Sweet As My Revenge

"Can I be of assistance to you, or are you simply browsing?"

Brandy inquired, her voice emanating from the narrow mouth of the glass. Jessica, startled by the sudden interruption, gasped and swiftly turned around, causing her stare to spill onto the floor. Her eyes widened in horror as she realized the open door behind her. It dawned on her that she should have locked it again when she entered.

A wave of panic washed over her, fearing that this could be the end, the destruction of all their carefully laid plans. She desperately tried to regain her composure as she focused on the figure standing in the doorway. He stood confidently, arms akimbo, effectively blocking any potential escape route.

Although Jessica had never seen him in person, she immediately recognized him. The combination of his confident sarcasm and subtle Australian accent gave it away. This was Matthew Grieve. The infamous villain whose trump card she had just burned in his very own fireplace. The sadistic money-making machine who was supposed to be in Tokyo at this very moment, increased his already disgustingly large fortune by another million.

He didn't appear as villainous as she had imagined, she nervously tried to convince herself. Especially not dressed in a short, brown silk kimono and very little else.

Despite his appearance, the man didn't seem particularly dangerous to Jessica. The slight hint of menace he directed towards her was overshadowed by his obvious exhaustion. It was as if he had just emerged from a deep, unsatisfying sleep that left him drained. His collar-length, dark brown hair was tangled and messy, and his puffy, dark brown eyes were set beneath straight brows and sunk into his narrow skull. Jessica had imagined him to be much taller, giving him the stature of an ogre, but he was only slightly taller than her own five foot ten.

Furthermore, he didn't possess the fit physique she had expected from a merciless avenger. Jessica's confidence began to return as she realized that his reputation was likely overrated. He appeared unsavoury, yet weak. Perhaps all his money and fast living had taken a toll on his physical and mental health. He seemed to be swaying on his feet, indicating that he might be drunk or hungover, or maybe even both. With her palms becoming sweaty, Jessica found her voice and made it sound fluttery and feminine

"Goodness, you frightened me!"

Jessica exclaimed, her heart still racing from the initial shock. She quickly composed herself, smoothing her damp palms down the side of her dress in a vaguely provocative movement. The eerie atmosphere of the place had gotten to her, making her imagination run wild. "I thought you were the ghost of the headless knight, come to lure me to my death. John told me the place was haunted. Are you one of his colleagues?"

The man's dark eyes remained steady on her face, but with a slightly de-focused look that further increased Jessica's confidence. She needed to keep up the act to ensure he didn't suspect her true intentions. "John? Monks," she clarified, trying to maintain a friendly demeanor. "Never say more than you have to," she reminded herself, recalling advice from crime shows she had watched. "John's at a wedding in Taunton; overnight."

Suspicion began to gather in the man's eyes as they cleared. Jessica knew her appearance had prevented him from immediately assuming she was a burglar, but now she would have to rely on her well-rehearsed routine. "We were at the wedding. We got bored," she explained with a shrug and a smile, hoping to lighten the mood and make him believe her fabricated story.

As John's domestic secretary, Jessica was well-aware of his reputation as a womanizer. Despite being on the wrong side of fifty, he had a penchant for young girls of the dissolute deb' type. At twenty-six, Jessica wasn't sure if she fit into that category, but she knew how to play the part convincingly. She moistened her lips and smiled again, trying to appear alluring. "John brought me home for a few drinks," she added, hoping her explanation would satisfy his curiosity.

The man's voice, unlike everything else about him, wasn't brown. It was pure blue ice, sending a shiver down Jessica's spine. She knew she had to tread carefully, as any wrong move could expose her true intentions.

Despite her initial success in redirecting his anger, Jessica could sense the growing suspicion in Matthew's demeanor. His eyes, still filled with contempt, scanned her revealing dress with a bleary gaze. However, Jessica remained unfazed, continuing her act with a convincing gasp and coy fluttering. She set down her brandy glass and increased her smile, relishing in the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Confounding the source of her worries brought her intense satisfaction.

Apologizing for intruding on his private domain, Jessica pretended not to recognize Matthew and expressed her eagerness to see his Turner painting. She gushed over John's recommendation and envied Matthew for owning such a gorgeous piece of art. Waving at the canvas on the wall behind his desk, she tried to maintain her composure, fearing that she might have overdone her enthusiasm.

To further her plan, Jessica put a hand over her mouth and looked at Matthew through lowered lashes. She questioned the whereabouts of John, hoping to gauge his reaction and ensure that he wouldn't face any consequences for bringing her there. Taking a step closer to Matthew, she needed to get even closer to execute her rapidly amended plan. Behind her simpering facade, her clever brain was sorting through the options, determined not to fail when she was so close to achieving success.

Despite her vigilance, Jessica noticed the subtle signs of renewed suspicion in Matthew's body language. His shoulders tensed, and his narrow jaw lifted, revealing a cynically knowing expression. The stakes were high, but Jessica remained determined to overcome any obstacles that stood in her way.

He had stopped swaying, his sluggish brain finally starting to function. It wouldn't be long before he realized that something was amiss. Jessica raised a nonchalant hand and casually touched the diamond collar adorning her neck, subtly positioning herself so that her drop earrings, adorned with rubies, caught his attention. The ploy worked like a charm. What kind of thief would come to work dressed so impractically, with thousands of pounds worth of jewelry on display?

She watched as his mind began to race, his body slumping back into a tired stance. Taking advantage of his distraction, Jessica confidently took another step towards him, swaying her hips with grace. "I wouldn't want to cause any trouble," she whispered seductively. "After all, I was the one who asked if I could see the house. I know I should have asked for permission, but I thought you were away. I'm the one you should be angry with."

He observed her approach with cynical curiosity, his eyes lingering on the exposed triangle of tanned skin at her neckline. Jessica couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the first time another man's woman had tried to entice him. She willed him to respond, while simultaneously preparing herself to despise him for doing so. "What would you suggest?" he murmured, his mouth barely moving as if he was too exhausted to even articulate his words.

His libido seemed to be constantly active, even when he was barely conscious.

Jessica positioned herself close to him, emitting a seductive aura. She leaned in, surrounding him with the scent of Madame Rochas perfume. She wrapped her arms around his neck, brushing her face against his.

His mouth tasted of whisky and cigars, but he did not respond.

Jessica pulled away and expressed her frustration, suggesting that if John had an urgent matter to attend to, she could show him what she was capable of. She wondered if the man was emotionless or if her allure was fading. Determined, she kissed the corner of his mouth and pressed her breasts against his chest. The warmth of their skin meeting sent shivers down her spine. Surprisingly, she discovered that he wasn't wearing anything under his kimono and he was affected by her actions, despite his blindness.

He confirmed this by catching her tongue between his teeth and gently biting it. In response, Jessica gasped and felt a surge of awareness as his hand slipped inside her gown and cupped her bare breast. She tried to pull away, but his hand remained in place, caressing her soft skin. Confused by her sudden withdrawal, he mocked her with his dark eyes.

Furious, she denied any misunderstanding, angered by how he had turned the tables on her.