Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Aurora stepped into the car and extended her hand formally. "Mr. Raymond, hello. I believe you already know who I am, so there's no need for introductions." She directly addressed him by name, a subtle reminder: I know who you are, so don't try anything funny.

For intelligent people, words often didn't need to be spelled out. Kyle Raymond shook her hand briefly before letting go.

Aurora leaned slightly against the door, keeping as much distance as possible. There was enough space between them to fit two other people. On the surface, she appeared calm, but her wary expression betrayed her thoughts.

She rarely shared a car with strangers, let alone someone she'd only met once before. Even in a lawful society, and despite their respective statuses, she knew it was wise to remain vigilant. After all, human intentions are unpredictable, and no one could guess what might be on the other's mind.

"In today's business world, who doesn't know you, Miss Montgomery? Getting this opportunity to meet you today took quite seffort," Kyle Raymond said with a hearty laugh, his face showing no trace of malice.

"The ruby was won by you, Mr. Raymond. You mentioned preferring an in-person transaction. Just giveyour account details, and I'll-" Aurora pulled out her phone, eager to conclude the matter.

"Miss Montgomery, what's the rush? I'm hungry," he interrupted abruptly.

His unexpected remark left Aurora momentarily speechless. His tone was so casual, almost like an old friend suddenly declaring they were hungry.

"Uh... then let's eat first," she replied, at a loss for words.

"Good." Kyle Raymond said no more after that. He pulled out a cigar from a case, but upon noticing Aurora beside him, he hesitated.

In the past, he never cared about those around him. But Aurora, with her elegance and resilience, reminded him of a noble black rose-one that smoke might prematurely wither.

For the first tin his life, he considered the health of a woman near him. He had a strong addiction to smoking, lighting up whenever he pleased. Yet now, he returned the cigar to its case.

Aurora noticed this small gesture. "Mr. Raymond, please don't mind me. Feel free." Though she gave permission, Kyle Raymond still closed the case. After that, neither of them spoke.

The reports she'd received about Kyle Raymond described him as someone domineering and possessive, a man of ruthless tactics-summed up in two words: a tyrant.

Aurora had mentally prepared herself to meet this "tyrant," but the person she encountered seemed unexpectedly gentlemanly. He hadn't said anything inappropriate thus far.

Perhaps the silence in the car felt too oppressive, as the driver began playing music to ease the atmosphere. A romantic French song filled the air.

Hearing it, Aurora's thoughts drifted to Julian, who was still in Europe. Though she was physically in the car, her heart had already flown to that romantic land, where the man she loved resided.

The melody nearly lulled her to sleep. She was still recovering from a cold, but she didn't dare fully relax in a stranger's car. Forcing herself to stay awake, she fought off the drowsiness.

The car slowly pulled into the parking lot of an upscale private restaurant. It was the kind of place that only accepted a limited number of elite guests daily. Regular people couldn't even book a reservation.

Julian had once brought Aurora here, so she recognized it immediately.

"What are you staring at?" Kyle Raymond asked, noticing her hesitation at the entrance.

"Nothing," she replied, snapping out of her thoughts. She realized she was deeply affected by Julian. Any place connected to him triggered memories of him.

It was as if his nhad been etched onto her heart. One small reminder, and she could recall him vividly.

If you're loving the book, nel5sis where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience—all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Kyle handed her the menu, and Aurora didn't hold back, ordering Julian's favorite dishes out of instinct. It was a reflex, much like how Julian had always ordered her favorite foods.

Kyle selected a few specialty dishes of his own before passing the menu to the waiter.

"Please wait a moment, sir and madam," the server said with a courteous smile. Every staff member here was stunning, dressed in tailored uniforms, exuding professionalism and charm.

The restaurant's ambiance, food, and service were all top-tier-a testament to the privileges of wealth. Money could indeed buy the best experiences.

Aurora took a sip of lemon water to soothe her throat. "Mr. Raymond, earlier you mentioned a collaboration. Now that I'm here, why don't you share your proposal?" "Have you heard of T&G, NIAR, or CIA?" Kyle Raymond asked seriously.

"Those are all top-tier skincare brands, widely recognized. They're especially popular in Europe and North America. These brands are among the flagship products of Nano Cosmetics, a company with a relatively long history." Aurora, having decided to enter the beauty industry, had thoroughly researched skincare brands and could easily recall this information.

"Yes, they're mine," Kyle Raymond said nonchalantly.

Aurora, mid-sip of her lemon water, nearly choked upon hearing his words.

Cough, cough...

"Why so surprised?" He reached out to pat her back lightly.

Aurora had anticipated that the so-called "tyrant" would have a strange temper, but she hadn't expected him to be so easygoing.

"You don't have to say it so casually," she muttered, finally understanding how Julian and Rock must have felt when she had once casually mentioned being a DO. "I'm just stating facts." "I know."

"With Nano Cosmetics' influence, launching a new brand wouldn't be a problem," lem." Kyle contrived, smoothly steering the conversation back to business. Aurora dabbed at her lips with a napkin. "Apologies for my reaction earlier." "I don't mind," Kyle replied, finding her candidness refreshing.

In the past, the women who approached him were always terrified, treating hing like a master же and themselves as pets. They believed subservience would win his favor, but in truth, it merely kept them from offending him.

He had grown tired of obedient, docile women. Aurora's cool, independent demeanor captivated Le him at first glance. What began as curiosity had turned into a certainty: approaching her had been the right choice. "Since you're serious about collaborating, Mr. Raymond, let's discuss the details," Aurora said, her eyes lighting up with interest.

Initially, she had suspected Kyle of using business as an excuse to have dinner with her. But now, she believed he was genuine.

"Very well. Miss Montgomery, why don't you share your thoughts first?" Kyle smiled faintly.

For reasons he couldn't explain, he felt at ease around her. In her presence, the tension he usually carried seemed to dissipate. Aurora had an almost therapeutic effect on him, leaving him relaxed and unguarded.

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