Infernal Rivalry - The Clash Of Vox And Alastor

Chapter 32 : Day One

(Vox's POV)

As I rise early, I take a moment to scribble a note for Alastor, informing him of my plans for the day. With a quick glance around our shared living space, I ensure that everything is in order before tucking the note into a conspicuous spot where he's sure to find it. Stepping out into the cool morning air, I make my way through the winding streets of hell, each step bringing me closer to Valentino's studio. Despite my apprehension about working with someone as dubious as Valentino, I can't deny the curiosity that swirls within me, mingling with a hint of excitement at the prospect of exploring new opportunities. Arriving at Valentino's studio, I take a moment to collect myself before stepping inside. The familiar scent of incense and musk fills the air, mingling with the faint sound of music drifting from somewhere within the building. With a steadying breath, I push open the door and enter, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead as I embark on this new chapter of my journey in hell.

As I enter Valentino's office, he greets me with an insincere warmth that sets me on edge. "Hello, Voxxy" he purrs, his voice dripping with faux friendliness. "I'm delighted to see you. I must admit, I was half expecting Bambi to have you on a tight leash by now". I suppress a sigh, my irritation simmering beneath the surface at his persistent use of the nickname that I know Alastor despises. Despite my discomfort, I force a polite smile and reply, "Alastor respects my decisions and trusts me to make my own choices". His smirk widens, sensing my annoyance. "Of course, of course" he responds, though his tone belies his true feelings. "Well, regardless of his feelings, I'm thrilled that you've returned. Shall we get started on our collaboration?". I nod, eager to dive into the work and put aside any personal grievances for the sake of our professional partnership. As much as Valentino's presence grates on my nerves, I know that working together could lead to valuable opportunities that I can't afford to pass up.

I reluctantly allow Valentino to guide me to the sofa, feeling a wave of discomfort wash over me as his arm encircles my waist. His touch is unwelcome, but I suppress the urge to pull away, reminding myself of the importance of maintaining professionalism. As he settles beside me, the sickly sweet scent of his cigarette smoke fills the air, threatening to overwhelm my senses. I discreetly turn my head away, doing my best to avoid inhaling the noxious fumes. The memory of our last encounter, when his smoke had an unexpected effect on me, is still fresh in my mind, and I'm determined not to let history repeat itself. Valentino launches into a discussion of the details of our collaboration, his words punctuated by casual puffs on his cigarette. I nod along, trying to focus on the task at hand despite the distracting presence of his smoke. It's clear that navigating this partnership will require me to tread carefully, lest I find myself succumbing to his manipulative charm once again.

Valentino's proposal of a tour and the prospect of witnessing a shoot being filmed makes me uneasy, and I can feel my discomfort growing by the second. Despite my efforts to remain composed, his persistent flirting only adds to my unease, and I find myself growing increasingly agitated. "I appreciate the offer, Valentino, but I think I've seen enough for now" I reply, my tone polite but firm. The thought of immersing myself further into Valentino's world is not one that sits well with me, and I'm eager to extricate myself from the situation as quickly as possible. But he doesn't seem to take the hint, his flirtatious demeanor only intensifying as he leans closer, his cerise eyes glittering with mischief. I resist the urge to recoil, determined not to let his manipulative tactics get the better of me. "I insist, Voxxy" he purrs, his voice dripping with seduction. "You won't regret it, I promise". I force a tight-lipped smile, silently cursing myself for getting involved in this mess. It's clear that dealing with Valentino will be more challenging than I anticipated.

As we proceed with the tour, Valentino's hand remains firmly planted around my waist, his touch becoming increasingly intrusive with each passing moment. I tolerate it for as long as I can, hoping he'll get the message and respect my personal space. However, when his hand starts to stray lower, crossing a boundary I'm not willing to tolerate, I've had enough. With a sudden surge of frustration, I snap at him, a small electric spark escaping from my fingertips in my agitation. Valentino's amusement only seems to grow at my reaction, his smirk widening as he regards me with a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "Feisty, I like it" he remarks, his tone dripping with amusement. "But don't worry, Voxxy, I'm just showing you the ropes. No need to get all worked up". I bristle at his condescending tone, resisting the urge to give him a piece of my mind. Instead, I force a tight smile and silently vow to keep my guard up around him in the future. This partnership may be necessary for the sake of business, but I refuse to let his antics rattle me any further.

As we proceed with the tour, Valentino leads me into the recording room where an adult film is currently in production. I can't help but feel a wave of discomfort wash over me as I observe the scene, but I make a conscious effort to maintain a neutral expression, not wanting to let him see my unease. He gestures towards the various aspects of the production, explaining the intricacies of filming in his industry with a casual air that only serves to heighten my discomfort. I nod along, offering the occasional polite comment, all the while internally counting down the moments until we can move on to the next part of the tour. Eventually, he guides me towards the dressing room, a small space tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the set. As we step inside, he casually shuts the door behind us, the soft click echoing in the enclosed space. I barely register the sound, my attention focused on the array of costumes and makeup scattered throughout the room. He continues to chat animatedly, his voice washing over me in a steady stream of words. I nod along absentmindedly, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of escape. Despite my discomfort, I know I must maintain a facade of professionalism, unwilling to give Valentino the satisfaction of seeing me flustered.

As Valentino continues to speak, his words taking on a more possessive tone, I feel a chill run down my spine. The mention of having the stars live on-site, giving him even more control, sets off alarm bells in my mind. His clawed hand trails down my spine, and before I can stop him, he moves to hold my waist again. That's the last straw. With a surge of anger, I push him up against the wall, my voice dripping with venom as I reprimand him. "I don't have to take that from a sex-crazed moth like you" I snap, my words laced with fury. "If you want to treat your workers like objects, that's your business, but don't you dare lay a hand on me". As I press him against the wall, his eyes widen in shock, the facade of confidence faltering for the briefest moment. But I refuse to relent, my words fueled by a fiery determination to assert my autonomy. "I am an overlord" I continue, each word ringing with unwavering conviction. "I command respect, and I demand to be treated as an equal, not a pawn in your depraved fantasies".  His expression shifts from surprise to something resembling disbelief as I challenge his authority, refusing to bow to his dominance. With a final, steely glare, I make it clear that his advances are unwelcome and that I will not hesitate to defend myself against any further encroachments on my autonomy. The tension in the room crackles with the unspoken threat of confrontation, a silent standoff between two formidable forces unwilling to yield.

Valentino's response is laced with an air of nonchalance, as if my outburst were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. "Fine, fine, no need to get your feathers all ruffled" he retorts, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Just trying to show you the ropes, sweetheart". Despite his attempt to brush off the confrontation, I remain steadfast, refusing to be swayed by his casual dismissal. With a roll of my eyes and a dismissive snort, I shoot back, "Save it, Valentino. I've seen enough 'ropes' for one day". Undeterred by his attempt to regain control of the situation, I lead the way as we resume the tour, my determination unshaken by his arrogant demeanor. We navigate the labyrinthine corridors of his studio until we finally arrive back at his office, the tension between us palpable even in the confines of the familiar surroundings.

As we delve into the planning phase, Valentino's curiosity gets the better of him, and he probes into my relationship with Alastor. "So, Vox" he begins, his tone casual yet probing, "what's your deal with Alastor? You two seem pretty close" His question catches me off guard, sending a jolt of panic coursing through me. "Uh, my deal with Alastor?" I stammer, desperately trying to come up with a coherent response. His keen observation doesn't miss my flustered reaction, and he raises an eyebrow, a sly grin playing at the corners of his lips. "Well, well, Voxxy, looks like I've hit a nerve" he remarks, his tone laced with amusement. "Care to enlighten me on what's got you all hot under the collar?". Feeling exposed under his scrutiny, I attempt to regain my composure, shooting him a pointed glare. "It's none of your business, Valentino" I retort sharply, though my words carry a hint of defensiveness. "Let's just focus on the task at hand, shall we?".