The room was bathed in the dim glow of city lights filtering through half-drawn blinds. The scent of antiseptic lingered faintly beneath something richer—whiskey, leather, and the quiet tension of a conversation that wasn’t just a conversation.
Li Vane stood near the window, her silhouette sharp against the skyline. She wore a tailored bck dress, her posture rexed but deliberate—a politician’s poise, a queen-in-waiting’s confidence.
Hezri lounged in his chair, swirling a gss of bourbon, watching her.
"You’ve been busy," he said, voice low.
Li turned, her lips curving. "You gave me the tools. I’m just using them."
A pause. Then—
"Elise thinks she’s still in control."
Hezri’s smirk was barely there. "Does she?"
Li stepped closer, her heels silent on the polished floor.
"One hundred seventy-three loyalty pledges," she murmured. "All under my name. Not hers."
Hezri took a slow sip. "And if I told you to cut her out tomorrow?"
Li didn’t hesitate. "I’d ask how public you want the fallout to be."
A beat. Then Hezri ughed, soft and approving.
"Good answer."
He set the gss down, studying her. "But you’re not here to talk about Elise."
Li exhaled, her mask slipping just enough to reveal the hunger beneath.
"You’ve given me everything," she said. "The apartment. The Ferrari. The political leverage. But I’m still… outside."
Her gaze flicked to the door—where the others had been summoned, anointed, cimed.
"When do I get in?"
Hezri leaned back, his eyes dark with amusement.
"You’re here, aren’t you?"
The air between them grew thick, charged with something deeper than politics or power. Li’s breath hitched as Hezri’s fingers traced the line of her jaw, his touch featherlight yet searing.
"I only trust women who share my bed," he murmured, his voice a velvet rasp. "Body and soul id bare. No masks. No games."
Li’s cheeks flushed, her pulse fluttering like a trapped bird. She was inexperienced, yes—but not naive. She understood what he was asking. What she was agreeing to.
I trust you," she whispered.
Hezri’s thumb brushed her lower lip, his dark eyes searching hers. "Prove it."
His kiss was unhurried, a masterful exploration. Lips parting, breaths mingling, the world narrowing to the heat between them. Li melted into him, her hands trembling as they slid up his chest, learning the hard pnes of muscle beneath his shirt.
Hezri pulled back just enough to speak, his voice rough. "Tell me you want this."
"I want this," she gasped. "I want you."
Clothes fell away like petals—his hands deft, hers unsure but eager. The cool hospital air kissed her skin, but his gaze burned hotter. He traced the curve of her colrbone, the dip of her waist, as if memorizing her.
"Beautiful," he breathed, and the reverence in his voice shattered her st shred of doubt.
The sheets were cool against her back, his body a furnace above her. Every touch was a promise—lips on her throat, hands mapping her hips, the slow, aching slide of skin on skin.
Li arched into him, her nails scoring his shoulders as he murmured against her ear:
"Mine."
Not a demand. A vow.
Afterward, she y curled against him, her head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. His fingers idly twisted a lock of her hair, his voice drowsy with satisfaction.
"Welcome to the inner circle, Li Vane."
She smiled, pressing a kiss to his skin. "I was already yours."
And just like that—
The game changed.***
The sheets were still warm, tangled around their bodies as Li y breathless against Hezri’s chest. The scent of sex and sweat lingered in the air, her skin still humming from his touch. His fingers idly traced circles on her bare shoulder, a silent cim of ownership.
Then, without warning, he reached for his phone.
"Look," he murmured, showing her the screen.
250,000 – Legal fees paid to the same firm.
Li’s eyes widened. "All under my name?"
Hezri smirked, brushing a damp strand of hair from her forehead. "Every deed. Every key."
She sat up slightly, the sheet pooling at her waist. "Why?"
His hand slid to the nape of her neck, possessive and soothing. "Because influence isn’t built in boardrooms. It’s built in community halls, in sports fields, in pces where people gather." His thumb stroked her jaw. "And now, they’ll gather under your name."
Li exhaled, her mind racing. "This is… insane."
Hezri chuckled, low and dark. "No. This is just the beginning."
Unbeknownst to Li, his dashboard flickered:
>> 10,250,000 spent.????>20,500,000 refunded.
Current Money:
35,000,000→45,250,000
A profit disguised as generosity.
A kingdom built on loopholes.
***
For two weeks, Elise Carter and Li Vane became an inseparable political duo—cutting ribbons, shaking hands, and smiling for cameras in front of gleaming community halls and freshly paved sports fields, all embzoned with "Donated by Li Vane."
The optics were perfect.
The reality?
A silent coup.
The Ceremonies – Smiles That Cut Like Knives
1. The First Hall – Silvercrest District
A crowd of locals cheered as Li, radiant in a 5,000 Rond Mouret dress, csped hands with elderly residents. Elise stood beside her, her smile tight as Li announced:
"This is your space now. For weddings, for meetings—for change."
The subtext screamed louder than the appuse:
Li’s money. Li’s influence. Li’s name on their lips.
Elise’s fingers dug into her clutch.
2. The Riverside Sports Complex – Dockworkers’ Ward
Li pyed a friendly match with local teens, her 1,800 Golden Goose sneakers kicking up dust as she ughed. Elise watched from the sidelines, her phone buzzing with texts from panicked allies:
"Since when does Li have this kind of funding?!"
"Are you sure she’s still on our side?"
Elise’s reply was a single word: "Yes."
(She wasn’t.)
3. The Grand Finale – Elmwood Community Center
A banner unfurled behind them: "Li Vane: Building Our Future." Cameras fshed. Elise’s grip on Li’s waist was vice-like as they posed, her whisper venomous:
"You’re overpying your hand."
Li’s smile never wavered. "Or maybe you’re just underestimating mine."
