Not So Perfect

14||

Tayson strolled into the charity event, a vision of sophistication with his unexpected plus one, Asteria Wallace. Normally, he attended these soirees solo, but Asteria, who had recently taken over her father's business and was now his sole successor, was an exception. Their collaboration was strictly professional—she was the brains behind a massive theme park project they were working on together.

"I'm not going to sleep with you," Asteria whispered sharply during the event. Tayson raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Her demeanor and attitude were vaguely reminiscent of Leona—well, a lot of things reminded him of Leona. Black attire, stark colors, bitter coffee.

"What made you think I wanted to sleep with you?" Tayson asked, genuinely curious.

Asteria rolled her green eyes with practiced nonchalance. "Oh, I don't know. They all asked for it later."

Tayson stiffened. He could not condemn her for thinking that way. Figured out why she indulged in contract with him in return of his company. "Well, I'm not expecting any special favors, apart from the professional ones we're already working on."

Asteria stared at him. Her pink lips stretched in a puny smile as she squeezed his arm. "You are a good man, Tayson. I would have bear your children if you weren't rich."

"I'm flattered and glad that I'm rich." They shared a laugh and dived into easy conversation. As Asteria excused herself to get a drink, Tayson's phone buzzed. It was Leona's name flashing on his screen. Since they'd exchanged numbers, this was a rarity.

LEONA: Ask the security to let me the fuck out.

Tayson frowned. Where did she need to go at this hour? It was past ten.

He typed a quick response, trying to hide his irritation.

TAYSON: Where do you want to go?

He waited for a reply while ordering plain water—he had a late-night meeting with HR and some project designs. Alcohol was not in the cards tonight.

LEONA: A place called 'none of your business.'

Leona had a special talent for inducing physical distress.

TAYSON: You are my business.

The silence that followed was palpable. Tayson scanned his phone with mounting impatience, his fingers drumming on the table at the sound of every notification. Instead of a reply from Leona, he got a call from Axel Hayes.

With a resigned sigh, Tayson answered.

"She's threatening to kill the head of my security and set the house on fire if he doesn't let her out," Axel said, sounding disturbingly nonchalant.

Tayson's face took on a look of incredulous amusement. "Well, that's one way to make an exit. The head of your security is threatened?" he asked with obvious annoyance because why a former commander of Special Force would be threatened. Axel was a head detective in crime branch, closely associated with FBI, and Tayson had sort his help for Leona's security.

"She already tried crushing him beneath her fancy car in order to flee. Now, she is ogling at him from the window with a knife and dressed totally like a serial killer. My head of the security have children at home. He is not threatened. I'm just wondering why does she need security?"

Tayson heaved in a deep breathe, now, actually wondering the same. People around her needs security. "Just ask him to stay put in his place and not let her out."

"Hang on a sec," Axel said, papers rustling on his end. "Are you keeping her locked up against her will? Look, man, I'm your friend, but I'm not up for helping you with some dodgy situation, especially with such a poor planning."

"Are you nuts? Just don't let her out."  Tayson hung up and dialed Leona. She answered on the third ring.

"Stop scaring my security away by acting weird," He said, speaking in a low voice.

"Are they already scared? I'm just getting started with my plan to set the place on fire," Leona huffed.

"Don't be so stubborn. You're not going anywhere at this hour. I don't care how many knives you have or what's on your to-do list. This isn't negotiable."

Leona's voice dripped with defiance. "Well, see what I found—your nose stuck in my business."

"Well, sweetheart," Tayson replied smoothly, "you might be used to having your way with everyone else, but not with me."

"We'll see about that." And with a click, she hung up.

Moments later, Axel texted. "She's at it again. Trying to flatten my guy under her car. But hey, he's not exactly trembling in fear."

Tayson threw his phone on the table with a groan. Leona needed a therapist, and he definitely needed a drink. Preferably something strong.

***

The next morning, Tayson arrived at Leona's house with a bouquet in hand, fully prepared for any rebellion she might throw his way. Technically, he had put her under house arrest, but he was willing to do whatever it took to keep her out of the public eye—exactly what she wanted.

Ryan welcomed him with not so enthusiastic smile. He should have brought Wes along with him. "What's up?" Ryan asked, his gaze dropping on the flowers and his eyebrow arched. "You certainly like to do things exact opposite of what she like."

"I take my chances. Risk it all, or don't at all," Tayson shrugged. "Where's the Medusa?"

"Upstairs. Art room." Ryan proceeded with his chores. He was wearing a ridiculous fuchsia pink apron and Tayson resolved to gobble whatever funny comment that popped up in his mind. He wasn't going to offend two cats at the same time.

Tayson ascended the stairs, the eerie silence in the house was ghostly. The curtains were drawn tight, shutting out any hint of sunlight and leaving the hallways shrouded in gloom. When he reached the art room on the second floor, he knocked twice before pushing the door open. The metallic scent of paint hit him immediately, followed by the sight of Leona's mesmerizing figure. She was seated on the floor, her back to him, absorbed in her work. The room was even darker than the rest of the house.

"Leona," Tayson called out to announce his presence and avoid startling her. He stepped further into the art room, but she remained completely focused on her canvas. "I'm coming in."

No response.

He let himself in, strolling straight towards the windows. "Can you even see? I can't even make out the things in the room." He parted the curtains away, allowing the sun to peep inside and bless her dark soul. She groaned but nothing more when he parted the last set of curtains and turned towards her with a bouquet. "I got-"

His words faltered as he took in the sight before him. His gaze traveled from her sun-kissed face, glowing with what he assumed was her morning skincare routine, down to the plunging neckline of her black lacy bra peeking out from beneath her robe. Her figure was tantalizingly revealed, her tits practically spilling out of the fabric. She was beautiful, so fucking pretty. His blood rushed to the south, his mouth watering. Damn, never did his body responded so prompt to anyone.

"What are you doing?" His voice was quite and raspy, so quite that he though he didn't speak.

"Painting." Her attention was dragged by the obvious bulge in his pants and her eyes met his. A serpentine smile tip-toed her lips.

"Don't you dare, comment," Tayson snapped. "They are literally in front of my eyes. What do you expect?"

"To have a self restrain?" She shrugged, provoking him as leaned further against her canvas. Fuck me.

"If I didn't have self restrain, I would already have you flat on your back and my face buried between your tits." He said and looked away cause hell his self restrain was probably on vacation since he met her.

"Shall we put your restrain to test then?" Leona toyed with the little bow of her bra. A seductive gleam glimmering in her eyes.

"Do it. I dare you."