{Chapter: 194 - The Offer}
Aiden said to not worry, but Sarah couldn't relax—not really.
Though she stood still and silent within the dark green cage, her eyes darted restlessly as her mind raced for a way out. It wasn't a traditional prison cell—no metal bars, no restraints—but some kind of energy barrier, smooth and glass-like, almost organic in its texture. It didn't block sound or sight, but it trapped her completely. Her powers—the subtle whisper of influence woven into her voice—were useless in this moment. It left her feeling exposed. Vulnerable.
She had underestimated him.
Sarah Ellis—known to others by her alias, Eden McCain—was no rookie. She had manipulated senators, CEOs, and even dangerous individuals with abilities far beyond the average person. She could stop a heated argument mid-sentence with a few words. She could walk into high-security facilities and simply "ask" for clearance. Her voice was a weapon, one she wielded with surgical precision. And yet, this time… it failed her.
She watched Aiden calmly sipping wine like a man hosting a social call rather than detaining a would-be thief.
He wasn't afraid of her.
That was perhaps the most unnerving part.
His posture was relaxed, casual even, but there was something about him—something beneath the surface. A quiet power, measured and in complete control. His eyes were sharp, calculating, not the gaze of someone reacting out of instinct. No, this was someone who already knew the outcome, someone who planned three steps ahead. Sarah could sense it now.
Still, he wasn't hurting her.
That fact alone kept her still. Alert, but not desperate. At least not yet.
"I did say you might need it, didn't I?" Aiden said, breaking the silence. He approached her with the second glass of wine in hand. A narrow slit silently formed in the green cell, just enough to pass the glass through.
Sarah hesitated for only a moment. Then, carefully, she accepted the drink.
Her fingers brushed his briefly—his skin was oddly warm. The slit closed just as slowly, sealing her inside once more. She stared at the drink for a moment. Then, resigned, she took a sip. She had hoped for the bitterness of cheap wine, something she could sneer at, but it was smooth—velvety even. Whatever he was pouring, it wasn't from a corner store.
She tilted her head slightly, letting some of the wine trace along the rim and down to her lips. It burned softly on the way down. For a second, her nerves calmed.
"You're staring at me like I grew horns," Aiden noted, amusement curling into his voice.
Sarah gave him a measured look, her tone laced with half-mocking amusement.
"You're the one throwing money around like confetti in the middle of Manhattan. Designer stores. Lingerie boutiques. Leather corsets. Sheer silk robes. Garter belts made of imported lace. Thigh-high stockings that cost more than a mortgage payment. High heels sharp enough to kill a man. You've got closets full of slinky dresses with slits up to the hip, backless gowns, see-through bodysuits, even those scandalous ones with more cutouts than fabric.
Not to mention the custom-fitted cheongsams with dangerously high slits, chokers with diamond pendants, and that entire shopping spree at the boudoir-themed couture house—yeah, I know about that one too.
Cashmere wraps. Custom-tailored coats. Hand-stitched cheongsams. Limited-edition handbags that have six-month waitlists. Perfume counters you cleared out like they were candy shops.
You even bought out an entire runway collection just because one of the girls said she liked the color. Exclusive labels from Milan, Paris, Tokyo—stuff most women only see in magazines. Honestly? It's normal for someone like me to stare. You're a walking curiosity Mr. A billionaire with a shopping addiction… for women's fashion."
"Mm." Aiden's smile lingered but didn't deepen. "You're not the first to call me curious. But you didn't just watch me, Eden. You approached me. You tried to use your power on me. So, what's your purpose?"
Sarah blinked.
"You knew?"
"Of course."
Her lips pressed together in a tight line. Then she huffed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. I was curious. You had cash, lots of it. I figured you were either rich or reckless. Either way, I thought I could charm my way into a payday."
Aiden raised a brow. "You? Broke? With your ability, you could be living like royalty."
"Yeah, well, maybe I'm tired of using it that way," she replied dryly. Her eyes flicked away for a second before she added, "Or maybe I'm just tired. Period."
Aiden studied her face closely. The sarcasm, the edge in her voice—that was normal. But underneath it all, there was fatigue. A kind of bone-deep weariness. She wasn't just greedy or criminal. She was… adrift.
"If I remember right, you worked with Noah Bennett at some point. Assigned to monitor a genetics professor, right?"
Her expression shifted instantly—confusion overtaking her guarded facade. "Who the hell is Bennett? I don't know any professor."
Her words were too blunt to be a lie. She looked genuinely puzzled.
That was unexpected.
'A plot deviation?' Aiden thought. It wasn't the first time. Since coming to this universe, he'd learned that some events followed the familiar story beats… while others twisted into something new.
'If that's true, then maybe you've diverged,' he said aloud. "No mission. No cause. No orders. You're just… free-floating?"
Something flickered in her gaze—surprise, then annoyance, then… pain.
"How do you know that?" she demanded. "Who the hell are you?"
Aiden didn't answer right away.
"I've known people like you," he said eventually, voice gentler now. "People who've been used, who've been told they're special but only when it's convenient. And when the mission ends… there's nothing left. No north star. No anchor."
Her eyes narrowed. "You don't know me."
"I know you've been surviving, not living. There's a difference."
Silence.
Then, like a crack splitting down a porcelain mask, her composure broke.
"What the fuck would you know?!" she snapped. Her voice rose, trembling with anger. "You don't know what it's like to wake up and realize everything you've been doing, everything they told you—was just control! You think this is some sob story? Screw you!"
"I'm just saying—"
"Don't. Don't you dare talk to me like you understand!"
Her knuckles went white around the wine glass. Her breathing was sharp, ragged.
And then, just as suddenly as it came, the fury slipped away. Exhaustion replaced it. Her shoulders slumped.
Aiden let her quiet settle before speaking again.
"It's a pity," he said softly, "to waste such a beautiful voice on shouting."
That stopped her.
It wasn't a flirt—it wasn't even a tease. Just an observation. And somehow, that made it worse.
Sarah turned her head away, biting the inside of her cheek. "So what now?" she asked. "You going to keep me here? Torture me for answers I don't have?"
Aiden shook his head. "No. I think you've told me more than enough."
He moved closer, the green wall sliding open like a curtain.
"You can walk away. The door's open."
Sarah blinked, confused. "Why are you letting me go?"
"Because I don't think you're my enemy," Aiden said simply. "And I don't fight battles that don't need to be fought."
"Today, you're lucky," Aiden said, his tone casual but laced with something darker—something ancient and patient. "If you had met me yesterday, you would've already lost your ability. Gone. Just like that. At that time, you'd be no different than a regular person—scraping by, working a job you hate, and fighting just to stay afloat in a world that doesn't care."
Sarah blinked, her eyes narrowing. The chill behind his words wasn't lost on her. "What do you mean? You… can take my ability?" Her voice trembled slightly, not out of fear, but sheer disbelief.
Aiden shrugged with effortless coolness, the kind that made it seem like taking someone's power was no more difficult than flicking a switch. "Yes, I can. But I'm not the only one. There's someone else. His name is Sylar."
The name sent a quiet shiver up Sarah's spine, even though she didn't know why.
"Sylar?" she echoed.
Aiden's eyes darkened. "Yes. Unlike me, his method isn't… gentle. When he takes something, he leaves behind a corpse. He doesn't just harvest abilities—he dissects people head open, Sarah. Like puzzles. Curiosities. To him, you're not a person—you're a stepping stone to whatever twisted form of perfection he's chasing."
Sarah exhaled slowly, her voice low. "And you're different?"
Aiden smiled faintly. "I still need the abilities of others… but yours? Yours isn't essential. It's powerful, yes. Hypnosis can open many doors. But I already have many better ways to do the same thing."
"Then why?" Her eyes flashed. "Why bring me here?"
There was a long pause. Aiden leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees like a man preparing to deliver a proposal in the form of a chess move. "Because I don't want to take from you, Sarah. I want you to join me."
Sarah blinked. "Join you? For what?"
"How about following me?" Aiden asked, his lips curving into a soft, almost playful smile.
Sarah's expression shifted to cautious skepticism. "Why? You clearly don't need help. You've got power—too much, in fact. I doubt there's anything I can do for you that you can't already do for yourself."
Aiden's grin widened just slightly. "It's true, I do have someone with me already. A man. Loyal. Efficient. But he's just that—a man. He's my driver, my bodyguard, my errand boy. Necessary, but... not inspiring. A blunt weapon."
He paused, letting the silence stretch just enough to be deliberate. "But you? You'd be a female secretary. Smart. Capable. You'd bring balance. You'd bring charm. You'd bring... entertainment."
Sarah narrowed her eyes. "Entertainment?"
Aiden raised his eyebrows innocently. "Oh, don't misunderstand. I mean companionship. Conversation. A different kind of presence. You'd be my secretary, not my servant. But you'd also be close enough to see the real game unfolding—and maybe play your part in it."
"And if I refuse?" Sarah asked, already half-expecting the answer.
Aiden leaned back in his chair, completely at ease. "Then I'll let you go. I'm not Sylar—I don't cage birds just to watch them flutter. But if you run... well, don't forget what I said. If I want to find someone, there's nowhere on this earth they can hide from me."
Sarah's heart pounded. Part of her wanted to laugh, part of her wanted to scream. But most of her simply didn't know what to feel. This man—this… predator—was asking her to willingly step into the lion's den.
"Why me?" she asked again, softly this time.
"Because you're clever. Because you're dangerous in a quiet way. Because someone like Sylar will find you eventually, and when he does, you won't be able to stop him. But with me? You might live long enough to see him die."
He stood, his shadow stretching toward her as the low light from the hotel room lamp cast strange shapes behind him. "Think about it. Come back tomorrow if you decide to accept."
"You're really letting me go?" she asked, standing as well.
"Of course," Aiden said smoothly. "But remember... this opportunity is rare. And there are many women who would kill for it. You won't be missed."
Sarah stared at him, not sure whether she was impressed, terrified, or both.
Just then, a knock came at the door.
Aiden didn't move. Instead, a dark green hand made of solidified energy formed from the wall and twisted the handle, unlocking the door.
Rene entered, pausing mid-step when he saw Sarah. His face shifted into surprise, then discomfort. Clearly, he thought he had interrupted something far more personal.
Aiden caught the look and gave the slightest smirk. He didn't bother correcting Rene's assumption.
"I'll think about it," Sarah said finally, placing the glass of wine back on the table. Her voice was composed now, but there was something behind it—an edge of conflict.
Then, without waiting for permission or challenge, she turned and walked out of the room.
Neither Aiden nor Rene stopped her. The air behind her remained calm, undisturbed.
Out in the hallway, Sarah exhaled deeply and quickened her pace toward the elevator. They hadn't restrained her. They hadn't followed her. No threats. Just… freedom. But was it real freedom? Or bait?
Back inside the room, Aiden remained seated, swirling the last of the wine in his glass.
"What do you think of her?" he asked, voice casual as ever. "Think she'd make a good secretary?"
Rene gave a half-shrug, visibly uninterested. "That's your business. You don't ask for my opinion unless you've already made up your mind."
Aiden chuckled. "You got to know me too well."
Rene folded his arms. "She's volatile. And she's scared. But maybe that's exactly the kind of person you want."
"Maybe," Aiden murmured, watching the door Sarah had left through.
"She's still deciding," Rene said flatly.
Aiden smiled to himself. "She'll be back."