Full Part 15, the last chapter available on Wattpad. The rest can be found on my patreon! --> link: patreon.com/zeffervescent 

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Smooth, silky white sheets brush against every part of my exposed, naked skin. I raise an arm above my head, my hand brushing against the black, wooden headboard of his king-sized bed. The scent of him radiates off the sheets, engulfing my bare body in a heavenly white. Laying fully on my back, the sheet slips just above my lightly freckled chest, right over the tops of my breasts. Eyes still closed, I feel the slow movements his body makes next to mine. The way he lays on his side, and brings his arm across my waist, was sensed through the mattress as his weight shifted. Warmth encloses inside the sheets, our bodies drawing closer, mine and all its curves fitting like a glove into his. My head rests against his toned chest, fingertips brushing the prominence of his collarbones. My breath fans across his own skin, both of us drifting back to a deep state of sleep an unknown amount of minutes later.

A deep sigh passes my lips as I blink away the deep sleep from my warm eyes. I'm greeted by the presence of his sleeping body, entangled with mine. I'm surrounded by his scent and the sight of his skin as well as the sound of his slowed breath. The silence in the room was tranquilizing, and I was mesmerized by the comforting surroundings that for a moment I forgot we have lives. Until my phone rings from the glass end table on my side of the bed. The interruption serves as a catalyst for the decrease in peace and serenity we previously felt. I'm slowly sitting up, holding the blanket to my chest and sighing heavily, squinting my eyes over at the ringing phone. The light in the room is natural, floating in through the large, wide windows. The greying white color of the walls and the grey stone floors brighten and reflect the brightness in the room, making it difficult to adjust to.

Groaning lowly from deep in his chest, Harry's large, unringed hands reach up to rub at his eyes, clearly woken up by the sound of my intrusive phone. I reach over for the cellphone, standing on my knees, the mattress shifting with my movements. "Hello?" I gruffly speak into the device, my tone slow and audibly raw from sleep.

"Athena Dulce. I need you in my office. At any point today, preferably as soon as possible. I'll text you the address," the voice of a woman rapidly explains. I squeeze my eyes shut and rub my fingers onto my temple, bewildered and too wary to keep up with her speediness. My lips part and I'm about to respond before the call ends, leaving me slightly confused and now permanently awake. I bring the phone down, opening my eyes to stare at the screen.

When I look up, Harry is sitting up, leaning against the headboard of his bed. "That was Akira Haruno. She wants me at her office," I tell him dreadfully.

"She's been taking up quite a bit of your time," he roughly says, his voice tainted with a thick raspiness from sleep. He runs a hand through his brown hair, the messy strands that curl slightly at the end are tucked back, exposing the sharply defined sides of his jaw. His pale eyes find mine and he leans into the headboard, his head tilted back, his chin up, and his eyes lowered as he watches me. The shadow around his chin and pink lips, across his jaw, makes him appear even more tired; a sleepiness that I find is adoring on his face. The large sheet fell to his hips, nearly exposing him, the natural hairs below his navel at the seam.

Shrugging my shoulders, I breathe in deeply and set my phone back down onto the glass surface. Using my knees, I move towards him before slinging a leg across his lap. I straddled his waist, the soft skin of my inner thighs touching the tops and sides of his. He grunts in his chest as my face approaches his, and he stares at me while I'm wrapping my arms around his neck. When I look him in the eyes, his irises appear so intensely vibrant, reflecting the brightness of the light around us. His pink mouth curved up at one side as his eyes searched my face. I leaned forward, my nose brushing his until I moved away, and courageously forgot my exposed breasts. He doesn't mind my bravery at all.

I leaned away from him to see his face fully. "She's taken a strong liking to me since my interview on Monday. I'm apparently a lot like her younger self. I really don't think she knows what kind of person I am at all," I mutter, inhaling deeply.

Two days ago, I met Akira Haruno in her office. And not necessarily by choice. On my way back from campus, I saw her leaving a lecture hall. She had been apparently guest lecturing for an anthropology course about pharmaceuticals. She was a very interesting woman, and no doubt she knew exactly how to get what she wanted. That was admirable about her, just her insistence and determination, her demeanor was flawlessly assertive, and she was profoundly aware of it. However, I was overly unsure about who she is and what she does. She wasn't very specific, and it seemed she had a peculiar range of talents. All in all, she was a mystery to me.

Harry huffs and gruffly hums, "Hmm." His hands slide up and down my waist, blunt fingernails brushing against my flesh. I look at him momentarily, noting his indifference and lack of interest. I could attribute that partly because he was distracted by my nudity, and had other things in mind. Raising an eyebrow, I allow him to pull me closer to his body, his face buried into my neck. His breath felt on my skin, and his nose brushed against it, too. I bit at the inside of my cheek, trying to restrain the smile struggling to curve into my lips. "Did you sleep well?" He questions quietly.

"Yeah...," I whispered tenderly, my hand reaching up to slip into his hair. My fingernails scratch lightly throughout his scalp, a soothing gesture that makes him breathe out a soft groan. A moment elapsed, and I turned my nose into his hair, the scent of his shampoo from last night evident. "I wonder what she wants with me," I murmured into his hair.

"Probably looking for a personal assistant who can take her lunacy," he groans lightly, his hands slowly gliding up, past my stomach and over my breasts, squeezing what he could remarkably fit in his palms. I let out a small giggle at the feeling of his caress, enjoying his cheekiness this early in the morning. His lips press open-mouthed kisses up and down my neck, my teeth biting into my bottom lip when his tongue glides onto my neck as he suckles at the skin. I feel myself grow aroused by the slow, sensual movements of his tongue. I'm reluctant to fall too quickly into his submission, but it proves to be hard to avoid. My eyes shut and focus on the sensation of his mouth, successfully getting worked up.

Another ring. I'm scowling with agitation as he breathes in, turning away from me and leaning sideways to reach for his phone. It appears we're both going to be busy today. I'm fully aware of the hints the morning is throwing at us so far. It is preparation for the day's climate. I'm standing from his lap and walking towards his bathroom in the nude. He takes his phone call with his usually dismal, bland tone, muttering, "Hello?" His hand reaches up to swipe at his nose as he stares off at the wall, listening to the voice on the other end.

By the time I'm out of the bathroom, dressed in my matching set of navy undergarments, buttoning up my sky blue shirt, he's rummaging through his drawer, more than awake now. I furrow my eyebrows as I watch his quickened movements. He's only in his black pants, and they're unbuttoned and unzipped. His broad back faces me as I watch him. "What happened?" I ask him curiously, my eyes following him as he goes from rummaging in his end table, to checking his pockets.

He shakes his head, dismissing my question as he quickly replies, "Work."

"Ernest, huh," I concluded immediately.

There's a long pause before he stops moving, and he looks up at me. "You know I can't talk about this," he answers sternly. That was an answer that confirms my conclusion.

I nodded my head and raised an eyebrow, wondering what would have been the answer he was not going to give me. Ernest is truthfully a petrifying man, who carries a tension with him everywhere he goes. I'm not interested in knowing anymore, at least not to the point where I'm compelled to question him more. Ignoring the sudden change in the atmosphere, I finished buttoning my shirt and proceeded to get fully dressed. I'm more concerned with putting my shoes on and heading to Akira's office as soon as possible. And as promised, the address was sent to my phone. I planned to take the metro to the destination, and as I'm throwing my hair into a low bun, fixing a few unruly strands, I turn to look over at Harry again.

He's adjusting a black blazer with one hand, the other squinting agitatedly at the screen of his phone. I ignore his obvious distaste for whatever was sent to him, and I grab my bag from a white living chair nearby. "Okay, well I'm going to head out," I announced to him.

Nodding distractedly, typing on his phone, he murmurs a quick goodbye, not bothering to look at me. I hesitate to walk away, raising an eyebrow at his lack of attention, but eventually heading out anyway. My walk to the nearest station was quick. The early morning was busy, as every time the clock hits 8AM, the working world is thrust into chaos, especially on the metro. Everyone had a destination, a mission, and it was obvious.

. . .

Akira was not a woman that wanted to sit in her office and chat about work related concepts. Instead, she wanted to go to the most expensive restaurant money can buy in the northwest part of Washington, and then discuss the work related concepts she's so elated to introduce to me. The woman sits across from me, a table decorated in a white, silky cloth and a variety of glassware in between us. Her pin straight, jet black hair was down, falling onto the tops of her shoulders covered in the grey fabric of her blazer. She wore a pencil skirt of the same color, heels of the same color. I noted that she was very coordinated with the colors of her garments.

Her dark eyes look onto me. I sit up straight, attentive to her words. I look like a tired mess in comparison to her. Her complexion was flawless, in part because of the enhancing makeup, but she was someone who clearly took care of her appearance. I looked like I only did that half-heartedly.

"You look quite exhausted. Who's keeping you up so late?" She asks curiously, looking down at her menu, her hands grasping the sides of it.

I bite the inside of my cheek and look away, towards one of the glass walls that encased this part of the restaurant. "School. I'm a student --"

"At Georgetown. You recently switched from a double major in engineering physics and law, to just engineering physics. You're a junior at the age of twenty," she lists effortlessly. She was unfazed by the surprise on my face, and I stared at her with increasing curiosity.

"How...how do you know that?" I frown.

"Because I know everything Harry does and who he does it with," she simply responds, her wrinkled eyes squinting at me as she sends me a wide smile. It was so artificially sweet, but she didn't mind that I could see that. She was entirely transparent, but not see- through.

A waiter comes by and sets down two waters by us. He asks us if we were ready, and Akira immediately responds that we need more time. She dismisses him with her hand, and the waiter nods before walking away, the tray in his hand going underneath his arm as he attends to the people at a nearby table. I stare at him distractedly, hoping that this conversation isn't going the way in which it painfully already was.

"I didn't think we were going to be talking about Harry," I confessed quietly.

"We weren't. I'm interested in you for a totally different reason. Not because you're sleeping with him. I was Harry's mentor. I'm the reason he's as successful as he is, at the age he's at. He was my student. I know he's good at his job, so I'm not too concerned with his personal endeavors. You are just his type, if I'm honest," she shrugs, wrapping her manicured hands around the glass of cold water. "But I'm more curious as to how good you are with engineering. See, I'm an investigative journalist. And I run a company that sells stories to the big newspapers. Here in D.C, I'm every politician's and public figure's worst enemy."

I raised an eyebrow at her explanation, and parted my mouth to question her some more, but she interrupts and proceeds anyway. "I have this current investigation going on into some of the pharmaceuticals that the FDA currently approved. I need someone equipped with the knowledge in science, and frankly, with your guts, to get some of the research done," she tells me.

"So...you want to hire me? To...get information about these pharmaceuticals...so you can sell the story to some big national newspaper?" I follow carefully.

Akira nods her head, grinning cheerfully. "Yes! Exactly. And, you know, I saw you that day leaving Harry's office, and I said to myself, this girl reminds me of who I used to be. Somewhat innocent, but very, very cunning if that's what it took to do something," she said slowly, her eyes watching me carefully, her previous cheerful expression diminishing into a stern one. "I don't want you because of your relation to Harry. That's none of my business. I strictly exchange important information with him, and our business stops there. You, however, have a lot to offer me. A lot of benefits. You're young, smart, incredibly attractive, and very, very capable. But in order to work for me, you have to ditch all your insecurities and that shy little attitude you got, honey, because if you act like you did when you saw me, fired up, and clearly fed up with the elements of your day...then you can do anything."

I wanted to question why she thought that my physical appearance was useful, but a part of me already knew the answer to that. In such a superficial world, people with the charm can do so much, and it didn't hurt to be easy on the eyes. Her words made me think, and I'm concerned that I'm growing very excited by the idea of what she had said. The truth. That was such a crucial thing, and it can be brought to light under the work of Akira Haruno. If I could help, then why not? I was constantly asking for the truth, the answers...and I think I might've found one. Or...it found me.

"When can I start?"

. . .

I stood on the train, gripping the metal rod nearby for balance as the cart began to move with the acceleration. My eyes stare onto the floor for a moment before glancing up. I'm immediately aware of the man that stands a few people past me. His large figure coated in all black attire was vastly ominous. My eyes start at his feet, up his black coat, and to his face. Finally, to his eyes, he watched me carefully. I quickly avert my eyes and pretend to be unfazed by his gaze. I'm not entirely sure if I've seen that man anywhere, but he seems to have seen me.

We arrive at the next stop, which is fortunately mine. I take a deep breath and exit the cart once the door slides open. My pace is quick. I step onto the escalator that leads to the second level, and also the exit. Slowly, I apprehensively turned around, only to see the same man walking onto the same escalator. My heart lodges into my throat, and I'm chilled with the adrenaline that rushes so much blood to my brain. Shakily exhaling, I quickly step off the escalator as I'm due to get off. I walk swiftly from the escalator, a quickened, unnatural pace to my step. I'm focused on the exit, petrified of looking back.

Walking along a sidewalk, I quickly turn a corner. I'm greeted by a car that nearly screeches as it comes to a stop next to me on the street. Panicking, I gasp and try to turn around, but the man that had been following me appears, and I run right into his chest. Eyes blown wide, horrified, I'm forced to quickly turn around again. I see the tainted black window roll down, exposing a face that I was not too keen on ever seeing again.

Ernest.

The expression he wears is neutral, stern, and unfazed. He flatly calls out, "Nice to see you again, Athena." The car door opens, and I'm hyper aware of how the man behind me moves closer to me.

I know what I'm being asked to do, but I'm completely against it, nearly freezing up entirely. Paralyzed and unable to talk. I stare at Ernest with horror in my wide eyes, my heart beating in my ears. This was entirely too crazy for me, and I didn't know what was happening at all, and I did know everything at once. As a survival tactic, my body decides to move by itself, my feet dragging as I hesitantly approach the car.

Inside the vehicle, an black interior, leather beneath my sweating palms, Ernest sits across from me. Next to me, the man that had been following me takes a seat. As the door shuts, I'm locked in. The lock clicks and I find myself just staring at Ernest like a deer caught in the headlights. The inside of my body is burning up as my stomach turns. I'm completely at the hands of my adrenaline.

"What do you want?" I hastily ask, my voice wavering and shaky in some areas.

Ernest just watches me, his cold, lifeless eyes boring into mine. "Nothing, from you, at least. Your little boyfriend has a habit of undercutting me with his clever strategies. The man doesn't learn his lesson. If he doesn't comply, the consequences will be quite saddening. And...unfortunately, sweetheart, you will be caught in the crossfire."

The large man next to me suddenly grabs my arm, and the minute the reflective, silver-colored weapon digs into my skin, I see the seeping flow of red escape my flesh before I can register the pain. I'm taken by so much surprise that I almost choke as I wince, grimacing in pain. I stare at the knife with panicked eyes, and then I look up at him, realizing it was futile to plot as my brain was so busy with the physiological responses to the situation.

"I have nothing to do with the case. I'm not even interning at the firm anymore," I explain frantically, my eyes stinging as the tears appear, the fear surging right through my chest and knocking me breathless. "I'm not his intern anymore."

"No, you're not. But you know what you are?" He questions as he leans forward, narrowing his eyes at me as he lowers his head. "Leverage," he mutters before he looks at the man next to him, firmly stating, "Let 'em know I'm serious."

My peripheral catches the view of the man beside me. My pulse is beating in my ears and then I feel only a flash of pain across my face. And then my body grows numb, my sight going dark.

. . .

I must be hallucinating. As my awareness returns, I feel like I'm being swung slightly, and I feel and hear the breath of someone else near me, above me. I grimace in pain and attempt to open my eyes, feeling a heavy ache on one side of my face. Squeezing them back instantly, I decide the light of my surroundings was too intense for me to take in, and so I groan, tormented by the discomfort my body is experiencing. After a few more seconds, it seems, I grow more aware and sense the area around me. I'm certain someone is carrying me, and I'm unsure of where I was, but I knew by the voice that spoke, that I was being carried by Axel.

"What the fuck happened to her, Axel?!" I hear a low voice.

"Ernest, Mr. Styles. He's unhappy with your move to dismiss the evidence of tampering, which he presented to you. He resorted to this," Axel explains dryly.

"I'm fully aware of what Ernest is capable of. I just want to know how the fuck this happened if you were supposed to be watching her, Axel."

"Sir, she took off suddenly. She must've gotten scared by one of Ernest's men...we lost her --"

"I don't want excuses," he darkly says. "You were supposed to be making sure Ernest stayed away from her. You didn't. Put her down, and contact Johnson to get my doctor in here right now. I don't want to lose my cool, so if there's not a medical professional in this fucking room in the next twenty minutes, you'll suffer the consequences," Harry nearly snarls at Axel.

I'm being put down onto the sofa, turning my head and groaning. I was so desperate to open my eyes, but I felt a hand come to touch my face, certainly examining whatever evidence was left on my face of the past events. A loud, frustrated sigh is heard near me, and then I hear Harry call out, "Axel...take care of Ernest. You know what to do."

"Yes, sir," Axel responds.

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This is the last part I'm posting on Wattpad. The rest of the story is on Patreon! You can find the whole story up to Part 43 on my Patreon --> patreon.com/zeffervescent or the link is in my profile bio! Thanks for reading!