THE BODYGUARD'S SECRET SERVICE

6

The headquarters of Vance Global had now transformed into Alaric Thorne’s command center. Behind the massive mahogany desk that once belonged to Dominic, Alaric sat calmly, gazing at the Manhattan skyline through bulletproof glass. On the monitor before him, the stock charts of Julian Thorne’s company were in free fall.

Alaric sipped his bitter black coffee. “How is he reacting, Maia?”

Maia stood in the corner of the room, her fingers dancing over the keyboard of her encrypted laptop. “Julian is panicking, Master. He just lost his logistics contract at the East Port. He’s contacting all his connections, but not a single one dares to pick up. They know who’s behind this attack.”

“Good. Let him feel suffocated,” Alaric said coldly. “And what about Evelyn?”

“She’s waiting outside. Completely broken, though she still hopes you’ll show her mercy.” Maia glanced toward the door with a disdainful look. “She just received a message from Julian. He asked her to find out who the new owner of Vance Global is.”

A faint smile curved Alaric’s lips—a smile devoid of any warmth. “Send her in.”

The door opened, and Evelyn Reed stepped in with slumped shoulders. The arrogance she had displayed an hour ago was gone. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen. She stood in front of Alaric’s desk, wringing her fingers.

“Alaric… please,” she whispered. “Don’t do this to me. Julian… he won’t help me if I lose this job. He’s just been using me.”

“Wasn’t that what you wanted, Evelyn? To stand beside the winner?” Alaric leaned back, his gaze piercing. “You betrayed me because you thought I was worthless, a man with no future. And now, you stand before that ‘worthless man,’ begging for a warehouse assistant position?”

Evelyn dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. “I was wrong! I was stupid! Julian promised me marriage, promised me a position in Thorne Group—but he lied! He was only using me as a spy in this company!”

Alaric leaned forward. “If you want my forgiveness, you’ll have to prove you’re still useful. Reply to Julian now. Tell him the new owner of Vance Global wants to meet him tonight at The Obsidian Club.”

Evelyn looked up, shocked. “The Obsidian? That’s an exclusive club owned by the Thorne family. Julian won’t dare come if he knows it’s you.”

“Don’t tell him it’s me,” Alaric ordered firmly. “Tell him the new owner wants to discuss a deal to save his collapsing stocks. He’s desperate, Evelyn. A cornered rat will take any bait.”

Evelyn nodded quickly, as if her life depended on it. She immediately pulled out her phone and typed with trembling hands.

“It’s… it’s sent,” she said after a moment.

“Good. Now get out. Maia will give you further instructions,” Alaric said without looking at her again.

After Evelyn left, Maia approached him, placing her hand on his shoulder and massaging his tense muscles with an intimate touch. “Are you sure about using Evelyn? She could betray you again.”

“She’s too afraid to betray me, Maia. She knows if she fails this time, New York will become a very small place for her,” Alaric said, closing his eyes briefly as he enjoyed her touch. “Prepare the security team at The Obsidian. I want Julian to feel safe until he steps into the private room. After that… I want him to see his brother’s face in person.”

Maia lowered her head, her lips close to his ear. “As you wish, Master. Shall I prepare another ‘surprise’ for Julian?”

“Do whatever you think is necessary, Maia. You know how much I hate that rat.”

The Obsidian Club, 11:00 PM.

The club was the pinnacle of luxury and secrecy in New York. Located in the basement of a historic building on Wall Street, only those with nine-figure wealth could enter. Soft jazz music drifted through the air, mingling with the scent of expensive cigars.

Julian Thorne walked in hurriedly. He wore a designer suit, but his face looked worn and restless. He kept checking his phone, waiting for a reply from Evelyn that never came after her last message.

“Mr. Julian Thorne? This way, please. Your guest is waiting in the VVIP room,” said a waiter in an elegant black uniform.

Julian nodded stiffly and followed him through dark corridors lined with black marble. His mind raced with plans to persuade the new owner of Vance Global to stop the assault on his company. He was confident that with his charm and the lingering prestige of the Thorne name, he could resolve this.

The waiter opened a large oak door leading to the most secluded private room. It was spacious, dimly lit, with a massive aquarium filled with small sharks along one wall.

In the center of the room, behind a large leather sofa, sat a man with his back turned. Beside him stood a beautiful woman in a blood-red dress, holding a crystal glass filled with amber liquid.

“Thank you for meeting me,” Julian said, forcing his voice to sound calm. “I’m sure we have much to discuss. Whoever you are, I’m willing to offer substantial compensation if you stop manipulating my assets.”

The man on the sofa chuckled softly. A laugh Julian knew all too well—a laugh that had haunted his dreams for the past year.

“Compensation, Julian? With whose money? The money you stole from my company’s accounts?”

The man slowly turned his chair.

Julian froze. The wine glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor. His face turned ghostly pale. “Alaric? No… that’s impossible! You should have starved to death!”

Alaric Thorne stood up. He looked taller, far more intimidating than Julian remembered. His aura of power filled the room, making Julian feel small.

“I did die, Julian,” Alaric said calmly as he stepped forward. “The weak and forgiving Alaric died in the snow last year. The man standing before you now is the majority shareholder of Vance Global… and the man who just bought all your personal debts from the bank.”

Julian tried to step back, but he hit the door—it was locked from the outside. “You… you set me up! Evelyn! Where is that bitch?!”

“Evelyn is busy cleaning her desk in the logistics warehouse,” Maia interrupted mockingly as she approached him. “She sends her regards, Mr. Julian. She said your bed wasn’t as comfortable as you promised.”

Alaric stood directly in front of Julian, grabbing his collar with one hand and lifting him until his shoes barely touched the floor.

“You spat on my shoes a year ago, Julian. You said you’d take care of my fiancée,” Alaric whispered, his voice dripping with menace. “Now, I’m taking everything back. Your company, your reputation, every cent you own. I’ll let you live… just so you can watch me sit in our father’s chair while you rot in the gutter.”

“Alaric, please… we’re brothers!” Julian begged hoarsely, tears streaming down his terrified face.

“Brothers?” Alaric laughed coldly, releasing him and letting him collapse to the floor. “We may share blood, but our dignity is worlds apart.”

He turned to Maia. “Give him the documents.”

Maia handed over a file. Alaric threw it at Julian’s face. “Sign over all your personal assets to me, or by tomorrow morning, evidence of your contract forgery from a year ago will be on the prosecutor’s desk. You know how many years that kind of fraud gets you?”

Julian stared at the documents with trembling hands. He knew he had no choice. With tears falling, he signed, surrendering everything to the brother he once trampled.

When he finished, Alaric took the documents and handed them to Maia, then looked at Julian with disgust.

“Get out. And don’t ever let me see your face in Manhattan again.”

Julian crawled out of the room like a beaten dog. Alaric sat back down on the sofa, exhaling deeply. Satisfaction flooded him—but he knew this was only the beginning. His father was still out there, and the real Thorne Group still awaited him.

Maia approached Alaric and boldly sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, her eyes filled with desire.

“Congratulations on your victory, Master,” she whispered. “Julian is destroyed. Now… are you ready to receive your reward?”

Alaric looked at her, feeling the rapid beat of her heart. In that soundproof private room, the tension that had long been held back finally erupted.

Maia lowered her head, her lips brushing his ear with a warm breath.

“My reward tonight is my body, Master… and I want you to ruin me here, in this room,” she whispered hoarsely.

Alaric gripped Maia’s hips, pulling her closer onto his lap, letting her feel how hard he had become from her words. Her red dress rode high on her thighs, revealing her flushed, smooth skin.

“You always know how to celebrate a victory,” Alaric muttered before kissing her fiercely—no softness, only dominance. His tongue invaded her mouth as his hands gripped her tightly.

Maia moaned into the kiss, her hips instinctively grinding against him.

Without breaking the kiss, Alaric yanked down the zipper of her dress. The silk slid to her waist, exposing her body. He lowered his head, his touch hungry and possessive.

“Ahh… Master…” Maia gasped, arching her back, clutching his hair tightly.

Alaric suddenly lifted her and laid her on the wide mahogany table, scattering documents and glasses. He stood between her parted legs, his gaze dark with desire.

He pulled aside her underwear and devoured her with relentless intensity. Maia cried out, her legs wrapping around his shoulders.

“Master… your tongue… it feels so good…” she moaned, her body trembling.

Alaric showed no mercy. Within minutes, she was shaking violently, overwhelmed.

“Master… I’m going to—!” she cried.

He pulled away just before her release, making her whimper in frustration. Then he freed himself and gave a single command:

“Turn around.”

Maia obeyed instantly, bending over the table.

Alaric struck her once, then drove into her in a single powerful thrust.

Maia screamed, gripping the table. “Yes… Master… ruin me…!”

He moved with brutal rhythm, each thrust deep and relentless.

“Who does this belong to?” he demanded harshly.

“You, Master… only yours… harder… please!” she cried.

His pace intensified until she lost all control.

“Master… I’m going to—!”

“Do it. Now.”

Her scream echoed as pleasure overtook her completely. Alaric followed, releasing deeply within her.

They both collapsed, breathing heavily.

Alaric pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead gently—a stark contrast to his earlier roughness.

“Well done, Maia,” he murmured. “You’re always the best reward.”

Maia smiled weakly, still breathless, whispering against his chest:

“Anything for you, Master… even if you want to do it again before we leave.”