Andrew stepped into the old tech department, his sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit room. It was a sorry sight—dust-covered desks, idle screens, and staff sprawled in various states of disinterest. A couple of them were dozing, heads resting on crossed arms, while others lazily scrolled through their phones. The place reeked of wasted potential.He cleared his throat, loud and sharp. The sound jolted a few of them upright, but the lethargy in the air was unmistakable. “Where’s Peter?” he asked, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.One of the staff, a young man who looked more awake than the rest, pointed toward a glass-walled office in the corner. “He’s inside,” he mumbled.Andrew didn’t wait for an invitation. He strode to the office, knocked once, and pushed the door open. Sure enough, Peter was slouched in his chair, arms folded over his chest, his head tilted back in what looked like a deep sleep. The sight made Andrew’s jaw tighten.He took a seat across from Peter
Elowen watched as Lysander opened the door to his sleek black car. The soft purr of the engine cut through the quiet night, but something about his demeanor made her pause. His movements were fluid, confident, like someone who never second-guessed a single decision.“Lysander,” she called, her voice firm.He paused, his hand on the car door, and turned to her. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, the kind of smile that could both charm and infuriate.She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the pavement. “I’ve thought about it,” she said, her chin tilted upward. “Let’s make it a deal.”His gaze dipped to her outstretched hand, and the smirk deepened. “A deal, then,” he said, clasping her hand in his. His grip was warm, steady, but his eyes held that perpetual glint of amusement.“So,” she asked, pulling her hand back, “what’s the plan?”Lysander leaned casually against the car, his blue eyes narrowing slightly. “Calista’s been cheating on me for a while now. I’ve got eviden
Elowen gripped the steering wheel of Mrs. Cassiopeia’ sleek Lamborghini, the hum of the engine a soothing backdrop to her thoughts. The kids were quiet in the back, Eulalia humming softly while Leander stared out the window, his little face set in a familiar scowl. When they reached Lysander’s mansion, its towering gates and pristine exterior gleaming in the evening light, Elowen pressed the doorbell. A faint chime echoed inside, and moments later, Lysander appeared at the door. He smiled warmly, stepping aside to let them in. “Please, come in.” Eulalia’s eyes lit up as she hopped out of the car and ran toward him. “Hi!” she said brightly, throwing her arms up. Lysander bent down, scooping her up effortlessly. “Hello, little one.” Behind her, Leander trudged forward, hands shoved deep into his pockets. His steps were deliberate, almost too slow, his small figure radiating defiance. “Leander,” Elowen called, her voice firm as she crouched to meet his eye level. “What have I
Lysander opened the door, his sharp features tightening when he saw Calista standing there. Her blonde hair cascaded in loose waves over her bare shoulders, her silky robe barely covering her curves. The sultry smile on her red-painted lips made her intentions clear as she leaned closer, her perfume—a heavy, intoxicating scent—filling the air.Without hesitation, he raised a hand, keeping her at arm’s length. “What are you doing here?” His voice was cold, sharp as glass.Calista pouted, feigning innocence. “Can’t a woman come to see her man?” She stepped forward, her hand brushing against his chest, but Lysander sidestepped her effortlessly, forcing her to stumble inside.Her eyes immediately landed on Elowen, who sat calmly on the plush sofa, her posture as regal as a queen’s. The soft glow from the lamp highlighted Elowen’s dark hair, tied neatly into a bun, and her piercing eyes that barely flicked toward Calista.“What’s she doing here?” Calista’s voice turned venomous, her earlie
Elowen’s lips curled into a sly, dangerous smile, the kind of smile that promised trouble. Her eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and something darker—determination. “Oh, you’ll see,” she said, her voice low and filled with a hint of mystery.Lysander, standing by the door, watched her with a cautious gaze. His mind raced as he tried to figure out just who Elowen really was. “Really, but I want to be of help,” he said, his voice almost pleading, the sincerity in his tone at odds with his usual cold demeanor.Elowen smirked at him, her gaze sharp and knowing. She took a slow step forward, her heels clicking on the polished floor. “For now, I can handle it. When I need your help, I’ll let you know,” she said, her words laced with both confidence and finality. She turned on her heel, heading towards the hallway. “Can you show me my room for tonight? I’m exhausted, and I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow,” she added, almost casually, as if the weight of her plans didn’t even faze her.
Elowen sat at the head of the long, polished conference table, her nails drumming a deliberate rhythm on the surface. Around her, her team exchanged nervous glances, their laptops open, phones buzzing with notifications, the hum of tension thick in the room. A large flat-screen on the wall displayed a live feed of comments pouring in across multiple social media platforms. The room smelled faintly of coffee and the lingering stress of overworked employees.One comment stood out, bold and cutting: “I heard Lucy is joining the live broadcast. Is that true? What a disgrace!”Another followed almost instantly: “There’s no way. G Group isn’t stupid enough to let a murderer represent them. She should be in jail!”The screen refreshed, bringing in another flood of venom.“She’s only free because G Group protects their own. It’s disgusting.”“She murdered her colleague, and now she’s getting a platform? What message are we sending society?”Lucy sat at the far end of the table, her phone trem
Caspian stormed into his office, his footsteps heavy and sharp against the polished marble floor. His face was a thundercloud of anger, and his assistant practically shrank under his furious gaze.“What did you just say?” Caspian growled, his voice low but laced with unmistakable menace.The assistant hesitated, visibly uncomfortable. He cleared his throat, fumbling with the tablet in his hands. “S-Sir, the old tech department,” he began cautiously, “the one you, uh… sidelined. They’ve all resigned. It happened about a week after Andrew left.”For a moment, there was silence, thick and suffocating. Then Caspian grabbed the nearest book off his desk and hurled it across the room. It struck the wall with a resounding thud, making the assistant flinch violently.Caspian’s fists clenched at his sides as his thoughts raced. He knew exactly how skilled the old tech team was. He’d forced them to step down, not because they weren’t good enough, but because he wanted to remind them and everyon
Elowen turned slowly, her expression unreadable, but her eyes burned with a fire that dared anyone to look away. Caspian stood before her, arms crossed, the trademark smirk on his lips as smug and infuriating as she remembered.“It’s an honor to meet you again, Caspian,” Elowen said, her voice calm but carrying an edge sharp enough to cut. The deadly smile she gave him sent a flicker of uncertainty across his features, though he masked it quickly.For a moment, his gaze lingered on her face, the realization of seeing it uncovered for the first time sinking in. “You look beautiful without that mask,” he said, his voice softer than she expected.Elowen raised a brow, a smirk playing at her lips. “So I didn’t look beautiful with it?”“No, you’ve always been beautiful,” he said, his words almost stumbling as he tried to recover. “It’s just that today... you look different.”“Thank you,” she replied coolly, her smirk widening ever so slightly.Caspian’s eyes narrowed, studying her. Somethi
Lysander gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as he sped down the narrow, unpaved road. The engine’s low growl barely masked the storm brewing inside him. The headlights cut through the thick darkness, illuminating the overgrown bushes that lined the path to his family’s old hideout.His hideout.Now overrun by the very woman who once swore she loved him.He should have killed Calista when he had the chance.The thought burned through his mind as he cut the engine a few feet away from the compound. Silence. The night was still, but Lysander knew better. She’d have men posted everywhere.He slid out of the car, moving like a shadow. The bulletproof vest felt snug against his chest as he unholstered his silenced pistol. His eyes scanned the area two guards at the entrance, standing stiff, their breath visible in the cold night air.Lysander exhaled slowly.Two bullets. Two bodies.They crumpled without a sound.He stepped over them, slipping inside through the creaky d
The room was silent.Thick. Suffocating.But Elowen didn't flinch. Instead, she did something that made Calista pause.She smiled.Cold. Unyielding.And when she spoke, her voice was steel.“Then I hope you’re ready.”A flicker of hesitation flashed in Calista’s eyes.“Because I don’t plan on dying today.”Calista's laughter rang through the dimly lit room, sharp and full of venom. Her heels clicked against the concrete floor as she stepped out of the shadows, finally revealing herself.Elowen’s head throbbed, warm blood trickling down her face. The ropes bit into her wrists, cutting off circulation, but she refused to let the pain show.Calista crouched before her, tilting her head like a predator studying its prey.“You always were full of fight.” Her fingers clamped onto Elowen’s jaw, nails digging into her skin. She squeezed tight, unforgiving. “But let me make one thing clear.”She leaned in, her breath hot against Elowen’s ear.“You don’t get to win.”Elowen gritted her teeth, b
“I miss it already,” Seraphina sighed, her fingers trailing along the cold glass of the car window. The city lights blurred past, casting golden reflections over the darkened streets.“Me too,” Elowen murmured, her hands tightening on the wheel.The road stretched ahead, slick with rain, the faint hum of tires the only sound between them. The night felt calm, almost too calm—Then came the headlights.Blinding. Fast. Barreling straight toward them.A truck.No time. No space.BANG.The impact slammed into them with bone-shattering force. The seatbelt bit into Elowen’s chest as the car was sent skidding, tires screeching against asphalt. Metal groaned, twisting under the weight of the collision.Glass exploded.The world spun flipping, rolling, tumbling.CRASH.Then silence.Thick. Suffocating.A metallic scent filled Elowen’s nose blood. Gasoline. Smoke curled in the air.Somewhere, a phone buzzed.Seraphina.“Are you there? Elowen, answer me!” Seraphina’s voice was sharp, frantic.No
Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, warming Elowen’s skin as she shifted beneath the covers. A lazy yawn escaped her lips, her body protesting against the idea of leaving the comfort of sleep. Just five more minutes…A shadow fell over her.Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light only to find Lysander perched at the edge of her bed, watching her.She jerked upright. “Lysander? What the hell—”“Good morning.” His voice was smooth, teasing, like he had been waiting for her reaction.Her gaze flickered around, confirming she was indeed in her own bedroom. The realization did nothing to soothe her racing heart. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t tell me you spent the night in my room?”Lysander leaned in slightly, his presence filling the space between them. “Is that how you greet someone in the morning?” His fingers ghosted through her tousled hair, making her stomach flip.Elowen swallowed. “Good morning.” The words came out breathy, uncertain.Lysander sat back, cro
Elowen’s pulse hammered in her ears as Mrs. Martha’s words echoed in the dimly lit room."I’m going to kill her right in front of you."The woman said it so casually, like she was discussing dinner plans.Elowen’s fingers curled into fists.Mrs. Martha leaned closer, smirking. "Then, I’ll erase Zephyr’s memory. And we’ll all pretend this never happened."A laugh slipped past Elowen’s lips low, cold, unnatural.Mrs. Martha’s smirk faltered. "Something funny?"Elowen tilted her head, her gaze locking onto the woman’s with unsettling calm. "You’re right about one thing, Martha."Martha’s brow arched in amusement."You’re good at eliminating problems."Elowen’s eyes turned to steel. "Too bad you never realized you’re mine."A flicker of confusion crossed Mrs. Martha’s face before Elowen moved.The gunshot shattered the silence.Martha’s smirk didn’t even have time to fade before the bullet slammed into her skull. Blood splattered across the cracked concrete walls as she crumpled, her body
Elowen’s grip tightened on the steering wheel as she stared at the blinking red dot on her phone screen. The tracker had stopped moving. An abandoned building deep in the forest. Her gut twisted. That’s where Seraphina is.She took a steady breath and killed the engine. The line of black SUVs behind her followed suit, their headlights cutting through the thick fog. The air smelled damp, the scent of pine mixing with something metallic something off.As Elowen stepped out of her Lamborghini Aventador, a dozen guards followed, moving with sharp precision. Their black suits blended with the night, silent shadows awaiting orders. Her pulse was steady, but beneath it, rage simmered."Surround the building," she commanded, her voice low but firm.The men split instantly, disappearing into the darkness, their training evident in the way they moved no wasted steps, no hesitation.Elowen adjusted the gun holster beneath her coat. She wouldn’t leave without Seraphina.With a flick of her wrist,
Elowen’s heels clicked against the marble floor as she paced in her office, her mind racing. Her hands trembled slightly as she clenched her phone, her heartbeat thrumming in her ears. Seraphina was in danger. And if there was one thing Elowen couldn’t stand, it was feeling helpless.She took a deep breath and dialed Lysander’s number.The call barely rang twice before he answered. "I was just about to call you," he said, his voice carrying its usual smoothness.Elowen forced a smirk. "Yeah? But I called first.""Touché, my love," he teased, but there was an edge to his voice, like he sensed something was wrong."I need your help," she said, dropping all pretenses.A pause. Then, "What do you need?"Elowen swallowed hard, gripping the edge of her desk. "The full force of your guards."Another pause. She could hear Lysander shifting, the rustling of papers being pushed aside. "Why?""My friend has been taken by her own mother."Lysander let out a low, frustrated sigh. "Seraphina?""Yes
Elowen stood slowly, the quiet scrape of her chair against the floor the only sound in the room. She smoothed her hands over her dress, then crossed the space between them with graceful precision. Settling into the chair across from Seraphina and Zephyr, she crossed her legs, her sharp gaze never leaving them.She had never asked Seraphina about her mother. It wasn’t out of disinterest far from it. She had respected her friend’s choice to never speak of the woman. But now, hearing Zephyr's words, a chill crept down her spine.She folded her hands in her lap. "Why would her mother want her dead?" Her voice was calm, but the steel underneath was unmistakable.Zephyr leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his fingers interlocked. He let out a slow breath, his jaw tightening as he spoke. "From what I’ve uncovered, Seraphina’s mother never wanted her in the first place. She only married her father for his wealth, and children weren’t part of the deal. She was a spy planted by the
The early morning sun filtered through the glass walls of Elowen’s office, casting soft golden streaks across the sleek mahogany desk. She adjusted her posture in her chair, fingers gliding over the keyboard as she lost herself in the work on her screen.A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She glanced up, momentarily disoriented before shifting her focus toward the doorway.Andrew stepped in, bowing slightly. "Ma'am, you have a visitor."Elowen frowned. "A visitor?" She hadn't been expecting anyone."She says she’s your friend," Andrew replied.Curiosity flickered in her eyes. "Let her in."Andrew bowed again and exited. Moments later, the familiar figure of Seraphina stepped through the door. Dressed in a stylish yet casual ensemble, she radiated confidence as she took in the space around her.Elowen's lips curled into a smile as she shut her laptop. "You should be at the villa, not here," she said, a playful reprimand in her tone.Seraphina rolled her eyes as she san