Aria/Lucien

ARIA

I’m sprawled in the sterile, too-shiny cafeteria of Adelia Tech, one sneaker propped on the chair opposite me, cap pulled low.

I swirl the straw in my iced coffee. Bored. Waiting.

When I see her coming, I can't help the smirk. Adelia Wolfe. My sister. My boss. My worst fucking headache in a designer grey suit.

I give her a lazy, shit-eating grin.

“Hi.”

She doesn’t even bother with a fake smile. Rolls her eyes at me like I’m gum on her Louboutin.

She stops right in front of my table, voice sharp.

“Can we talk. Alone.”

I don’t even take the straw out of my mouth. Just lift my gaze and shrug.

“Yeah. Sure.”

Her lips twist. “Come to my office.”

I don’t move an inch.

She scowls.

“What?”

I finally stand, drop the coffee onto the table with a thud.

“I won’t.”

Adelia looks like she’s about to combust.

“But we have to talk! IN ALONE!”

I fix my cap, lean in until I can see every pissed-off detail of her flawless makeup.

“We can.”

And I just walk out of the cafeteria, not caring if she follows.

I hear her hiss under her breath behind me.

“Ahhh, this crazy bitch!”

Damn right.

---

I don’t look back as I push through the doors of the building and head left down the street.

I can hear her stupid designer heels clicking faster behind me.

“What the hell—”

I stop, spin around, and she shuts the hell up immediately.

Good.

I keep walking, turning left again into a narrow side alley.

I lean back against the cold brick wall, arms folded. Waiting.

Adelia catches up, breathless, hand on her hip.

She looks around like the dirt here might stain her soul.

“Seriously?! You want to talk here?”

I don’t bother answering. Just stare her down.

She huffs, exasperated.

“I mean — my office is better than this!”

My eyes narrow.

“I don’t do free work. Or free bullshit. If you can’t pay for the job, just say it. And don’t ask again.”

I push off the wall and start to walk away.

Her voice cracks behind me.

“Seriously, Riley?!”

I freeze mid-stride.

My blood turns to ice.

I turn back slowly.

Two steps and I have her pinned against the wall, forearm pressing her throat.

Her eyes go wide.

“Don’t. You. Dare. Call me that name,” I snarl. “You have no idea how fast I could end Adelia Wolfe, CEO of Adelia Tech. Do you understand me? Miss Wolfe?”

I spit her name like poison.

She’s sweating.

“Look at you, Riley—”

I shove harder, cutting off her breath.

“Then tell me how I’m supposed to address you? By which bloody goddamn name?!”

I stare at her like she’s nothing.

But the job matters. The cash matters.

My jaw clenches.

“Call me Riley.”

She gasps when I finally release her.

“Oh. Okay. It’s Riley. Cool. Now can you please back off?”

I step back, hands in my pockets, voice icy.

“You bring the money?”

She fumbles in her coat and holds out a check.

I laugh once, dark and humorless.

“You kidding me? I told you. Cash only.”

Her voice drips scorn.

“Why? Don’t know how to use a bank account?”

I glare. Bite my lip so hard I taste blood.

Then I raise my middle finger right in her face.

I turn to leave.

“Okay, okay! Wait!”

I roll my eyes but slow my pace.

She’s scrambling with her phone, ordering someone to bring cash.

I watch her. No expression.

She hangs up and starts looking me over, scanning me.

My teeth grind.

“Stop scanning me or I’ll rip your eyes out.”

She actually jumps back.

“Cool down, bro! I was just thinking—”

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes.

She lifts her palms.

“No, bro. I was just thinking… do you really need money that badly?”

I shove her. Hard.

“No. I just wanted to see your ugly face once. To feel like puking.”

She gapes at me.

Before she can answer, a black car squeals up beside us.

A guy in a suit jumps out with a briefcase. who assume his assistant.

Adelia snatches it, shoves it at me with a forced, smug smile.

Like she’s doing me a favor.

I eye her.

“God, I don’t know how the hell you’re even a businesswoman. You don’t even know how to business.”

Her face falls.

“What now?” she snaps.

I spit my answer.

“Do hell with your money.”

I turn and walk away without another look back.

I hear her shouting behind me.

“What the hell is wrong with this bitch!?”

I just keep walking.

---

---

LUCIEN

I’m going to murder someone.

My office is so silent I can hear the second hand on my watch ticking.

Celon’s standing there like a statue, staring at his feet.

I hurl the file at his chest.

“It’s been a week, Celon. A week. And you people can’t find one goddamn woman?”

He doesn’t answer.

“GET. OUT.”

He scrambles away.

I rub my face, breathing hard.

I’ve been here since dawn. Staring at a sketch.

Not even a real one — just her eyes under that stupid cap.

She haunts me.

No one leaves me. Ever.

But she did.

She stole from me.

She humiliated me.

She fucking vanished.

---

Hours later the door opens without knocking.

Adrian.

Carrying three takeout bags like it’s a joke.

He drops them on the table and collapses into the visitor’s chair.

“Holy shit, man, what a day. You look like hell.”

I don’t look up.

“Robinson deal’s dead.”

He perks up.

“Oh. And the girl?”

My voice is ice.

“We can’t find her.”

Adrian leans forward, grin widening.

“I saw her picture. You’re really into her, huh?”

I meet his eyes and feel something inside me snap.

“Yes. I want to kill her. Desperately. Is that a problem?”

He holds up his palms, laughing nervously.

“Nope. She’s cute, though. Where’d you meet her?”

I glare.

He fidgets.

“I mean—I just wanna try my luck. She looks like the forever type.”

I shut my eyes.

And laugh once, hollow.

“She’d sell you for cab fare.”

Adrian’s grin falters.

I lean back.

“She’s not a dream girl. She’s a nightmare.”

Silence.

I open my drawer and pull out the sketch.

Her eyes stare back.

Accusing. Mocking.

Even now I can hear her voice.

“I don’t give a damn.”

“Thanks for the company.”

“Do you want a one-night stand?”

“Let’s spend the night together.”

I slam the drawer shut.

Adrian’s unpacking noodles.

I grab one and eat without tasting it.

He squints at me.

“You good?”

I tug at my tie. Undo two buttons.

“I’m fine. It’s…hot in here.”

Adrian barks a laugh.

“It’s January, Luc.”

I press my lips together.

“I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do.”

---

(NIGHT, CLUB)

The car pulls up to the curb outside the club.

I glance over.

Sienna Aldridge is fixing her lipstick, perfect blonde waves, violet dress hugging every inch of her.

I’m so fucking numb.

“Are you done, Sienna?”

She pouts at her reflection.

“Almost, Luc.”

She plants a kiss on my cheek.

I roll my eyes.

Shove open the door.

We ditch our coats inside, heading straight to the VIP section.

She keeps talking.

“Luc, what is wrong with you? You’re so… detached. Did something happen?”

I grab her face. Kiss her hard.

“Nothing. Just work.”

But even as I kiss her, I see her.

That girl.

The ghost in my head.

I shove Sienna away.

She huffs.

“What the hell is wrong with you now?!”

But I’m already pushing past her.

Eyes scanning the club.

Looking.

Hunting.

Needing.

---

To Be Continued.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***