Happy Diwali To You All.
*****
{Chapter: 201 - High Stakes and Higher Tension}
Las Vegas Night:
"For example?" Aiden asked curiously, lifting a brow as he gave the tall blonde in front of him a once-over—although to be precise, his gaze drifted somewhere less polite. At her height, he found himself looking right at the space between her arms and her body. She wasn't overly busty, but the way her figure filled out the tight, patterned dress she wore left just enough to the imagination to make his thoughts wander. The design barely covered the underwear beneath, and the hollowed-out patterns did little to hide what was underneath. His fingers almost itched to pull the fabric aside and uncover what was hidden beneath that teasing surface.
The woman caught the heat in his eyes. Her brows twitched—half amusement, half warning. But instead of snapping at him, she flashed a knowing smile. It was the kind of smile that said she was used to attention, maybe even thrived on it.
"For example, me," she said, her voice confident, calm, but with an edge—like a woman who knew how to break bones but preferred not to. "My name's Jessica. I think I'm more than qualified for a job."
"Jessica?" Aiden repeated, his smile faltering slightly as a flicker of recognition sparked in his mind. He stared at her more intently now, not just with male interest, but with suspicion.
Jessica Sanders? Or is this Nikki Sanders?
In the original timeline, Jessica was the darker, more dangerous personality that had manifested within Niki after a traumatic event involving their abusive father, Hal. It was said that Jessica had been the stronger of the two sisters—and even compared in raw power to someone like Jessica Jones.
And this reminds me, I should look for that poor girl before it's too late.
In the Heroes plot, she was a walking weapon who had eventually found herself working under Linderman, performing high-risk jobs few others could handle.
Now, Aiden was seeing her earlier than expected. That meant the timeline had shifted again.
Interesting. Either Linderman decided to send me a test—or a gift.
"It's not easy to become my secretary," Aiden said smoothly, masking his suspicions beneath a lazy smile. "But I don't mind giving you a chance. I'm a fair man. Let's see how well you perform."
Jessica's lips curled, her confidence not wavering for a second. "I'll show you I'm more than qualified."
Aiden chuckled. "I'm sure you will."
---
Las Vegas, the city of indulgence and ruin. A city where the flashing lights never dimmed, the cards never stopped turning, and the people never stopped betting—on money, on love, on fate itself. In this sleepless playground, miracles were born and destroyed every hour. The rich could be bankrupt by morning. A broke man might walk out with a kingdom's fortune. Here, sins were welcomed. Regrets? Less so.
Aiden strolled through the casino like he owned it. Which, given Linderman's hospitality, he might as well have. He played casually—roulette, blackjack, poker, even a few rounds at the slots. He didn't use any of his abilities. He didn't need to. Sometimes he lost, sometimes he won. But the thrill was in the game, not the result or money.
Jessica followed him loyally, if not curiously, like a shadow wrapped in silk and danger. As a companion, she was excellent—poised, attentive, and beautiful enough to turn heads as they walked by. She explained the odds and intricacies of each game when needed, never nagging, never overstepping. And, notably, she didn't blink when Aiden tossed around Linderman's money like confetti.
Aiden tilted his head, watching her closely as she watched the table.
"Do you want to play?" he asked, flipping a poker chip between his fingers like a magician. "Or are you just going to keep pretending you're my bodyguard?"
Jessica looked at him, hesitating. For a moment, the cracks of uncertainty peeked through her confidence. "I'm not sure if I should. This is… technically your money."
"Technically Linderman's money," Aiden corrected with a grin. "I'm just the lucky bastard he gave it to. And you, my dear, are now my secretary. So what's mine is yours."
Jessica gave him a skeptical look, but her eyes glittered with interest.
"Besides," he added, standing up and stepping closer, his voice lowering to that deep, dangerous charm he wielded so well, "If you lose, I promise to only tease you for an hour or two. If you win… I might reward you."
Jessica laughed. A real one. She didn't do that often. "You're impossible."
"And yet," Aiden said, sliding an arm around her waist and pulling her close, "here you are."
He sat back in the plush leather chair at the roulette table and patted his lap. "Come. Let's make it interesting."
Jessica narrowed her eyes, but there was a glint of challenge in them. "What are you doing?"
"Making sure you enjoy your first day on the job," he said smoothly. "I like to keep my employees… close."
Without waiting for permission, he gently took her hand and guided her down until she was sitting sideways on his lap, her thighs resting across his. One hand held her waist, the other placed a stack of chips in her palm.
"You don't mind, do you?" he whispered against her ear, his voice warm, teasing, but edged with intent.
Jessica tilted her head slightly, her breath brushing against his cheek. "Let's just say… I'll allow it—for now."
"Oh?" Aiden chuckled, eyes twinkling. "So you do like being on top—of things."
"Keep talking like that, and I might show you how strong I really am."
"I'm counting on it," he said, his grin only widening.
Of course, no one minded. The casino was packed—glimmering lights, rolling dice, clinking glasses, and laughter echoing under vaulted ceilings. This was Vegas, after all—a city of freedom, temptation, and chaos. Here, a woman sitting on a man's lap at a gambling table wasn't just unremarkable, it was expected. The idea that someone might care? Laughable.
Still, Jessica couldn't help but feel a little awkward. Her lean, powerful frame shifted slightly, trying not to put too much weight on Aiden's lap. She could feel his hand resting at her waist, firm but warm, and occasionally, his fingers would trace lazy circles against her hip. Whether intentional or not, it was distracting—dangerously so. Yet, she said nothing.
Aiden, for his part, was thoroughly enjoying the moment. His gaze wandered from the roulette wheel to the woman perched on him like a queen on a throne. Jessica's toned arms and long legs were made more prominent by her asymmetric sleeve cut out split leg dress. Her blond hair framed her face just right, a combination of fierce and elegant. Her beauty was striking, yes, but it was her presence that fascinated him. She wasn't just another pretty face—she was a contradiction, a storm wrapped in velvet.
He smirked, watching her brow furrow in concentration as she tried to place a bet.
"Relax," he murmured, his lips brushing her ear. "We're not exactly playing with our own money. Linderman's footing the bill, remember? Let loose."
Jessica stiffened slightly at the sound of that name. But she didn't protest. She knew why she was here. And Aiden, ever the charming devil, seemed to know more than he should.
Still, she tried to focus on the chips and the table in front of her. It was just a game, just another performance. But Aiden made it nearly impossible. Every time she shifted her weight, his hand followed, as if trying to memorize every inch of her. The heat radiating from him, the way he looked at her—not with lust alone, but something more playful, predatory—made her feel like she was teetering on the edge of something.
She lost a few bets in quick succession. Her attention slipped.
"Baby," Aiden purred, his voice suddenly lower, almost dangerous. He leaned closer, letting his breath tickle her neck. "How about we go play something a little more… private?"
Jessica's eyes widened, and she glanced sideways at him, flustered. "P-Play what?"
Aiden's grin deepened. "Oh, you know. A game just for two. The kind of game men and women have been playing since the dawn of time. The one that got humanity into all sorts of trouble."
He stood and, before she could say anything, took her hand and pulled her along with him.
Jessica faltered at first, blinking in surprise, but found herself following. She wasn't sure whether it was curiosity or recklessness guiding her steps. Maybe both.
Just as they exited the hotel lobby into the cool desert night, another figure stepped into view—Sarah, descending the staircase in a silky black dress. She caught sight of Aiden with his new companion. Her eyes narrowed in recognition, then she grimace and turned back up the stairs without a word.
Outside, under the gleaming neon lights of Las Vegas Boulevard, Jessica looked around and asked, "Where are we going?"
Aiden laughed, eyes twinkling. "Somewhere a little quieter. Somewhere no one will interrupt us."
Before she could respond, he scooped her up in a sudden, fluid motion—a perfect princess carry—and then, to her astonishment, lifted off the ground.
Jessica's mouth parted in disbelief. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck as they soared above the buildings.
"You—you're flying?!" she gasped, breathless.
"Sure am. And you're enjoying it, aren't you?" Aiden teased.
A delighted laugh escaped her lips, and she looked out over the glittering city below. "God… it's so beautiful. I didn't expect the night sky to look like this."