Captivating encounter

Alessandro’s POV

I was simply meeting up with a high-end politician here tonight. I never knew I’d be leaving with something else instead. The meeting had just ended, and I was about to take my leave when a staff member announced that there was going to be a special performance. That got me curious, so I decided to stick around.

At first, when I saw him on the main stage, I thought he was just a regular dancer. But when our eyes locked for a brief moment across the haze of lights, that’s when I realized I must have him. Now seeing him right here in front of me, so close that I caught the subtle hitch in his breath, confirmed all that. He fascinated me, and that rarely happens. It’s been a long time since something or someone actually caught my interest this sharply.

So here I was, taking note of every single detail about him. From the way his posture was a bit rigid when he first walked in, to the way he gradually relaxed after studying my face for a bit. Then the way he smiled sweetly at me, tentative but genuine enough to tug at something dormant in my chest. Down to the way his body moved so freely to the sound of the music, like he had zero worries in this world.

And now, after I blurted the question out to him, I saw the way he stared at me in shock. It was cute, and I couldn’t help but smile a little.

“Excuse me?” he asked, wanting to be sure he heard me correctly.

I took a sip from my glass again, leaning forward with my hands on my knees. “You heard me. I wanna know what you major in. Surely that’s not such a bad thing, is it?” I asked casually, watching him keenly.

He scoffed in disbelief, lowering his head a bit before meeting my gaze again. “No, it’s not, sir. But my personal life is none of your business. So let’s just carry on with what we are here for and go about our separate ways.” He said confidently, adjusting his mask.

I chuckled lightly, leaning back on the chair. “No need to get all feisty, little one. I’m just curious to know what it is about you that’s so fascinating.”

He was about to object, but I didn’t give him room for that, so I continued smoothly. “Moving on, how long have you danced? Do you love your job? Do you see yourself perhaps doing something else other than this?” I asked, searching his face now.

His brows furrowed in annoyance, his jaw clenched tightly and his fists tightened by his side. “Did you pay x5 the usual amount just to interrogate me? Is that really what you wanna spend your time doing?” He asked, as fire sparkled in his eyes before he continued. “I’ll have you know that your time is limited, so unless you want to waste it asking irrelevant—”

“I’ve got all the time in the world,” I interrupted smoothly, smirking as I held his stare. “If it runs out, I can always pay for more. You don’t have to worry about that, little one.” I concluded while he just looked at me in disbelief, his chest rising and falling a little faster now.

He was bold, fearless, and that little gesture ignited something inside my chest. Was it fixation? Obsession? Infatuation? Regardless of which it was, I knew I was captivated by him. This was the first time in years someone had actually spoken to me so freely. Without fear, and without trying to gain something from me. In my world, everyone wanted a piece. Favor, money, protection. But him, he just wanted me to back off, and damn, it only made me want to pull him closer.

Just then, a knock came through the door. It opened and Stefan stepped in. “It’s time, sir.”

I nodded, then stretched out my hand and he handed me an envelope. I turned my eyes back to the boy in front of me and casually dropped it on the table. “This is the payment for your services. I had a great time today. I’m looking forward to doing this some more with you.” I concluded, gulping the remaining drink in my glass as I stood up, adjusting my suit jacket.

I walked towards him slowly, stopping a few inches away from him, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his skin. Then I leaned in and whispered. “You belong to me, little one. It’s only a matter of time before you realize that”

I straightened up, took one final look at him as he stared at me in shock then walked out with Stefan carefully trailing behind me. As soon as we stepped out of the club, Stefan spoke. “I can’t remember the last time I saw that look in your eyes.” He turned to look at me briefly, a knowing glint in his gaze.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” I said plainly, just as he opened the backseat door and I climbed in.

He chuckled lightly before rounding the car and sliding in beside me. “Yes, you do. You know the look I’m talking about.” He continued, tilting his head at me. “That same look you always have when you’ve just caught a prey, especially one that falls right into your trap.” He concluded by glancing at me again, but I ignored him.

Then he tapped the driver’s seat and the car zoomed off.

A couple of minutes into the ride, I spoke. “So what’s the update on the warehouse shipments? They were supposed to come in today, weren’t they” I asked, as my fingers moved across my phone screen, scrolling.

“Yes, they were. But there was a slight delay with customs.”

“Customs?” I thought we sorted them out already?” I inquired curiously, turning to him now.

He nodded, meeting my gaze steadily. “Yes, we have. It was just a last-minute requirement. But you have nothing to worry about. Everything is sorted out now and by tomorrow morning, the shipment will be sitting pretty in the warehouse.” He teased, winking at me.

I shook my head in disbelief, although I laughed a little despite myself. After a couple more minutes of driving in silence, I spoke again. “And what about the lawyer? Do we have him?”

“Yes, we do. As a matter of fact, we got him earlier this morning.” He handed me the tablet, and on it was a live recording showing the lawyer hanging from a pulley upside down, with a deep vat of ice water beneath him as he was slowly lowered just enough before being pulled out again.

A slow smile crept onto my lips. “Well, I guess it’s time to pay him back in his own coin. Let’s go pay him a visit, shall we?” I said, looking out the window.

The drive continued in silence, the city giving way to darker, industrial outskirts. Soon we were pulling up to an abandoned scrap yard tucked away at another part of the city. I stepped out and began walking, as Stefan and two others fell into step behind me without saying a word.

I stopped right in front of him and signaled for his blindfold to be removed. When it was, I leaned in closer, grinning. “Well, well, look who we have here. Barrister Fords. You know, I actually thought you were untouchable. I guess your power is limited after all.”

He whimpered as he strained his eyes to look at me, his body twisting uselessly against the restraints. “Please… please I’m sorry, Alessandro. I know I shouldn’t have gone against your rule. Please, I have a wife and kids…Please, please just spare me. I’ll do anything you want.” He pleaded desperately, as his voice cracked with raw fear.

I scoffed, moving back from him. “So now you’re bothered about your wife and kids? And what about the man whose life you ruined? What about his wife and kids?” I said angrily, snapping my face to meet his. “You know we have one rule: never harm the innocent. Yet you went ahead to do so. And there will be consequences.”

I paused, watching his face drain of color. “A life for a mistake.” I concluded, then gave the go-ahead with a curt nod.

Immediately he was lowered back into the ice water, which fully covered his head down to his neck. As he struggled for air, bubbles rising frantically, I turned around and walked to the car, the sounds of his muffled desperation fading behind me.

We drove off and as the drive continued, the image of the boy from earlier filled my thoughts again—his eyes, that defiant spark. Almost like Stefan noticed the shift in my mood, he asked quietly, “Should I arrange it?”

I turned to look at him, before looking out the window. “No, Stefan. Not yet. Let’s see how it pans out.”