The hallway leading to the VIP screening rooms was quieter than the rest of the cinema.
Soft golden lights ran along the walls, illuminating the dark carpet that swallowed the sound of footsteps. Outside, the usual chaos of a Friday night crowd continued—laughter, popcorn machines, movie trailers echoing through speakers—but here, the atmosphere felt strangely still.
Adrian walked calmly down the corridor.
The red cinema cap was gone now, replaced by the sharp focus of a man who had already switched roles.
The message from his team still echoed in his ear.
They entered Theater Seven. Row twelve.
But Adrian hadn't gone there.
Because he already knew something else.
Someone like Blaze Beak wouldn't sit with the crowd.
He would be somewhere comfortable.
Somewhere private.
Adrian stopped in front of the VIP lounge door.
A small sign hung beside it:
VIP PRIVATE SCREENING
The door was slightly open.
Soft light spilled out.
Adrian pushed it open without hesitation.
Inside, the room looked nothing like the rest of the theater.
A private screen glowed faintly at the front of the room, though the movie hadn't started yet. Large leather seats were arranged in rows, each one more like a lounge chair than a theater seat.
A glass table sat near the center.
And at that table, someone was waiting.
Blaze Beak.
He leaned comfortably in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, as if he had been expecting this moment all along. A faint smile rested on his face, the kind that belonged to someone who enjoyed watching chaos unfold.
In his hand, he slowly shuffled a deck of cards.
The sound of cardboard sliding against cardboard filled the quiet room.
Shff… shff… shff.
Blaze looked up.
"Well," he said casually, "that was faster than I expected."
Adrian stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
The soft click echoed in the room.
Neither man moved closer.
They simply studied each other.
Blaze tilted his head slightly.
"You came alone."
Adrian's voice was calm.
"No."
Blaze smiled wider.
"Good."
He gestured toward the chair across from him.
"Sit."
Adrian didn't immediately respond.
Blaze continued shuffling the cards as if he had all the time in the world.
"You know," he said lazily, "I had imagined our first real meeting would be somewhere dramatic."
He looked around the VIP room.
"A rooftop… a burning warehouse… something cinematic."
His eyes flicked toward Adrian.
"But a movie theater works too."
Adrian finally walked forward and took the seat across from him.
The distance between them was small now.
The deck of cards stopped shuffling.
Blaze placed it on the table.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Blaze leaned forward slightly.
"Adrian Skyre."
The name sounded almost amused coming from his mouth.
"I've heard so much about you."
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"And I've heard enough about you."
Blaze chuckled.
"Good. Saves us time."
He tapped the deck of cards with one finger.
"Since you're here… why don't we make tonight a little more entertaining?"
Adrian glanced at the cards.
"What kind of entertainment?"
Blaze spread the deck smoothly across the table.
"A game."
Adrian didn't touch them.
"What game?"
Blaze's smile sharpened.
"Spades."
Adrian stared at him silently.
Blaze leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed.
"Don't worry. This isn't about gambling money."
His finger tapped his earbud.
"Both of us have people working tonight."
Adrian remained silent.
Blaze continued.
"Your team is already inside the theater."
His eyes glinted.
"And so is mine."
Adrian's gaze hardened slightly.
Blaze noticed.
"Oh relax," he said lightly. "I'm not here to blow up the building."
He paused.
"Just ruin the movie."
Adrian spoke quietly.
"You planned something."
Blaze shrugged.
"Maybe."
Then he pushed the deck of cards toward Adrian.
"Here are the rules."
He spoke casually, but his eyes were sharp.
"Every round we play… someone wins."
Adrian said nothing.
Blaze continued.
"When I win a round, I get to send one word to my subordinates."
He raised one finger.
"One word only."
Adrian finally spoke.
"And when I win?"
Blaze smiled.
"Same rule."
A quiet tension settled in the room.
Blaze leaned forward again.
"So while we play… our people move."
He tapped the table lightly.
"Your goal is to stop them."
Then he tapped the cards.
"My goal is to make sure tonight's movie becomes unforgettable."
Adrian looked down at the deck.
"You're gambling your entire operation on a card game?"
Blaze laughed.
"Not gambling."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Testing."
He studied Adrian carefully.
"I want to see if the famous Adrian Skyre can think faster than me."
The room fell silent again.
Somewhere far beyond the walls, the movie in Theater Seven began playing. The faint echo of dramatic music vibrated through the building.
Blaze pushed the cards closer.
"So?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Are you afraid to play?"
Adrian slowly picked up the deck.
The cards felt ordinary.
But the weight behind them wasn't.
He shuffled them once.
The sound echoed softly.
Blaze's smile widened.
"Good."
He rested his chin on his hand.
"Let's begin."
Adrian dealt the cards evenly across the table.
Each man picked up their hand.
Neither revealed their expressions.
A moment passed.
Then Blaze placed the first card on the table.
"Your move."
Adrian responded immediately, placing his own card beside it.