Ruthless Billionaire: Your Pain is My Pleasure

Lightening flashed on a girl's sleeping face and she screamed, jolting upright, grey eyes staying wide into open space. The scene...It felt familiar even though she hadn't looked around yet.

She was in a bedroom, one designed for a little girl, wrapped in a little white sleeping gown. She blinked, and her room seemed to fade away into the background as her legs carried her off the bed.

"No no. Not again. Not again." She muttered in a sweet little voice as she walked out of the room.

The hallway loomed largely and was brightly lit, highlighting her black as night hair that was tied in pigtails. She knew what to do. She always knew what to do. Little pitpat sounds of her small foot hitting the ground echoed in the large hallway. Her nerves trembled, her lips quivered and with each step, she clutched her dress tighter as her belly rolled in anticipation.

A loud crashing sound stopped her in her tracks and she covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming. Her childlike bright eyes filled with fear. Fear of what was coming.

"Who are you?" Her father's voice boomed from their bedroom. Their door was only a few meters away.

She could hear a foreign voice reply, but her head felt woozy and her senses dulled into a high pitch signal as she moved closer to the door.

"Mama!" she called out and everything else seemed to slow down at that point.

The door burst open and her mother rushed out, barely clad in a sleeping gown and frantic as she gathered up her child into her arms and sprinted back the way she had come from.

"Faster, Katherine! Get her to safety!" Her father yelled behind them and the girl twisted in her mother's arms so she could see him.

She stretched out her hand at him, grey eyes glistening with tears. Somehow, she knew what was wrong. Because she had seen it a thousand times before. "Papa!"

In her mother's arms, the girl saw everything happen. She saw her father suddenly halt, his blue eyes widened then slacked and he fell to the ground, a knife sticking out his back. A man stood behind her father's falling body, grinning manically.

Sobs wrenched out of the little girl as her mother carried her farther away, towards the backdoor of their mansion. She set the little girl down, holding her face in her palms and placing kisses on her forehead.

"It's okay." Her mother panted. "Kimberly, it's going to be okay."

But it would not be okay. The killer was back and closer than they had known. Kimberly watched her mother smile one last time and push her out the back door screaming the last words.

"Run Kimberly!"

In the few seconds, before the door closed, concealing her mother from her, She saw the killer's face, stark and clear as he raised a gun and shot her mother.

The little girl screamed on and on until her voice blended with a shrilling alarm clock and Kimberly gasped awake, sitting upright in her bed, shivering. A shrilling sound from an alarm clock next to her made her head hurt and she experienced vertigo from moving too quickly.

Her eyes closed and she swallowed, taking deep breaths to steady herself. It was just another nightmare.

Reaching out her hand, she slammed the alarm clock, cutting it off, and slid off her bed, ignoring the headache that threatened to pound her brain to mush.

It was another day of pain and hell and she was determined to make it as fiery as possible.

"Your first meeting is due in four hours, with the Italian Investors. We also received word from the contractor in San Antonio, he says the building is going on quite well."

"Mhmm." Kimberly droned, polishing off a buttered toast as she listened to her secretary rant on the phone that was placed on her dining table.

The dining room was spotless and brightly lit

With chandeliers and large windows that showed the glistening pool beside the building. She sat facing the windows, sunlight filtering in and encasing the room with warmth. A clock hung on the wall and it read a few minutes past eight.

She was dressed in black suit pants paired with a grey crop top with flannel sleeves. Texas was hot in July and while she enjoyed looking professional, Kim wasn't ready to be baked into a hot potato by the sweltering heat.

"Also..."

She looked up then, cocking her head to the side as she wondered why her secretary had stopped. "Speak."

"Uh..that...Mr Wades has been blowing up the office line ma'am"

Kimberly parted her lips in hard harsh laughter, flicking her raven black hair out of her face so that it fell in silky waves over her shoulder.

"Is he now?" She murmured dryly. "Let him. He deserves to stew in his misery."

The Secretary at loss for what to say simply muttered a "Yes ma'am."

"Cancel my morning meetings. I'll be driving to San Antonio to check on the building project." She announced, raising her hands and delivering three sharp claps.

A maid scurried in, dressed in a simple black cotton gown and cleared the plates on the table and scurried back out.

"But...ma'am, the investors"

"Tell them I'll be rescheduling. And I'll contact them when I am pleased to." She ordered and cut the call. She didn't need to explain herself to a bunch of crappy investors who thought they could make a load of cash off her. She had dealt with their types before, she knew her shit.

Rising to her feet, a solid 5"8 that towered elegantly in the lavish dining room, she grabbed her Hermes Birkin purse and strutted out of the house.

"Andrews," She called as she stepped outside her duplex and watched as the young man in question rushed toward her.

"Good morning ma'am." He bowed, creasing his chauffer uniform lightly.

"Bring the car around."

By the time she was done checking the building project, Kim was certain she would be a baked potato anyway. It was barely eleven in the morning and she felt immensely heated up as she walked to the car.

Pursing her lips she turned to the contractor, a middleaged man who had leered at her all through the meeting. She gave him a nasty glare, setting her grey eyes on him like sharp icicles.

"You've done a very good job, Mr Moore." She stated coldly and watched him grin proudly.

"Thank you, Miss"

"Too bad your job here is done, yes?"

The man frowned confused. He glanced back at the uncompleted building and then at the young woman before him. "I don't quite understand."

"I can see that. Your eyes are narrowed in a rather unsightly way." She sniped, her lips curling in a sneer. "I suggest that next time, if you ever get a job after this, that is, to remain in a job, you control where your gazes go."

Outraged, the man's face reddened in anger and he screamed. "You bitch!"

Kimberly tsked, grinning widely as she stared down at him. "Now you're just sinking in mire dear Mr Moore. I'm afraid you'll have to see me in court for slander and verbal assault. My mental health cannot simply afford these insults."

The man blanched and she watched the look of total defeat slide across his face and he slid to his knees. "No... Please, Miss Lockwood."

A smug smile tugged at her lips. Oh, how she loved to see them suffer. To see them grovel and beg. Raising her chin, she opened the car door, slamming the man to the side and slid into the backseat.

"Let's go Andrews." She ordered, nose in the air as they zoomed onto the road.

Men! She thought in disgust staring down at the grey too she wore. It was high necked and there was no way he could have seen her breasts but she had seen the leer in his eyes, ogling them as he explained the building project to her.

"Bastard!" She sighed dryly. He probably got off watching young women and fantasizing about them. Kimberly shook her head, she should've insisted on suing him to court.

The car slowed to a halt suddenly waking her out of her thoughts.

"Andrews, what the hell is happening?" She demanded frowning at the driver.

"Uh," Andrew scratched his hair and pointed to the front.

Right in front of her car was an... He had to be an apparition. Because she couldn't understand for the life of her, what sane person stood in the middle of the road, shirtless, hiking thumb up.

"Is he insane?!" She asked and the driver simply shrugged at her question. Shaking her head she reclined in her seat and waved a hand. "Keep driving."

Andrew looked back at his boss with wide eyes. "Ma'am?"

"Did I stutter?"

"No ma'am." He grumbled and started the car, driving towards the man on the road.

Move away, she silently ordered, her grey eyes fixed on the figure. He would have to step aside when he realizes that she wasn't the least bit interested in giving him a ride.

But the man on the road proved to be more insane than she had thought. Kimberly gasped as she watched him launch himself in the air and land on the bonnet of her car.

For a moment, everything seemed to pause. Appalled, she stepped out of the car, lips parted in shock as she approached the brute.

"Are you mad?!"

Tyler grinned as a madass raving woman stepped out of the car he had landed on, stalking towards him with consternation. It wasn't that he got a kick out of making women mad... Okay, that was wrong.

He did. He loved making them go crazy that they didn't know what else to do but melt at his feet in exhaustion. But that hadn't been his motive when he had bounced on her bonnet.

Now that he thought about it, he must've dented the fragile thing. It had creaked and stumbled to a halt when he laid flat on it, his face facing the sun as it warmed his skin.

"Are you mad?!" The lady raved, standing before him.

Shooting her a wider grin, he rolled off his back to a sitting position. He had to give her credit, she had the gut to face him, most people just bolted when they saw a sixfoot hulking male land on their bonnet. His dark black eyes were known to pierce the soul and his long copper brown hair told people he was not to be messed with. He would know, he had hijacked several cars that way in the past. It wasn't his fault people were too afraid to know all he wanted was a ride.

"I need a ride." He told her, resisting the urge to wince when his voice came out thick and deep.

Dammit, he needed rest. Scratch that, he needed a bed, two huge steaks and a glass of icecold beer. And maybe a few women on the side. Women that didn't glare down at him with icy grey eyes and threatened to turn him to stone.

The woman before him was beautiful he had to admit. He had taken his sweet time, a mere few seconds to admire the wet patch on her crop top right around her breasts and had imagined them sweaty and pointy in the sun. They would be golden honeycoloured judging from the smooth skin of her belly.

She scoffed in surprise and outrage. "Of all the nasty things in the world! Get off my car right now!"

Tyler's grin disappeared off his face and he shot to his feet. It was time to bring out the big guns. He smiled when her eyes widened a fraction as he loomed over her but she maintained her stance.

What the fuck was this woman made up of? Titanium?! He had scared countless women shitless, just by standing close to them and here she was, staring him in the eyes, lips pressed in utter irritation. He ignored the stirring in his loins and wondered if he was losing his touch.

He wondered what would happen if he backhanded her out of consciousness and dragged her behind the hills that surrounded them. But her driver still sat in the car, he could see the wimp from the corner of his eyes, ready to run Tyler over if he made a move against his mistress. One wrong move and the man could bolt or worse call 911.

Tyler mentally slapped a hand over his face. That was the last thing he needed. They were still on San Antonio's grounds and he needed to leave as quietly as possible. Especially with the San Antonio police on his tail.

Looking back at the defiant woman before him, he realized she was talking.

"....Total rubbish. Get the hell out of my sight or so help me, I'll run you down like crap! Andrews!" She yelled, storming away from him and the heat must have addled his brain because, despite her insulting words, he couldn't take his eyes off the sway of her ass.

"Mahn. For someone pretty, you have the attitude of a shitty hoe." He spat as she opened the car door and she paused briefly, grey eyes ready to bore holes through him.

"Run him down, Andrews." She ordered, slipping into the backseat.

It was all good, Tyler assured himself as he stepped away from the road when the car's engine revved. He would let her go simply because she had to be the first woman to look him straight in the eye and not have a breakdown.

Kimberly's heartbeat roared in her ears as they drove past the mountain man who sent her another heartstopping grin as they drove past him.

Lord, he was huge!

She hadn't realized how much until he had risen to his feet, hooded black eyes staring down at her in a way that made her breath catch and her stomach drop in fear. For a few seconds, she had struggled to keep her breathing under control, refusing to panic. If he was a murderer, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of being intimidating.

Unable to resist, she glanced back through the back screen and saw his slowly receding figure. He had looked like he needed a ride. His black pants were rough and had a few tears on them. She had no idea what had happened to his shirt and she was rather curious about it. He looked so formidable, so...strong. And he had smelled so earthly male, she had almost reached out to touch him, to see if he was real. The car suddenly halted again and she cursed.

"What now for all the fucking gold in the world?" She hissed.

Andrew looked at her sheepishly and stuttered. "II think there's...s.. something wrong with the car."

"Wonderful. This day has gone quite perfectly well, Andrew don't you think?" She said sarcastically and slid out of the car.

On reaching the front of the car, she closed her eyes at the sight. The crazy hulk of a man had dented her car and she had been too wrapped up in him to notice it!

"He did this?!" She bit out in horror, looking at Andrew who finally decided to step out of the driver's seat. "What the hell does he eat? A fucking cow?!"

"Actually," A strange voice that was beginning to grow distastefully familiar quipped behind them and Andrew yelped, running to her side. "I prefer pork, but I am partial to a cow as well. And where I come from, Women shouldn't swear."

He approached them with quick lightning strides and Kimberly felt anger boil within her as she stared at the triumphant grin on his face.

"You did this!" She accused, narrowing her eyes.

"Woah," The man held up his hands before him and her mouth dried at the sight of his bulging biceps. "Hold on, if we're talking about the dent, that's me, if not, then I don't know what we're talking about."

Oh, she had had enough. He spoke with her as if he was so familiar with her. As if they were buddies and it irked her. He was a measly, goodlooking yes, but incredibly annoying man. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. But there was no way she would allow him to go scotfree after all the damage he had done.

"You have to pay for this." She tried to explain coolly. The keyword 'tried'. There was something about him that constantly irked her and made her lose her cool and Kimberly hated that she had been yelling for the past few minutes.

"Hmm," he hummed, pushing her aside so he could pop open the bonnet. After rummaging through the car, he looked up at her, black eyes threatening to suck her in. "I cannot do that. But what I can do, is fix this. On one condition"

"You have no right," she seethed, "To give me conditions. I will not stand here and listen to your lowlife self tell me what to do."

"Fuck this!" He snarled. "I'm not asking for you to suck my dick woman, it's just a damn ride!" He bellowed. "Do whatever the hell you want and fucking rot here!"

Shocked at his outburst, Kimberly watched in stunned silence as he walked away, muscles rippling under his golden skin with each step he took. She hated to admit that he was right. It would take a while before her mechanics would reach her, and she was sure with the way the sun burned up in the sky, she would be toast before they did.

"Fine!" She yelled but he kept on walking. "Did you hear me? I said fine!"

He stopped in his tracks and turned around, his facial features morphed in anger and for a minute, all she could do was pant as he drew closer.

"Fucking say Please," he ordered when he reached her. "And maybe I'll consider it."

Panting and confused by her body's reaction to him, she mumbled a "Please" and turned away from him, knowing that he was grinning like a fool behind him.

"This is my stop," Tyler told the wimpy driver and watched in amusement as the latter nodded repeatedly.

They had reached Austin late in the afternoon and the park they currently were was teeming with people.

He glanced behind him at the backseat, where the Boadicea of a woman nailed holes into his head with her eyes. She looked like she wished him dead. But still he could see a soft woman calming tough.

"It was nice giving you a ride." She sulked. And he knew vividly that was sarcasm.

He gave her one last smirk and shook his head. "Ah Spitfire. Lovely as always."

Stepping out of the car, he threw her a wink before slowly disappearing into the crowd.,

The door to his room opened and a lady was standing right there. Tyler felt he'd met her somewhere, but he was too drunk to remember.

"Look at me," she commanded softly. Walking towards him.

He had few questions to ask but this moment was magical, deeply intimate, and she compelled obedience. Tyler obeyed. The thick hot night wrapped around them like wet, crushed velvet. Everything seems to have stopped, frozen in time. The air, her heart. In the lamp light she could make out the glistening sheen of his damp body, were his shirt hanged open, and his tight trousers.

The air was sticky. And a wet heat seemed to have risen all over her skin. There was a shortness of her breathing, making it difficult to feel her lungs. And Kimberly became aware of the strange tension throbbing between them, mesmerizing her.

"Don't be scared," he Said gently, trying to reassure her.

Tyler smiled, the smile was lazy and sensual, but he felt tense and determine. His chest rose and fell hard. He stalked her, and she backed up a step.

"Don't be scared I won't make move if you don't want," kim stopped, they were so close, his eyes commanded that she stood still. There was fire there, like the one that runs through her vein. She looked at his mouth, sensually sculpted, parted slightly. She felt an insane desire to kiss him. Taste him. He gripped her hands forcing it down partly.

"I want you, and I know you do same,"

"No," she said not meaning it.

Regardless of her response he pressed her hard against his erection, her eyes flying to his, she felt him pulsating beneath her palm, felt the burning heat.

"Hold me," he said still staring into her eyes

Kim was motionless, her heart slamming as if the devil's were instructing her. She curled her hands around his waist .

He slipped an arm around her and guided them to the ground. Kimberly felt his warm breath in her neck his mouth brushing there. She gasped, reaching for his shoulder. Crazy desires trailed in the wake of his lips. Kimberly lost control of herself, his face buried in her neck. His wet hard body covered hers, his powerful hands crushing her in his embrace. And he was rocking his hip against her softness, and for a moment Kim thought she might die. Wrapped between heaven and hell.

"Please," Kim moaned, her nails digging into his shoulders. She whimpered, unable to make a coherent sound.

Then his hands went in her gown, she gasped as he anchored her by a Hank of hair, while flipping up her gown, his other hand went for her breasts.

Kim fell back, spreading her legs readily.

"Take off your clothes," he said

It was an order that made no sense, it didn't matter. He was stroking her thighs rhythmically, expertly, she couldn't bare it.

He locked his hands around her hip, and buried his face between her legs. Kim was shocked, she felt his tongue. Any desire to protest ceased instantly. As he stroked her intimately, she began climbing peak, racing from one to the other, her wall shattered, she fell. And he thrust inside of her, felling the warmth of her body. And soon they both passed out.

When Kimberly slowly came to her consciousness, the first thing she felt was warm steady breathing against her neck. Confused, she shifted around wondering when she had gotten a cat. A sudden pressure around her stomach tightened and she realized she was feeling rather hot which was weird, considering that she always had the air conditioning on in her room.

But the heat felt wonderful, like soothing licks against her skin and she snuggled deeper into it. Her backside hit something uncomfortable and the pressure around her waist tightened and her eyes flew open.

What the hell?!

There were no greypainted walls or humidifiers on the bedside table. Heck, there was no bedside table! This was not her room!

Eyebrows furrowed above her sleepy grey eyes and she tried to stand up, dread filling her as she realized what the pressure wrapped her was.

A hand. No, to be precise, she blinked several times just to make sure she wasn't in a darned dream. A man's hand. His huge biceps clenched and unclenched as his hands tightened around her waist and his breathing fell harsher on her neck from behind her.

"Oh no," she whispered in horror, grey eyes flicking around the room uneasily. It was a cheapass hotel room that Kimberly could bet her entire fortune had housed plenty of sexdeprived souls and yesterday, she had been one of them.

"Damnit!." She mouthed, slapping the arm around her in irritation. She was screwed. She, Kimberly Lockwood, had spent the night with some man she didn't know. Oh, the press was going to have a field day when they found out. She could imagine the headlines on those shitty tabloids.

The man grunted and loosened his grip. From the sounds he made, she knew he would wake soon.

Good, she needed him as awake as he could be, she thought as she slipped out of the bed, staring down at her naked form as she picked her clothes from the floor. Her breasts were sore, tender and littered with hickeys.

"That's new," She murmured, sliding her hands over them and sighing softly. No man she had ever slept with had ever given her hickeys.

"Hmm, If you're touching yourself without me, that's a bummer," A deep sleepy male voice rumbled and she whipped around swiftly as his voice settled and sunk in her memory.

Dear God, how much had she drunk the night before? She must've been extremely knackered if she had allowed the scumbag before her to touch her. She clutched her forehead, feeling a headache ensue as the memories from the previous night plagued her.

Tasha had dragged her out for a drink. They weren't friends, she was merely someone Kim could stand for a long time without wanting to kill her. She had been feeling quite lonely over the week, having completed her work quota for the week already, and when Tasha had suggested Clubbing, Kimberly hadn't thought it was a bad idea.

Oh, but it turned out to be. Because now she had the cursed mountain man before her, grinning at her boobs as if they were gifts from Santa.

"You!" She hissed, clutching her dress to her chest.

"I guess that means you remember now." He hummed. His hair which had been long last week was now chopped into chocolate brown curls that sat atop his head. Dark eyes stared piercingly at her and she shuddered.

Oh, she remembered alright. She recalled how she had kept doing shots until she couldn't stand straight and bumped into everything.

"I hope no one got that on video." She murmured to herself as she dragged on her dress. Damn! How could she screw up so bad? She had done a lot of crazy things, but getting drunk in a public club and having sex with the man whom she had spent every day of the week loathing had to top the list.

"Breathe." The mountain man murmured, sitting up and stretching. "You look like you're about to pass out. I know I'm an awesome lay, but you don't have to look like I took your breath away literally."

Her heart pulsed harder with each stretch he made. She could recall those hands spanning her length, large palms enclosing her breasts, kneading them until she became putty in his hands. She didn't even know the idiot's name and she had ridden his thighs like a depraved wanton.

If the world found out about it, she was finished.

"Don't say a word." She ordered as she adjusted her black dress, trying to smoothen out the wrinkles.

Looking around for her purse, she found it peeking at her underneath the bed and fished it out while the man before her watched in amusement.

Tyler was entranced. When he had stepped into the club the night before and had seen her staggering her way toward him, looking very seductive with her hooded grey eyes and rich red lips, he had been bewitched. And when she came on to him, he hadn't found it in him to resist her.

Damn, he hadn't expected to see her again. She had plagued his dreams ever since their encounter a week ago, and now, as his dark eyes roamed her lovely figure, his dreams were nothing compared to the real thing.

She was beautiful. Her hair had felt silky in his hands. Her breasts were heavy and well proportioned, he hadn't gotten enough of them and sadly it seemed that would be the last he would see of them. Especially with the way she fished a book out of her purse and scribbled hard on it.

"If you're journalling about my di"

"Here!" She said, trying all her possible best to remain calm, ripping a piece of paper out and placing it on the bed gingerly.

"No one must know about this." She hissed, grey eyes losing the passion he had seen in them last night.

"Why? Because they'll discover you're not made of stone after all?" Tyler grinned. Who was she and why was she so concerned about what people said?

He reached for the paper she had dropped on the bed. "A cheque?"

"For your silence." She stated stoically, walking towards the door. "I believe twenty grand should be enough to keep your lips shut."

Tyler could not help it, he burst into laughter. She glared at him and harrumphed before walking out the door.

What sort of woman just dashed out 20,000 dollars to men she shagged? Oh, he was intrigued. Terribly intrigued. He held up the cheque, arching a brow as he read the name at the top right corner.

"Kimberly Lockwood." He drawled and glanced at the door. She was interesting. And Tyler Tien loved interesting women, they were fun to pick apart and conquer. But, he frowned puzzled, after their intimacy that night, she had whimpered in her sleep several times.

He wondered what could make a defiant woman like her, cry in fear.

Tossing the cheque aside along with his thoughts of her, he got out of bed, cracking his neck to relieve the slight ache in them. It was time he began what he had come to do in Austin. He had fooled around for a week, but he knew it wouldn't be long before the police caught up with him. He had to find a safe place fast and as soon as possible.

Picking his clothes that were strewn across the cheap hotel room, he grinned when he found a ruby ring on the floor glaring at him.

"Twenty grand and a ruby in one day." He said, tossing the ring in the air and catching it. "Looks like today's going to be a good day."

On cue, his burner phone lying on the bed vibrated.

"Finally." He muttered, swiping it off the bed.

"Boss," A voice said on the other line but Tyler remained quiet.

There was no way he was speaking unless he confirmed that the caller was one of his own. He had already been betrayed once and he was determined to make sure that it would stay that way.

"If I die, I forgive you. If I live, I kill you." The person said and Tyler grunted in response.

It was a legendary omerta that he had made his men swear before him. They had to know that if anyone betrayed Don Tien, they had just betrayed themselves.

"Good, Victor. I told you not t call unless you have news." Tyler stated, his voice rough. "You have news then?"

"Yes boss," Victor replied. "We found Benito."

Tyler hummed. "Seen or found?"

"Found boss. He just walked into Maggie's. She called us and had us surround the area."

Tyler nodded satisfactorily. "Good. If I'm not there in twenty minutes, You know what to do."

"Yes, boss."

Ending the call, Tyler switched off the burner phone, cracked it open and popped the sim in his mouth, spreading it into an evil smile.

"If I live, I kill you." He said into the air. Benito had betrayed him. And like famous love stories, he was going to let Benito go.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Tyler whistled as he stepped out of the hotel. His driver Steven sat behind the wheels of a sleek MercedesBenz, grinning like an idiot at him. He couldn't help it, he grinned back and jumped into the backseat.

"Here are your clothes Boss," Steven told him passing a bag to the back.

Tyler rummaged through and nodded. "And my new hotel room?"

If he was going to avoid being caught, he had to move at light speed.

"Booked. Got you the dandiest room in the bloody hotel." Steven replied with a smirk and he nodded, ripping his old shirt off.

"Move. I'll change as we go. They better be keeping that fucker in one place." He ordered and Steven kickstarted the car. They soon hit the highway and Tyler stared through the window. It was time to meet the snitch.

When he had drafted his gang out of his father's, he had made it explicitly clear to those who followed that all he wanted was their loyalty, nothing more, nothing less. Tyler thought that was damn reasonable and not too much to ask. But apparently , Benito thought it was a huge burden. The bastard had got himself caught in a pickle with the cops and exposed the identity of Don Tien.

"Bastard." He hissed, balling his hands into a fist.

The car swerved off the highway and took a sharp bend into the woods. Pulling up into the driveway of a homeylooking cottage.

Tyler stepped out of the car and brushed off his stiff black coat with both hands. "Get me the toolbox."

Steven immediately swung into action. He went to the car trunk, pulled out a square metal box and handed it to Tyler. He knew the severe look on his boss' face and knew shit was about to get down.

"Benito is gonito." He whispered jokingly and Tyler cackled evilly.

"Stay back. This shouldn't take too long."

Surveying the area with dark vicious eyes, he noticed two men dressed in back plain trousers over black tee shirts, standing by the entrance. To anyone else, they may have looked like they were lounging by the door, tossing seeds at each other, but in reality, they were guarding the doors.

"Welcome boss!" They chorused when he reached them, standing at attention. They both had a Glock dangling at their hips.

Tyler acknowledged with a nod. "The son of a bitch?"

"Inside the garage. Maggie asked us to wash the place up this time." The man standing on the right replied and turned on his heels leading Tyler to the rusty old garage. He was blonde and slim compared to Tyler and his fellow guard.

Pushing the door open, he stepped in. A man was sitting on a stool in the centre of the empty room, his head lowed, his hands tied behind him with thick ropes and when the lights came on, the blonde haired lifted his head. A dirty rag was tied around his mouth, there were bruises on his forehead and his eyes had lumps underneath them. He looked sore.

"Mahn, you all really did a number on him." Tyler hummed in satisfaction, walking towards Benito and holding his head up, dropping his toolbox at the man's feet. The man gazed at Tyler's hardened face and began trembling like a victim of severe electrocution.

"Bb...BBB"

"Aww, he's all speechless. He's no fun now." He murmured grabbing a sharp blade from the box. Behind him, the door closed and the man looked up to Tyler with pleading eyes, struggling to catch his breath. The dagger was already plunging its edge into the man's flesh causing fresh blood to drop on the blade. Tyler smiled and bent his head toward the man as if he was about to lock lips with him.

His malicious stare alone was enough to send the man to his tomb. If there wasn't a rag sealing his mouth, the blonde haired would have dropped to his knees and pleaded for mercy. Even though Tyler wasn't going to forgive him, he would at least beg.

"If I die?" He asked, dark merciless eyes staring deep into his betrayer's.

Tears kept rolling down the poor man's cheeks. He struggled to speak but Tyler's tight fingers slid into his hair almost pulling it off his scalp.

"You broke my heart, Benito." He whispered into Benito's ears. "This... isn't working for me anymore. I'm afraid, I'll have to let you go."

And in a few frozen seconds, Benito's body drooped to the floor in a thump and Tyler rose to his feet, wiping the dagger with a piece of cloth.

The coldness accompanied by death hovered around the room.

"Get rid of the body," He instructed the men and walked out of the garage. His revenge was done. Now he had to find survival.

Tyler cleared the smoke taking charge of his vision with one hand and dipped the edge of the cigarette in the little ceramic bowl beside the bottle of vodka on the table. He was sprawled on his bed, facing the glass window.

Steven hadn't lied. This was a prissy dandy room although he had to admit it was a wonderful alternative compared to the shitty ones he had been staying in the past week. It gave him the liberty to look out to the street whether he was standing or settled on his bed.

"Imagine sharing this with a pretty lady." He hummed rubbing his bare chest and smiled. He could think of one woman he would like to share it with.

"Kimberly Lockwood." He breathed. Damn, she had been fiery. The bulge in his trousers grew as his mind drifted to the night he had with Kim. The way she rode him like a typical texas cowgirl, her heat enveloped and drove him mad with desire. She had felt so supple, so sweet, his tongue watered as he recalled the taste of her nipples, of her wet warm flesh.

Thirsty he went for the bottle of vodka. She wanted to take charge of the intercourse so badly. She was fucking domineering and he loved it. She might be a brute but there was no denying that her energy in bed deserves some encomium.

Tyler grabbed the phone resting on the bed beside him and placed a phone call.

"I need you and Sniper in my room right away."

A few minutes later, two men walked in dressed casually.

"Boss?"

"That woman...." he had a half smile on his face and continued. "The one I was with the other night. You know her?" Tyler demanded and emptied the whole content of the bottle into his mouth.

The men lifted their heads in unionism. They both were there when Kimberly had bumped into him that night at the club.

"I need more information about her. I want to know every damn thing about her in two hours" he directed and motioned with his head for them to get out.

He was facing the glass window, his legs apart, both hands glued to the glass. He was staring at nothing in particular, lost in deep reflections. There were a few times like this when felt almost human. Almost. The sound of the doorbell crashed into his thoughts and he turned around, wearing just boxers and hulking dominantly in the room.

"Come in."

The men he had sent out about two hours ago returned. Tyler walked and settled by the edge of his bouncy bed and looked up at them with expectant eyes. He was as excited as a schoolboy getting his first blowjob.

"Speak."

The tallest of the two men spoke. "She's Kimberly Lockwood."

"No shit. You know what I need Sniper." He muttered.

The shorter one grinned. "She's a big fish, boss."

Tyler smirked. "Big fish huh? I knew it the moment I made her give me a ride that day."

Sniper held out his phone. "We asked Talco to scope on her. He sent these pictures of her when she was stepping out of the Lockwood Industries a while ago. Owns the fucking place. Stinky rich." the man reported gruffly. Tyler suspected his sensibilities were offended that he had to tail a woman.

"And hot too. She's freaking hot." his colleague added with a mischievous smile.

"Anything else?" Tyler asked.

"If we get more time, there could be more," Sniper grunted. So far, she has no link to her family. She's loaded and living alone."

"This gladdens my heart." Tyler declared and licked his lips. The thought of her alone, primed and ripe for him made his boxers feel tighter.

"Boss if I may ask, why do you need details about the chic?"

He turned away with a warm smile. "So I can give a lollipop. Stay sharp. We need to collect more information on her." He dismissed them with a wave and they dashed out.

Reclining on his back, he stretched his legs forward, resting against the wall. His hands wrapped around his head and a ploy began to form.

Sweet Kimberly would be his bait. Her money, fame and power were exactly the distraction he needed to stay off the police radar.

To say Kimberly was pissed was an understatement. She was crazy furious. But as usual she maintain a calm look. Her dark hair bounced as she strutted out of her company, grey eyes sizzling with anger.

Lockwood Industries loomed tall in Austin. It was the number one dealer in fashion and had ruled the fashion world for years even before Kimberly had been old enough to take possession of it. Her parents had built it from scratch. With her mother's talent for illustration and her father's knack for business, they were indeed a force to be reckoned with. They had dictated the fashion in Texas and the entire United States, rising through the ranks faster than anyone could say catapult.

Kim had always been proud of her parents. Of the legacy, they laid down for her. Even after their deaths, she had not suffered. Her parents had ensured that should anything bad befall them, she would be well taken care of. Her grandaunt helped run the company until she was eighteen and old enough to do so. Ever since, for six years, she had ruled her company with an iron fist, determined to protect and salvage her parent's legacy.

And she would be darned if she allowed a simpleton to try to ruin all those many years of hard work.

Ignoring the bowing heads of her Security guards and the fixed gazes of her workers, she stormed into the back seat of a silver Ford, her lips pressed together in displeasure.

"Please drive." She said

"Home Miss Lockwood?" Andrew asked and gulped when he met her eyes in the rearview mirror. She was an intimidating woman. Andrew had worked for her for a full year and he was the only chauffeur who had lasted that long. People often asked how he was able to survive that long but Andrew had learnt early. As long as he talked less and listened to her more, he got paid and didn't get screwed. That was it.

Shutting his mouth, he switched on the engine and slowly pulled out of the company's compound.

Kimberly fished out her phone and tapped the screen, Her clean sharp nails clicked against the screen severally.

"Mateo, send me the address of that man." She said as soon as the head of security picked up her call.

"Yes ma'am." He answered promptly.

Fixing her eyes on the window, she stared at the streets as Andrews drove past them. They were filled with humans who lingered and loitering. Some seem happy and others, she couldn't tell.

Wishing she was one of them for a moment, she thought as refocused her thoughts on her phone. Mateo's heavy breathing filtered through as he worked and she found that it irked her to no end.

"Please hurry up? She was trying her best to remain patient and calm, but seems like she'd be crossing her limit soon." She sniped and from the corner of her vision, she saw Andrew wince. "Please watch." She said, seeing a child was trying to cross the road inappropriately.

"Yes ma'am." He muttered.

Her phone tinged and Mateo's voice echoed through. "I've sent it ma"

"Thanks."

She cut the call before he could reply, swiping open the text message that had just entered her phone.

"Jeremy Williams." She seethed as she read his address.

He would regret the day he had played her for a fool. The day he crossed paths with the lioness and hoped to go scotfree. Oh, she would make him suffer. Her eyes hardening into icicles, she spouted the address to Andrews who promptly followed her command.

And then she made one last call.

"Send the boys. We're going on a visit."

Thirty minutes later, a hefty man slammed down the door to a suburban house, paving the way for a determined Kimberly to enter.

"What the hell is this?!" A middleaged man, with partly balding hair, jumped to his feet from the sofa he had been reclining on. His watery blue eyes watched as three severelooking men tripped into his home and amidst them was none other than the deadly Kimberly Lockwood.

He gasped then swallowed his saliva, holding his head up high. Kimberly laughed at the wimp's pathetic attempt to look unaffected, dark eyes glaring as she walked to sit opposite him on his sofa.

"Well hello, Mr Williams." She greeted drily, crossing her leg over the other. The grey pencil dress she wore, framed her features elegantly making her look severe. "Fancy seeing you here."

"M...Miss Lockwood." He stuttered. "How...what do you want?"

"Let's cut the crap, shall we? I don't have time to waste and I would rather we get straight to the point."

Jeremy Williams glanced at the three me that came to stand at her side and gulped visibly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Kimberly sighed. She should've known he would be this way. The man had carted millions away from the company right under her nose and she hadn't seen it coming. It pissed her off to no end.

"So we're going to play it this way aren't we?" She hummed and inclined her head towards him.

Two of the men left her side and stalked toward Jeremy. Terrified, he scrambled and tried to dash out the door. But one of the men caught him by his shirt's collar and threw him back onto the sofa. He landed with a yelp, gasping for air as the two men closed on him.

"What are you doing? Let go of me!" He yelled as one of the men hoisted him up and smacked him across the face.

His screams of pain bounced off Kimberly's ears and she cleared her throat.

"Ready to talk Mr Williams? Or shall I give you a little more incentive?"

"I..." He wheezed. "I'm.sorry... Mis Lockwood"

"Spare me the bull." She stated coldly, watching as he writhed under the crushing hand of her security. "Where the hell is my money?"

"Please... Please. I never meant to, I just"

"Ah!" She scoffed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she rose to her feet. In slow menacing steps, she stalked toward the quivering man. He was pushed to the ground and she watched him, her nose up in the air in disgust. Raising her heels she pressed the flat sole onto the man's head. "The thing about scum is this. They lie and cheat like the filth they are, but when caught, they always beg."

Leaning down until she could look him in the eye. "I'll ask one last time Mr Jeremy Williams. Where is my money?"

He blubbered and coughed then whispered. "A...A fixed deposit. To... be unlocked in two years. Please...I needed it for my daughter"

For a moment she felt pity, or some sort of sympathy. But he didn't go through it the right way, yes she might be horrible, but not that horrible to turn down his request when it has to do with his daughter. She was going to leave the money for him. But first, she need thought him a lesson.

Giving the security men a pointed look she turned on her heels and walked out.

A loud crash resounded in Kimberly Lockwood's residence and screams of expletives exploded in air.

Kimberly stood in the dining room, wrapped in a bathing robe, her hair dripping water to the floor. Four maids hunched against the walls of the dining in fear, staring at their furious mistress.

"What is this?!" She asked and as usual they cowered in fear. "What is this... This thing in my shampoo?!"

One of the maids, brave enough to speak, peered at the mess on the floor and whimpered. "It's a lock of hair ma'am."

Kimberly nodded, laughing, a wild look in her eyes. Her head pounded mercilessly and she felt her brain turn to mush slowly. Everything spun too fast and sounded too loud and she ignored the urge to cover her ears. She knew she was being irrational. A part of her which was still sane warned and begged for her to come to her senses.

But Kimberly was done. She had the most hectic day at work, found out some useless worker of hers had stolen her money and put it in a freaking fixed deposit, which couldn't be unlocked until two years! Two fucking years!

And then she tried to sleep when she came back from work. Nightmares had plagued her and forced her to stay awake. Thinking a bath would help, she had gone to her bathroom only for her to see a lock of hair in her bathroom.

"What colour is this?" She bit out nastily, holding the cluster up for the maids to see. She was a long way away from them but they still shivered from her angry gaze.

"Blonde ma'am." The brave maid murmured.

"Good. You have eyes." She grinned maniacally. "Now make sure this doesn't repeat itself. "

A few minutes and all those drama later, Kimberly stumbled into her bedroom and flopped on her bed, feeling extremely exhausted. Her face hit the soft duvet and she felt the corner of her eyes burn. At least now that she was exhausted, she would have no choice but to sleep.

As the tendrils of sleep enveloped her, her mind floated and drifted towards certain deep black eyes and strong arms that had plagued her thoughts all day.

C

Kimberly let out a clumsy yawn and covered her mouth with the back of her left palm, suppressing the yawn. She gazed at the golden wall clock that hung above her head. She was seated before a square table in her study room.

"Midnight?" she mumbled in disbelief and instantly gathered the scattered documents on the table. She placed them in a single file. That was enough for the night.

It had been two weeks since she fired three of her maids and she had to admit, she had regretted her decision because the last maid had also quit and her house was looking rather disorganized.

She ended up hiring temporary staff from home service.

She stood up, stretched up her hands to the sky and another yawn escaped, followed by a slight groan. She stepped into her furcovered flipflops and headed to her room, rubbing her drowsy eyes with the edge of her palms. She had changed into her overall pyjamas right after dinner.

After dinner, she slipped into the study room to go through the proposals her clients submitted only to realize that she had spent the last four hours working on them. As a strict businesswoman, Kim never rushed any process, she ensured all the T's were crossed and the I's dotted. Or a repeat of Jeremy Williams could occur and she couldn't deal with that at the moment.

Pushing open the door to her large bedroom and turning on the lights fell with her face on the extra large bed. She always slept with the lights on and at that moment, all she wanted was an undisturbed snooze. With the file forgotten, Kim pulled the thick grey blanket to her chest and tucked her soft square pillow underneath her head. She laid on her back, shut her eyes and drifted off.

...............

"Run Kimberly. Run and don't look back!"

Little Kim raced down the dark path panting as she ran with all her might, as fast as her little legs could carry her. She stumbled on a small rock and let out a cry of pain. She managed to stand to her feet and continued running. She may not know where she was sprinting to but her mother had told her to run and run she did.

Hefty steps clicked behind her. Her heartbeat skyrocketed and she increased her pace, wiping the hot tears that streamed down her plumpy cheeks and ignoring the biting pain in her ankle. She saw a bright light twinkling on a straight path in front of her. Frightened bit determined, Kimberly was aimed for the straight path when a figure appeared, blocking her way.

She fell to the ground on her butt and gazed up, trembling. The man bent over and she saw his face. It was the same man who shot her father a while ago. It was the man her mother asked her to flee from and now, he was standing before her. Little Kimberly covered her scared face with trembling hands and screamed.

"No!" she yelled and sprung out of the bed. She looked around and realized that she was in her room, dressed in her overall pyjamas.

Heaving a deep sigh, she wiped the beads of sweat that clustered on her forehead and upper lip despite the air conditioner. She grabbed her phone which was resting beside the flower vase on the table and swiped up. It was a few minutes to 2 am. Taking deep breaths to steady her heart rate, she rose from her bed and walked toward the refrigerator in her room.

Pulling out a bottle of water, Kimberly sat by the edge of her bed and wiped the stray tears making their way to her cheeks. She was stronger than this. She had ensured years of pain and torture from her nightmares, she could endure some more.

Even though the nightmares forced her to relieve painful memories, they also allowed her to gaze at the murderer's face, the man who took everything away from her. She could forget everything in the world but not that ferocious face.

She had taken an oath to exert her revenge. She would get her hands on him and make him suffer. He would pay, she would make sure of that with every fibre and everything she could do in her power to get him.

"Coffee!' she mumbled and strolled to the kitchen.

She needed sleep more than air but she wasn't going to subject herself to the torture of her nightmares. It was pointless and It had successfully ruined sleep for her. Al the more reason to find the killer and get rid of him.

And while that seemed impossible at the moment, She would get herself a cup of coffee from the kitchen and try to stay awake the whole night as long as she got to escape from the torturous dream.

After fixing herself a cup of coffee. She leaned against the counter and took slow sips. She was still thinking about the man who took her family away from her when the thought of the man at the club slipped slowly into her thoughts.

She stared down at her coffee and bit her lower lip. Green eyes flickering in uncertainty. She hated men and all they represented but there was something about that man. Far from his physically built self, his offensive words and his tough personality, there was something in him she couldn't bring herself to hate.

Kimberly turned away with an angry look on her face and shook her head in disappointment. She didn't even know the jerk's name yet he gave her orgasms she never thought she could have.

Restless at the thought of him sliding between her thighs and how much she wanted him to do so again, she emptied the whole content of the mug in her mouth.

"Wide awake!" she declared and returned to her room.

Kimberly grabbed her phone and the file containing the proposals she was working on and marched to her study room. It was time to get busy till dawn.

...............

Kimberly was awakened by the continuous sound emanating from her phone. She dozed off in the study room, seated, her head on the table. She opened her eyes slowly and turned off the alarm. It was 7 am. Time to get to work.

Tucking the file under her armpit, she staggered back to her room and stared into the mirror.

God forbid that anyone saw her like that. She mused as she eyed the dark circles underneath her eyes. She would need lots of makeup to conceal them.

Throwing the file on the bed and grabbing her towel, she walked into the bathroom.

About an hour later, Kimberly was standing before her large dressing mirror, fully dressed, adorning her left wrist with a Rolex.

She stepped into a pair of red heels, adjusted her short orange striped maxi dress and grabbed her bag. Kimberly made her way to the dining and saw two of the temporary domestic staff she had hired, smartly dressed in their uniforms setting the table.

The male staff pulled out a chair for her to sit on after mumbling a curt "Good morning, ma'am." His colleague, a woman curtsied and she gave them a brief nod before digging into her breakfast

"Do you need anything else ma'am?" the lady asked.

"No," Kimberly replied. They nodded and took a few steps backwards, their head lowered behind her.

Kimberly stirred her tea into circles with a spoon. She lifted the saucer with her left hand, her right hand on the cup handle and was about to take a sip when a thought struck her. She instantly dropped the saucer and pulled out her phone from her handbag.

"Detective, I emailed you last night," she said immediately after the phone call was picked up. "It's Kimberly Lockwood."

"Kimberly Lockwood? The name rings a bell." replied the detective from his end. He was a middleaged man who was highly recommended for private investigations by highclass folks.

Kimberly smiled. He was full of crap but she would tolerate his presence as long as he proved useful. "How about we meet up in my office? 2 pm is fine with me and We can have lunch together."

"Miss Lockwood"

"Detective," she drawled " l want you in my office today. This investigation must commence immediately. I've waited far too long," she stated and glanced at her wristwatch.

"2 pm then." He murmured gruffly.

"Good." She said with a tone of finality and ended the phone call.

It was time to finally seek justice for her parents. Power and money were the obstacles that hindered her from her quest but now she had it all. It was time to bring the murderer to the book.

Kimberly smirked and went for her cup of tea.

Tyler covered his head with the hat attached to his fur coat and dipped his hands in his pockets. With his head lowered, he marched to the hotel parking lot. Dark spectacles covered his eyes and he kept his gaze straight as he neared his car.

Steven was seated in the car, the windscreen rolled down. He was slightly hitting the speedometer when he saw Tyler approaching the parking lot. He sat up and wheeled the vehicle closer to Tyler, grinning.

Tyler was sure the guy had a medical condition, because how else could someone grin so much and have his face fall off?

He greeted Tyler with a nod and took a proper glance at his outfit. Black coat on black gean trousers over a black tee shirt and then he had to put on his black spectacles?

"Shouldn't we tone down the black boss? It's like 200 degrees out here." Steve chuckled as his boss took the front seat.

"Today, the cat will be chasing the mouse," Tyler announced.

Steven, well acquainted with Tyler's slang nodded in understanding and asked. "So who are we stalking?"

Tyler dipped his hand into his coat and pulled out a photograph. It was taken the previous day by his men from a distance.

Steven snatched the photograph and smiled. "I see...Kimberly Lockwood."

Tyler grinned and snatched back the photograph. "It appears you know her."

Steve gave Tyler the look that says 'oh come on. He chuckled. "Heard you had the hots for her. All the men know it. And who wouldn't know the CEO of Lockwood Empire in this city? She's renowned, boss"

Tyler arched a brow in surprise and gave Steven a level glare. "You seem to know so much about her." He gritted through his teeth and Steve, taking note of his boss' tone, wiped the jokester look away from his face.

"Sorry boss."

After about a thirtyminute drive, Steve pulled the car to a stand behind a restaurant opposite Lockwood Industries. Tyler took off his glasses and glanced at his wristwatch.

He stabilized his gaze on the straight path that lies opposite them. A few minutes later, a range rover pulled off in front of the building. A chauffeur, Andrews Tyler thought wrily, dressed in a black tuxedo ran out to open the back door. From their hidden spot, Tyler and Daniel saw Kim hit the ground. The driver took charge of her bag and she swayed her hips rhythmically after him.

Oh yes, my precious. He thought, eyes glued to her prominent backside as they walked into the building.

Tyler pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from the car cabinet.

"You have a pen?"

"A pen should be right there," Steven replied

Tyler pulled out the pen from the same cabinet and stretched the paper. "So our little mouse comes to work at 9 am." he scribbled and looked up at Daniel with the pen rubbing his lips. "You think maybe the time of her arrival could be subject to change?"

Steve gave him a blank look that showed Tyler he thought his boss was crazy.

"What next? We find out when goes for potty breaks?" He grunted.

Tyler pushed the car open and stepped out. He moved to Daniel's corner and rested his hands on the car, an impish but deadly glint in his eyes. "No. You'll figure when she goes for Lunch breaks."

"How am I going to do that? Boss, I'm to sit here and do nothing till lunch hour?"

Tyler threw the paper and pen on Steven's lap. "You got somewhere to go?" his vicious eyes glaring in distaste.

Steve held his tongue.

"I'll be back. I want results by the time I return so stay sharp and fix your eyes on the target. And I mean her, not her ass." Tyler dictated and walked away.

Steven sighed and took the paper and pen off his lap, tossing them. in the backseat. He might as well sleep in the meantime or something.

At two pm, a cab halted beside the car and Tyler stepped out. His coat was in his hand. And dammit Steve had been right. He felt like steak that had been grilled under extreme heat. He knocked on the front window and Daniel rolled down the screen with one hand. He was shoving pasta into his mouth with the other hand.

"Hey boss!" he managed to say with his mouth full of pasta. He opened the car door and Tyler hopped in. Daniel dumped the pack containing the pasta on the back seat.

"So what has our cat been up to?" Tyler demanded.

Daniel presented the little paper to Tyler. "She left the office and walked into the restaurant around 1:30 pm. That's all I witnessed."

Tyler flipped the paper around and stared at the restaurant in front of them. "1:30 huh?"

"Yes, boss."

"Take me back to the hotel. Tomorrow, we will continue." Daniel nodded and wiped his lips with the back of his palms.

. ...........

It's been a week since Tyler and his driver began stalking Kimberly. Two days back, they trailed her back to her mansion after discovering that she leaves the office at 5 pm or sometimes 6 pm. They now know where she resides.

So far, Tyler had learnt that she comes to the office around 8 to 9 am, has her lunch in the SWIZZ restaurant beside her office around 1 to 2 pm and leaves for home by latest 6 pm.

It's Saturday, 6 am sharp. Tyler and Daniel were ready to kick off their little stalking game. They were seated in the car which was parked a few meters away from Kim's mansion.

"There she comes!" Daniel pointed out with a finger.

Tyler sat up and saw Kim jogging down the path toward them. Her hair was tied into a bun and sweats were lined up on her forehead. She was getting closer. Tyler darted his gaze to the fitting workout crop top she wore and his eyes fell on her flat tummy, the crevices on them. He looked up and imagined her nipples calling out to him.

The unsuspecting Kimberly run past them. Tyler turned around and saw her ass jiggling in the blue leggings. He imagined her undressing before him, slowly sliding the flimsy leggings down her thighs and

"Fuck!" He hissed when it dawned on him that she was disappearing from his sight. He was meant to follow her.

He turned to Steven whose eyes were lingering on Kimberly's backside. His mouth was wide open and he was about to drool.

Tyler gave him a hard wack on the chest. "You dummy, follow her."

Daniel swallowed some air and started the car. They drove slowly behind her and stopped when she walked into the gym across her street.

"Get into the gym, Steve." Tyler spat.

Steve's jaw dropped. "Boss!"

"You heard me right. You will get into that gym. Spy on her. Maybe act like you are lost or want to sign up...I don't care. I just want you in that gym." Tyler almost yelled.

Steve arched his brow. Was his boss infatuated or something? "Boss, I'm wearing casual outfits. Who gets into the gym dressed like this?" he pointed to his blue jeans and white cotton shirt.

"Well, it's your first day and you are not going there to work out. Tell the damn instructor you are here to sign up and don't you dare come out without knowing more about her.

Steve was stunned. He wished he could tell Tyler that he was asking for much.

"Scram!" Tyler screamed and the unprepared Steven jumped out of the car muttering gibberish. When he turned around, he caught Tyler glaring at him.

Tyler restless in the car kept glancing at his watch. After about ten minutes of suspense, Steven finally walked out of the gym. He joined Tyler in the car.

"What took you so long?"

Steve sighed and took deep breaths. "I took so long because you had to send a driver to spy on a princess."

Tyler chuckled. "So what did you find?"

"They call her Kim. That's all I know." Kim began.

"Kim!" Tyler said with a smile. Maybe he'll call her Kim too. "You spent ten minutes in that fucking gym and only came out with a name?"

Steve scratched the crown of his head. "Well, I walked into the gym and told the instructor I wanted to sign up. When he went to grab a form for me, I moved closer to our chic and dropped my phone beside her. She didn't even pick it for me as I hoped."

Tyler laughed. "Dumbass. She's a fucking CEO. you expect her to pick up your phone?"

"But I made it look like we bumped into each other and the phone slipped out because she hit me." Steve defended.

"And how did you know she was called Kim?

"The instructor returned with the form. He witnessed the little accident I staged. Then he said Kim wouldn't you mind picking up the gentleman's phone? She gave the both of us a glare and stepped on the sprinting machine." He explained.

"Damn, she seemed like a tough one," Tyler commented, his fierce eyes lighting up.

"A tough one indeed." Steve retorted.

"Let's head back to the hotel room."

Tyler returned to his hotel room and saw one of his goons waiting by his door. He slotted in the card key and the man followed him inside.

"What do you have for me?"

"There is a vacancy in the security department." the man reported.

Tyler smiled brightly to the man's astonishment. He never thought such little information could gladden his boss's heart. A week ago, Tyler had asked his men to spy on Kimberly's company. They are to report back to him any dealings going there.

"You can leave Scorpion. Tell the guys to stay sharp." Tyler dismissed the guy.

He grabbed the bottle of roaming dog on his table and looked at the drink with a smirk.

"It's time for the cat to finally meet the mouse."