For the rest of the day, I hadn't seen Sawyer.

He went out somewhere taking his red BMW with him.

Yuvan came around lunch and took his food to his bedroom parallel to mine.

I was left on my own device, wandering around the house like a stuck bamboo.

Currently, I was gracing the cozy library with my presence.

Sifting through book after book, I tried to find something that would sate my craving for a good mystery novel.

And, soon a title caught my eyes.

The S Girl.

Hmm...

I hadn't read that one yet. The name sounded interesting too.

After making up my mind, I stood higher on my nimble feet with my hands stretched upwards.

Damn! It was too high.

Not even my wiggling fingers could touch the glossy surface of the hardcover.

I looked around and found scattered multicolor pillows on the red-carpeted floor.

If I could pile them up and jump on...

With a snap of my fingers, I smirked and got down to work.

After a few minutes of gathering and piling soft cushions into a decent height, I let out a breath. Hands were fisted on both sides of my waist.

I grabbed the sturdy, wooden white shelf for balance and climbed on the mushy pile of pillows.

Finally! I was at the head level with my desired book.

I pulled it out from the row with a smile and was about to jump down when I noticed something inside the shelf row.

Frown deepened in my face as I pulled out a couple more books and gasped at the sight before me.

A secret drawer with a tiny golden knob!

I jumped down and locked the door with a click to make sure I was safe in my mission.

The glaring orange afternoon light filled the room, making me want to drape curtains over it.

But that could raise attention– suspicion even– if Yuvan or Sawyer would go into the backyard. So, I let that detail slip.

Coming back to the mysterious shelf - I jumped on the cushion and faced the mysterious drawer.

Bubbling intrigue and thrill fluttered in my stomach as I twisted the knob between my fingers.

A soft, satisfying click and the secret world unfurled before me.

I dug my hands deeper into the space.

Dust, old paper, and the stale odor of whiskey struck my nostrils as I wiggled my fingers around the extra space.

Some greasy, little, silver bottle graced my hand.

I pulled that thing out and wrinkled my nose hard.

The damp smell of old whiskey made bile almost rise in my throat.

I put that bottle to the side and began rummaging through the drawer's content again.

An old photo of a cheeky teen Sawyer smiling at a baby squirrel in his hands.

A couple of old love letters between Benjamin Ronnes and Hatherine Romanov, Sawyer's parents.

A broken black wristwatch.

Oh- What was it?

I pulled out a slick, rather cleaner file.

Only a few specks of dust were coating the plastic, lime green cover of that thing.

I put other things back in their place and closed the drawer.

After setting the books in exactly their previous order, I climbed down on the soft red carpet.

I brushed the dust away from the file with my fingers, blew off the rest, and sat down on the couch cross-legged.

I flipped open the first page and stared at the paper with wide eyes.

Clipped photos of various people were scattered all over the thin, white surface.

Among the crowd, I found a rather familiar face.

My breath hitched as my fingers grazed over the known outline of his suave, smiling face.

That same sharp brown eyes and black waves...

The photo must have been taken at some gala.

At least, that was what his glossy silver suit and straight pose in front of the camera told. Not to mention the blinding flickers of white around him. Other flashy cameras, I guess.

I took the photo and flipped it.

'James Sutherton (Texas)

Third influential shareholder

A frequent member of Dellarosa Casino'

A frown marred my features as I noticed Sawyer's neat handwriting.

Why did he need this information about this man?

I put down the picture and picked up another photo.

A young man and woman with similar brown hair and dark green eyes.

I flipped the picture.

'Laura and Lui Winters (Dallas)

Fourth influential shareholders (joint)

Owns a family restaurant in the countryside'

I checked out a haughty-looking wrinkly, blue-eyed, blonde woman next.

'Sienna Dalton (Los Angeles)

Second influential shareholder

Founding authority of club Youth of Old'

Then there was this man in his prime forty. Fresh ball of meat and oil. His greasy smile screamed trouble.

'Ben Holmes (New York)

Fifth influential shareholder

Controls the underground soccer betting business (rumored to work for the Russian Mafia)'

And, finally a calm old man with balding white hair and wise silver eyes.

I knew him too!

'Trevor Goodwill

The top influential shareholder of Trexon Empire

Papa's good friend and only well-wisher.

He had been a former member of the board of directors in Trexon Empire. The oldest and only one from Benjamin's era, if I dared to say.

Now, he was just a shareholder for Devon. He was even due for retirement in a couple of months.

I heard the company had gathered a new set of board of directors and shareholders ever since Devon had become the CEO.

They always remained in the shadows, only keeping in contact with Devon and his father.

I had never seen them, though. Not in a single meeting.

Devon had always kept me away from their secret meet-ups. I never even tried to pry into their matter. Only worked with my head down like an obedient dog.

Could these pictures belong to five of those shareholders?

If so, what did it have to do with Sawyer?

Why was he keeping tabs on them?

Biting my lower lip, I flipped to the next couple of pages.

They were only loglines about who did what and where.

I checked the dates and found that entries had begun from last year's August.

One page had only a long list of names.

Most of them were cut in red lines. A couple of the names were still intact on the bottom side.

My lips parted wide at the last name with a golden underline.

'Mirasol Diane Hayes (former PA of Devon Harlington)

What the actual f-

"So, you finally found the cursed treasure, huh?"

I jumped at the familiar deep, raspy voice.

File dropped from my hand as my head snapped toward a smirking Sawyer.

He was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

When did he arrive?

How did he even open- Wait!

Was that a bunch of keys in his hand?

"What's the matter, Doll? Cat cut off your tongue!"

Sawyer offered me a lopsided grin, straightening his posture to stand at full height.

A thin line of hot sweat trickled down the sides of my ears.

I gulped and looked down to pick up the scattered papers and the sprawled file.

Taking deep breaths, I busied my hands to gather the stray pages neatly inside the green file.

The soft yet heavy thump of feet rang loud in my ears.

Sawyer's washed black jeans came into my view and my heart began to beat faster.

I shivered as warm breaths tickled the skin of my left cheek.

"Having fun sneaking around?" I flinched at his whispered words.

My throat dried, making me gulp hard.

This always happened whenever Sawyer come close to me.

His breath.

His voice.

They seemed to suck in my energy to speak in such intimate proximity.

Taking my sweet time mustering up the remaining courage, I looked up to meet the intense golden eyes.

Intrigue and amusement swirled in those luminous honey-gold pools. The dying afternoon light only enhanced their beauty tenfolds.

"I..." I cleared my throat. "I wasn't here to snoop around. The discovery of your ugly secret is purely accidental, Sir."

"Sawyer. Call me Sawyer, Hayes."

My breath hitched. Heart missed a beat.

He was request- no, demanding again.

Just like before...

I breathed slowly to suppress my fast-beating heart.

Damn the butterflies in my belly!

"Why?" I prayed he didn't notice the slight tremble in my voice.

Sawyer's widened smirk only made my flutterings grow.

Devon used to make me weak in my knees with one look too.

I looked away, closing my eyes.

An unknown fear clawed my heart, making me strengthen my resolve.

No. I wouldn't become weak.

Not again. Not ever!

Especially in front of this man.

"It's, uh, almost time for the evening snack. Yuvan must be in the kitchen. I'll go see."

I was about to side-step Sawyer when he slid to my front, standing like a mountain before my five-foot-two stature.

"Na-uh!" He crossed his arms. "You're not going anywhere, Doll. We have a lot to talk about."

"We got nothing!" I snapped in a firm tone, "Now, please."

I crossed him and walked toward the door.

I was about to touch the knob.

"You still love him?"

My fingers froze.

Nostrils flared. Eyes blurred next.

"No." I bit my trembling lips hard. "I don't."

It was the truth. I didn't love Devon anymore. I couldn't. Not after the way he broke me from the core.

And, I didn't think I would ever love someone with so many gushing wounds inside me. Because no one wanted to love a broken doll.

They were either meant for the dumpster or to become a plaything for bored people.

And, Sawyer belonged in the latter category.

"Then why don't you want to take revenge on him? What's you got to lose?"

My fragile sanity.

I wiped my eyes and sighed.

"I've already answered this, Sir... Sawyer."

"No, you didn't!" Sawyer grabbed my arm and whirled me around to face his stormy, darkened eyes.

My breath hitched. Eyes turned wide as he pressed me closer to his chest.

His scorching, ragged breath on my cheek made my whole body shiver.

"You have yet to tell me why you oppose the mere thought of ruining someone? Why do you faint at the slightest mention of revenge?"

"I-I..."

"Can't you see I don't only want to take revenge but also stop a man like Devon? A man who can destroy people to reach the top, to gain the ultimate power. Just like his father ruined my papa. He's a fucking greedy son of a bitch! Can't you see that, Mirasol!"

Sawyer jerked my frozen body away.

His chest heaved up and down as he turned around the punched the nearest wall.

I flinched at the loud thud, followed by a sharp growl.

Warm blood gushed out and leaked through the gaps of his knuckles.

Silent tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched Sawyer bend his head low.

The proud Sales King.

The cunning businessman.

Sawyer Jade Ronnes had lowered his pride.

Only because I wasn't brave enough to admit the truth, to take a step forward, to help him do the wrong for the right cause.

Just like a coward...

I closed my eyes shut and threw my head back as warm tears trailed down my chin.

Mirasol Diane Hayes.

A weakling.

A mess.

A bloody coward!

"No..." I breathed out the word, dropping to my knees with a thud.

Clutching my knees tight, I fought hard to defy the inner storm.

My entire soul screamed against me.

My long nurtured faith was on the verge of fading away.

I could feel something break in me and slowly reform back into a brand-new shape.

Sharp.

Strong.

Unbreakable...

My eyes snapped open.

In a slow move, I wiped off my tears with a sniffle and stood up to my full height.

My cold, gray eyes looked up to see Sawyer who was still facing his back to me.

His gaze was lost outside the window, watching the impending dawn of the day.

"I'm ready, Sawyer..." Sawyer stiffened at my words.

I stepped forward and continued.

"I'll help. No condition. No ulterior motive. Just out of this insatiable urge to seek justice for you and your father."

Silence hung heavy on the darkening room.

After a long, dreadful moment, Sawyer slowly turned around.

Hands clenched. Stance rigid. Sawyer only watched me with an intense gleam in his dim golden eyes.

His lips slowly twitched into a thin smirk.

"So, you want to be my assistant in schemes, huh? You're a professional, after all."

I could feel my own smirk grow.

With a scoff, I waved my hand as if chasing away a fly.

"Assistant! I'm done with that game long ago. If I have to work with you, Sawyer Ronnes..."

I stood straighter, crossing my arms.

"We'd have to be no less than partners in scheme."

❤️ The game is on, fieries!
The fun has just began.

Who else is excited for their newfound partnership?

Let me know what you think, okay? I'd love to know about your thought.

See you guys in the next update. Till then take care of your mind, body, and soul.

Love you
– Sabrina ❤️