Chapter 1: Technical Prowess
The night was deep.
A flash of lightning illuminated the presidential suite on the 88th floor, revealing the scene within.
Jane was pressed against the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, waves of relentless pleasure washing over her, seemingly without end.
As her consciousness drifted, she felt herself being turned over in strong arms.
The heat of a body pressed against her back, and a deep, husky voice whispered in her ear, accompanied by a slight chuckle that sounded like a demon's murmur—cold and merciless:
"Quite bold of you to climb into my bed."
Another flash of lightning crossed the sky. Jane lifted her gaze slightly, catching her disheveled reflection in the window glass, shoulders trembling.
How shameless, she thought to herself.
Jane lowered her eyelids and replied with a soft laugh, "Mr. Payne, your technique is impressive. I can't say I'm at a loss either, am I?"
"Hmph."
His response was an ambiguous laugh, partly mocking, partly scornful. The man grew increasingly dominant and fierce. Jane let out a muffled groan as the remaining syllables of her words shattered along with what little dignity she had left.
The next day, daylight flooded the room.
Jane had finished washing up and was fully dressed, standing before the full-length mirror adjusting her collar when a hand with distinct knuckles reached from behind, gently brushing aside a strand of hair that had fallen by her ear.
The mirror reflected the man's face.
His features were exceptionally refined—sharp eyebrows, piercing eyes, thin lips slightly curved, and dark, intense eyes that carried both a casual and cutting light.
The man was tall and imposing, his every movement exuding the pressure of someone long accustomed to authority.
Truly befitting the ruler of the Parker family in Cloud City.
Jane had anticipated that after calculating to get this man into bed with a glass of strong liquor last night, she would inevitably face terrible retribution.
But it didn't matter; she had achieved her goal.
"They say Mr. Payne keeps his word. I'll be waiting for your good news." Jane smiled sweetly, tilting her head to look at the man behind her.
If one could ignore the tense atmosphere, the intimate posture of the two might have suggested they were a loving couple.
"You really aren't afraid of death, are you?"
Payne reached out and gripped Jane's chin, narrowing his eyes, his tone cold and dangerous. "You scheme against me, and still dare to make demands?"
Feeling his grip gradually tightening, Jane remained unfazed, still smiling as she replied, "Scheme sounds so harsh. The truth is, Mr. Payne, your charm is simply irresistible."
"Hmph."
Payne's lips twitched, his expression growing colder.
Yet because of Jane's comment about being irresistible, a scene from the previous night flashed through his mind, and his eyes revealed an indecipherable light. Eventually, he loosened his grip.
Even so, Jane's skin had reddened, bearing the imprint of his fingers.
Payne stared at the mark, his gaze dark and unreadable.
"Thank you for your mercy, Mr. Payne."
Jane nimbly slipped from his grasp and walked away gracefully in her high heels.
Only after safely exiting the hotel did Jane look back. Seeing no one following her, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Her tense back relaxed slightly, and the smile vanished from her face.
Jane stood by the roadside and hailed a taxi.
What she didn't know was that after she left, in the penthouse suite of the hotel, information about her was being presented to the man.
Payne, now fully dressed, casually glanced at the file and scoffed, "This is too clean. Are you sure you've investigated thoroughly?"
The assistant standing beside him respectfully replied, "Yes, Mr. Payne. Everything we found is here. This Miss Jane... her background is indeed simple."
"A simple background doesn't mean a simple person."
Payne adjusted his cuffs, his mind conjuring the image of Jane's smiling face.
He had to admit, it was indeed a beautiful face—bright eyes, every smile and frown as enchanting as a siren.
Unfortunately, her intentions were impure, willing to employ any means necessary to climb the social ladder.
Just another manipulative woman with a pretty face.
Payne stood up, his gaze sweeping casually across the room, landing on the disheveled bed.
A striking red stain on the snow-white sheets, more vivid than any flower.
"Mr. Payne?"
Seeing Payne pause, the assistant could only repeat his question, "Regarding the conditions Miss Jane proposed, we can completely refuse, and furthermore, we could..."
Before the assistant could finish, Payne frowned.
The assistant immediately fell silent.
"Accept her conditions," Payne said coldly, tossing back a final comment as he strode out, "I'm not one to break my word to a woman."
The assistant quickly followed after regaining his composure, respectfully acknowledging, "Yes, Mr. Payne."
...
Jane clutched a bouquet of flowers as she stepped out of the taxi, facing the cold, damp wind as she entered the burned-out shell of what was once a villa.
The once warm and beautiful courtyard now lay desolate and ruined.
With each step closer, she could almost see the towering flames from that day years ago.
Jane pushed open the rust-covered door, bent down, and placed the flowers on a broken dining table, softly saying, "Mom, I'm back."
Dust particles floated in the air around her. No one answered.
Jane closed her eyes briefly.
Her phone rang at that moment.
"Hello?"
Jane answered the call.
The voice on the other end sounded anxious and helpless:
"Why are you approaching Payne? You know this Mr. Payne has connections to the Johnson family. If you're exposed, you'll be in danger!"
"Jane, just wait a little longer. We've never stopped investigating what happened back then. Eventually..."
"There's no time left," Jane interrupted. "This is my last chance."
This villa once echoed with laughter and joy, but now only charred remains and ashes covered the floor.
This was her home.
Her family destroyed, the culprits behind it all continued to enjoy fame and fortune, still held in high esteem as great philanthropists!
How ironic!
Jane spoke coldly, emphasizing each word:
"The Johnson family is planning to wash their hands clean. In six months at most, they'll have completely whitewashed themselves. By then, all evidence will be gone, and no one will be able to hold them accountable. Those who died unjustly will never have a chance for vindication."
"My sister Jenny is still in the hospital. That slash to her throat—she took it in my place."
"I can't forget my mother's death."
"And my father too."
"I need to know what happened to him. At the very least... I need to find his body."
Jane slowly stood up, forcing back the tears in her eyes, leaving only resolute determination.
"No one can stop me on this path."
Jane hung up the phone abruptly.
As she turned, a breeze swept through the room, like a gentle hand caressing her face.
Jane walked away with determined steps, never looking back.
As she got into the car, her phone chimed with a text message.
The sender's tone was strictly professional:
[Miss Jane, Mr. Payne has agreed to your conditions. As you wished, Saturday at 8 PM, headlining at Lee Garden.]
Jane lowered her eyes.
It seemed her previous investigation hadn't been in vain. Though Payne was unpredictable, he was indeed a man of his word.
Even though she had tricked him into bed with a glass of strong liquor, causing the normally woman-averse Mr. Payne to break his own rule, he still honored his promise and agreed to her conditions.
Lee Garden—the most inconspicuous of the Parker family's many properties, yet coincidentally the most elegant venue in Cloud City.
Though to outsiders, it was merely a theater stage.
And she had gone to great lengths, all for one perfect performance!
...
Saturday.
Outside, the music played vigorously, and the show at Lee Garden was about to begin.
Jane sat before the makeup mirror, carefully drawing her eyebrows. Her eyes sparkled with an undisguised brilliance, every expression captivating.
"Time to go on stage!" a staff member called out.
Before stepping onto the stage, Jane glanced at her phone, where a new message had appeared:
[Target has arrived.]