Surviving In This Filthy World As A Novel Villain

Alex smirked inwardly. Simple. "Look, Ashley," he began, leaning forward slightly, "you wanted to strike a deal with Henry, but he shot you down. What if I could make that happen?"

Of course, Henry wouldn't touch a deal with the Dawsons now, Alex mused. Not after they sprung Eric Vaughn – the guy who killed Henry's father – right out of police custody. They even strong-armed Henry into dropping the whole thing. Working with the Dawsons after that? Not a chance.

But the Dawsons didn't know the best part, Alex thought with hidden satisfaction. 'Eric Vaughn was under my control now.' Once the doctor finished healing Riley's grandmother, his purpose would be served.

Alex wouldn't hesitate to hand Henry a special little something, maybe call it the satisfactory revenge, and let him personally deliver Eric Vaughn's real punishment. Killing was old news; making an enemy suffer endlessly? That was true revenge. Like how that one character dealt with her uncle...

Ashley sighed, the hope draining from her expression. "You're right. Because of that bastard, Mr. Henry won't even talk business with anyone from my family."

'No kidding,' Alex thought dryly.

"But," Alex said, his voice smooth and confident, "I can get Henry to listen. I can make him agree to a deal specifically with you, Ashley. Not the Dawsons. Just you."

Ashley stared, then let out a short, skeptical laugh. "That's... unlikely. Why would Mr. Henry possibly listen to you?"

Alex simply smiled. "Because my family name is Reid."

Reid? The name echoed in Ashley's mind. It wasn't just any name. She remembered the whispers from other executives she'd met since arriving in the city.

Outwardly, the Families ran things.

But behind the scenes, everyone knew who really held the power, whose name made things happen. Reid. Her eyes widened, breath hitching. She scrambled up from the sofa.

"You... you're that Alex Reid? The Reids who...?" She didn't need to finish. The quiet confidence in his eyes confirmed it. In this city, the name Reid was power.

"Yes," Alex confirmed, his gaze lingering on the way the damp white dress clung to Ashley's curves. She really was stunning, with an alluring maturity.

He made a mental note: if Ashley looked this good, her niece, the target, was likely just as impressive, perhaps in a different way than Sera. He didn't try to hide his appraisal, and Ashley, sharp and experienced, certainly felt the heat of his stare.

She was no fool. Since her fiancé's death in that plane crash five years prior, she'd moved back home and focused solely on the family, shutting down any thoughts of romance.

She'd been... alone... for a long time. Now, standing there, still damp, the thin fabric outlining her body...

"So," Ashley began, her voice a little shaky, a faint blush rising on her cheeks as her legs shifted almost involuntarily, "if I... agree... you'll really help me get the deal with Henry?"

Alex raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. 'Agree? Agree to what? I haven't even laid out my conditions yet.'

His gaze flickered to her hands. Her nails were short, practical, neatly trimmed. Interesting. His plan was straightforward: get close to Ashley, use her as a stepping stone to the real prize, her niece. If it worked, fantastic. If not, it cost him little. Eric Vaughn was useless for that path now anyway.

Though puzzled by her phrasing, Alex gave a slow nod. Opportunity was knocking.

"I always keep my word," Ashley whispered, determination hardening her features. Taking a deep breath, she reached out, grabbed the front of Alex's shirt, and pulled him down forcefully onto the sofa with her.

Alex, momentarily stunned but never one to refuse such an invitation, went willingly.

It's often said that forcing yourself on someone is wrong, a crime even. Alex liked to think of himself as an upstanding guy. Okay, maybe his dad dealt in weapons, and his siblings were mixed up in some shady stuff, but he followed the rules. Mostly.

Let's just say Alex was very... thorough... in his interactions.

….

…

..

.

An hour later, Ashley lay sprawled across Alex's chest, limp and catching her breath. Her finger traced idle patterns on his skin.

"My god," she breathed out, "I thought I was going to die." Taking care of things herself versus... this... was night and day. Like a desert finally getting rain, her legs still felt shaky. Alex's sheer... stamina... had completely overwhelmed her. She needed a minute.

"We... maybe shouldn't contact each other openly," Ashley murmured, her voice soft. "My family... they might get the wrong idea." Her original plan was just a one-time, desperate exchange to get what she needed.

But now, after the intensity of it all, she found herself craving more. The difference between manual and automatic was just... vast.

Alex, feeling that calm clarity that often follows intense activity, turned his head slightly to look at her. "Worried about your husband?" He wasn't keen on wrecking a marriage.

Ashley shook her head. "My dad."

"Your dad?" Alex blinked, genuinely surprised. During their... earlier activities... he'd learned she was thirty-two. You'd expect a woman her age to worry about a husband, not her father.

That caught him off guard. Wait, he thought, no wedding ring either. Is she not married? He also recalled his earlier... exploration.

Driving his "super truck" through Ashley's "tunnel," he'd sensed something unusual for her age.

A road frequently traveled feels different from one that isn't. While there were faint signs of some past activity, it definitely hadn't been a man driving that route recently. It felt... remarkably unused. Very tight.

Lost in her own thoughts, Ashley didn't seem to notice Alex's brief internal analysis. She snuggled closer, still tracing patterns on his abs.

"I had a fiancé," she explained with a soft sigh. "He died. Plane crash, five years ago."

'Ah, that explains it,' Alex thought. 'No ring, the 'tunnel' being out of service for years…' He glanced down at her again.

So, the woman who'd boldly pulled him down onto the sofa was actually quite proper underneath it all. He'd definitely stumbled into something good here.

A flicker of anticipation went through him, he was now even more curious about meeting her niece, the main target.

'Aunt and niece, huh? That's... an interesting dynamic.' He mentally shook his head. 'Focus! Keep it clean... mostly.'

"Well," Alex said, his hand beginning a slow, deliberate journey over her skin again, "I bet your fiancé would have wanted you to be happy... maybe even wanted a child someday."

"Huh?" Ashley looked up, confused for a second. Then, understanding dawned in her eyes. Oh. Oh.

…..

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