All Chapters of A KISS IN THE DARK : EMPIRE OF OBSESSION : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

33 Chapters

RESTRICTED SECTION

∆EZEKIEL POV∆"This is illegal on at least five different levels, and I want it clearly stated that this was your idea, not mine."Maddison didn’t look the least bit concerned as he adjusted the collar of my suit with unnecessary precision, his expression was calm, in a way that suggested he had already justified everything in his head long before I arrived."It’s not illegal," he replied smoothly, stepping back to inspect his work with narrowed eyes. "It’s investigative journalism with a slightly creative approach.""You are giving me your boss’s ID," I reminded him flatly, holding up the sleek card between two fingers. "Your boss... Not even yours, and you're sending me to hell with this.""Not to hell but to the man you're supposed to seduce!""Not so funny...." Maddison finally looked up, completely unbothered."No need to worry, my boss won’t notice," he said. "And even if he does, I’ll tell him I was chasing a lead. Which I am, so stop being a scaredy cat!" I stared at him for

I'M JUST OBSERVING

"Rare piece, isn’t it?"Ezekiel turned at the sound of the voice, his expression composed even as his mind remained anchored to the glass case in front of him.The dark liquid rested in unnatural silence within the jar, and for a brief moment, the faint familiar scent in the air seemed sharper than before.The man standing beside him did not look out of place, which in a room like this was the most dangerous kind of presence.He blended too well, dressed in understated elegance, posture relaxed, and gaze observant in a way that suggested he missed nothing even when he appeared uninterested."It depends on what you consider rare," Ezekiel replied, his tone remained calm and measured, giving nothing away.The man’s lips curved slightly, not quite a smile, more like acknowledgment."That’s a careful answer," he said, his eyes shifting briefly toward the glass case before returning to Ezekiel. "Most of the people here especially in a place like this don’t bother being careful, that makes

DO I LOOK LIKE I INDULGE?

∆NO POV∆"Why did you ask like that?" Ezekiel was taken aback by the question of the man in front of him.His tone carried a faint edge of suspicion as he turned slightly to look at the man… though his expression remained composed.The man blinked once, then let out a quiet laugh as if the tension had never existed in the first place."Just kidding, no need to take it seriously," he replied smoothly, lifting a hand in a casual gesture. "You looked like you were about to calculate ten different answers before giving me one, so, out of curiosity to hear your response, I've asked like that." Ezekiel exhaled faintly, the tension easing just enough for the moment to feel lighter. "Oh, I see!" The man’s lips curved again, this time more openly, though the sharpness in his gaze never truly left."My name is Leon," he said, extending his hand without hesitation, and his posture relaxed yet deliberate.Ezekiel glanced at the offered hand for a brief moment before taking it, his grip firm but

SHOUT AT ME

∆NO POV∆"Foxy," Zachary's lips curved faintly, and brief, almost nonexistent as he murmured in a low voice.Before Ezekiel could process it, Zachary closed the gap between them, his hand shifting just slightly as he pulled Ezekiel closer, and sealed his lips with his.This time, there was no hesitation.The kiss was deeper, and desperate in a way that made it impossible to tell whether it was restraint or possession.For a moment, everything else disappeared.The noise outside, the tension, even the risk of getting caught by someone.Ezekiel felt it before he realized it, the way his grip tightened slightly against Zachary’s sleeve, the way his thoughts blurred just enough to lose their sharp edges.Then, something happened, a hand moved lower and deliberate.Ezekiel froze for half a second before pulling back just enough to breathe."What exactly are you doing?" he asked, his voice came out lower than intended, evident with disbelief rather than panic.Zachary didn’t answer that que

ONE DATE FOR ONE SECRET

∆NO POV∆"I'll never forgive this rogue for this," Ezekiel screamed internally, while Zachary’s lips remained locked on his even as Leon’s footsteps faded down the corridor. The silence that followed felt heavier, thicker, charged with everything they’d been holding back."He’s gone," Zachary pulled himself back just enough to let them both breathe. "Now you can moan or scream as you want."Ezekiel’s freed wrists dropped, and before Zachary could react, his dark eyes lifting toward Ezekiel’s flushed face, he was slapped. "How can you be a rogue? Do you really love bullying me?" "This is who I am," Zachary said, completely unmoved by the slap. "I never forced you to walk into my life, did I? It's you who is forcing yourself into my life. And now you’re complaining about how I treat you?"Ezekiel stayed silent. Zachary continued, "Even now, I’m allowing you to walk out if you want."He didn’t move to stop him.Ezekiel’s chest rose and fell, anger still burning under his skin… but it d

THE RULE BREAKER

∆NO POV∆"If you tell anyone about what just happened, I will personally make sure you disappear." Ezekiel’s voice came out low, steady, and only slightly uneven as he stood in front of the mirror, fingers adjusting the collar of his shirt with deliberate precision, as if restoring order to his appearance would somehow restore order to everything that had just happened.Behind him, Zachary leaned casually against the wall, watching him without interruption, his expression unreadable, though there was a faint shift in his gaze that suggested amusement rather than concern."Is that a threat?" Zachary raised an eyebrow with a curious face.Ezekiel met his reflection for a brief second before answering, his lips curving faintly. "Take it however you want." For a moment, neither of them moved, but the air between them had changed.Not as sharp as before, not as heated either, but heavier in a quieter way, as if something had settled without being spoken.Zachary pushed himself off the wa

THE MISSING PIECE

∆NO POV∆"If you two are done with whatever that was, I’d prefer not to stand in the middle of it." Ezekiel’s voice remained calm, but his eyes flickered briefly between them, catching that subtle shift, the one Zachary tried to hide and Leon didn’t bother to conceal.Not his company?The thought slipped into his mind before he could stop it, sharp and annoyingly persistent. If not him, then what exactly was that just now, and if Zachary wasn’t claiming anything, then who was supposed to take responsibility for what had just happened inside?He exhaled slowly, forcing that thought away before it could show on his face, his expression settling back into its usual composed neutrality as he stepped forward, breaking whatever silent exchange had settled between the two men.Leon let out a soft laugh, pushing himself off the wall with an ease that felt practiced, his posture relaxed but his attention entirely focused on Ezekiel now."Fair enough," Leon said, falling into step beside him

EVIDENCE AND EMBARASSMENT

∆EZEKIEL POV∆"Tell me this camera didn’t record everything…"I muttered under my breath as the footage played on the laptop screen, my fingers hovering near the trackpad as if I could stop it at any second, yet not actually doing it.The video flickered slightly, the angle steady enough to capture most of the room, the low lighting doing little to hide what had happened earlier.Unfortunately.I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down my face as I leaned back in the chair, already regretting pressing play."Great," I muttered again, watching myself get shoved into a wall. "This is exactly what I needed to see again."For a brief second, I considered skipping ahead.I didn’t.Instead, I sat there, staring at the screen with narrowed eyes, my expression caught somewhere between irritation and disbelief."Is this also recorded?" I scoffed quietly. "Of course it is… why wouldn’t it be? Isn't it the most important reason why I went to the auction?" The footage continued.And so did I."Unbe

THE NAME BEHIND THE BLOOD

∆EZEKIEL POV∆"I’m not sure of anything yet Maddy… but something is wrong with that auction." I said it slowly, while my eyes still fixed on the paused frame of the footage, the faint reflection of the screen casting a dull glow across the room.Maddison didn’t interrupt this time.For once, he actually listened.The air between us had shifted again, the earlier teasing settling into something quieter, heavier, as the weight of what we were looking at began to sink in.I tapped the trackpad lightly, letting the video move forward."Look at this," I said, my voice lower now, more focused.The footage shifted to the display area, the glass case coming into view, pristine and untouched, the lighting designed to make it look more valuable than it already was.Inside it, that dark liquid, still and unnatural."Pause," Maddison said quickly.I did.The frame froze, the caption beneath the glass case clearly visible now, the same words that had stunned me last night… Now it was his turn.Ex

YOU ARE BREAKING THE UNDERGROUND

∆EZEKIEL POV∆"You really published it…" Ezekiel’s voice carried a quiet disbelief, though not surprise, as his gaze remained fixed on the glowing screen of his phone, notifications stacking over each other faster than he could even read them.The room was silent except for that constant vibration, an irritating, persistent reminder that something had already spiraled far beyond control.Maddison didn’t look the least bit guilty.Instead, he leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, a grin tugging at his lips as if he had just set off fireworks and was now enjoying the show."Of course I did," he replied easily. "What did you think I was going to do? Frame it and hang it on the wall? This is something I've been looking into for so long, now that I have enough evidence, I'll make sure to use it in the right place." Ezekiel exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his hair before tossing the phone onto the table, though the buzzing didn’t stop.It only grew louder."You didn’t ju

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