What's Your Mission?

Theo's jaw tightened as he observed Julian and Alexa from a distance. His boss, usually aloof and exacting, was suddenly warm and accommodating to the new maid. It didn’t make sense. Something about the way Julian looked at her, spoke to her—it unsettled Theo in ways he couldn’t explain.

His fingers brushed the edge of his earpiece, his voice sharp and low. "Derrick, meet me in the east corridor. Now."

Moments later, Derrick appeared, his expression calm but curious. "Yes, sir?"

Theo leaned in slightly, his voice dropping further. "Keep an eye on Alexa," he ordered. "Discreetly. And make sure Julian doesn’t catch wind of it."

Derrick’s eyebrows lifted, a flicker of surprise breaking through his composed demeanor. "The maid?" he asked, though he quickly schooled his features and nodded. "Understood."

Without another word, Derrick turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Theo alone. His eyes darkened as they tracked back to Julian and Alexa. Who are you really, Alexa? he thought. There was something off about her, and he intended to find out what.

---

Back inside, the atmosphere in the examination room was tense. Dr. Patel adjusted his tie and studied Alexa, his pen poised over his notebook. His sharp eyes behind thin-rimmed glasses held a mixture of curiosity and professionalism. 

"Alexa, can you walk me through what happened before you felt dizzy?" he asked, his tone calm but probing.

Alexa hesitated, her fingers knotting together in her lap. "I... I was walking with Mr. Salvatore," she began, her voice faltering. "And then something about the lounge—it reminded me of my childhood. I think it triggered a memory, but it’s all so fuzzy. Like trying to grab smoke."

Dr. Patel’s brows furrowed, his pen scratching across the page. "A childhood memory, you say? Can you elaborate on what you remembered?"

Taking a steadying breath, Alexa nodded. "I remembered playing hide and seek with a little boy," she said, her voice soft. "But his face—it was blurry. Like it’s locked behind a curtain I can’t lift."

Dr. Patel leaned back slightly, tapping his pen against his notepad. "Interesting. It’s possible the environment here is acting as a psychological trigger, pulling buried memories to the surface. Something about this place—its sights, sounds, or even smells—might be tied to your past."

Alexa’s heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. Could it be true? Could the villa be stirring up fragments of a history she didn’t even know she had?

---

Outside the room, Julian paced the hallway, his hands shoved into his pockets. His usually cool demeanor was fraying at the edges, his concern for Alexa etched into his every movement. His gaze flicked to the end of the corridor, where Theo loitered, his face an unreadable mask. Julian’s eyes narrowed. **What’s he doing here?

But before Julian could confront him, his focus snapped back to the examination room. He rapped lightly on the door, his voice steady but firm. "Everything all right there?"

Dr. Patel glanced toward the door, his voice carrying the practiced calm of a seasoned professional. "Yes, Mr. Salvatore. We’re just discussing Alexa’s symptoms. I’ll need to run some tests to determine the root cause of her dizziness."

Julian pushed the door open slightly, his expression unreadable but his tone decisive. "Do whatever you need to, Doctor. I want her well."

Dr. Patel nodded, his gaze flickering to Alexa, who sat quietly, her thoughts distant. "We’ll get to the bottom of this," he assured Julian.

Julian stood at the door, his hand resting on the handle as he turned back to Dr. Patel. "I'll bring Alexa back tomorrow," he said with finality. His tone brooked no argument, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "I want answers, Patel. Whatever it takes."  

Dr. Patel adjusted his glasses, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Julian," he began, his voice calm but probing, "it’s interesting—you seem unusually invested in her condition."  

Julian's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.  

Dr. Patel continued, his tone more deliberate. "What’s curious, though, is that she and you... you seem to have something in common. Memory issues. Different circumstances, perhaps, but it’s worth exploring."  

Julian froze, his hand slipping off the doorknob. For a moment, his composed exterior cracked, and his brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"  

Dr. Patel’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Something to discuss tomorrow, perhaps," he said, dodging the question. "But you might want to consider that the answers you’re looking for aren’t just hers—they might be yours, too."  

Julian’s stare lingered for a moment longer, a storm brewing behind his eyes. Without another word, he opened the door and strode out, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.  

---  

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Alexa wiped her hands on a dish towel, her thoughts swirling. The villa's grandeur, the strange memory flashes, and Julian’s unexpected kindness—it was all overwhelming. But she couldn’t afford to lose focus. She had a mission, and she needed to stay sharp.  

As she reached for the next stack of dishes, a voice sliced through the quiet air like a knife.  

"What's your mission?"  

Alexa spun around, her heart skipping a beat. Theo stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and his gaze cold and calculating.  

"My mission?" she echoed, forcing her voice to remain steady, even as fear coiled in her chest.  

Theo stepped closer, his presence almost suffocating. "Don’t play dumb with me, Alexa," he said, his voice low and menacing. "I don’t trust you. And if I find out you’re up to something—anything—you won’t like the consequences."  

For a brief moment, Alexa’s fear threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced herself to smile. She couldn't let Theo see her falter.  

"I’m just here to work, Mr. Theo," she said with as much calm as she could muster. "I don’t know what you think I’m up to, but I assure you, I only want to do my job and stay out of trouble."  

Theo’s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "We’ll see about that," he said coldly, before turning on his heel and leaving the kitchen.  

Alexa let out a shaky breath once he was gone, her hands trembling slightly. Theo was dangerous—she could feel it. But she was determined not to let him intimidate her. If she could win Julian over, she could handle Theo, too.  

Straightening her posture, she set her jaw in determination. If I’m going to survive here, I need to play this game carefully.