The rest of the day passed without him. Aria became aware of it slowly, not at first, but in a way her eyes lingered a second too long in every corridor. After leaving his office, she saw Linda leaning against the wall, laughing with Fernando and Fernandez. The sound carried through the hall, unfamiliar in a place that seemed to function on discipline alone.
"...si," Fernandez was saying, a faint grin on his face. "If the plan involves running, I'm already against it. I prefer plans where I survive comfortably."
Linda noticed Aria first but was surprise to see her walk to a door and opened it.
Morning came with a sharper edge. The meeting space was already active when she stepped in. Linda followed.
"What happened yesterday? You looked pale." she muttered.
Lucien stood at the end of the room, still and composed. The moment he lifted his gaze, the quiet conversations died without instructions.
"We are aware that someone new has joined us."
A few glances shifted toward Aria before returning to him.
"You earn your position here," he continued. "Not with words, but action and results."
Aria remained still, but her focus sharpened.
"Seth."
The man responded immediately, pulling a new set of data. "Scorpion," Seth said. "They operate across multiple zones. Harder to predict."
Images and armed men flickered on the screen. "Not allies," he added. "Not entire enemies either,"
"They are called frenemies, mi amor." Fernandez muttered under his breath.
"They owe," Lucien said as his eyes found Aria's. "Your task is to collect from scorpion."
She walked straight to her room, her mind already moving ahead, piercing things together, rejecting half- formed plans before they could settle. The door closed around her with a soft click, sealing her into silence again. She reached for her phone.
"Come to my room," she said when Linda picked up.
Minutes later, the door pushed open and Linda stepped in, shutting it behind her, already watching Aria with narrowed eyes. She walked to the bed.
"I can't believe you fired me,"
Aria blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You hardly talk to me anymore. The other day, your cheeks were all pink and you looked pale, but you said nothing."
"Nothing. I just felt guilty that day. I need you to find out everything about Scorpion."
Linda's posture shifted immediately. "Everything?"
"I don't want to walk into this blind again."
Linda reached for her small laptop, flipping it open as she shifted further up the bed. The screen lit her face faintly as her fingers began moving quickly across the keys. "He's not like Yaro." she continued, "This one builds bombs."
"In one word?"
"Unpredictable," Linda said, and looked up. "You sound like you've decided something."
"Yes. We seduce him."
Linda closed her laptop with a smile. "Our code?"
By evening, the house had settled into its usual quiet rhythm, but Aria's mind hadn't. There was one more thing to do. Tell him.
"He's busy." One of his men said with a polite firmness. "You will wait in the office."
She went in and sat, taking in the scent in the room. His scent. An hour later, the door opened. His tie was loosened, the top buttons of his shirt undone, sleeves slightly rolled as if the day had worn on longer than expected. He walked past her without a word, settling a glass down and pouring a drink.
"So," he said at last, "have you decided what you need for this mission?"
She met his gaze. "Yes. I need a dress. Something memorable."
His brow lifted slightly.
"And a clean car," she added.
"Hmm," he murmured, leaning back slightly in his chair. "You want to approach Scorpion the way we met?"
Her heart jolted before she could stop it. "No. I'm not planning to fight him."
"You plan to disarm him instead."
She didn't look away. "I will get close enough that he doesn't see me as threat."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his arm against a chair, studying her in a way that felt heavier than before.
The car ride was smooth. She sat at the back, her posture composed, one arm resting slightly against the door as the city lights slid past the window in blurred streaks of gold and white. The burgundy dress clung to her frame exactly as intended, the fabric catching faint reflections each time the car passed beneath a street lamp.
The gates were wide, clean and guarded. The compound stretched open, landscaped carefully. It looked like a place someone lived in. The car rolled to a stop as a guard stepped forward.
"State your business."
Aria lowered the glass slowly. "I'm here to see Scorpion,"
The man's eyes moved over her briefly, assessing, then, he stepped back, speaking to his radio. She followed him through the compound, through a set of glass doors, and into a room designed for comfort.
"Wait here," the man said before leaving.
The door opened again minutes later. She saw him. He had a calm posture and in looked in his mid-thirties. His expression carried something easy, almost welcoming.
"Beautiful, Aria."
"How do you know my name?"
He stepped further into the room, unhurried. "I knew your father," he said. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you."
A faint smile lingered on his lips as if he had expected that answer. "I know you are looking for the man who killed him."
"So, you keep close details about me?"
He laughed softly. "I keep track of all my dealers."
"Then, perhaps you knew who killed my father," she said, her tone steady.
"No," he replied, "I don't. But that's not why you're here."
"I'm here to collect what you owe."
He nodded, as if confirming something to himself. "You will collect what I owe him." he said, "But, I want something in return."
She waited calmly, her eyes on him.
"Stay away from him." A faint smile return to his lips, softer this time. "You will hear from me, Aria."
After the large boxes were loaded and transported, she stepped out of the compound, the driver already waiting at the door. She barely took two steps towards it as a hand seized her arm. Before she could react, she was pulled sharply off course, dragged behind a low stone structure as the car exploded. The force of it hit a second later, a violent wave that rattled the ground beneath her. Her ears rang and chaos erupted.
The same grip tightened around her wrist again, pulling her up, moving fast through confusion. She was pushed into another car, the door slammed shut. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her pulse still catching up with what had just happened. Dust clung to her skin, her dress marked with ash, her vision still slightly blurred.
Lucien sat beside her like nothing happened.
"How did you...get here so fast?"
"You're so careless, Aria." The words were calm. "I guess you didn't see that coming."
She swallowed, glancing back briefly as the glow of fire faded behind them. "Scorpion couldn't have-"
"But he could have," he cut in. "Or someone else could. That's the point."
Silence pressed in for a moment. She couldn't believe she was one step away from dying.
"You trust no one."
"Even you?"
"It's for you to decide."
Aria turned fully toward him, her eyes searching his face. "How did you know I was in danger?"
No answer but the car's engine.
"You need to answer me," she said, her voice firmer this time.
His gaze flicked toward her. "I am the debt collector," he said. "I answer to no one."
"Then, why save me?" she pressed, her voice rising despite herself.
"Because you're one of my men." The answer came quickly.
"Don't lie to me, Lucien." The name hung in the air.
"Stop the car," he said. The driver didn't hesitate. The car slowed, pulled to the side near an uncompleted building and Lucien stepped out first then pulled her out with him. The door slammed behind her as he led her inside.
"What did you call me?" His voice dropped, low and edged.
Her breath steadied slowly, but she didn't step back. "Lucien."
"You dare to call me by my name?"
The space between them changed instantly. "I do."
He stepped closer, backing her towards the wall until she felt the cold concrete at her back. His hands came up beside her, trapping her in place.
"You don't understand what you're doing." he breathed.
"Then explain it to me."
His jaw clenched. "You are no longer allowed to represent the debt collector."
"Why? My life is my own."
"You walked into something you didn't fully understand. Again."
"And?" She whispered, her heart beating wildly again. She could feel the heat of him, the way he held himself back.
"Don't tempt me..." he murmured, like a warning, like restraint barely holding. She could feel his lips drawn to hers in quiet hunger. He kissed her passionately and she felt tingles she had never felt before. Her hand moved without thinking, gripping the front of his shirt as she leaned to him, returning the kiss with equal intensity.
"Dammit..." he murmured under his breath but didn't move away.
"Sir?" The driver walked in. Aria pulled back immediately.
"What is it?"
"There's an emergency call for you from Scorpion." the driver said, standing distance away.