"What are you doing here?"
Her blood ran cold.
The voice behind her was sharp, dangerous. Her body froze, every muscle locking in terror, and the key card in her hand dropped.
"I asked you, what are you doing here?"
She turned slowly, switching her face with the seductive mask she had worn for years. Her expression softened into false allure, her lips curving in a sultry smile.
Before her stood a man she didn't recognize. Not a regular. His eyes were suspicious, sharp.
"You should be in your room," he said.
She glided closer, her steps slow and deliberate. But when she tried to touch him, he stepped back. Her heart skipped. Not buying it…
Then she pulled her last card. Literally.
She stripped off her top, her bare skin glowing faintly under the dim light. His eyes flickered, hunger replacing suspicion. His gaze dragged over her body, lingering, tracing her from her red, bold lips to her fuller chest covered in a lace bra.
She leaned in, whispering against his ear, "I've been starving all night. No clients. But you… Maybe you can give me what I want."
His resistance dropped. His smirk turned hungry as he grabbed her, his lips attacking her neck. She stumbled back, hitting the wall, enduring the rough kisses as she reached discreetly for the small spray bottle hidden in her skirt.
In one swift motion, she pushed him back slightly. His dazed eyes locked on her lips, waiting for more. Instead, she sprayed the liquid into his face.
Within seconds, his movements stilled. His body froze, eyes blank, unmoving.
She panted, her chest heaving; she waved her hands in front of him to confirm. But no response. Then she quickly moved him onto a nearby bench. Closing his eyes gently, she positioned him to look asleep.
Her hands searched his pockets. Her fingers brushed against plastic. A key card.
Her lips curved. Perfect.
Back to the door. The lock beeped this time.
Click.
The hidden corridor revealed itself.
Alena stepped in, her heart hammering. The narrow passage led to a spiral staircase descending into darkness. Every step echoed. She clutched the small device, snapping photos of the hall, door, and stairs. Evidence.
At the bottom, the space opened into a massive underground room. Her eyes widened.
Boxes stacked high, some marked with W, others with D. She quickly photographed each, documenting everything. And then her breath caught—
In the dim corner, sprawled on a makeshift bed, lay Razer Luca. Bandages wrapped his leg, his chest rising and falling slowly in sleep.
Her pulse skyrocketed. She snapped photo after photo, careful not to make a sound. Then, pulling out tiny microphones, she tucked them behind crates, securing them in hidden corners.
Her time was running out.
Back up the stairs. Her legs shook with the rush of adrenaline. At the top, she slid through the door and froze.
The man was stirring, groaning faintly, the effect of the spray fading. Panic clawed her chest. She ran quickly, closing the door. She sprayed him again. His body went limp once more. Relief crashed over her. She took a long breath.
But this time, she was cleverer. She slipped the fake card into his pocket and pocketed the real one for herself. Then, grabbing her discarded top, she hurried back to her room.
She collapsed onto her bed, chest heaving, body trembling with adrenaline and triumph. Then, slowly… a laugh escaped her lips. A giddy, uncontrollable laugh.
For the first time in her life, she had pulled off something daring, dangerous, and successful by herself.
She hugged her pillow, giggling like a girl tasting freedom for the first time. Her thoughts drifted to Kieran, his smile, his sharp eyes, his promise.
He'll be proud. She thought.
And with that warm thought, she drifted into sleep.
*********
That evening, the sun had set, giving way to a full moon that bathed the sky in silver light, galaxies stretching like a canvas above. In the heart of Montressa's red-light district, neon signs flickered, mingling with the heavy scent of perfume and the smoke of filth that lingered in the air.
Kieran entered the building, face half-hidden beneath a mask. But even behind the cover, his sharp brown eyes were unmistakable. Madam Rosa spotted him instantly and came forward with a practiced smile.
"Hello, darling," she smiled.
Kieran didn't reply. Without a word, he handed her a crisp hundred-dollar bill and walked straight toward his usual destination.
The door clicked open. Inside, Alena sat on the bed, her posture weary until her eyes landed on him. Her face lit up with a genuine smile, almost childlike in its warmth.
"You're late today," she said, her voice soft but eager.
He pulled off his mask and sat down on the chair nearby.
Alena tilted her head, confused. "Why the mask today?"
"For safety," he replied.
Her lips curved into a teasing grin. "So… you're coming here in secret now?"
"Kind of," he said with a faint smile.
She chuckled, then her expression brightened with excitement. "You know what? I got some really good information for you. You'll be proud of me."
His lips lifted slightly. "Is that so?"
Alena nodded eagerly, her eyes shining.
"Tell me what you discovered," he urged.
Sliding closer across the bed, she handed him the tiny camera he had given her. "I actually managed to slip behind that locked door. You were right, there is a secret basement in this building. That door is the entrance, and someone's hiding there. He was injured, and his one leg had bandages. I took photos of everything with this. You can check them."
Kieran's smile deepened. "Good job!!! I'll take the memory card from this."
Alena nodded. "And… I also saw stacks of boxes in that basement. Some marked with 'D,' some with 'W.' I didn't have enough time to open them, but…" She leaned closer, almost whispering, "…I set the microphones you gave me down there."
Kieran reached out and gently patted her head. "Good job, Alena. You turned out to be smarter than I expected."
Her smile widened, cheeks warming at his praise. No one had ever looked at her that way before, not as something used, but as someone capable.
But his next question made her shift. "How did you pull it off without getting caught? Didn't anyone notice you?"
Alena hesitated before answering. "Actually… I almost got caught when I tried to open the door with the keycard. A man, he looked unfamiliar, but he almost caught me."
Kieran's eyes widened. "And how did you manage him?"
She swallowed, guilt flickering across her face. "I panicked. I had to… honeytrap him. I seduced him."
The words were barely out before his expression darkened. His jaw tightened, his teeth grinding as anger surged through him. The thought of her lying before another man, even as an act, set fire in his veins. His hands clenched into fists.
Leaning forward, his voice was sharp, dangerous. "Didn't I tell you to stop if you ever encounter yourself in such a situation? Do you think I'm a fool to pay a hundred dollars a day just to keep you untouchable? Didn't I tell you to use your brain?"
His breath was hot against her lips, fury radiating from him. Since the day she had met him, Kieran had been kind, playful, and sometimes even flirty. But now? Now his anger was terrifying. It wasn't just anger. It was possessive, raw, and burning. It made her shiver.
"Next time," he growled, "if you ever find yourself trapped like that, you use your brain before you spread your legs for some random man. Understand?" His voice echoed in the room.
Alena flinched, her body trembling. His eyes bore into hers, sharp enough to pierce through her chest. Fear, panic, and hurt tangled together inside her. Her throat locked up, her lips trembling without words. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling silently.
The moment Kieran saw her tears, something inside him cracked. His eyes softened, His anger vanished, melting into regret. He pulled back. "I'm sorry," he muttered.
She wiped her tears quickly, refusing to meet his eyes. But the sight of her sobbing shattered him. He moved to the bed, pulling her into his arms, his hand stroking her back.
"Please don't cry," he whispered. "I didn't mean it. I just… lost control."
Her sobs didn't stop right away. He kept holding her, murmuring apologies, guilt pressing heavily on his chest.
Finally, she spoke, voice broken but steadying. "I didn't do it intentionally. I was panicked. That was the only thing I could think of at the time. But I only trapped him long enough to spray the liquid on him. I didn't do anything dirty."
Kieran's heart broke. She was trying so hard to explain herself, as if begging him to believe she was still untouched; she didn't do anything nasty. His guilt doubled. He cupped her cheek gently. "I'm sorry," he whispered again.
When her sobs faded, she wiped her eyes and said softly, "That's all the information I could manage to gather yesterday."
He smiled faintly, brushing his hand through her hair. "Good job, Alena. You did better than I could have asked. I'm proud of you."
Her eyes glistened in the dim light, still red from crying, but she smiled. "I know I did well. Now tell me what I have to do next."
"You've already finished the most important task," he said. "Now… just gather details about the number of exits and entrances. Anything you can notice about the building?"
She nodded.
"And," he added, his voice carrying a touch of warning but softer this time, "if you get caught again, don't honeytrap anymore. Just kick them in the balls, spray the liquid, and run. Got it?"
Alena laughed weakly at his advice and nodded.
Kieran smiled too, more gently now. "You'll be free soon, Alena. Very soon."
But what neither of them knew… was that someone had been standing outside the room, listening to every word.