Serena stood firm right before him with confidence, her arms crossed against her chest while staring straight into his eyes as if to tell him she doesn't give a fuck and is not intimidated by his threat.
"So now you stalk on my calls too? What else do you stalk on?" She asked.
Wolfe gifted her zero expression as she began.
"First, I can't go anywhere without you figuring out that I left the house, is this supposed to be a fucking cage?! I can't do what I want, you always know what I do and everything, like a darn stalker, who knows maybe you even have a camera in my room showing you everything I do inside? Do you watch me naked? Does that make you happy, you want me to strip naked for you just because I'm your PA? Now I can't even have my own privacy because I am working? You want to know who I'm speaking with? Well...." She chuckled.
"Sorry to fucking bring down your ego but I'm not telling you Shit, and you know what? I'm quitting this heck of a job! You don't get to control me!!! I hate it!" Serena yelled to his face.
But even with all the screams and yells, Wolfe's expression remained the same, just blank, dark, like a shadow who doesn't feel anything.
Serena rolled her eyes and turned toward the door but Wolfe's voice made her pause.
"You still have to tell me who that was though" That sounds nothing more than creepy as the words left his mouth.
Serena blinked and turned back, Wolfe already sat down on his usual couch, his legs crossed.
"And yeah, to answer your question....this is a cage...for you" He smirked.
"Quitting the job wouldn't make you escape the cage Rena,,, but I want to see you try. You can't run away from me little liar, stalker?? I'm more than a stalker" He whispered and then laughed dryly.
Serena swallowed and shook her head.
"Psychopath" She breathe out and rushed out of the suite.
She couldn't contain the adrenaline rush oozing inside her soul, what the heck was that?
Wolfe is actually more creepy than Lucien, no, Lucien is not even anywhere close.
What normal human will say it to a girl's face that she's in a cage? Or that he's more than a stalker?
So, the moment she got to her room,she started packing.
Every fucking thing she brought to this estate, she packed and her bag got full in no minute. She took her car key and stormed out of the room,she can't even stay here another minute or she might lose it.
Wolfe Hayes isn't human, and infact he's more than a psychopath.
But she was beginning to think she's even worse coz why the heck does that creepy voice of his was turning her the fuck on when he was speaking?
She almost rush to him senselessly and kiss him like crazy. Now it's official, she's actually insane.
The bodyguards outside watched as she threw her bag in the car truck, Zayne who was speaking with other two guards also stopped when he saw her.
Their eyes met and Serena rolled her eyes, looking away first.
She entered her car and drove off roughly.
"What was that? She packed all her stuffs?" The guard beside Zayne looked at him but Zayne said nothing.
He just excused himself and went inside.
•••••••
Zayne bowed slightly in front of Wolfe, still seated on the couch and his gaze was focused on something Zayne has no idea of.
"Boss" He called, trying to get his attention but Wolfe gave him none.
"I just saw Serena leaving the estate, is something going on??" Zayne asked, with curiosity obvious in his eyes.
"What are my schedules for today?" Wolfe blurted, ignoring his question totally.
"Oh...I will get the tablet from her room and check everything out" he sighed and checked the time on his wrist watch.
"We need to leave now"
Wolfe stood up from the couch, adjusted his shirt and pulled his hands into his pockets like something would happen if he doesn't.
Zayne immediately went to open the door for him, so he walked out first and Zayne followed.
"Is another PA needed?" He asked.
"I don't need anyone, handle everything from now on" Wolfe muttered.
"Okay boss" Zayne nodded.
But that didn't stop him from wondering why Serena suddenly left, even when he entered her room and saw that everything was just the same.
Except that her bags are gone, the room still smells like her.
Zayne sighed and grabbed the work tablet on the bed stand then went out again, outside Wolfe was already in the car.
He joined and soon they were in the street.
The first ten minutes was silent totally, Wolfe's gaze as always was somewhere, like he wasn't even existing in the same world as everyone.
While Zayne scrolled through everything scheduled for the day and this week entirely.
"You were invited to a private Art Auction sir, this weekend. " Zayne spoke up, then continued when Wolfe didn't look his way.
"At the Silhouette Penthouse, only 30 VVIPS were invited" He smiled a little.
Wolfe rolled his eyes.
"So they don't know I don't fuck with their stupid arts?" Wolfe muttered, in a low voice under his breath.
"Noisy people" He mumbled and closed his eyes.
Zayne sighed.
"Gum" He requested and Zayne immediately opened the gum pack, he dropped one in his hand and Wolfe put it in his mouth slowly.
His eyes remained shut even as he chewed on it.
•••••••
Ezran was the only one sitting at the edge of the long dining table, eating breakfast. He already dressed for school and his bag was on another seat. Three maids stood somewhere close, watching him in case he needs something.
While eating, his eyes were mainly focused on his phone. Even though his face was mostly blank, still there was a silly smirk playing on his face while staring at something.
Just last night, he decided to post his picture on his Instagram page, which he actually created since he was maybe fifteen but never for once posted anything or reveal his face.
So last night was like the face reveal and he didn't just gained more followers.
His comment section was flooded, but his DM is even more crazy.
And right now, He's currently clicking and viewing one after the other some pictures or videos he was sent...rated pictures precisely from girls...older girls.
Trying to control his laugh and everything, almost asking himself the question if he doesn't look seventeen or these girls and ladies don't just care about his age?
"The fuck?" Ezran muttered.
"Aren't you late for school already, son?" Granny Hayes entered the dinning hall and he immediately dropped his phone after turning the screen off.
"I will be off soon" He said.
"You've been coming home late since some days now, you even went out late at night" Granny said when she sat down.
The maids began setting out her breakfast as well.
"Hmm" Ezran nodded.
"Do you have a girlfriend now?" She asked.
"A friend, not girlfriend. He's a guy" Ezran told her.
"So your new made friend is the reason you've been coming home late?" Granny raised her brows.
"We've been hanging out, and I'm not really late like you're saying it Gran. I just have a lot of things and places I want to explore. I can't promise anything, but don't worry. I won't get into trouble or anything" Ezran said and stood up.
"See you later gran" He carried his bag and kissed her cheek.
"Believe me, you don't have to worry about me. Love you" He flashed her a smile and took his phone before walking out.
"Oh, he's giving me headache already" Granny sighed and just continue eating.
Outside, one of the bodyguards opened the car door for Ezran and he looked at him.
"I'm driving myself"
"Sir...."
"You want to keep your job or what? Stay away, I'm going to tell my brother, so don't worry about granny. I'm not fourteen or fifteen" He snapped.
The guards moved back and bowed.
Ezran rolled his eyes and entered the car.
The engine came alive and he drove off.
•••••••
Magnolia stood upstairs with coffee mug in her hand, standing just on the first staircase and staring at Kayden who just came into the living room.
She was in the bedroom when she heard the door, so reason why she came out and now seeing Kayden already made her heart beat race again.
It's been three days now since she last saw him.
Kayden's eyes fell on her from downstairs and their eyes locked, he also stood there without moving again.
"May is not available, I have no choice but to come here. But if you insist, I can try to get someone else...."
"Why didn't you do that before showing your face here?" Magnolia snapped.
Kayden sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Can you at least tell me what is going on with you? I can't remember offending you or doing anything to you? Do you want me to quit? Should I quit being your manager? Maybe that would make you feel better" He said.
Magnolia rolled her eyes and went back inside the bedroom.
Quit? Is he serious right now? Real men don't give up so easily right? So why is he so different?
She sat down on the bed and dropped her mug on the bed stand, but the door opened before she could make another move. She turned and saw Kayden entering and then the door closed behind him.
"You don't have to come in" she said in a snap.
"Tell me what the fuck is wrong with you" Kayden grunted.
Magnolia glared.
"All these shit started after the interview, you asked me what I thought....."
"Are you doing this on purpose?" Magnolia cut him off.
"What am I doing on purpose? If there's something bothering you, why can't you just say it?"
"You don't know who I was talking about? My crush for three years? You are trying to make me think you still don't know it's you?!!" She yelled and Kayden was taken aback.
His eyes filled with shock and confusion at the same time.
"Wh...what?!' His eyes grew wide.
"You...you really don't know?" Magnolia stuttered.
"How am I supposed to know? Nothing was different to show me you had feelings for me, so you were punishing me because you thought I knew about it and decided to act dumb? Really Mag?..."
"I wasn't punishing you" Magnolia muttered.
"Of course you were, do you know I've been thinking since that day? I thought you suddenly hated me and don't want me around, I thought I did something and you might report me to the agency, I can't afford to leave on a negative note...."
"I'm sorry" Magnolia said, looking into his eyes.
Kayden sighed and roughed his hair.
"Fine" He grunted.
Magnolia stood up gently and took his hand in hers, Kayden looked at her speechlessly.
Magnolia? In love with him?
"How come?" He asked.
"Three years ago, I wasn't even fit enough to stand beside you" He muttered.
"Maybe that was what you thought…but you've always been hot Kaykay" She pouted and raised her head to look at him.
"I love you so much it's driving me insane....those three days without you were absolutely the worst for me. But I was so scared I couldn't tell you, I was scared, and still scared of rejection" She bit her lip.
Kayden just continue staring at her with no single word.
"But....you know we can't be together right?" He finally spoke up.
"Why?!" Magnolia shouted but that doesn't seem to affect him.
"You know what will happen if the company find out...I'm not allowed to...."
"Who gives a fuck about what the company says? I'm not a baby, you think I will announce to everyone that I am dating my manager?" Magnolia snapped.
"But....it's risky..."
"Do you love me, or...do you like me and would want to date me? Forget about the company right now and tell me what your heart feels for me" Magnolia said and Kayden was quiet.
"Tell me"
"Who wouldn't like you?" Kayden asked and moved her hair off her face.
Magnolia smiled softly and her cheeks turned red.
"Then...would you like to date me? As your girlfriend?"
"I don't want you in any scandal...."
"Fuck that shit Kay, the fans wouldn't care about me dating anyone..."
"Exactly, they wouldn't care if you date anyone....but me" Kayden shook his head.
Magnolia grabbed his shirt to pull him close, then smashed her lips on his own hungrily.
Her gripped tightened around his neck as she devoured his lips in a deep kiss, it took a whole minute of shock before Kayden started kissing her back, but he did anyway.
He pulled Magnolia up and she immediately wrapped her legs around his waist, their wet tongues fighting for space in their mouth.
More than anything, Magnolia was eating him up like her whole life depended on it, her hands slide under his shirt to feel his chest, next she began to unbutton him but Kayden stopped her.
He broke the kiss and Magnolia breathe out, not satisfied.
She almost kissed him again.
"Mag wait" He groaned and dropped her.
"You need to get ready, we have a long day ahead" Kayden said.
"So...are we...like couples now?" Magnolia asked, curiously.
Kayden said nothing.
"Do I sound desperate or...."
He cut her off with another kiss on the lips which made her smile.
"Let's make sure we don't get caught then" He said.
Magnolia immediately nodded.
"And don't fucking give me the silent treatment again or tell me to stay away from you"
"I won't" She grinned.
Kayden smiled and pulled her into a warm hug, Magnolia exhaled and closed her eyes.
"I love you Kaykay" she mumbled.
"I love you too" He whispered and kissed her earlobe.
•••••••
Serena was pacing in the bedroom, her eyes on the phone on her bed as if she was waiting for a call. And soon after, the black phone rang, she didn't even wait another second before he answered.
Lucien obviously.
"I didn't hear you the other time, you mean you left Hayes' house?"
"Yes I did..."
"Why? What about the mission?!" Lucien yelled.
Serena rolled her eyes and removed the phone from her ear for a second before returning it back.
"I figured out I wouldn't be able to do anything around him, it's not as easy as you think"
"So what? Do you have a plan now? You want me to send someone else to do it?" Lucien snapped.
"Yeah, I have a plan" Serena muttered.
"Tell me then"
"There's an event he was invited to...this coming Saturday. And I also searched and checked, it's a great location to get rid of him without his securities. They won't be able to enter without their invitation card, and moreover, just thirty guests got the VVIP invitation which means, Wolfe's guards will be outside all through the event. I will find out a way to get in myself, don't worry about the rest" Serena explained.
"Good, I will be waiting for the good news" Lucien said, and hung up.
Serena dropped her phone and sighed.
Not like she has a choice, there's no way she would dare ditch on Lucien or the whole syndicate.
Lucien will make sure he destroys her, and kill her. Because right now? The person who owns her entire life is definitely Lucien.
Her life depends on him, even though he needs her, Lucien still wouldn't think twice before wasting her life.
She's not even ready to risk that at all.
Her mind flashed over to Wolfe and remember his words...quitting doesn't make her escape his cage.
She shook her head and the thought off her head.
Everything will be over on Saturday, just three days left and she will return to where she came from, where she belongs, she will forget about Wolfe just like other people she has killed, she will forget about how he makes her feel and the strange feelings will disappear in no time.
She started arranging her stuffs.
Because immediately she ends Wolfe's life, she wouldn't even spend the night in Chicago. She will be taking the late night flight straight to France.
Back to her home, yeah no matter what...that's her home.
•••••••
The Silhouette Penthouse was quiet except for the soft hum of the city far below. The auction hall took up the entire top floor, its glass walls showing the skyline like a moving painting. Only the thirty people here tonight are billionaires or close enough to be treated like one. The lighting was warm, gold and soft, and the air smelled faintly of wine and polished wood.
The walls were lined with art, old oil paintings, rare sculptures, and strange antiques, each one waiting for its turn under the spotlight. Since the night began, expensive pieces had been sold one after another. A marble statue of a Greek goddess. A diamond-studded clock from the 1800s. An original sketch by a dead artist whose name was known all over the world.
Wolfe doesn't seem to care about any of them anyway. He sat back in his seat, half-listening, half-bored, his glass of whiskey untouched. Nothing here was worth his attention.
Until they unveiled the next piece.
It was a large painting, the colors dark and heavy, showing a woman in a blood-red gown standing in the middle of a burning room. Her eyes were black, her hands stained with something that looked too real to be paint. In the corner of the painting, barely visible, was a figure watching her, half-hidden in shadow.
Wolfe's gaze sharpened, a little smirk appeared on his face. He leaned forward, studying the painting like it was speaking only to him. By the time the bidding started, he already knew.
This one was his.
When Wolfe finally spoke, his voice cut through the quiet room. He didn't bother to join the bidding. He simply said he wanted the painting, and his tone left no room for argument.
Every head turned to him but no one said a word to argue with him, like who would even want a painting that looks creepy and scary at the same time?
Only Wolfe Hayes of course. When the painting was finally moved closer to him, he loved it even more… he doesn't know if it's the woman in blood red dress that interests him, or the shadow watching her.
Just too good.
When it was over, the hall shifted into a softer mood. Slow music began to play, couples drifted to the center to dance, and waiters moved between tables with trays of wine glasses and plates of delicate meals.
Wolfe stayed in his seat, not speaking to anyone. A few people tried to approach, but he made it clear he wasn't interested. The longer he sat there, the more the evening lost its appeal. It was the same kind of party he had been to a hundred times before, and it bored him.
Without a word, he stood and left the hall, taking the private elevator up to the rooftop.
The air was colder up there, the wind blowing against his face. The city stretched out in every direction, glittering under the night sky. Wolfe took a joint from his pocket, lit it, and leaned against the railing, letting the smoke curl lazily into the air.
He was still there when a shape began to form in the shadows. A figure stepped out from the darkness, moving toward him.
Wolfe turned his head at the sound of footsteps. Serena stepped out of the shadows, her black outfit blending into the night, tight, fitted pants, a plain shirt under a short jacket, and boots light enough not to make a sound. A black leather holster hugged her side, almost invisible until she moved.
Wolfe didn't even look surprised. His eyes moved over her once, slow and steady, then back to the city lights.
Serena rolled her eyes.
"Obviously, you're not even shocked" She scoffed.
"You've been suspecting me anyway, and yes...you're right. You are always right" She clapped for him.
"I've been waiting, you're quite too late....still a brat huh?" Wolfe's cold stare burn into her skin.
She stood in front of him, but he didn't move. He took another drag from his joint, the orange tip glowing in the wind. It was like she wasn't even there.
Serena frowned.
"You're unbelievable." She pulled out her....