Author's note: this is from Mona's point of view

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I was surprised when Sanya told me she doubts her parents are her biological parents. We just met, is she going around and talking about it with everyone?

For some reason, still unknown to me, I offered to help her.

Of course, I have no intention of getting into trouble, but if her parents come to my spa, I can sneakily take a hair or two and make Sanya owe me.

She also asked me to find out something about a guy named Duke and I hoped that was another easy thing for me. Well, it was easy to say that I will do my best.

For both of these tasks, I waited for Monday because due to the lack of customers, my salon is closed on Sundays. I know, I should have the most traffic on weekends, but the business is not the best.

I hope it will pick up soon, or I will need to cut my losses, and I would hate to fire my staff. They are all hard-working, and they need their paychecks, just how I need customers.

Sending coupons to Sanya's parents was the easy part, and I did it first thing in the morning.

Next, I entered the staff room and asked them if any recognizes the guy from the picture that Sanya gave me two days ago.

"This is Drago!", Ashley nearly screamed.

"Drago?", Anne asked while scooting closer.

"Yes, Drago Orsini.", Ashley said while dramatically patting her chest, and based on Ana's expression, she connected some dots as well.

"How old is this drawing?", Ashley asked.

"A few years, maybe.", I responded. "What can you tell me about him?"

Ana and Ashley spoke one after another while I took mental notes. Of course, I looked him up online, just to make sure that's the right guy, and I managed to find a few photos that were somewhat blurry, but the resemblance was undeniable. That's the guy.

Eager to get Sanya to owe me, I got my facts straight before making the call. I warned Sanya that most of the things related to Drago are rumors and gossips, but there must be some truth behind it, right?

She ended the call unexpectedly and I was wondering if she still wants me to continue collecting information on Drago or if this was enough.

I don't have a way to figure out what's on Sanya's mind, so I decided to give up trying.

I had a plan to use Sanya for my business, and it didn't work out.

If her parents use coupons I sent, and come to the spa, I will treat them like any other customer and that's it.

I was back to where I was on Saturday morning, before meeting Sanya, so it's not like I suffered any loss, but I would be lying if I said that I was not hoping that Sanya will help me turn things for the better.

Shaking off any useless thoughts, I went to the front lobby, to see how we are doing with the hope this Monday will be busier than normal.

I was right on time to see a tall man enter the salon.

I stared at him, unsure if I was breathing. He was undeniably handsome, with raven black hair that was neatly slicked to the back and equally dark eyes to match it. I was attracted to the dangerous aura coming from him, and my hairs stand on ends. In a good way.

If he needs a massage, I will be doing it personally… maybe I could apply massaging oils on me and then rub them on him with intense skin-to-skin contact. And if he wants a haircut, I don't mind lacing my fingers into that hair.

Wait! What's wrong with me? That's a customer! Naughty Mona!

"Do you have an appointment?", Ashley asked him with a smile.

"I am here to see Monique Belmondo. Is she available?", his deep voice filled the space and I wished that he keeps on talking.

The way my name rolled off his tongue made my insides shiver. What the hell was that? How can a man's voice be seductive to the point of making my mind stutter?

Ashley looked at the man and she was dazed for a second before saying breathily, "You still need an appointment. Do you have one?"

He smiled a little and looked toward his left in slow motion. My heart stopped when our eyes met.

Oh, God! I was aroused and there was an itch deep inside my core that screamed for this handsome stranger to soothe it.

Wow! Something was definitely wrong with me, but I was unable to look away.

"He doesn't need an appointment…", I responded without thinking and gestured down the hallway, toward my office. "Do you mind if we talk in private?"

"That's exactly what I had on my mind.", he said, and I was sure that he cast some spell on me because the next scene was me sitting at my desk with the mysterious stranger on the other side.

How is it possible that I lost time? What the hell is happening? And why am I imagining his hands on my body? Damn, those are some long fingers, I'm sure he could do serious magic with them. Focus, Mona… focus!

"How can I help you, Mister…?", my voice trailed, and he understood that I'm asking for his name.

"Marius. Just Marius."

Marius… it was unusual and mystical, just like he was. I smiled and repeated, "Marius. Alright, just Marius. Call me Mona. How can I help you?"

"You made a phone call where you conveyed information related to Drago Orsini."

I was stupefied. Didn't I just talk to Sanya? "How do you know about that?"

"I have my ways." He smiled again, and I struggled to stay present. What is wrong with me?

Sure, he is handsome, but I've seen handsome men, and I was never this lost.

His dark eyes forced me to maintain eye contact and the only thing I wanted was to jump on him, wondering how it will sound when I scream his name in ecstasy. The thought of him murmuring my name sent a wave of heat to my core.

Shit! When was the last time I got laid?

"Don't worry, Mona. I am not an enemy. My employer is Sanya's guardian, and he asked me to confirm the validity of what you told Sanya. I need to know from where you got that information…"

The longer he spoke, the less I cared what he said. I was lost in the vibrations of his voice and even if we were in the middle of a dessert, I would buy a few sacks of sand from him. It was that bad.

Without hesitation, I told him what I knew and then I called Ana and Ashley to my office, and the two of them revealed everything they told me with a few extra bits.

I was sitting at my desk and ogling at Marius like an enamored teenage girl in front of her first crush (but with very-very naughty thoughts).

His voice strummed strings inside me I was not aware I had, and my heart skipped a beat every time he glanced my way.

"Thank you, Mona…", he said, and I realized that he is leaving.

Already? Did I space out again?

"Are you sure that's it and that I can't help you in some other way?"

"This will be all, Mona. Thank you." He moved toward the door without shaking my hand. I won't get to touch him at all?

"Wait! Can I have your phone number?"

He cocked an eyebrow questionably, and I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"I mean… I could remember something else… important…"

He gave me a half-smile that made my stomach flip. "I know how to find you, Mona. I will be in touch when necessary."

And he was gone, just like that. Did he just refuse to give me his number? Was it not obvious that I'm interested in him?

Damn! How can a man be so hot?

It seems I need to show extra care to my relationship with Sanya because she is my connection to Marius. If I give her more information, will he come again to ask questions? One can hope.

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See Mona's photo in the comments.

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