The woman in red didn't wait for an invitation to join them; she simply slid into the seat across from Aria, crossing one flawless leg over the other.
"Vivienne Lang," she said, offering no handshake. "Investor. Occasional problem-solver." Her eyes cut to Darius. "And your former fiancée."
Aria felt the air thicken. She looked at Darius, but his face was unreadable — the same mask he wore in negotiations.
"That was a long time ago," he said evenly.
"Not long enough," Vivienne replied. She turned back to Aria, her smile dripping with curiosity. "So… he put a ring on someone else instead. Tell me, was it for love, or leverage?"
Aria held Vivienne's gaze. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Vivienne's laugh was low and dangerous. "Oh, I already do. The question is… do you?"
Before Aria could respond, a man approached their table, murmured something to Darius, and handed him a folded slip of paper. Darius's jaw flexed as he read it. Without a word, he stood.
"I'll be back," he told Aria. His tone wasn't a request — it was a command.
When he was gone, Vivienne leaned in, lowering her voice. "Here's the thing about Darius King. He's the lion, yes… but lions can be tamed. They can also be taken down. The trick is knowing when to strike."
"And you're telling me this because…?" Aria asked.
Vivienne's smile returned, sharper than before. "Because you're either going to be his shield… or his downfall. And I'd like to bet on the winning side."
She rose, leaving a faint trail of expensive perfume behind, and disappeared into the crowd before Aria could reply.
Across the room, Aria spotted Darius speaking with a man she didn't recognize — tall, scarred, and watching her as if measuring her worth.
Whatever game she'd stepped into tonight, she was starting to realize the board was bigger, and bloodier, than she'd imagined.