The Heart's Desires 1

Stephen smirked as he gazed out at the city skyline from his penthouse apartment. He had returned to his old ways, leaving the pretence of a reformed man behind. Kyra's rejection had stung, but he had quickly bounced back, reclaiming his title as the city's most eligible bachelor.

His phone buzzed with messages from admirers, and his calendar was filled with dates and social events. He had continued his lucrative loan-sharking business, using his charm and good looks to lure in vulnerable clients.

As he poured himself a glass of scotch, he couldn't help but think of Kyra. She had thought she was too good for him, but he had proven her wrong. He was back on top, living the life he loved.

The doorbell rang, and Stephen smiled, expecting another conquest. He opened the door to find a stunning woman, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Hey, handsome," she purred, slipping into his arms.

Stephen grinned, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. He was back in the game, and no one could bring him down.

As the night wore on, Stephen's apartment was filled with the sound of laughter and music, the stunning woman, whose name was Ruby, proving to be a captivating companion. They danced, they drank, and they laughed, Stephen's mind momentarily forgetting about Kyra.

But as the hours passed, and Ruby's lips traced the lines of his face, Stephen's thoughts drifted back to the one woman who had ever truly moved him, Kyra. He couldn't help but wonder what she was doing at that moment, if she was thinking of him too.

Ruby's voice broke through his reverie, her words husky and seductive. "You're a hard man to forget, Stephen. I will leave traces of my love in your heart so that you won't forget me, you are charming."

Stephen's eyes locked onto Ruby's, his gaze burning with intensity. He knew what she was offering, and he was tempted. Oh, so tempted. For in the arms of this beautiful stranger, he could find solace, if only for a night.

And so, he surrendered to the pleasure, letting Ruby's kisses wash away the memories of Kyra, if only temporarily.

He was back in the game, and he would play it to win, no matter the cost. For in the world of Stephen, the godfather, love was just a game, and he was the master player.

But just as the first light of dawn crept into the sky, Stephen's gaze turned icy, his voice dripping with dismissal. "Ruby, it's time to leave. Our transaction is complete."

Ruby's eyes widened, her face still flushed with desire. "But Stephen, don't you feel it? The connection between us? It's real, I know it is."

Stephen's smile was calculating, his eyes glinting with a hint of mockery. "Connection? You mean the connection between my wallet and your bank account? That's the only connection that matters, Ruby."

Ruby's face fell, her eyes filling with tears. "You're cruel, Stephen. You're a heartless, selfish—"

Stephen's hand slammed against the wall, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "Don't dare judge me, Ruby. You were paid to pleasure me, nothing more. Don't try to pretend it was ever more than that."

Ruby's voice trembled, her eyes locked on his. "But it was more. For me, at least. I fell for you, Stephen, hard."

Stephen's laughter was cold, his eyes glinting with a hint of satisfaction. "You fell for the illusion, Ruby. The illusion of a man who doesn't exist. I'm like a ghost, a shadow, a mere specter of a human being. And you're just a pawn in my game of pleasure and power."

Ruby's eyes flashed with anger, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're a monster, Stephen. A monster who consumes and discards. But I won't be discarded. I won't be forgotten."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving Stephen to his arrogance, his eyes gleaming with a hint of curiosity. For in that moment, he realized that Ruby was not like the others. For no woman has ever spoken to him the way Ruby just did, with disrespect and yet confidence.

Stephen' shrugged off the encounter with Ruby, his mind already focused on the next deal, the next conquest. He spent the day wheeling and dealing, his empire expansion with each passing hour. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, his thoughts turned to the one thing he couldn't seem to conquer: love.

He hit the nightclubs, his eyes scanning the crowds for a glimpse of someone, that could fill the void left by Kyra. He danced with strangers, flirted with different girls but nothing seemed to fill the emptiness inside.

Tired, Stephen went for a drink and just then, he spotted his friends: Jeffrey and Mason sitting at the bar, drinking, he approached them to drink wine them.