Genji y back against the silk sheets, exhaling a slow stream of smoke from his cigarette. The room was exactly what he'd expected from Cruel De Vil - elegant, dark, expensive. Red and bck everything, mood lighting that made shadows dance across the walls.

  And she was *exactly* what he'd been chasing for years.

  Cruel stretched beside him like a cat, her bck and white hair spilling across the pillows, her body still glistening with a light sheen of sweat. She traced a finger down his chest, her red nails catching the light.

  "You know," she purred, "I've had a lot of men beg for my time, darling. But you... you were okay."

  Genji grinned, cocky as ever. "Told you I was different."

  "Mmm. We'll see if you can keep up for round two." She sat up, wrapping a silk robe around herself. "I need to check on something. Don't go anywhere."

  "Wouldn't dream of it."

  She disappeared through a side door, and Genji took another drag of his cigarette, feeling like the king of the world. *This* was the life. Beautiful women, expensive rooms, no consequences.

  One of the Dalmatians - Cruel's assistants, all dressed in matching bck and white uniforms - peeked into the room.

  "Miss De Vil will return shortly," the Dalmatian said professionally. "Can I bring you anything? Water? Wine?"

  "Nah, I'm good." Genji waved her off.

  The Dalmatian nodded and left, closing the door softly.

  Genji stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray on the nightstand and stretched. Life was good. No Fox chasing him down, no drama, just—

  He heard voices in the hallway. One he didn't recognize. Professional. Insistent.

  Then Cruel's voice, smooth and amused.

  Genji's instincts kicked in. He sat up, suddenly alert. He moved to the window and carefully pulled back the curtain.

  Down below, he could see the Fox's car parked at the curb.

  *You've got to be kidding me.*

  Genji quickly pulled on his pants, grabbed his shirt. The voices in the hallway continued - the Fox saying something about "official business" and Cruel ughing, low and dangerous.

  Genji knew that ugh. He'd heard it earlier, right before she'd—

  He grinned despite himself. The Fox had no idea what he was walking into.

  Genji slipped out through the side door Cruel had used, moving quietly through a back hallway. One of the Dalmatians saw him and opened her mouth to say something, but he pressed a finger to his lips. She hesitated, then nodded, letting him pass.

  He made it to a back exit, stepped out into the cool night air, and lit another cigarette.

  Behind him, through a window on the second floor, he could see the Fox standing stiffly in the main room, papers in hand, while Cruel circled him like prey.

  Genji chuckled, took a long drag, and walked away.