The Tycoon's Odyssey

Paul stood amidst the wreckage, his gaze fixed on the gaping hole Evan had blasted through the ceiling. His mind reeled, caught between a mix of shock and anger.

The scene around him was a mess, his men lay scattered across the floor, groaning or unconscious, and Suri was gone.

As the adrenaline from the chaos began to ebb, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He hesitated momentarily, dreading the conversation he knew was coming. Reluctantly, he pulled out his phone and answered the call.

Richard's voice boomed through the receiver, sharp and impatient. "So, what's going on? Did you catch that bitch? One of the hidden cameras on-site went off."

Paul struggled to find words, his hand shaking under the weight of failure. Richard's voice cut through his thoughts once more, demanding an answer. "Paul? I asked you a question. It's over, right?"

Paul swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "It's... over."

Richard chuckled darkly on the other end. "Oh, you took care of her that easily, huh?"

"No!" Paul snapped, his voice cracking. "I mean, it's over for us!"

A tense pause followed before Richard's tone turned cold and skeptical. "What the hell are you talking about? Did you smoke some weed, or are you drunk?"

Paul's breathing quickened as he tried to explain, panic creeping into his voice. "I'm not drunk or high! It's Suri… she escaped!"

"WHAT?!" Richard's voice exploded through the phone. "How?! Was she prepared for this?"

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"No…" Paul hesitated as the memory of the armored figure flashed in his mind.

"It was Evan. He showed up… in some kind of suit, like an Iron Man suit. He broke in and took her away."

Silence stretched between them, Richard processing the impossible scenario and when he finally spoke, his voice was low and dangerous.

"WHAT THE FUCKKKK!"

_____

SWOOSH!

The thrusters roared as Evan shot up, leaving behind an explosive sight below. He flew through the broken window and disappeared into the night sky.

"WHOAAAAAAAA!"

Suri screamed, not out of fear but rather excitement.

"What is this thing? I didn't think that you had already made something like this."

As they soared above the city, the roar of the thrusters quieted, the sprawling landscape glimmering beneath them like a sea of twinkling lights. The cold wind whipped around them, and Suri's excitement slowly waned as Evan's chilling silence grew louder in her mind.

"You seem to be in a fun mood," he muttered, his voice sharp as the suit's speakers carried his words to her ears.

Suri blinked, her expression faltering as the playful spark left her eyes. She could sense the storm brewing inside him like a quiet fury that he was barely containing.

"Are you angry?" she asked softly, reaching out her hand to touch the smooth, metallic surface of his faceplate. The steel was cold beneath her fingers, a reflection of the man within.

Evan's voice was strained, barely containing his rage. "Do you think saving you is enough to quell my anger? Those bastards dared to disregard everything… to lay their hands on you. I should kill them all."

The tension in his words was palpable, his fury so intense that it felt like the very air around them was vibrating with it. But Evan held himself back as his mind calculated beyond just his anger.

Killing Paul would spark political chaos and the death of a Barrett in Indra would give the country an excuse to stall his plans. A war could erupt—one he wasn't afraid of but didn't want to be dragged into just yet.

He would make Paul suffer another way—one that was a far worse fate than death.

Suri interrupted his thoughts, her voice gentle. "What are you thinking?"

Evan shook his head, struggling to keep his emotions in check. "Nothing. I'm just… worried about you. It tears me apart knowing you've had to endure so much pain."

The words faltered in his throat, a question hanging there, unspoken. He wanted to tell her to stop, to leave this dangerous life, but something stopped him. It wasn't his place to ask her that.

But then, Suri's following words took him completely by surprise.

"Okay, I will quit…"

Evan's eyes widened behind the visor, his heart racing. "What did you say?"

"I said I'll quit. From today, I'll live with you. I had decided this a while ago… today just pushed me to make the decision sooner."

Evan's shock was palpable. He hesitated, searching for words to say something, but before he could react, Suri spoke again, asking him to open the hatch.

Without a word, Evan complied. The suit slowed, halting their ascent, and the hatch opened, exposing them to the vast night sky. The world below seemed distant, nothing but a glittering patchwork of lights.

And then, before Evan could process anything further, Suri leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips.

Her lips met his with a sudden, fierce intensity, her fingers gripping the edges of his suit as she pulled him closer. It wasn't a gentle kiss—it was raw, full of emotion. And Evan didn't pull away either.

Instead, he let himself sink into the moment, his arms wrapping around her as the sleek metal of the suit cradled her body, holding them both afloat in the sky.

He wished he could make this moment stop for eternity, feeling his heart racing in his chest.

"What a pleasant feeling?"

He could hear the wind howling around them as the city stretched out far below like a distant dream. Above, the moon shone brightly across the sky with numerous twinkling stars as if gracing them with blessings.

The faint sounds of the city hustle and bustle rose from below, but at that moment, all of that faded into silence. There was nothing but just the two of them.

The cold, biting air, the weightlessness of floating high above the world, and the warmth of their shared passion as Suri's kiss deepened.

All of this was now etched into an unforgettable memory.