Nicholas's expression didn't change; he looked entirely accommodating. "Name your price."
Serena held up her fingers. "I bill by the hour. Ten million dollars an hour. As long as the cash is in my account, you can stare at my face as much as you like while I'm acting as your consultant."
Director Kaelen nearly choked on his own breath.
Wasn't this level of greed a bit too much, even for her?
Ten million dollars an hour?
Did she think just because he was the top VIP on Project Zero-Transit, she could commit highway robbery in broad daylight?
Yet, Nicholas didn't even blink. "Deal."
Director Kaelen stared in disbelief.
He finally understood the concept of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object-one dared to extort, and the other didn't hesitate to pay.
Granted, The Panacea was a rare, captivating beauty.
Particularly given her unique, deadly aesthetic.
But The Sterling Sovereign didn't strike him as a man easily swayed by lust.
Yet here he was, casually dropping ten million an hour just to stare at her.
The world of the ultra-rich was truly beyond Kaelen's comprehension.
As for Serena, she beamed the moment she heard his confirmation.
Her previously gloomy demeanor vanished, replaced by a radiant, breathtaking smile.
It gave her cold beauty a suddenly vibrant, deeply seductive charm.
"You are incredibly generous, sir. Well then... please make the transfer. I promise to provide you with the utmost attentive service."
She looked entirely like a money-hungry mercenary who had just hit the jackpot.
Director Kaelen sighed internally.
She had already bled the ship dry, and now she was fleecing The Sterling Sovereign. Who wouldn't be thrilled?
He'd be thrilled too.
His only regret was that The Sterling Sovereign's sexual preferences weren't a bit more flexible.
He wasn't asking for much.
Forget ten million.
For a million bucks, Kaelen would keep the man company until the end of time.
While Kaelen was lost in his wild, chaotic thoughts, he completely missed the subtle shift in the room.
The Panacea was smiling brightly, looking absolutely dazzling.
But deep within her eyes, a freezing, murderous glint flickered.
She stared straight at Nicholas.
Interested in her beauty, was he?
Sure thing.
She was going to make damn sure the bastard felt he got every penny's worth of that ten million!
Nicholas, of course, read her perfectly.
He understood Serena far better than the three Lancaster brothers ever could.
If he didn't, he wouldn't have recognized her instantly while Jerrick remained completely oblivious.
He could read the exact thoughts racing through her mind just from that fleeting, icy glare.
She was probably already plotting exactly how she was going to torture him.
The suffocating panic that had
gripped Nicholas the moment
realized she was on this debet
finally began to ebb away.
She was standing right here, safe and sound.
She had the energy to mock him, to extort him.
To glare at him with those beautiful eyes, silently promising retribution.
That was enough for now.
As for the fact that she had lied to him, kept him in the dark, and boarded this
floating death trap all by herself...
He would settle that score with her later. Thoroughly.
"Ahem!"
Director Kaelen felt it was his duty to wrangle the situation back to reality.
He coughed loudly. "Your Excellency, Mr. Sterling Sovereign. Specimen Seven has entered the transfer protocol and will be arriving in the display sector momentarily if you have any questions regarding the asset, Your Excellency The Panacea will be happy to assist you."
Nicholas smiled faintly. "Ten million
has
lady been transferred to the
account. I look forward expertise Miss Panacea.
Serena pulled out her device. After verifying the deposit, her smile widened into a
stunning, radiant curve. "But of course."