Sooo sleepy, now I know how Luv2Game feels. Forgive me if I missed a correction or so. Enjoy everyone.

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Chapter 5

When Rayn thought about wanting to get away from her life at the moment, as far as she possibly could, she didn't expect the ride to take more than an hour.

Kras City was a big city, full of life and beaming with streetlights. The city never slept and large HD TV screens on the sides of buildings and billboards advertised everything from fashion to its most popular trademark sport, combat racing. It was funny how she had spent so much time in this city that was soon to be hers, if the race went as planned, and had never actually toured around to look at its attractions.

For just a moment she almost found herself entranced by the shops and crowds of people, colorful shopping bags in hand and performers on the corners. Unfortunately, it was just a moment before she came plummeting back down to reality with the memory of the events that had happened throughout the day. From mounds of paperwork to the failing investigation of Mizo's identity, to Ashelin's ongoing death threat against her and the now revealed fact that her prized driver was the murderer who had left her father to die, even the lights of the city couldn't make her day any better. Being on the other side of the city away from the tracks and the Bloody Hook didn't help at all.

Nothing would douse this scorching burn she had inside, from the truth of her father's death, to the truth of her success as the Kras heiress. Like a burning house, she was falling to pieces and the water pumps were only spreading the flames.

She was so lost in her daze that she failed to notice the Havoc now beside her own vehicle instead of leading it. A brief honk, twice pressed, in her direction abruptly pulled her out from thought.

She looked over at Razer who, surprisingly, didn't have a cigarette in his mouth for once. He nodded at her, pointing down the street and gesturing that that was their destination. She stared blankly for a moment before he just shook his head at her and drove ahead. She followed.

Coming to a slow halt in front of a large beige building, complimented with European lighting fixtures and flowers hanging from the windows, Rayn couldn't help but blink at the place in awe. White French doors and windows surrounded a black canopy sign inscribed with a fancy font. She squinted her eyes just to make sure she was reading right and it seemed that she wasn't hallucinating. Glancing over at Razer, who was handing his key to the parking attendant, confirmed her thought even more, adding to the shock that was already evident in her large eyes.

A restaurant? Now what in the name of Mar is he thinking?

Glued to her seat, Razer finally took it upon himself to welcome her back into reality again by standing in front of her, offering her a hand. Still refusing to move, he sighed to himself before dropping his offered hand to open her door. This time he wasn't as polite.

"Out".

Rayn shook her head wildly from cloud nine before bending her brows at him. Baffled, but now a bit angry about his way of getting her out of the car, not that she blamed him, still, - that was no way to treat a lady. He opened his hand in front of her again and this time she shoved the keys into his palm, rudely and ungratefully. Rayn walked past him to the front of the restaurant and Razer only chuckled beneath his breath.

"Stubborn woman…"

As he gave her keys to the attendant she distracted herself with the lights dangling from the canopy, casting a dim elegant glow on the smooth concrete. She huddled in her own arms from the cool breeze until Razer approached her with a sly grin. "Shall we?"

Using all the resistance in her body to stop herself from curling her lip at him, she just walked on without him, chin up and not saying a word. Not caring for her childish antics, he followed.

He knew what was wrong with her and he knew why she was acting this way. There was no sense in pointing it out. So for now he'd allow her to take her frustrations out on him and in a way, it was well earned, being that he was the one that informed Mizo of Jak being her father's killer.

Sensing Razer's laid back presence behind her only inspired her to quicken her pace towards the restaurant entrance. Once again, the possibility that he was slowly charming her into his bed sheets crossed her mind. Why else would he do such a bizarre thing? They were enemies and were in no way connected besides the fact that combat racing and power were in the equation. This was business and that was all, and she doubted going out for an expensive entrée was included in her quest for power.

"Why?" She suddenly blurted aloud and stepped back with a gasp.

"Hmm?"

She couldn't take her foot out of her mouth now. "I said why? Why are we here of all the places in the world? What foolishness possessed you to come here?"

His fingers stroked his chin for a moment before he gave her a quaint answer, "You're not hungry?"

Rayn shot him a sharp look from her slitted eyes, if looks could kill her glare would be in the shape of a frying pan hitting his head. Most likely he would still enjoy it with the curve of his lips just as he was doing now.

Following the tall, stiff waiter who led them to their table she sat wordlessly and neatly with the cross of her long legs and her hands folded in front of her. "Don't we have some business to sort out today?" Rayn pursued, picking at him with her words and still he didn't seem to bend under her pressure.

Instead he ignored her as the waiter walked over with a note pad and pen, curled mustache moving as he spoke. "Would you like to hear our specials?"

"Wine. Just show me some of your finest bottles of wine and I'll choose from there. I think the lady could use some".

At that he returned her sharp glance from earlier and she retaliated with a roll of her eyes. Razer began unfolding the burgundy handkerchief on the table while continuing to strum at her patience as she was strumming his tolerance for her attitude. She just pressed her cheek into her palm as her elbow propped up on the table, glancing away from him and thinking it would be best to just ignore him for the time being.

It wasn't crowded in the restaurant. The inside was just as elegant as the outside, crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, a black grand piano gracing a stage in the lounge area, and embroidered curtains draping down from the windows and chairs. Traditional molding crowned the walls, matching the white tablecloths over the round tables.

It was a typical, expensive elegant restaurant, one which she never bothered to visit because of various reasons, one being that it wasn't much fun going anywhere alone unless you were accompanied by a friend of some sort. She huffed out a small laugh at the word 'friends'. Right…

Two large glass bottles, wrapped in gold and silver paper was placed in front of her and she returned her eyes towards the table, then to Razer who was already opening one of them. He began pouring the crimson liquid into her wine glass and she just stared at him with the blandest look he'd ever received from her yet.

Fingertips pushing the rim of the glass, he lifted a brow at her, "Drink. It'll do your mood some good".

She crossed her arms in front of her chest rebelliously, causing a purple vein to become rather large and visible on the side of Razer's forehead. He gritted through his teeth in the most polite way he could possibly manage. "Take the wine".

"No-thank-you," she mouthed slowly, as if he were operating on half a brain. A jolt of anger raced through him.

"Fine," he sat back, "Then you can watch until the boredom devours you".

Damn it, he was right. She could only admire the restaurant so many times before bringing her eyes back to her table in which Razer drank joyously in silence. Vibrations of hunger rumbled through her stomach but she knew he wouldn't order any food until she either drank the wine or she left. She would've actually liked to leave, to spare herself from dwelling in his obnoxious presence any longer but she didn't know the way home.

Feeling defeated and rather upset about that fact, she lifted up the wine glass in front of her and drank the wine. As if expecting it, Razer pushed a full bottle in her direction indicating that it was hers alone, to indulge in as she pleased. She swiped it with a sigh and began pouring away.

Of course when it came to Razer, wine was like a soda pop to a toddler. It had a weak effect on him, if any, but the intoxicating taste and burn in his system always seemed to ease the crime life he endured when he wanted to get away. After wiping the blood off his fingertips, he'd find himself on his porch drinking a glass of wine and just for a moment, forgetting the cruelty that fate had dealt him.

That was why he encouraged her to do the same. It was a shame that he didn't know he'd come to regret that decision later on.

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For the twentieth time within the past hour Rayn slammed her palm on the table, cheeks rosy from her fits of laughter and her body slouching over. Razer kept his eyes on hers despite the fact that she was leaning toward him in the most unladylike fashion, cleavage pressing and pushing up from the edge of the table. She was too busy drowning in her newfound drunken outburst to notice and he did his best to give a blind eye to it.

He wasn't the type of man to take advantage of a woman when she was vulnerable but he had to admit, the option of it was tempting. Still, he had to remind himself that this was simply a business meeting and she was still his enemy.

"So father realized- that half the Eco that was being smug- was missi- and I just knew, I just knew that was going to happen so I-"

Razer faked the perspiration on his forehead just so that he could have an excuse to cover his eyes and save himself from watching anymore of this foolishness. There weren't many other people in the restaurant, but the few that were there was having a jolly time being entertained by the British woman who had a little too much wine with her reality.

If she were a man from the bar, his knuckles would have met her mouth the minute she would've started rambling on pointlessly and wasting his time. It was a shame that she was a woman, he wasn't too fond of disposing of women unless he had to or they really, really pissed him off. As for Rayn, she was getting there.

"So I had to make a last minute call to the airlin- and get a round trip ticket just to clean up his mess-"

"Rayn," Razer's fingertips pressed on his temples in rotating circles.

"I really shouldn't have bothered, but since he had a contract-"

"Rayn…"

"That would've been half a' mil' down the bloody trash-"

"Get a hold of yourself," his voice wasn't loud, but clear, clear enough to make her stop mid-sentence. "Get over it already".

Rayn blinked, caught off guard by the comment, "P-pardon?"

Satisfied that he had broken through her, he sat back in his chair, becoming more relaxed. "I said, get over it. Whatever you're masking through your idiocy and wine, get over it"

Her amber eyes trembled as she fixed her eyes on him, speechless and stunned. Her lips hung agape before she closed it and spun her head away. She wasn't really as drunk as she acted; she knew how to handle her wine. She just wanted to force him to lead her home once his patience had run thin. Her act didn't seem to work and instead his patience ran thin anyway without the bliss of him possibly releasing her, at least for the night.

She just wanted to forget what happened during the day, forget all the things that could happen if nothing went as planned, she just wanted to forget it all. He had pushed the right button and it shut her up, and at the same time it shut her down.

Razer sighed, neither dinner nor their business agreement would ever get anywhere at this rate. As he poured himself another glass of wine he spoke again, "Lesson one".

She returned her gaze to him as he continued, "You can do one of two things…frolic and mope around childishly as your Dynasty falls into hands more capable or-" He took a moment to sip his wine. "Or you can take your anger and do something useful with it".

Rayn's head lolled to the side as she let his words sink into her train of thought. He was right. As much as it angered her that he was actually right, and that she allowed herself to act so juvenile in front of him, it wouldn't change the fact that his words held such truth in them. He didn't candy coat anything or make it sound pretty. He told you how it was, raw and real.

"Useful hmm?" Rayn propped her chin on her knuckles, now back to her old self.

"Think of a place where that anger and attitude would benefit you. Take advantage of your confidence right now".

Suddenly her eyes lit up and she grinned deviously. Razer couldn't help but grin back. He couldn't hide the fact that he may have liked it when she smiled so evilly.

Taking one last gulp of wine, she slammed the glass on the table and stood up from her chair. "I'm going to the Bloody Hook".

"Are you sure that's wise?" Razer eyed her suspiciously. Would she think twice about her decision? Would she fold under the pressure? Would last minute fear make her back down?

Rayn stopped at the entrance to the restaurant, turning back to call out to him, "Yes I'm very sure. I'm taking advantage of my daring anger and I'm going to enjoy doing it too" She took a step outside but quickly lit up with another thought, turning back once more, "Oh, and you have the check? Very well, then".

When she raced out the doors, after being so 'considerate' about the check, Razer shook his head.

Now she's learning…

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What do men want? Sex. Money. Power. Danger.

What do I want? Kras City.

How to meet both ends without compromising myself to their lowly levels? Simple.

She should've thought of it earlier.

The wine still burning and sizzling in the pit of her stomach, she rushed into the Bloody Hook, slamming both doors open. Legs standing firm and wide, a look of determination flashing in her eyes, she searched the room for one particular man.

She couldn't take her anger out on Jak, at least not now but in the meantime, Shiv would suffice to satisfy her. Wide eyes glared at her, remembering her from the previous time and pondering her intentions. This time her slight buzz with the combination of her low tolerance for men because of Jak would make this time different.

This time she had no fear. Just anger. Just confidence.

"You there!" She pointed at Shiv at the bar, foam coating his lips from his beer as he turned to glare up and down at her. Her hair was messy, loose strands falling over her eyes and her shirt unbuttoned two buttons down her chest.

"What do you want?" He gave her a sickly smile as he took in her less than conservative appearance.

She clicked her heels over in his direction, fisting a handful of his shirt in her hand, her face inches from his. Before he could curse at her, she smiled. The same evil smile she showed Razer in the restaurant. For some reason Shiv couldn't help but find it disturbing.

"So, you think you can treat a lady the way you did last time and get away with it, huh? You think you're full of brawn, don't you now?"

"So what if I do. What're you gonna do 'bout it?"

She released him, crossing her arms in front of her, hips titled to one side as she tapped her foot. "I challenge you to a race, after next week's official race. We'll see who has the brawn in this room?"

Murmurs and laughter submerged across the bar until they noticed the raise of her eyebrow. She was serious. She was damn serious.

Shiv put his beer mug onto the wooden bar before crossing his arms as well. "I like your attitude girl. I'll do it and I'll make you feel like the woman you are"

"Never count your chickens before they hatch," she wagged her finger at him, still with that magical drunken grin and dark hair over her eyes, making her look sinfully seductive. Unintentionally luring him closer to her, he placed his arm on the bar, almost around her and leaned in.

"What do I get if I win and break your pride?"

Rayn pushed him back with her palm before turning to walk away, hips swiveling and hand on her side. Raising another finger, she shook her head, "Know your place. When I take over this city they'll be a heavy price to pay if you get that close to me again".

She didn't know what came over her. She didn't know where all this daring confidence came from. It could've been the wine. It could've been the day. All she knew was that she was having a hell of a time wrapping these lackeys around her fingers, using what she always used best, her words.

It was nice to be reminded whom the queen of negotiation and persuasion was. She'd almost forgotten.

There was no feeling more satisfying then walking out of that bar feeling on top of the world while the minions crawled beneath her very feet. By the time she came out of the bar, the sun was coming up, greeting the sky with an orange glow.

There were no knives. There were no threats. There were no groping incidents or taking her to 'the back'. She went in and came out of that bar in one piece.

Now this is what it feels like to be the boss.

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"Hello Rayn dear, I'm sure you're just delighted to come upon this entry. This one should bring a smile to your face".

Rayn rolled her eyes as she continued to scrub her purple toothbrush across her teeth, sweeping it back and forth neatly with lips covered in foam. Dressed in blue satin pajamas, she curled her toes onto the warmth of the fluffy bathroom mat in front of the sink.

"Now, I know that Razer fellow is essential in our plan and I have no doubt that you are taking full advantage of what he has to offer…"

Rayn almost spit into the mirror from laughter but contained herself. What he has to offer? Hah! Between sensual death threats and a side of schizophrenia?

"Well, anyway, let me just make this brief. After you hear this entry it will delete itself from memory to ensure no one points the finger at you for the crime…"

Crime? Half her body hung out of the bathroom door to stare at the hologram of her father laying on her golden vanity, eyes bent in curiosity.

"Now I know you don't like to get your hands dirty so don't worry, the other Crime Lords have already been informed of it. They all came to an agreement that this was the right choice after Mizo's death to prevent any further, what shall I call it, casualties ey"

She suddenly didn't like the way her father rubbed his hands together and licked his lips. It usually meant he was gathering something devious in mind.

"After Mizo is (Krew cleared his throat) disposed of, we will ensure the safety of Kras City in our hands by getting rid of that nasty scum, what's his name, yes Razer".

Her purple toothbrush fell to the floor from her hanging jaw.

"Don't worry, it'll be swift and none of it will connect to you, so be sure to take full advantage, ey?"

Her father gave her a grotesque wink before his image fuzzed away and she ran over to the vanity, scuffling through the buttons to replay it.

'Entry deleted' was all it said. It was gone.

Sleepy eyes fixed onto the data pad, right next to her hairbrush. She replayed his message over and over in her head.

Take full advantage of him and then dispose? Father I completely forgot just how shrewd you really are.

She shrugged her shoulders carelessly, "Oh well, that's business"

With that she retreated back into her bathroom to take her morning shower.

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There goes that backbone of Rayn's that everyone was questioning me about. :grins: