Flecks of gold, blue, green, and white dash back and forth in front of my eyes. There’s little more tranquil in this world than sitting in the dark watching fish swim under neon lights.

It’s a pity the click-clack of heels across the marble floor of my office disrupts my meditation.

“Good thing I don’t care about my job as a reporter, because the interview went exactly like you said it would.” The young woman—Jodie—huffs out a breath from behind me. “I was halfway here when I got the phone call I was fired.”

My lips twitch. I knew Cain had a soft spot for his stepdaughter. Can’t say I blame him. She is…special.

“You’ll be well compensated for your trouble.” Standing, I sprinkle some food in the tank. They haven’t been fed in two days, so they’ll be pleased.

“Find out anything interesting about Eden?”

“You mean other than her being a typical high society bitch whose shoes cost more than my rent?”

“Jealousy is such an unattractive trait.”

“So is ignoring someone you want information from. Are you going to turn around and look at me at some point, or are you planning on giving me my money telepathically?”

“That depends.”

“On?”

“If looking at you is a better view than the one I have now.”

I glance down at the small security screen displaying our exchange.  

It’s not.

The girl’s mouth drops open. “Wait, are you…was that? I mean, I’m totally down to fuck. You’re Damien freaking King. I saw your picture on your website and nearly pissed myself.” She puts her hands on her hips. “But I’m no prostitute.”

“Here’s a tip. Don’t walk into my office late at night expecting to be paid for a job you haven’t completed. My time is valuable—so you can either use that mouth of yours to tell me about the interview and leave with a check in your hand…or use it to suck my cock and leave with nothing but my cum on your face. The choice is yours.”

“Geez.” She shuffles her feet nervously. “Sorry.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose when she fetches a stick of gum from her purse.

The girl is testing my patience, and if she’s not careful I’m going to strip her and fuck her little asshole…right before I drown her in my tank. “Jodie.”

I don’t have to look at the security screen to know she jumps. “Sorry, I have to chew gum when I’m nervous. Anyway, I didn’t talk to her for long. And to tell you the truth, she’s kind of a brat.”

Exhaling, I sit down in my seat. “How so?”

“Well, when I asked her if she was excited about the party tomorrow night—you know, before I brought up her being a whore—she gave me an attitude.”

Probably because she doesn’t venture outside, you idiot.

“Oh, crap. Hold that thought. I can’t believe I almost forgot.” She claps her hands like she’s about to share the latest news with some girlfriends. Which is exactly why I hired her in the first place. Young women leave out nothing when disclosing gossip.

“You were right. He’s totally screwing her.”

“What makes you so sure?”

I know Cain wants to, but I wasn’t aware they crossed that line…yet.

“You mean besides the fact that he ran into the room like a white knight when I made her upset?”

“I’m sure he was just concerned about his daughter.”

Or scared Eden slipped up about their inappropriate relationship.

I lean back in my chair and smirk. If she’ll disclose it to a stranger on the internet, what’s to stop her from telling anyone else?

She laughs. “Yeah, concerned about his image. He touched her when he walked in the room—nothing sexual. However, the second she told him I insinuated they were hooking up, he jumped back like she was made of lava.” She snorts. “Then he started acting all holier than thou. Like the thought of fucking his centerfold stepdaughter was something that never crossed his mind before.”

“Interesting. How did Eden respond?”

“Oh, homegirl was pissed.” She snaps her gum. “Although I don’t know why. If I was doing him—and I totally would because he’s hot as fuck—I’d be more than happy getting dicked down by him every night and spoiled rotten during the day.” She rolls her eyes. “I know she’s a blonde, but she can’t seriously be dumb enough to think it will ever be more than sex between them. I mean, hello—not only is he about to be mayor, but everyone knows he married and fucked her mom.”

She chews vigorously. “But yeah, that was basically it.” She drums her fingernails on my desk. “So, now that you have all this info, what are you planning on doing with it? Obviously, there was a reason you wanted me to ruffle her feathers and spy on them.”  

Tuning her out, I draw my attention to the fish again.

They look so innocent swimming around in captivity. So content now that I’ve fed and taken care of them.

So pretty. Just like Eden.  

She taps her foot. “Are you going to stare at those fish the whole time I’m here?”

“No.”

Pressing a button on my chair, I release the divider between the main tank and another one that’s hidden out of view. The one containing a very angry, very hungry red-bellied piranha.

In less than a minute…all my pretty fish are dead.

They never saw it coming.  

I spin around in my chair. “Take off your clothes.”