2. Sleeping With My Captive

Nile

“What are you going to do to me?” Her voice is soft, shaky, betraying her wild appearance.

Long, wild ginger red hair, framing a soot-stained face that could have been beautiful, in different circumstances. And those big green eyes. They narrow at me in distrust, and it is amusing.

She acts like I am in the wrong, and not her.

Carefully watching me, she slowly tries to get up from the floor.

“On your knees.” I snap, the coldness of my voice freezing her in place. “How impertinent can you be? Should you not be apologizing for stealing my rare, asteroid diamond piece?”

“I did not know it was that important.” She glares. “Why am I here and not in a cell?”

A dark chuckle escapes me, at her blatant rudeness. Asides her fear, there is no sign of remorse from her. It irks me, yet stokes my curiosity.

After all, not even one soul in the city would dare talk to the most powerful billionaire in that tone. Especially not when they are already in deep shit. I get up from my seat, placing my laptop away. Her entire body tenses up as she watches me walk towards the massive glass wall of the bedroom.

“The storm will be terrible tonight. You might freeze to death in that cell.” I say drily, pulling the thick blinds apart to watch the murderous, thunderous storm outside. “I need you alive, to properly punish you.”

“I’d gladly freeze to death.”

“It's not your choice to make.”

“Just like the man rotting away down in that cell?”

I go completely still, feeling a dark anger slowly pool into poison in my chest. I turn around to look at her, this unrepentant little pest that had tried to make away with an asset worth a billion dollars. 

That means nothing to me, on a good day, but my security getting breached by a street tramp does not speak well for my reputation.

“You do not concern yourself with him. You have other things to worry about.”

There is a knock on the door, and Dante, my head of security, steps in.

“Sir, the diamond piece has been returned to a new vault.”

I spare him an icy glance, “What I really want to know, Dante, is how it got into the hands of a street tramp in the first place. Under your watch.”

“My apologies, sir. It will never happen again.” He bows his head deeply. “I swear it to you.”

I look away from him, back at my little redhead captive. “Why don't we begin by getting to know you, little thief? What is your name?”

The blistering glare she sends me, conveys the message effectively. She is not telling me shit about herself. 

A huff escapes me, and I concede, motioning to Dante instead.

He whips out a tablet from his coat, reading out the contents of the screen. “The Tech team did a quick background check on her, and these are the results that were reached, sir. Her name is Dymond Hilary, twenty one years old. She graduated from Lilyfield college a year ago, and had a receptionist job up until six months ago. The apartment and bank account under her name last saw any activity six months ago.”

That piques my interest.

“And where is this apartment of hers located?”

“Phoenix, Arizona. Her workplace was in the same city, and the last bank transaction originated from there as well.”

I move towards her, watching her eyes widen with terror. She crawls backwards, until she is pressed up against the wall. Her big green eyes dart between Dante and I, as if trying to ascertain who is the bigger threat. Her eyes finally rest back on me, and I grin.

“You're a long way from home, Dymond—”

“Don't call my name!” She screams. “You have no right!”

“You gave me all your rights on a platter, when you stole from me, and got caught.” I respond coolly, “So, Dymond, you had a job, a fairly manageable credit score, and a few dollars in your account. You had an apartment, however mediocre, and you left all that to steal in another city? Why?”

“Fuck you.” She spits shakily.

“Dante. Are there any records of her here in Los Angeles?”

“No, sir. It's odd. No online or bank transactions, no payments. No job applications in here, no recorded purchases. It's like she was never here.”

I chuckle, looking back at my captive with renewed interest. “You are hiding something, aren't you? At least tell me this, then. Why did you steal from me?”

Her breaths grow heavier. She says nothing.

I straighten to my full height, listening to the thunderous booming outside. “Get me her family records, Dante. Since she won't say anything, I'll find a family member who will—”

“—no, please!” She finally breaks, her voice tight with desperation and fear. “Don't involve my family in my mess. They're innocent. I…I stole the diamond because I thought it would fetch a good price. That's all.”

“What?” I scoff, “There was no plan, no one sent you to steal my most coveted asset from its showroom, you had no accomplices? You really just took it, because the opportunity was right in front of you?”

“Y–yes.”

I watch her far more closely. She really does not seem to know who I am. There is no recognition in her eyes, just fear and animosity. Like a cornered wolf, all she can do is show her fangs to hide her weakness.

“She might be lying, sir.” Dante says.

“I don't think so. If my enemies wanted to steal from me, they would have sent a better, skilled thief, I suppose. They know better than to underestimate me.”

“You are right, sir.”

“I know. Leave us.”

“At once, Mr. Garres.” He bows deeply, and strides out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

I turn away from her, shrugging off the robe on my shoulders. “Go wash that grime off, and get some sleep.”

I can feel the shock and confusion roiling off her, as I lower myself to the massive bed. With my arms propped under my pillow, I settle into a comfortable position and close my eyes. It takes what feels like several hours, for her shaky breaths to calm. 

I hear her walk around the room, shaking the door knob, looking for an escape.

She finds none.

Eventually, when the storm is at its peak, and even the heater cannot do much about the cold, I hear her hesitant steps inch towards the bathroom. She slips in, and locks it.

Chuckling, I listen to the spray of water through the door. After a quick moment, I hear her step out. She stands in a spot, watching me for several moments, before she starts to approach the bed.

Brave girl, I'd give her that.

When she gets close enough, I hear her shivering. She probably thinks I am asleep, so I make no movement. She climbs into the bed, sticking to the far edge, and wrapping the covers around her small body.

I wait for her to give in to the tiredness she undoubtedly feels, and in a moment, she falls asleep.