The woman was not surprised by Darius' sudden attack, knowing that since he was already prepared for her trick, he would want to take her down. Her fate after being taken down would be miserable, so she would do everything in her power to resist.
Even wearing such a loose attire, or more likely because of it, she was far more flexible and agile than Darius. She jumped onto the bed and kicked off her heels like projectiles towards Darius.
Darius quickly blocked her target, his face. With his vision impaired, he wasn't ready for the woman's subsequent attack to his abdomen with a powerful kick, sending him crashing into the wall while spitting out the drink he had enjoyed earlier.
With a grimace, he raised his left hand to grab her follow-up kick that was meant to strike his face and knock him out. The woman's face changed greatly when her left leg had been captured firmly.
With a vicious expression, she closed in with her palm open, intending to claw Darius' face. However, he knocked her hands aside by using her leg to unbalance her, dragging her along, and throwing her on the bed forcefully.
She was heavily dazed due to the force Darius had used to throw her on the mattress and despite her skill, she couldn't easily get up.
In that time, Darius had jumped up, taken the bedsheet slumped to the side, and used it to tie her legs together. Seeing that she was almost fully bound, she began to struggle and manage to forcefully break her daze.
Unfortunately, Darius already had the advantage, and he moved up and sat on her abdomen, using his arms to lock down her own. Their position was very ambiguous and Darius could barely find space to sit with her large mounds blocking his thighs from comfort.
However, his gaze was locked with her own, disinterested in her sensuality or whatever nonsense her flesh had to offer. He smirked as he gazed at her and asked.
"Who sent you?"
The woman simply gazed at him defiantly, seeming like she'd rather die than talk. Darius chuckled mirthlessly and used a hand to slap her tightly across the face.
"Let me ask you once more, who sent you?"
"No one." She answered, unbothered by the slap. If that was the worst he would do, then she would even be grateful.
Darius seemed confused. She didn't seem to be lying. "What's your name? Full name."
The woman remained silent for a while, and just as Darius was about to give her another slap, she answered slowly. "Deia… Deia Andrews."
Satisfied, Darius smiled softly. "Well, Ms. Andrews, if nobody is behind you, care to explain why you were about to drug me?"
She glared at him and answered. "Because I wanted your money! Why else would I risk coming to this bloody place?"
Darius remained smiling, but there was a dark glint in his eye that chilled Deia. "How so? By accusing me of rape?"
Deia gave him a scornful glance. "Are you retarded? How am I supposed to pull of a rape allegation with you knocked out? Do I look like someone who fucks unconscious people?!"
"Besides, we're on a bloody cruise somewhere on the North Pacific Ocean! There are only two types of women who would be present on such a cruise and my outfit clearly shows to which group I would belong. You have more than enough witnesses to claim your innocence, and I don't wish to antagonize those other men." She spat angrily.
Darius paused and smiled wryly. "Indeed, if your aim was just to knock me out, then I guess you were just after my wallet and cards?"
Deia nodded as she looked away. "That's the only thing of value on you anyway."
"Ha… you're just a petty thief, not feminine scum." Darius sighed as he released her hands and got off her.
Deia slowly raised her upper body and rubbed her sore wrists. She then undid the bedsheet tying her feet, sitting with her legs crossed on the bed as she glared at Darius who had pulled over as a seat near the bed.
"Just so you know, I don't carry too much cash on me in the first place. You would get far more spending the night with me, making you eligible for the bonus payment. The offer still stands if you wish." Darius joked lightly, but Deia simply snorted too.
Darius chuckled with amusement. "You're quite the fierce one, aren't you? Why are you glaring at me like I was the one who wanted to rob you?
"As a woman, if I don't adopt a fierce demeanor, do you think I'd be alive in today's world?" Deia stated with a sneer.
Darius looked at her like he was gazing at an idiot. "In today's world? Are you talking about this planet or whatever fantasy world you seem to live in? Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the modern-day a woman's world?"
Deia scoffed. "Sure, if you only look on the surface. It's just lip service to women to make them feel empowered, but the true abuse keeps going on in the dark while those in the light remain fooled."
"Oh?" Darius muttered with surprise. "Elaborate for someone who lives in the light."
Deia folded her arms and glanced at Darius askance. "A rich boy like you is not ignorant. You know very well that there are two shades to this world, the light, and the dark."
"The light includes those who live in the law, those who make use of society's basic amenities like schools and social media, as well those who from the middle class who work proper jobs."
Darius pointed to himself. "What about those part of the high class who live in the light?"
Deia snickered. "An endangered species. You're my first target in almost two years, because the rest would do far worse to me than tie me up and give me a single slap if I'm caught."
Darius smiled wryly and passed a hand through his hair. Was she complimenting him for being lenient or mocking him for being soft?
Deia continued. "As for the dark, it the abyss of this world. A monster that if you gaze into, it not only looks back but sends its tendrils to drag you in. Once you are brought in, there is absolutely no way to come out into the light on your own terms without limitless power."
Darius' expression became serious, for he obviously knew about various underworld activities, but had never used them and rather relied on himself because of a warning his father had given him when he was young.
Darius would never forget looking into his father's soft blue eyes, and hearing him say solemnly. "My son, always remember this. Never mix good business with criminal activities. It will never end the way you expect it to."
