Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Irene got home to find Jaired in the kitchen, whipping up a light chicken noodle soup for her. He sighed in relief when he noticed the marks left by Bryan still on her skin. "Thank God," he thought. He was seriously worried she might run off in pursuit of love and end up in someone else's bed on a whim. It wasn't beyond her-that kind of outlandish behavior.

After gulping down the soup, Irene collapsed on the couch, fast asleep. She knew she had to gear up for another stakeout at Tequila Sunset as soon as it opened its doors for the night. She wouldn't stop until Bryan was begging her to stay, tears and all. The thought alone made Irene smile in her sleep.

Jaired covered her with a blanket, shaking his head in disbelief. "Love turns everyone into fools," he mused. "Myself included, it seems."

He just didn't get it.

Over the last few days, he had been back to the Riddle family estate, buried under an avalanche of tasks they had dumped on him, making his return times unpredictable. But Irene, in her typical fashion, was hopeless at looking after herself. Left to her own devices, she'd trade meals for booze and go on a bender that could very well end her. So, whenever Jaired was around, he made sure to cook something substantial.

"Damn, I must've owed these two big time in a past life," he muttered. "Given another chance, I would've never agreed to swap lives with 001!"

Refreshed from her day-long slumber, Irene dolled herself up for the night, dressing to kill as usual. Bryan was on duty tonight, she had found out. He worked four nights a week at the place. Despite the crowd of women at the bar throwing themselves at him for a chance at a fleeting connection, he turned them all down.

Tonight, Irene took to a slightly elevated stage, complete with a spinning pole at its center. Dressed in a shimmering silver mini skirt with fringe details, she was a sight to behold. Her body, perfect for the task, twirled and twisted around the pole, sending the crowd below into a frenzy. Every move Irene made was scorching hot, from hair flips to hip twists, and the audience went wild.

All the while, her gaze was locked on Bryan, though the sea of people made it unclear who he was watching.novelbin

"Is he looking at me? Damn, she's something else!"

"I'm literally nosebleeding here. How come I've never seen her around Beaconsfield before?"

"I'd pay a million to have her for a month. Gotta ask if she's interested, show her off to my buddies."

As the music continued, Irene

climbed the pole gracefully, her legs

hooked around it in her black

stilettos, pausing mid-air to the crowd's roaring approval. Several men made to rush the stage only to be held back by others.

When the music shifted, Irene descended, brushing off the advances of several men to sit at the bar. "Sangria," she ordered, her fiery gaze fixed on Bryan without any hint of shyness. As Bryan mixed her drink, she propped her chin inher hands, watching him intently, unaffected by the surrounding chaos.

When he slid the drink towards her, their fingers brushed, his cool to her warmth from the dance. Her fingers trailed up his wrist, drawing his hand to her lips for a gentle kiss. "Your hands are so cold," she teased.

Bryan flushed, his skin breaking out in goosebumps. The other women around could only curse in envy. Was this even allowed?

Irene released him, sipping her drink

leisurely before pulling him in for a bold kiss. The onlookers were stunned. Women had spent fortunes for a chance at a peck, and here was Irene, taking what she wanted with fierce determination.