The Don and His Diva

"Reveal your face to me, and I'll believe you."

Rhysand put forth his request and leaned forward on his desk with his hands under his chin. Although he wouldn't force her if she didn't wish to reveal her face, he hoped she agreed. He really wanted to see how she looked behind her disguise.

"Are you telling the truth?"

Maril was doubtful. The man's request was bizarre, but she understood his sentiments. If showing her face stopped the trouble from approaching her, then she didn't mind discarding her disguise. But she needed assurance. She needed his word that she would be allowed to leave after that.

"Yes. You have my word. Show me your face and you're free to go."

"Fine," Maril huffed. "Remove the handcuffs first." Her wrists were still cuffed behind her back and her shoulders were slowly starting to ache. What torture!

Rhysand cleared his throat in embarrassment and stood up.

'Woah!' Maril silently exclaimed when she saw his height.

The man before her was tall, the perfect height she had envisioned her future partner to have. His gait was impeccable and Maril examined him to her heart's content. He had the perfect body, the suit he was wearing made him look like a model for some high-end fashion brand.

Rhysand approached her back and removed her cuffs and Maril sighed deeply in relief. Her strained shoulders finally got some relief.

Slowly, she stretched her arms and swung her hands to ease the pain. But soon, her expression changed when she saw the bite marks on her wrists. The handcuffs had bitten into her skin, and now, it had gone red.

Maril was seething and disgruntled. This was the first time someone had treated her unfairly, and that too, for no fault of hers.

'I should have discarded the file along with that fool. Why did I put myself in trouble for trying to be kind?' she berated herself and vowed to never get involved in others' matters from henceforth. Otherwise, she'd be the one to get hurt.

Rhysand saw the marks on her wrists and his lips parted for a moment. Guilt consumed him, and he didn't know what to say. His mindless actions had hurt the lady when she was not even at fault. She was only trying to help. But he...

'What did I do?' he thought in despair as he looked at her wrists. 'When did I become so irrational to not think about others?'

Rhysand had no intention of hurting her. Never. He was intrigued by her and just wanted to meet her. But he knew the lady would never agree to meet him and would resort to all means to escape. So, he had come up with this plan to subdue her. Who knew that he would, in turn, end up hurting her?

He clenched his fists as he tried to speak something. But words failed him in that situation, and he stood before her contritely.

"You gave me your word. I hope you'll adhere to it."

He heard the lady speak and didn't miss her obvious fury. She was irate, more than she had previously been. She had every right to be. It was all his fault.

Rhysand just nodded as he stood like a statue. He still didn't speak.

"Fine then."

Maril removed her cap first and her pitch-black hair cascaded down her shoulders. They were long and shiny and reached her waist. She then removed her sunglasses and her dark brown eyes stared back at him. There was so much intensity and fire in them that Rhysand's heart skipped a beat. He had never seen such captivating eyes and, for the first time, he felt an odd feeling sprout in his heart.

Maril ignored him and finally, removed her mask.

The moment he saw her face, Rhysand felt the entire world dim. She was the only one in his eyes. His gaze lowered to her pink, luscious lips tinted with lip gloss.

Although she wasn't the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, she was definitely the most attractive woman he had ever met. It was not just her features that attracted him to her, but her personality as well.

Rhysand had never been in a serious relationship. It had only been casual flings. His current feelings were foreign to him. But he knew what they meant - he had taken a liking to her.

"Are you satisfied now?" Maril questioned, disregarding the goosebumps that had emerged on her skin the moment she had removed her mask. She just wanted to leave the place as soon as possible.

"Thank you," Rhysand mumbled distractedly. He didn't know what he was saying.

"Am I allowed to leave then?"

"Yes."

Maril covered her face again and, without another word, walked towards the door.

"Lady..."

She stopped when she heard his gentle voice. 'Gentle? Are you capable of being gentle?' She scoffed silently.

"I am sorry for the trouble you faced today. Please forgive me."

"Whatever." Maril brushed him off impatiently before walking out of the office.

Luca was playing a game on his phone just outside the office. When the door was pulled open suddenly, he saw the lady march off in a rage.

'What's wrong with her?' he wondered and entered the office room, only to find his Boss sitting on the chair. His mask was now off and he was rubbing his forehead. He seemed to be lost in thoughts and Luca didn't know if he should speak or not.

"Did she leave?" Rhysand questioned when he sensed Luca's presence.

"I think so, Don. What happened? Is everything alright?" Luca didn't know what had transpired after he left the room. But his Boss' behavior was making him antsy and his mind started to contrive wild theories.

Rhysand nodded and unlocked his laptop, the surveillance software springing to life. He then focused on the entrance doors and a few seconds later, he detected the lady he had taken a liking to.

"Did something happen, Don? What's wrong?" Luca couldn't fathom what was happening. His Boss was behaving weirdly, the lady was behaving weirdly. Everyone was behaving weirdly.

"Nothing. Let's go."

"Where to, Don?"

"To the casino."

Rhysand sat in the car while Luca drove towards the casino.

Although Luca kept speaking something gibberish, Rhysand turned a deaf ear to him, His thoughts were filled with the woman he had hurt.

Hurt... Every time he recalled those marks on her wrists, his heart ached slightly. His fists clenched and the order to divert the car in the direction they had first followed her lay on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to tend to her wounds and ask her for forgiveness for what he had done.

But he stopped himself in time. Firstly, the lady herself wouldn't be interested in meeting him and, secondly, he didn't have the heart to disturb her at that time of the night. Although to him, the night was still early, but to a lot of people, it was late at night. So, he gave up the thought of going to her.

When he reached the casino, his men were waiting for him outside his office. Nodding at them curtly, he entered his office.

"How's everything going, Enzo?"

"Don, everything's under control."

"Good." Rhysand nodded and picked up the previous night's report. "Santiago failed in his attempt to get the file today. Keep an eye on him. He will come up with another plan soon."

"Yes, Don," all the men replied at once.

"Is there anything else?" Rhysand's eyes lifted from the report, and he quirked a brow at them enquiringly.

"No, Don."

"You may leave." Rhysand returned to the report in his hand but paused when a notion popped up in his mind.

"Anthony, stay. I have some work for you."