Cassian's POV
"Are the cars ready?" I asked as soon as my feet touched the tarmac.
Lucas was already waiting at the bottom of the stairs, coat buttoned against the northern chill. "Yes, Boss. Everything is in place."
I nodded once and started walking. The air here was colder, sharper. North Dalton always smelled of metal and smoke, which is why I decided to plant my business in the city.
Celine followed quietly behind me. Unlike other slaves, she didn't seem to protest; she was quiet, not in a dull way but in a rather observant way.
Her quietness put me off balance; she positioned herself like a fit for my world.
Lucas came up beside, whispering to my ear. "The manager from the local branch will be at the hotel by nine. Should I change the time?"
"No, nine is fine." I adjusted the cuffs of my coat. "I don't want noise tonight. No eyes and definitely no mistakes."
"Yes, sir."
The car doors opened in unison. I slid in first, Lucas following. Across from me, Celine took the farthest corner of the seat.
She was looking out the window, pretending to study the fog creeping across the runway. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap, but I could see their reflection in the glass; her eyes were restless, moving with keen observation.
She was perfect, a perfect collateral. I wanted her to be mine on the bed too, tired of getting it outside.
I've never had this much desire for a slave in the past; they have all just been slaves used to deliver business across cities.
But with her, I wanted her beside my bed, I wanted to watch her sleep, I wanted to savor the essence I felt with her, I wanted to be inside her and with her.
I looked away before she could catch me staring at her.
The ride to the hotel was long and silent. Lucas's phone buzzed twice; he answered both calls in a whisper, giving short replies, so that Celine wouldn't be able to decide.
I half-listened, half-watched the lights slide over Celine's face. She didn't flinch or fidget. She just looked.
I didn't know what to make of it, whether she was afraid or simply trying to understand the man who had taken her from one cage and placed her in another.
The thought irritated me more than it should have.
When we reached the hotel, the staff were already lined up at the entrance. One of the doormen opened my door, bowing slightly.
"Welcome back, Mr Cassian," the doormen greeted, bowing their heads.
I gave him a brief nod and kept walking. I owned the hotel, so I didn't have to go through many processes before heading to my reserved room.
When Lucas returned from checking in Celine, there was a faint crease between his brows. "There's been an error with the reservation," he said quietly.
"What kind of error?" I asked.
"They've only prepared one suite, which is your suite. There's no reservation for Celine."
I exhaled slowly. "We will use it."
Lucas hesitated. " Sir?"
I looked directly at him, "It's big enough for two, therefore we would use it."
The elevator doors slid open. I stepped in first, motioning for Lucas and Celine to follow, and they followed suit.
Halfway up, I felt her eyes on me again. She seemed to be observing everywhere, and now me.
"You'll find North Dalton different from the west," I said, eyes still on the elevator panel.
She didn't reply, but I saw her blink in the reflection, a tiny flicker that said she had heard every word.
The doors opened on the top floor. Lucas led the way down the hall, the carpet muffling every step.
"Give me the key," I stated as soon as we got to my suite. He handed me the key card and turned to leave.
"I'll be downstairs with the team," he said. "We will be ready whenever you call."
"Keep your phone close," I told him before sliding the key card on the doorknob, allowing me entrance to my suite.
"Always," he replied, saluting and then turned to leave.
I heard Celine stop just inside the door. She didn't move any further.
"There is the bedroom, you will be sleeping here tonight," I said, pointing toward the far end. "You can take whichever side you prefer."
"Do you sleep in the same room as your slaves?" she finally blurted out. "I can't sleep in the same bed as you, Mr Cassian. I would rather sleep on the sofa."
I turned then, just enough to meet her eyes. "You won't. It's late, and the bed is large enough. That's not a request."
She stared at me for a long time, and I matched her gaze. There was a hint of fury hidden beneath those beautiful golden eyes.
She didn't say a word; she just nodded once and moved past me, her faint scent of flowers brushing my nostrils.
I can only hurt her; that's the only thing I have to offer. She was delicate, I wanted her close, but I knew deep inside me that I might hurt her.
I walked over to the refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of wine, and poured myself a drink.
Lucas called twenty minutes later. "The local manager has arrived; he is waiting in the car downstairs," he said. "He seems nervous."
"Nervous? May the good lord bless his soul if my business has been compromised."
I ended the call, walked over to the desk, pulled out my file, dropped it on the desk and settled into it.
Celine sat there, back straight, looking out the window; she looked lost in thought. Her stillness was peace, but I was curious because her stillness meant I had to study her more.
She turned slightly, catching my gaze. For a heartbeat, neither of us looked away. Then she lowered her eyes, and the air between us felt heavier than before.
I turned back to the table, finished my drink, picked up the document file, and reviewed some of the documents related to the Northern branch before packing it back up.
When I finally stood, the room was quiet except for her breathing. She had finally drifted off to sleep. But even in her sleep, she looked alert.
Something in me softened, then tightened again. I told myself it was curiosity. Nothing more.
I moved closer, not sure why, studying her face quietly as her breath came out in shallow, rhythmic waves. She appeared fragile and beautiful. I wanted to trace her face and her curves, but I held myself.
My father's voice resurfaced, calling me out of momentary haze. "Feeling is weakness, Cassian. Men like us don't get to want."
I straightened. The warmth vanishes into thin air.
I grabbed my coat from the chair. The gun holster was already strapped beneath it, a weight I barely felt anymore.
I walked towards the elevator, where Lucas was already waiting. "Is the car ready?"
"Yes, sir, the car is ready,"