The room was dim, a single lamp casting long shadows across the sparse office. Naya sat across from him, posture rigid, hands resting on the table like she could anchor herself to reality. Across from her, the man she had once called her world her ex leaned back in his chair, casual in posture but dangerous in presence.
"Kairos?" he asked, smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're involved with him?"
Naya's jaw tightened. "That's none of your concern."
He chuckled low, almost amused. "Everything about you is my concern. You should know better than to walk into a billionaire's life thinking it's safe."
Naya's eyes narrowed. "I came for information. Nothing else."
He studied her carefully, gaze sharp. "You always did walk alone, didn't you?"
She didn't answer.
He leaned forward, tone lowering. "Listen, you don't belong in that world. Not fully. That man… he's a target. People who want him dead? I am also a target and people want me dead too.They won't hesitate to hurt you. Not because of you—but because of who he is. And trust me… if you get too close, you die with him."
Naya felt a chill, the truth settling cold against her chest. But she didn't flinch. Not visibly. "I already know that. That's why I need your information."
He studied her again, eyes flicking to her hands, to the tension coiled in her shoulders, the restraint in her face. "You're still reckless. Still thinking you can control things by being smart, careful, detached. And yet… you're still beautiful. Still… tempting."
Naya's breath hitched slightly, though she kept her expression neutral. Memories of their past flashed a kiss stolen in shadows, nights where only trust had existed, a connection that had been dangerous then and dangerous now. Dont do that again..argh!
"You haven't changed," he said, voice low. "Neither your body nor your mind. I still want you. Always have. You should have stayed away from him. From the billionaire with enemies lined up at his doorstep. You could have been mine, kept safe, but no… you had to risk everything."
She didn't reply, keeping her eyes on him. She wasn't here for affection. She was here for survival.
He sighed, leaning back. "Fine. You want the information, you'll get it. There's a shell company three names you need to know. They're tied to the syndicate trying to ruin Kairo. Emails, offshore accounts, the movements of his kidnappers everything you wanted. But this isn't a game, Naya. Don't think I'm giving this to you out of goodwill. I'm giving it because I don't want you dead."
Naya nodded once. "Names. Movements. Proof."
"All here," he said, sliding a flash drive across the table. "But remember what I said. Step in too deep, and he won't be your only problem. And me… I haven't stopped thinking about you for a second since you left."
Her hand hovered over the drive, heart pounding, yet calm on the surface. She took it. "I came for information, not you."
He smirked, a glint of longing in his eyes. "Don't lie. You've always wanted both."
Naya stood, slipping the drive into her jacket pocket. "Not anymore. Survival comes first."
He watched her go, shadows swallowing the figure he had once loved and perhaps, still did.
Outside, the city hummed quietly, unaware of the deadly intelligence now in Naya's possession or the dangerous desires that lingered between her past and present.
She had what she came for but the ghosts of the past would follow her, just as the enemies of the present were already circling.