Mixed Feelings

Max, the mansion butler was surprised to see his boss with a beautiful lady when he opened the door. He smiled and stepped aside, welcoming them politely.

Phoenix admired the mature but humble and professionally dressed butler. His neatly trimmed and styled grey hair reminded her of her sweet nanny, years back.

A sad thought crossed her mind as she remembered her nanny's horrific screaming voice the day the assassins came for her. It had been just a week of mourning her parent's death. Years later, when she sought out her nanny in disguise, she discovered that her nanny died a month after her disappearance due to heartbreak. This enraged her so much that she went on a killing spree until her blood thirst was satisfied.

"Phoenix, welcome to my humble home," Dex smiled.

"Hmm... Humble you say!" Her temporal sadness disappeared as her eyes glimmered with admiration. She genuinely complemented the tastefully and luxuriously decorated interior.

The mansion's living room was elegantly decorated and furnished with customized, rare, and magnificent art wares. An elaborate crown ceiling - where a huge crystal chandelier holding many shimmering lights hung distinctively.

The mansion was also equipped with many bedrooms, a lounge, an internal and external swimming pool, an exquisite dining section, and a captivating view through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

"So you live alone in this huge mansion and in such a lonely area?" Phoenix grinned as she mentally pictured her three days of extensive exploration of the mansion. "Don't you get lonely?"

"Yes, I live alone." Dex walked up to her and stood behind her. "However, since you are here, I would appreciate it, if you make it your second home."

"What a generous and delicious offer." Phoenix turned around to face him. "You never cease to amaze me, pretty boy." She stroked his chin softly. "I will keep that offer of yours in mind. Why don't you be a good boy..." She leaned closer to Dex, brushing her lips delicately on his ears, "...and show me to my room. I need to take my rest now. Except, you intend to give me a body massage." She trailed her fingers sensationally from his chin to his neck, and down his softly thumping chest, stopping a few inches below his abs.

Dex could feel his heartbeat increase as heat curled up his spine. Phoenix was tormenting him and she was enjoying it so well. He felt helpless at her charm and fascinated at her beauty. Before she could go any lower below his abs, he caught her hand and placed it gently on his shoulder.

"If a massage will make you feel relaxed, then I offer you my expertise." He closed up the little space between them. "You're one incredible beauty and all my crazy mind can think of right now is kissing you."

Phoenix felt a peaceful warmth creep into her heart at his gentle touch. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this way.

Ever since her parent's death and attempted assassination on her life, Phoenix had gone through horrific ordeals of being assaulted by men. Her body had only been a tool for their pleasure. They took great satisfaction in ravishing her when she was just a naive helpless teenager, looking for redemption. Her alluring body had been one of the reasons that kept her alive.

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Phoenix's memory flashbacks to when she was just fifteen years old before she met her teacher and saviour, Master Lin. She had just been bought over by a top mafia warlord. He kept her prisoner in his magnificent fortress and used her to tame his monstrous sexual appetite. For three traumatic months, she was used and abused until she felt nothing for the opposite sex. During those three months, there were times, when she wished for death. She felt no purpose in staying alive since the world was against her.

Fortune shone on her path the day her mafia warlord captor crossed paths with a fierce underworld gang. Everyone in the fortress was mercilessly wiped out except for her. Even though she begged for death, she was given life. She was brought over to Master Lin; who took her in as a daughter and helped mend her broken spirit. He gave her a new identity and trained her in the art of harnessing her inner strength through martial arts.

After spending two solid years with Master Lin, Phoenix was enlisted into the Atricon gang. This gang became her new family and with their help, she sought revenge on all those who used and abused her while she was seeking help.

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Phoenix stared into Dex's lustfully beaming eyes and her countenance suddenly changed. Her eyes turned frosty as she imagined Dex as one of the men in her past horrific life who abused her. She swiftly grabbed the collar of his shirt and started choking him.

"Don't tempt me, pretty boy. I might kill you earlier than expected." She released him from her grip and shoved him aside. "Take me to my room, now!" She commanded him in an irritated tone.

Dex was weakened by her sudden coldness. It was as though something was eating her up within. One minute she was smiling and the next, she turned into a terrifying beast. He adjusted the collar of his shirt and cleared his voice. "Max," he called out in a deep voice.

Max, who was a room away, briskly stepped into the sitting room. "Yes, Mr. Dex," he bowed politely.

"Take the gorgeous lady to one of my best rooms and ensure she is comfortable," Dex ordered in a rather harsh tone.

"You don't have to be mean to him, Dex." Phoenix gave him a disapproving glare.

"If you feel riled up, channel your frustrations appropriately. You asked for this, remember." She smirked and walked over to an alarmed Max. Her demeanor swiftly changes again like a chameleon.

"Max, thanks for your warm hospitality," she softly took Max's trembling hands. "Please, forgive your boss for his arrogant behavior. I promise you, he would never behave in that manner again towards you for as long as I'm around." She slightly turned her attention to a puzzled Dex.

"I... I... I... I'm..." Max's face turned white as a sheet. He was so terrified at the elegant lady's insolence to their most feared and unforgiving boss.

Max was stunned by the way Dex was allowing the lady to talk to him like a nobody. Dex wasn't the type to frolic with the lady folk. He wasn't the type to allow people to disrespect him. Obviously, this lady has no idea who she is dealing with.

Max looked pleadingly in Dex's direction. He feared that he might suffer the consequences of her misbehavior.

'Why me?' Max mourned silently as many questions clamored for attention in his mind. 'Why did Dex bring her home? Why was he acting like a wimp in her presence? Why is she so mean to the boss but nice to him? Would this be the end of his twenty-five years of loyalty to the Logans?

"Max, don't keep the lovely lady waiting." Dex shot Max an annoying stare. "You heard her loud and..."

"I just corrected you about your rudeness to Max and you're doing it all over again. Don't you have respect for his grey hair?" Phoenix's eyes shot fiery darts at Dex.

"M...m...madam..." Max stuttered in mortification.

"Phoenix, Max! Call me Phoenix," She spoke softly to him. She gently took Max's excessively trembling arms and led him away from Dex. "Tell me more about yourself." Her voice trailed off as they both climbed up the stairs.

Dex stood transfixed on a spot, gawking at Phoenix's disappearing figure. He couldn't believe his eyes on what just went down. Phoenix has chosen to be nice to Max instead of him who was practically doing everything to please her.

"Does she have an interest in men with grey hair?" He mused incoherently. "Does she find me appalling? Did she mean it when she said she wanted to kill me? I think a cold shower will help me suppress these burning desires. Tomorrow, I'll find out what it is to know about her and the bomb explosion at Artlyn Palace." He took in a deep breath and walked slowly toward his room.

******†

Detective Ivan smiled as he was given a list of all the guests invited to the masquerade ball. Undestroyed security camera footage outside the Artlyn Palace captured about thirty guests leaving the event, before the time of the explosion.

"I can bet a million bucks that one or more of these guests knew about the explosion," Ivan spoke confidently to his partner, William.

"So how do we unscramble their true identity as they are all wearing masks." William quizzed with a puzzled expression.

"They came in cars, right?" Ivan smirked at Williams.

"Right."

"Good! Track all the cars that left the premises before the explosion, and we'll get what we are looking for." Ivan spoke triumphantly.

A vibration in Ivan's pocket jolted him. He swiftly removed the phone from his pocket and answered the call.

"Hello sweetheart, shouldn't you be in bed by now?" He spoke sweetly to his wife.

"Detective Ivan, your thirty minutes is up!" A stranger's terrifyingly hoarse voice spoke.

BANG!

BANG!!

BANG!!!