Linda didn't knock.
The door flew open like she owned the place, heels clicking fast against the floor as she walked in, already pulling pins from her hair. Her dark afro, previously styled into a neat bun, loosened slightly as she shook it out with a frustrated sigh.
"Did you just call yank me from a memorable, happy wedding?" she shot, dropping her purse onto the nearest chair without care.
Aria didn't look up immediately. She leaned back slightly against her desk, arms folded, watching her.
"You're a spoilt personal assistant."
Linda paused, narrowing her eyes, then scoffed. "Same thing," she muttered though the corner of her lips twitched. "And what's with this Kelvin guy acting like he owned the entire house? He gave me a look like I needed clearance to breathe."
"He's been careful. How was the wedding?"
"Well, he can be careful somewhere else."
She kicked off her heels without ceremony and rolled her shoulders like she was shaking off the wedding she clearly didn't want to leave. Then she stopped to look at Aria properly.
"Okay," she said slowly. "Now, tell me why your twenty-five-year-old self stayed back instead of coming with me to eat free food and judge strangers."
Aria didn't smile.
"This has to be important," Linda added as Aria led the way down the hall to her work room, a space her dad had rarely let anyone into. It had been his operation center once, and she hadn't change the room since then. Multiple screens lined the wall. A long desk sat in the center, clean but purposeful with everything connected.
She was already seated, fingers moving across the keyboard with quiet precision. Screens flickered to life one after the other, casting a soft glow across her face. Searches layered over searches. Names. Transactions. Fragments of information pulled from places most people didn't even know existed.
Linda leaned against the desk, watching her work for a moment before grabbing a chair and dragging it closer.
"So," she said as she tapped the keys. "Who are we ruining today?"
The only sound in the room was the faint hum of the system running in the background. Linda leaned forward immediately.
"Holy cow."
Aria slide her chair closer to see the screen.
"No way," Linda said, straightening slightly, eyes still locked on the image. "This is the most illegal-looking attractive man I've ever seen."
She didn't react.
"Your Debt collector is hot."
Another pause.
"News flash," she continued, tilting her head as she studied the image more closely. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing? He doesn't look like a villain!"
"Name?"
Linda leaned closer, reading off the details. "Lucien Draven."
He didn't look like a man who needed to raise his voice to be heard. Everything about him was controlled. Her uncle was right. She needed more plans.
Dark hair, cut clean and sharp, styled just enough to look effortless without ever being careless. It framed his face in a way that drew attention without trying. Strong jaw, defined cheekbones, the kind that looked carved rather than grown.
But it was his eyes that held attention. Deep and intimidating. There was no softness in them. It was cold and empty.
"It's time, Linda."
The car engine had barely cooled when she stepped out. For a moment she didn't move. The bass inside the club pulsed through the pavement like a second heartbeat beneath her feet. Light spilled out in flashes anytime the door opened, painting the night in quick streaks of blue.
She lifted her chin slightly, taking in the building. It was money. Glass frontage, sleek black exterior, a line of luxury cars. Men in tailored suits. Women who looked like they belonged in magazine covers. She adjusted the fall of her red gown, smoothing it over her hips. Nothing about her appearance was accidental tonight.
Behind her, the car door slammed.
'Wait! Slow down," Linda's voice came in a hush rush as she hurried along the car, heels clinking unevenly. "You're walking in there like you owned the place."
Cold metal pressed briefly against her thigh.
"There," Linda muttered, adjusting the strap carefully. "Just in case."
As they approached the entrance, one of the security men stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over her from head to toe.
"Guest list?"
"No," she said. "But he's expecting me."
The air inside was thick with perfume, alcohol and heat. She stepped in without breaking stride.
"This is how people die." Linda muttered under her breath as they approached the bar.
"I'm looking for the Debt collector."
The man didn't smile or ask what she wanted with him. "That'll cost you," he replied flatly. "A lot of women come here asking."
His gaze flickered briefly over her. "Most of them don't leave."
"Okay, that's not a good sign-"
Aria raised her hand slightly. "How much?" she signaled Linda who sighed but reached into her bag, pulling out cash and sliding it across.
"If we die tonight," she muttered, "I'm haunting you first."
The man took the money without emotion, then nodded slightly toward a private elevator tucked at the far end. "Top floor."
As the doors closed, the noise of the club vanished instantly replaced by a quiet so sharp it felt intentional. Before she could speak, she saw two guards positioned at the entrance of a room. Aria moved first. A blade flashed to her hand, cutting through the silence before it could break. One went down before he understood what was happening. Linda handled the second, disarming him with brutal efficiency and knocking him out.
Linda blinked. "Okay, That went better than expected."
The next door opened under her hand. Women, dressed in silk that covered half of their bodies, danced slowly in a loosed circle. They noticed her and parted.
And there, he sat. He didn't panic. A drink rested loosely in his hand, his eyes on her. She stopped a few meters away, but then, she moved. The blade flashed toward him without warning. He was beside her in one motion, holding the blade and twisting just enough to direct the blade to her face.
Aria ducked instantly, behind her, the women screamed, breaking formation as panic scattered them across the room.
She pulled her gun and fired, The shot hit his shoulder but he moved fast than she expected. His hand caught her arm, yanking her forward with force that knocked the air from her lungs as he turned and pinned her down against the bed behind him.
The impact was solid. Her body held in place by sheer strength alone. She struggled, but he didn't budge.
"Kill me, you arrogant fool,"
Lucien leaned slightly closer. "I see you've found me, Aria."
Her breath caught from the way he said her name. Like he'd been expecting her.