"What are you doing?"

Luke could hear the soft voice coming from the back of the room but he didn't turn and he didn't respond. Instead he sat back leisurely against the leather sofa, staring at his glass which was less than a fifth full now. He held it at eye level, the amber liquid capturing the city lights coming in through the window. It was night but the city poised far in the distance still shimmered brightly and it could be seen even from his small corner of the world. It intrigued him- everything that could be happening, everything he didn't know about and just the same, it worried him. It was his job, after all, to know everything.

"What is so interesting in that glass that you've abandoned me?" The voiced purred again, this time a lot closer as a pair of long legs finally made an appearance next to him. Luke didn't look at her, he only leaned forward, placing his glass down on the table and leaning onto his elbows.

She stared for a second, thinking he looked stressed, thinking it must have to do with work and knowing she shouldn't ask. It was strange that she was still here. Luke, while a very passionate and affectionate lover, demanded a lot of space. He was usually pushing her out the door before she could finish getting dressed again, which she usually didn't mind. In fact, she was honestly glad to be out the door as soon as it was over. She prepared excuses, kept collections of them, reasons she could say that would allow her to leave without either of them having to face any kind of embarrassment. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy what they did together, Luke knew perfectly well how to get her blood flowing, but when they weren't doing what they did best... she was terrified.

Well, maybe that was exaggerating a bit but she couldn't help it. As it was, Luke was a cold and formidable man and it was only natural that people were intimidated but then... she stared at the glistening of the scars hovering over his shoulder. They were deep scars, rough to the touch, red and prominent against what should have been nothing but smooth, muscled skin. They matched the ones that sat on his otherwise handsome face and although it was easy enough to forget them when it was dark and he was touching her, she would be a liar if she didn't say she couldn't stand the sight of them in the light.

The truth was that she couldn't stand to be around him, not really. Even if Luke was a passionate and skilled lover, even if he did shower her with gifts and kept her in comfort well beyond her own means, Luke himself was too much to deal with. He was domineering, he was demanding, condescending and a bully. He expected everyone to do his bidding, at the drop of a hat, without any regard for anything or anyone. Like tonight- tonight she planned to go into the city with her friends. She'd managed to be invited to a very exclusive party for some of the upper crust socialites in the city and then... he'd messaged her. He didn't ask if she was busy, didn't ask if she could come over. He just demanded it.

and she obeyed. It wasn't worth the risk dealing with him angry. There was no sight to equal it- Luke angry was enough to bring her to very real tears. Not that she was his prisoner either. She knew she was with him because she was lucky to be. Realistically, Luke never took up much of her time. She didn't see him often, and when she did it was fleeting... and he really was an amazing lover. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensations he'd given her only a short while before.

She let out a sigh just thinking of it and Luke finally seemed to notice her.

"What are you still doing here?" he said with a deep frown that made him look much older than his 29 years. She watched him now as he stood, stretching his arms into the air before picking up his glass and walking towards the kitchen.

She stood, turning to watch him as she began to pick up bits and pieces of her clothes, dressing hastily. If it wasn't for his terrible temper, because he was the most rude and arrogant man she'd ever met, she might look past those scars. He was, after all, still so handsome and well built, and so incredibly rich and powerful. It had been said to her more than once, sometimes by her friends, other times by her sister, that she was the most beautiful woman in the family and possibly, the city.

Yes, she thought, as she stepped out onto the dark streets and moved towards her parked car. Yes, he did just kick me out, much like he usually does, but he's also kept me around a lot longer than he's bothered to with others. She'd made it her job to find out everything she could before allowing herself to get tangled up with him. She knew what kind of girls he liked- blond, tall, blue eyed and well dressed, quiet, compliant and discreet. She knew how he behaved, heard stories from his past flames and knew what to expect... and never complained.

She looked down at her hand bag when she was finally sitting in her car. It was one of the more expensive presents she'd managed to wiggle out of him and she'd been quite proud of it. It seemed all she really had to do was say what she wanted and he made it happen but... how long would that last? Sooner or later, Luke would move on, he always did, it was inevitable and there was no room to change it either. It wasn't exactly like they spent a lot of quality time together- he never allowed it. He was glad to be rid of her as much as she was glad to leave every time... and she had refused to make a nuisance of herself.

She frowned, pulling into her driveway and taking a deep breath. Except tonight. Tonight she had decided not to rush out the door, tonight she thought she might try to coax him into spending a little more time in her arms... if only she hadn't completely chickened out. She should have reached out to him on that sofa, tried to soothe him, tried to make him see that there was more that she could do for him. She shivered... but those scars. They reminded her that he was a dangerous man.

Now, as she stepped into the luxury apartment he'd set her up in, not so different from the one he always met her in, she took note of all her things. Little trinkets, nice furnishings, marble counter tops and a closet full of designer items... not to mention a pretty allowance. She wasn't sure what would hurt the most at this point... could she really bear not to have all these things? No, she couldn't, she wouldn't. She'd only just made up her mind that she would have to find a way to win him over, she was going to have to keep him for herself. Sure, right now he could be terrifying but if she could win his heart... well, men are completely different when they're in love. And she, she was Grace Bruni. She proudly lifted her head and nodded. Yes, she would do it. She'd find a way to win him over.

---

Luke tried to be quiet as he entered his house. The last thing he wanted was to disturb any of the staff. It was late... no, that wasn't right. It was actually early, very early, meaning that Grace had kept him a lot longer than he liked to be kept. He was distracted, he was stressed. There was a lot going on and even a visit with Grace hadn't sufficed to keep his work from his mind.

It was nearly 5:30 AM and now he could make out footsteps in the distance, indicating that he wasn't the only person up and about. He usually didn't stay out that late, and if he did, he didn't bother returning to the house. It was one of those things Luke was the most strict about. This house, this big, grand house, had been his mothers and now that both of his parents were gone, and he respected it as such, even if it was now his.

"Signor Luca, good morning." His housekeeper said as she began to buzz around in the hall as he stopped to greet her. "You should get dressed and we'll have breakfast waiting."

"Good morning to you too, Delita, and Thank you." He said with a smile and a sigh. Delita had been working at that house longer than Luke had lived there and it was her habit to be a little bit bossy. She was one of the few people he allowed it from, mostly because he knew she picked it up from him. He chuckled to himself at that thought. Maybe he'd picked it up from her, after all, he couldn't remember a time when she wasn't so bossy.

The house was sprawled out wide in a rather unique way. His father had it built to be particularly confusing, confessing that he did not want it to be easy to navigate. He felt that the house should only be familiar to people who should be in the house as a matter of security. Even the men who were on constant security detail on the grounds were only familiar with the parts of the house they needed to be.

As soon as Luke turned into the long corridor that led to his room, his mind was already back on business. He'd been blessed with a strange sort of instinct and usually he could smell real trouble from a mile away, or so he liked to think so. Like now, with the Russo brothers, he could almost see that they were going to continue to be a thorn in his side. He had a strong feeling in his gut that made him want to shut them down as a matter of priority.

Luke stared at his own reflection in the bathroom mirror, his face newly shaved and smooth. As he ran his hand across his chin, checking for any stubble, his finger twitched. They gently grazed the scarred skin on the left side of his face. He had those scars for almost 5 years now and still the skin was tender to touch, a constant reminder of everything he'd lost. He knew that it was the first thing about him that people noticed, the reason that people seemed to cower away from him. Even strangers had a tendency to blatantly stare before they remembered their manners and had the decency to look ashamed.

Like that girl in the elevator... Luke chuckled. What a strange thing to think of at that moment. She certainly hadn't bothered to even try to hide how she was staring at him. It was obvious that she found it jarring. Usually, Luke didn't notice stranger's reactions, he was so used to the stares, and he never would have given a girl like that an second look. If it wasn't because he'd seen her push the button for he 21st floor, he wouldn't have looked at all. He'd heard the Reid girls working upstairs were beauties and so he was curious, wondering if he'd catch a glimpse of them. Instead, there was that girl- that strange girl whose eyes watched him in silent amazement, if not horror. Something about her, something about they way she stared really bothered him.