Aiden Hale

In Cassian Rourke’s private penthouse. That was where I spent the night.

I woke up on a soft leather couch, disoriented and overheated. I couldn't help it after a long night.

I looked and the room was quite dim and silent. Which should have been a norm to me. I should be used to this right?

"I should be, shouldn't I?"

I whispered to myself.

The only thing that was thrilling to see was the critical exception of the low hum of the city far below the windows.

My wrists were not restrained, but the sensation of being watched created a strange charged tension.

He was awake, I noticed him sit up as he instantly began staring at me.

I stood across the room, half-shadowed, shirt loosened, gaze fixed on the view outside the window.

 With a controlled intensity that blurs the line between interrogation and fascination.

My pulse accelerates under Cassian’s scrutiny. As he watched me.

The air felt dense, almost too warm, and I became acutely aware of his own body, the thinness of his shirt, and the memory of being escorted with force into the penthouse earlier.

Cassian’s closeness brought a charged awareness that I couldn't seem to bring myself to understand.

"What's going on with me?"

Those were the words that lingered in my head I couldn't help but to go deep into these thoughts.

As Cassian wakes up he studies every move I make, every breath I draw. His expression is unreadable, but the fixation is unmistaken.

He smirks slightly, and comes in closer, touching me.

At that moment the atmosphere thickens with an unspoken tension neither of us acknowledges.

Cassian positions himself deliberately close, leaning against the edge of the table while maintaining a slow, calculated distance that feels more intimate than a touch.

"What are you doing? It's enough. We can't keep doing this? It's too dangerous"

I couldn't let it go further than it had already gone. I didn't want to resist him. But God knows that I couldn't

"You have nothing to be scared of"

Cassian assured me as he pulled in closer and placed his finger on my lips as he leaned close to my ears.

"What are you doing?"

But then the contrast between Cassian’s cold exterior and the simmering heat beneath it created a dangerous and strangely compelling tension.

I wouldn't want to admit it, but I loved the way the heat brewed between us.

I didn't want him to stop for any reason at all so I pushed him back, stood up and left him as I strolled into the bathroom.

Looking into the mirror. Looking at my reflection, I couldn't help but start questioning myself.

"Aiden, what have you gotten yourself into?"

I sighed heavily as I opened the tap and cupped the water in my palms and rinsed my face.

Then the memories of how all of this occurred began to unfold.

***

FLASHBACK

 I had just made a chilling discovery of a sealed archive file. I was deeply intrigued by what I had seen. So I dug deeper.

 It was an unusual data trail that was linked to an old acquisition, and the flagged audit that exposed my access.

Security escorted me from the archives, and that was when Cassian made the abrupt decision to bring me to the penthouse.

Instead of allowing corporate security to question me.

I paused and remembered glimpses of Cassian’s stern expression in the elevator, the tension in his jaw, the heat of adrenaline between them.

Back in the present, Cassian demanded to know how I accessed confidential documents.

"How did you do that? And how did you get permission to do that?"

He said pointing his finger to my chest stepping so close that I felt the faint warmth radiating from him.

I blushed because the entire situation was turning me on. But I maintained an ignorant look on my face.

He looked like he was about to explode before screaming at the top of his lungs. If only he knew those moments from that time, he'd be making me scream on top of mine.

"Don't just stand there and keep quiet, answer me If not-"

"Or what?"

I said with cockiness and a sly smile at the edge of my lips.

 His presence carried dominance. It was quite obvious it was born from growing up under a ruthless father and the weight of an empire he never chose.

I sensed that Cassian was not just suspicious but unsettled by something about me he couldn't just point out.

"I will, I will, I will"

He began to stutter and that was when I caved in and brought his finger down.

"You can't complete your sentence?"

I said with a wicked grin.

Overwhelmed and intimidated, I tried to regulate his breathing. I quietly observed the way his chest rose and fell.

Then something shifted in his expression, an almost imperceptible unraveling. The moment is charged, heavy, and dangerous.

"Answer me or had the cat caught your tongue"

I said as I grazed my fingers on his face and absorbed his perfume.

I loved how his scent was strong and appealing.

Then I froze and saw the look in his eyes.

It was quite obvious the only thing stopping us now was the fact that we had company in the mirror.

"Don't go anywhere."

He said sternly as he ordered his security details to leave the room.

"I'll monitor him"

He said as they left they left us alone. Making it look like he is about to question me.

We all knew the orders to stay in the penthouse were just a guise and the underlying reason is clear.

Cassian wanted me close, contained, and within reach.

Immediately it was quite obvious that it was just us. Cassian walked to the door.

Leaving me in the center of the room standing alone as he speaks.

"You're so cocky. I hate that about you but instead of making you pay. I'm going to punish you"

Just then I heard the locks turn. I panicked. I wondered if it was better to have run when I had a chance but it was too late for that.

When he was done locking the doors he walked back to me, taking off his jacket and throwing it on the floor.

He loosened his tie and closed in on me, saying:

"You're going to tell me exactly how you got access to those files and I'm going to show you what I'll do if you don't"

He said as he kissed me so roughly. Drowning his lips into my mouth without permission.

Did I like it? Yes. It felt so wrong but also I couldn't tell him to stop.

"Now, turn around"

Cassian said with a look of dominance I knew I didn't have a choice.

Aiden Hale

Immediately he ended the call, it didn't take long before he left. Without looking at me.

Maybe I was a little bit jealous. Wait, I was jealous because he had given more attention to the call than me. Oh my god Aiden you're such a fool.

I sighed as I jumped on the bed. I was bare chested. Looking at my little reflection from the mirror.

As night fell, I wondered what my fate would be?

"What am I still doing here?"

The cold dawning realization had hit me like a snowball.

I shouldn't be here. I had a job. I had an entire life outside, why would I let an over pampered bully keep me here.

I had made up my mind. The moment he came back, I was going to tell him to let me go.

Yet the real question was it if I wanted to go? I had gotten so used to his gaze.

His frown and then the way he put me on the bed with his body over mine.

Snap out of it Aiden. You can't let Cassian do this to you. You had a job and that was way more important than any other messed up feeling I was harbouring.

"Excuse me, your dinner is here"

I heard a masculine voice. I turned and then I saw a man dressed up in a black suit looking at me.

"Yes. Just keep it by the corner. I'll eat when I'm ready"

I answered briskly as I tried to return back to my thoughts.

"Umm Sir, Mr Rourke gave strict instructions to watch you while you eat"

The butler said.

I paused as I was stunned in amazement. Cassian was truly messed up in the head.

"So lemme guess. I'm expected to eat while you watch me"

He nodded slowly. I honestly couldn't believe it.

Who does that? Cassian Rourke I guess.

So, I sat down there and ate the food. It was quite discomforting despite the fact that it was a really expensive meal.

The steak was cooked to perfection, everything tasted refined, especially the wine.

Then I stopped eating instantly as an idea popped up in my head.

"What if this food was drugged?"

I whispered to myself but unknown to me, the butler had heard me.

"More wine?"

He questioned, and that was when it hit me. It wasn't even the food that was drugged. It was the wine.

The thrilling realization came with everything fading before me as I helplessly became unconscious.

***

Cassian Rourke

I wished I could control the urge to turn him around and place my dick in him but it was hard.

Maybe if I focused more on trying to find out what he had to do with all of this. I wouldn't be so obsessed with trying so hard to fight the urge to do all the dirty things in my head.

"Sir, he's been taken to the base"

My security detail informed me. Earlier on, I had them drug Aiden. He was going to be brutally beaten.

It was my way of doing things. I needed answers. Everything pointed to him. I couldn't let my father down.

Even if it meant betraying my pleasure which unfortunately, Aiden was.

"I'll be there in a minute"

I informed him. The truth was I didn't want to be there but I just had to.

It's not even like I cared for him but the truth was that in reality, I would rather have him on my bed than on the floor bleeding.

I braced myself as I walked into the room, with the sight of my security detail beating him up.

I couldn't show my sympathy.

"Stop. It's okay"

I said briskly as they stood aside and revealed his badly beaten body.

His face was swollen and I could see his nose was bleeding badly. For a moment I felt bad but I couldn't let it show.

"Remove the rag in his mouth"

I ordered them. Immediately the rag was removed from his mouth he screamed:

"You sick fuck. Who the fuck does this?"

I rolled my eyes. What was he expecting? Did he think that he was any different from the others?

Even worse, he was a victim.

"Now, will you tell me who you work for?"

He stared at me with a deep passion of hate. I could see the hate swelling up within him.

He wanted to explode and probably hit me but he was helpless. He couldn't do anything. I loved that fact.

"You're not going to answer? Or should I tell them to continue"

I said as I gestured one of my fingers to my security. They moved forward.

Then he struggled to stand up. Which was quite a heroic feat from his side. I really enjoyed watching him struggle.

He tried his best and walked up to me with his swollen eyes.

"Just look at you. You're so pathetic. You think doing all of this makes you look strong and powerful. You don't even know half the truth of who you are. You can beat me, torture me or even worse kill me but you won't get anything. You're just as weak as your father"

Listening to him made me squeeze my fist and boil in anger. I knew that with one word he would be history. He would be dead.

Immediately he was done speaking, he collapsed.

But I had a better revenge in mind. I put my hand down as I spoke.

"Call the doctor and get him treated. Make sure he's absolutely fine. I have a lot in mind for him"

I said as I walked away. I was going to make him pay for sure.

***

Aiden Hale

I woke up with a light head as it occurred to me I was dropped on my bed.

I was given limited access to parts of the penthouse under the guise of anonymity and protection.

"What the fuck?"

I cussed. Why was he doing this to me? He almost killed me now I'm what? Supposed to be his hostage?

"There was no way, not in hell"

"You move cautiously, are you aware that every step you take is monitored."

I heard his voice from behind me. It was Cassian looking at me wearing nothing but his briefs.

I could see the smirk on his face.

I knew what that look meant. I could see beyond that smirk was something far more sinister than I could imagine.

"Cassian, focus on work on your office on the upper floor and let me go. I've had enough"

I said in a bid to distract him

But I noticed his presence loomed throughout the space through the subtle echo of footsteps he made.

 I could see occasional shadows across the hallway. I wondered who they were?

Looking at him with frustration in my head, I attempt to piece together the meaning behind the file and why my discovery matters so much to Cassian.

That was when I realized that someone intentionally concealed the information.

Cassian still stood there across the room as I was stuck in my mind. organizing my thoughts. Cassian draws out a whip.

And then I noticed an entire kit of materials for torture was dropped on the table.

"Cassian what is this?"

Aiden Hale

Still panicking as he stood in front of me. He didn't answer me. He just started walking towards me.

I tried organizing my thoughts but I panicked.

I began to notice inconsistencies within the penthouse doors that were locked at specific times. But what could all of this possibly mean?

I questioned myself because I had to put all of this together with precision.

I noticed drawers that were empty but show signs of recent use, and rooms that appear staged. It flowed into my head at that very moment.

Cassian on the other hand was dealing with pressure from the Rourke board but he tried to hide it.

Fortunately for him it was pretty obvious. The moment the butler knocked on the door. Saying:

"Your presence is requested in the boardroom"

I knew it had to be two things. One was definitely me. The other was probably his father.

Instantly he bit his lip and whispered something I could not hear. Instantly, he dropped the whip and left.

I could see the anger on his face. It was quite visible because it had bought my curiosity at this point.

"Get my clothes"

He said angrily before he banged the door. His anger was over the edge. His father was definitely his weak point. It was quite fortunate.

I kept on wondering if his father knew he was into this. I sighed with relief as I sat on the bed

With my hand on my temple, I couldn't help but wonder. Why would someone be into something like using whips?

Cassian was into kinky stuff like this. Even though it was low-key, I found it hot. A deeper emotional feeling resurfaced underneath my consciousness.

I was so faced with being dominant. It was almost as if he was masking something. I knew that for sure.

***

Cassian Rourke

And there I sat with countless reports of document leaks, financial anomalies, and cyber intrusions.

All of it looked like evidence that was planted to suggest Aiden is responsible. Should I believe it? Did I have a choice not to believe?

All this agitated me further. My suspicion grew, but so did his fascination.

It was just a shame that this stupid board meeting had to come in the middle of what I had planned for Aiden.

Is it strange that our interaction has become tense? Almost filled with silence and charged glances.

I couldn't resist him. Which came as a suspicion because I had had countless men in my bed.

Yet none was stuck in my mind the way Aiden was. I was desperate to break him and make him mine.

His stubbornness and willingness was definitely going to make it easier.

I had to face a struggle internally between rational doubt and emotional compulsion. I couldn't help it.

The urge to spend more time in Aiden’s presence was becoming more than necessary.

My growing obsession with him was slowly beginning to alarm me. Was it something I should be scared of? Nobody had ever had me in this type of hold before?

"Cassian, what do you have to say about all of this?"

A voice pulled me out of my thoughts and back to reality. I sighed bitterly as I spoke.

"We'll have to access everything further before we can make a final analysis"

What corroded me was watching him read, move, and breathe with a focus that bordered on my obsession. I did all this through the camera in his room.

Just as I was about to leave and continue with I had started with Aiden, security rushed in and alarmed me.

"Excuse me sir but there is a physical threat emergency. A blackout has occurred in the private elevator shaft connected to the penthouse."

"Fuck"

I cuss under my breath. My suspicion arises. What could all this mean?

"The Security systems failed for twenty seconds, and our hidden camera captured a masked figure attempting to override the lock on the penthouse door."

As I rolled my hand into a fist. My anger became more visible. I hated not being in control.

I hated all of this happening right underneath me. If I wasn't able to get to the bottom of this. I knew it was not going to end well for me.

As I intercept the footage. The intruder’s motive becomes unclear. But the timing suggests that someone wanted Aiden to be vulnerable. But why?

Was it possible that he was in on this? I thought. I concluded that the best thing to do was confront Aiden with the footage.

***

I looked at him. Studying his expression looking at his reaction for answers.

Aiden looks visibly shaken. He realized his confinement was not only about suspicion but about danger.

My demeanor could not help but shift slightly into something more protective, although I refused to acknowledge it.

Why was I feeling this way over him? What was going on with me.

I gave orders to transfer Aiden to the upper-level guest suite.

It was supposed to be disguised as a security protocol move.

But it was fueled by my increasing fear that Aiden’s presence may attract more attacks.

Now everything had changed, the trajectory of the entire attack was obviously multifaceted.

I needed to find who was behind all this and they were bent on framing Aiden.

***

Aiden Hale

I wake up in the upper suite with a sense of unease. First of all I didn't even know how I got here?

Obviously they had gotten better with their drugging antics.

As I tried to grasp my surroundings that looked different from the previous one, it hit me.

There was an attack in the building from the security protocol that had occurred.

Then I noticed that the luxury of everything here did little to calm me.

I notice that the surveillance remains. Yet from the outlook of things the space felt closer to Cassian’s personal quarters.

I'm intrigued. Is Cassian Rourke trying to deepen the sense of forced intimacy?

I don't know why but it makes me laugh. Where is he going with this?