Kiss (3)

"He's fast asleep, and you know he's a heavy sleeper. Don't I deserve a reward and bribe for all the work I'll be doing?" Kaiser asked her sweetly as he tightly held onto her waist and brought her close to him.

As he maintained eye contact with her, Kaiser pulled a strand of her hair and pressed it to his lips. "I think I did a pretty good job, don't you? You got a free lesson in being a bad person, and I handled a potentially problematic issue for you. So Valentina, where's my reward?"

Despite his sly smile, she could see the earnestness in his eyes, but she knew she couldn't give him a pass here. Otherwise, this bad behavior would continue.

Sighing, she brushed her fingers through her hair before pushing away from him, "Kaiser, fine. I've understood your point, and I won't do something against Aaliyah until I cover all my bases and make sure I won't get caught. But you have to promise not to do something like this again."

"No can do. I don't care if you plot against her, but if Aaliyah does anything to you and I catch her, I will hit her back twice as hard. She's lucky I haven't directly removed her from the film. You're my people, Valentina, and I don't want to see you getting hurt. Especially by someone from the Salazar family."

"Kaiser." She called his name in warning, but he shook his head adamantly.

"I won't compromise on this. What's done is done, and I don't regret my actions. Aaliyah should be happy I stopped here, and Antonio Salazar better not touch you again, or he'll lose that hand. I don't like people touching my things." Kaiser replied back with an unapologetic smile. 

Seeing him reply confidently with no remorse, she glared at him, "First, I'm not your thing. And Two words, Kaiser. Power imbalance. You didn't ask me if I wanted people to know that I cough up blood or if I wanted to be shown in such a vulnerable state. Now, for all posterity, the video of me being hurt like that will live on the web forever. While it got the point across and stopped the media storm, it was definitely not in a way that I approve of, and I need you to understand that. You can't do things like that without consulting me."

As the two of them stared at each other, Kaiser was the one who looked away first with a contrite expression.

"… you're right. I didn't think about that part. I still don't regret grabbing the film and clearing your name, but I can see why you would not be pleased with the video being out. I'll have my assistant put out a takedown notice for the video and send out a cease and desist memo to everyone. Still, I can't promise I won't act again if I see a potentially bad situation like this."

"…There better be more words coming after that statement," Valentina continued, glaring at him while crossing her arms. She wouldn't be fooled by the slightly repentant look on his face.

"But I can promise to consult you first before I do something like this and not follow through if you tell me no. I'm not trying to overwrite your will and make decisions for you or control your life. I'm just looking out for you and protecting you the best way I know how. I know how dark and evil people and the media can be, and it's better for someone like me, who has power and experience dealing with that kind of dirt, to make a move than someone innocent like you."

"I understand you are trying to protect me, but I don't like you messing around with my life, and I don't like you making decisions about situations involving me without consulting me about it. And I'm not some innocent plant in a greenhouse."

"Aren't you? No matter how I look at it, you're definitely more of a bunny rabbit than a big bad wolf. Let's take this incident. You're out on top, and nobody suspects you. Didn't I do a good job? Shouldn't you properly accept my help from now on?" Kaiser asked with a sly smile while pulling her hands down, intertwining their fingers, and placing her free hand on his head.

Sighing, Valentina patted it obligingly, sinking her fingers into the thick strands and massaging his head. 

Feeling the slender fingers stroke his head, Kaiser couldn't help but close his eyes and groan. As he was going to bring her fingers to her lips, he felt a light hit to his head.

"Although it pains me to admit it, you did do a good job, and you've really helped me out. Although I don't like you going behind my back and doing things without my permission, I admit that it was effective."

"Why do you sound so upset about it?" Kaiser couldn't help but laugh as he heard her unwilling tone.

"Because I am." She shot him a glare, "It would be stupid for me to turn down your offer of help; however, I don't like you doing things behind my back. If you plan on continuing to interfere without consulting me and doing things my way, I would rather figure things out myself and leave. I'll do my due diligence with Luca and have absolutely nothing to do with you ever again."

"Now, we wouldn't want that," Kaiser replied jokingly, but seeing that she was serious, continued, "I don't think you need to get your hands dirty handling nitty gritty details. Just do whatever you want, and trust me to handle the fallout in the best way. After all, I have more experience in being a bad person than you do."

"I don't particularly think you're a bad person. Cocky, full of yourself, rude, annoying, bossy, sly, a bit clingy, but not bad," Valentina replied with a smirk causing Kaiser to burst out laughing.

"…I will choose to take that as a compliment, but I assure you I'm not a good person. Being wealthy and being a leader in the business world, my hands are not the cleanest. Scared?"

Valentina blinked twice at him before asking, "Have you killed anybody?"

"Directly or indirectly?"

Valetina: "..."

Kaiser: "..."

What kind of answer was that? Somewhat regretting her curiosity, she clarified. "Both?"

"Not that I know of," Kaiser replied blandly.

"Then I don't care," Valentina replied with a shrug. "If anything, I want you to coach me."

"…You want me to coach you in…being a bad person?"

"Yep! Clearly, you're an expert. You're always tricking me, tricking Roman, and who knows who else, and can clearly see all the holes in people's plans and counterattack, so why don't you turn me into a proper villainess? That way, I can become as bad as you and mess people up while getting away with it."

Kaiser: "..." why was it always a backhanded compliment? What happened to compliments like being smart or handsome?

Kaiser could only stare at Valentina blankly before reaching out his hand and patting her forehead while comparing it with his own.

"I don't have a fever." Valentina slapped his hand away in irritation as he reached out to feel her neck.

"…Psychosis? Should I call the psychologist?"

"No."

"Sleep talking?"

"I am perfectly fine. Kaiser, I'm serious. I'm not a helpless bunny. Since you think I'm not up to par, rather than handling all issues for me, help guide me in what to do. I need to be able to protect myself, especially once our contract is over or you lose interest in me. Teach me."

Hearing her mention the contract between them, Kaiser narrowed his eyes thoughtfully before replying.

"I'll agree if you do three things for me." Seeing her suspicious look, Kaiser laughed, "It's nothing bad, I promise. If you agree, I won't interfere again without your permission and properly listen to you."

"Fine. What do you want?"

"Pick a day for our date. Within the next couple weeks and definitely, before this contract you like mentioning is over. I told you I want to take you out."

"Fine. And the second?"

Kaiser reached out and brushed over her lips with a light touch of his fingers, marveling at the soft, springy texture.

"A kiss, Valentina. Properly on my lips. And after that, you and I will have a very clear conversation about our relationship."

"…Do I have to?" Valentina asked unwillingly.

"No, but I guess I'll continue acting how I want. I don't mind if you don't." 

"You suck," Valentina replied while pouting.

"Apparently, I'm a bad man. It comes with the territory. What do you say?" Kaiser replied with a smirk.

"Shameless. After making me angry, you're still asking for a kiss?"

"Haven't we fought and made up already?"

"Bold of you to assume I've forgiven you."

"Ah. That's fair. Shall I beg and apologize?"

"Yes." Valentina unhesitatingly reported.

Giving her a sly smile, Kaiser carefully climbed off the bed and got on his knees beside it. Carefully grasping her legs in both hands, he positioned himself between them and looked up at her.

"Valentina. I promise to do better in the future, to listen to you in all things, and to consult you before making any decisions that concern you and your career. Can you forgive me?"

Hearing the deep voice call her name while the gray eyes stared at her with a begging, puppylike expression, Valentina could feel blood rush to her head, and she was sure that her face was bright red. She immediately hid her face with her hands, but Kaiser gently pulled them down.

"Valentina? Forgive me? Please?" Hearing him beg again, she felt her will weakening. Her heart couldn't take it! Forgive, forgive. She would forgive him! Anything to get him away.

"…Yes. Now, please stop looking at me like that."

"Why?"

"…Too handsome." She muttered, and hearing her words, Kaiser gave her a boyish smile.

"Good to know that this face of mine is quite effective. Now, my reward?"