Chapter 36: The VIP Package and The Dealmaker

POV Shift: Victoria Sterling

Victoria, still feeling the brutal ache in her muscles, regained her footing and quickly fixed her professional face. She walked with a slight, almost imperceptible stiffness towards the curb where a sleek black armored SUV was waiting. The Head of Security, Agent Alpha, held the rear door open.

She slid into the cool leather seat. Her first move was grabbing her personal phone and punching in a number.

"It’s me. Done. Signed and sealed," Victoria stated flatly into the receiver.

The voice on the other end—a gravelly, powerful male voice—sounded instantly pleased. "Excellent. You handled it well. Agent Alpha told me you were in there for a couple of hours closing the deal, eh? Ha!"

Victoria rolled her eyes, leaning her head back against the headrest. "Let’s just say he was a very demanding client, Boss. Maybe too damn demanding."

Her boss laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. "I bet. So, did you manage to get any solid intel on who bought the house, or who’s bankrolling this kid?"

Victoria paused, her gaze drifting out the window. Intel? She remembered Ethan’s body slamming her against the tiles, the way her own frantic screams had been muffled by the running water. She’d planned to ask, she really had. But the moment Ethan started fucking her savagely, the truth was, getting intel became the last goddamn thing she could think about. The guy was an absolute beast in terms of stamina, and he had some seriously good moves that made her feel heaven and hell simultaneously.

She let out a quiet sigh. "No, Boss, I couldn’t pull any information. The client is extremely private, barely talked. I didn’t wanna spook someone this important, so I kept things as discreet as possible. Didn’t want him sensing anything weird."

The boss made a low "Mmm" sound. "I understand. Doesn’t matter. You did good work. Send the papers through the encrypted line immediately. I want that money in escrow by end of day."

"Of course, Boss. I’m pulling up to the main gate office right now to send them."

"Good. And listen," the Boss’s voice dropped, becoming steel-hard. "Tell the agents I want zero fuck-ups. This is a VIP. You know what needs to happen."

"Understood, I’ll pass the word." Victoria hung up, tossing the phone onto the seat beside her.

They were pulling up to the gatehouse, which was secretly the high-security field office for the Celestial Garden development. Victoria opened her door and stepped out.

Agent Alpha, the Head of Security, was instantly beside her, standing ramrod straight due to protocol, despite their familiarity.

Victoria didn’t mince words. Her voice was ice-cold, all professional authority now.

"Listen up, Alpha," she commanded. "The Boss just confirmed it: Blake is a VIP. There is absolutely no room for incompetence or any bullshit with this client. You offer him the luxury security package, and anything else he needs, period. If you or your boys screw this up—even slightly—you know exactly what happens to you, and what happens to your goddamn families."

Agent Alpha’s jaw clenched, his hands tightening into fists at his sides, though he kept his expression perfectly neutral. "Understood and received, Madam. He will be treated as deserved."

Without another word, Victoria walked past him and entered the discreet office building. She went straight to the secure scanner to process the contract. As the papers were humming through the machine, her other phone buzzed.

It was Alexandria.

"

What gives, Vicki?

I was waiting for your call. Thought maybe something bad happened," Alexandria said, that playful, seductive tone already in her voice.

Vicki chuckled, tapping a manicured nail on the desk. "

No trouble, Alex. The meeting just ran a little longer than anticipated. Everything’s in order.

"

Alexandria’s voice dropped, full of wicked curiosity. "

A little longer? Honey, you sound like you just finished a marathon. Did you have to open your legs for him to sign the contract?

" she quipped, laughing. "

Although, knowing you—and knowing what a slut you are, and how much you love being stuffed like a turkey on Christmas—I bet you offered yourself up to the pretty boy. That just makes me want to meet him more.

"

Victoria sighed, a genuine, tired sound, but her voice was warm with remembrance. "

Maybe, maybe not. I won’t lie; he’s completely my type. And I didn’t mind spreading my legs for someone that sexy. I’ll bet you a million dollars you open yours when you meet him, too.

"

"

Ooh, a million, huh? High stakes, even for me.

But tell me, tell me everything," Alexandria urged, her tone turning intimate. "

Did he go down on you? Where did he put that tongue? Did he get you off better than I do?

"

Vicki hesitated for a beat, a wicked grin pulling at her lips. She wanted to be coy, but the memory was too fresh, too intense.

"

That’s sensitive information, Alex.

You know I keep my work separate from my... private life," Victoria teased, though she was already relenting. "

But I’ll give you this much:

The way he ate my pussy in that shower, with the champagne and the way he sucked on me...

It was aggressive, animalistic.

He didn’t ask; he just

took

what he wanted."

Alexandria let out a low, satisfied gasp. "

God, Vicki, you’re killing me! Aggressive and animalistic... My favorite combo.

You’re trying to make me jealous, aren’t you?"

"

Jealous? Never, darling. Just giving you a heads-up.

" Victoria’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "

And let’s just say his

stamina

is... legendary. He ran through my whole menu, twice, and I had to beg for mercy by the end. You’re going to see him tomorrow morning, right?

"

"

I’m clearing my entire morning schedule. I need to see if he’s worth the collateral damage he clearly inflicted on you,

" Alexandria stated, her interest now fully peaked.

"

Good.

I’m sending the admission papers over now. He’ll be there tomorrow at ten in the morning," Victoria confirmed, sealing the deal. Her final thought was pure mischief:

"Wait till Alex sees the actual size of that package.

I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she realizes what she’s dealing with.

She’s going to crumble."

"

I’ll be waiting anxiously, darling. Very, very anxiously,

" Alexandria replied, the line clicking off.