KNIGHT

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. Knight's POV.

I sat in my cabal, and ran a hand over my jaw, feeling the faint stubble there. I leaned back in my chair, the soft creak of the leather breaking the silence.

My thoughts shifted from one matter to the next, never quite settling on anything for too long.

Tonight, I wasn’t supposed to be disturbed. At least, not until Lori came. I had given her a chance and placed her in a position where she could finally gain control over her life again.

She was smart, bold, and sharp enough to survive in a world that had tried to crush her. I respected that about her. But more than that, I wanted to see how far she could go now that I had removed the burden that had been keeping her down.

Connor had been a fool, thinking he could mess with her without consequences. But Lori? She wasn’t just any woman. She had a strength that most people underestimated, and it was something I’d seen the moment I met her. That’s why I intervened when Connor tried to take her down. Not because I felt any particular obligation to her, but because I recognized potential.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, there was a soft knock on the heavy wooden door.

'Come in," I called, my voice low but firm.

The door creaked open slowly, and Lori stepped inside. She hesitated for a moment at the threshold, taking in the room’s intimidating atmosphere before gathering her courage and walking in. I watched her closely as she approached, her back straight, her chin lifted. She was trying hard to conceal her nervousness, but I could see it in the small tells—her fingers twitching slightly at her side, the quick glance she shot at the fireplace before meeting my gaze.

"Good day,” she greeted, her voice steady, but I could sense the underlying tension.

"Lori,” I responded, inclining my head slightly. I gestured toward the chair in front of me. “Sit.”

She did as I asked, settling into the chair across from me. Her eyes flickered with nostalgic feelings. I knew why she was here. Today was her first day at the mall, her first day as manager, and she had come to report to me as I had expected.

"How did it go?" I asked, my tone casual, though I already had a good idea of the answer.

A small smile tugged at her lips, and for a moment, she looked almost pleased with herself. "It went well,” she said, her voice growing more confident as she spoke. "Better than I expected, honestly. The staff was surprised, of course. No one expected me to walk in there as their new manager, least of all Cynthia.”She paused, and I saw a flash of satisfaction in her eyes at the mention of her former friend.

"Cynthia didn’t take it well, I assume?”I asked, leaning forward slightly.

Lori shook her head, a faint chuckle escaping her lips. “She was furious. Tried to act like it wasn’t possible, like I didn’t belong there. But there’s nothing she can do now. I’m in charge, and she knows it.”

I nodded, satisfied with her report. "Good. You handled it well. She needed to be put in her place.”

Lori’s smile grew a little wider, but then it faded as she shifted in her seat, her expression turning more serious. “I wanted to thank you, Knight. For everything. If it wasn’t for you stepping in when you did, Connor would have ruined me. You saved me from him, and now… now I have a chance to rebuild.” She said to me.

I didn’t respond immediately, letting her words hang in the air for a moment. I wasn’t the type to bask in gratitude or to acknowledge it too openly. I hadn’t saved her out of charity. It had been a calculated move, one that benefited both of us in the long run. But I could see that she was genuinely thankful, and in some way, that mattered.

Still, I remained silent, watching her as the firelight danced across her face. After a moment, she shifted again, realizing I wasn’t going to respond to her thanks.

"Right,”she said, clearing her throat as if to shake off the awkwardness. “I just wanted to report on how things went today. I’m ready to take on more responsibilities if needed.”

Before I could reply, the door to my cabal creaked open again, and one of my bodyguards stepped inside. She was tall, lean, and moved with a quiet grace that belied her deadly nature. Her sharp eyes flickered between Lori and me before settling on me.

“Sir,” she said, her voice cool and professional. “The bitches are ready for tonight.”

I sighed inwardly. Of course, they were. The “bitches,” as my bodyguard so elegantly put it, were a group of women who were part of an event tonight—an event I had little interest in but was obligated to attend. Another night of politics, power plays, and manoeuvring. Nothing ever changed in my world.

Lori glanced between me and the bodyguard, her brow furrowing slightly. She knew enough about me to understand that my life was filled with secrets and dealings that weren’t exactly legal. But she never asked too many questions, which was one of the reasons I tolerated her in my space.

I turned my attention back to the bodyguard and gave a slight nod. “I’ll deal with them later,” I said, dismissing her with a wave of my hand.

The bodyguard nodded once and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair and running a hand through my hair. “You should go,” I said to Lori, my tone a little sharper than I intended. “I have business to attend to.”

She didn’t seem fazed by my abruptness. Instead, she stood, giving me a nod of understanding. “Of course. Thank you again, Knight.”

As she made her way to the door, she paused for a moment, glancing back at me with a thoughtful expression. “I don’t know why you helped me, and I’m not going to ask. But just know that I won’t forget it. I owe you.”

I met her gaze, my expression unreadable. "You don’t owe me anything, Lori. Just do your job, and that’ll be enough.”

She hesitated for a second, then nodded before walking out, the door closing softly behind her.

For a moment, the room was quiet again, the only sound the faint crackle of the fire. I sat there, staring into the flames, my mind already shifting to the night ahead. The game I played was a long one, filled with deception, manipulation, and power struggles. Lori was just a small piece of that puzzle, but an important one. She had potential, but whether she realized it or not, she was now part of my world, part of a web she couldn’t escape from.

I stood up, adjusting my jacket as I prepared for the night’s events. The “bitches” my bodyguard had mentioned were just one more piece of the evening’s entertainment women who sought power through association, clinging to the men in my world in the hopes of securing their own future. I found them tedious, but necessary. They played their part, just as I played mine.

As I walked toward the door, I glanced back at the chair Lori had sat in just moments before. She was different from the others. Stronger, more resilient. She didn’t need anyone to prop her up. And that’s what made her valuable.