactly the same thing I do. The only difference is, I accept it, and I don't judge you for it."
Remy tensed, his usual composure cracking under the weight of my accusations. But I was far from done.
My gaze swiveled to Nolan, who sat rigid in his chair. "And you, Nolan. The righteous protector. How many lives have you ruined in your quest for justice? How many bodies have you left in your wake, all in the name of your twisted sense of retribution?"
The room crackled with tension as I continued my tirade, laying bare the dark secrets we all shared. "We are all monsters here. Don't pretend otherwise. Your hands are just as dirty as mine. It's ridiculous that you'd even consider warning meagainst something all of us have done so many times." I paused, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts. "You think you can judge me? You think you have any right to warn me about Laurel? I know every sordid detail of your lives, every dark desire you've ever acted upon. Don't for a second believe I wouldn't use that knowledge if you crossed me."
The threat hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the power I held over them. Nolan and Remy exchanged glances, their faces a mix of shock and resignation. They knew I was right. They knew I wouldn't hesitate to expose them if pushed.
"My obsession with Laurel is my business." My voice was low and dangerous. "Stay out of it, or I promise you, you'll regret it."
I stood there, chest heaving, my words still echoing in the room. The silence that followed was deafening, thick with tension and unspoken accusations. I could see the shock on their faces, the way Remy's jaw clenched, and Nolan's eyes narrowed. This wasn't the first time we had disagreed, but it was certainly the first time we'd fought like this. For a moment, I thought they might retaliate, throw my threats back in my face.
But then Nolan leaned forward, his voice low and measured. "We're not here to judge or condemn you."
I scoffed, but he continued, undeterred. "Our concern comes from a place of friendship. We've known each other for years, seen each other at our worst. This isn't about the moral high ground."
Remy nodded, his composure returning. "We aren't dismissing your… methods. Or your lifestyle."
I felt my irritation flare again, but I forced myself to listen. Nolan picked up where Remy left off, his words careful and deliberate.
"We're asking you to proceed with caution. That's all." As simple as that. I turned back to the glass. Part of me wanted to lash out again, to remind them of their own dark desires.But I knew, deep down, that their concern was genuine. It was unsettling.
"Fine," I said finally, my voice tight. "I've heard your concerns. But my plans for Laurel remain unchanged."
I could see their reflections in the glass, the way they exchanged glances. They knew me well enough to recognize that I wouldn't be swayed. I never was. Once I set my mind on something, I stopped at nothing to have it within my grasp.
As they prepared to leave, I felt the weight of their gazes on my back. The tension in the room had eased, but there was still a sense of discomfort, of words left unsaid. I didn't turn to watch them go. Instead, I kept my eyes fixed on the Chicago skyline, my reflection superimposed over the glittering lights. Sooner or later, Laurel Bowers would be mine. And I couldn't wait for that day to come.
Chapter 5
Laurel
