Hades's POV

I leaned back in my chair, and watched every one of her moves. She stood tall in front of me now and her eyes were calm, her lips were slightly parted like she was waiting for my next command. There was something unreadable in her expression and it was like she was here, but her mind was somewhere far away, very far away.


'Call him! Now! " I said my voice was sharp but not raised, it was sharper than I intended.

She nodded once, slowly. Then she took out her phone from the side pocket of her blazer and tapped on the screen a few times. I could see her thumb hesitate slightly before she pressed the call button. She lifted the phone to her ear.

I narrowed my eyes and studied her face. She was not smiling. She was not tense either. But her tone, her voice, when she started talking. It was different.


'Hey! it's me," she said softly, her tone almost distant. 'Ye, I am here. He wants to talk to you." She paused. 'No, not over the phone. He wanted something serious. Yes! I told him. You already know what we planned."

What we planned? I was a bit shocked, as I don't understand what she meant by what they planned, it was like they had spoken about me in detail before now, like they had a secret plans about me.


I sat forward, squinting. She was talking in code. Every word felt like a puzzle piece I was not invited to put together.

Her tone lowered more. 'Yes. He's watching me now. I will text you the details after." A longer pause. Then, she said, 'Okay. Neutral ground, and I will be there too. That's the condition. He will agree. He has no choice."

She ended the call and looked up slowly, meeting my gaze.

'Well?" I demand, trying to read her face. 'What did he say?"

She placed the phone gently on the edge of my table, like she was handing over evidence. Her voice was steady. 'He agreed to meet you. But he has a condition."

I arched one brow and folded my arms across my chest. 'And what's that?"

'The meeting must take place on neutral ground. And I must be there with you."

I scoffed under my breath. 'He doesn't trust me?"

She tilted her head slightly. 'Would you trust a man who suddenly calls you, claiming he needs help, using your sister as bait?"

I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth in thought. She was right, but it still pissed me off.

'Fine," I said after a few moments. 'Set it up. I will play along, for now."

She nodded again and picked up her phone. I pretended to look away, pretending to check my laptop, but my attention was still on her.

She walked to the door slowly. Her heels clicked gently against the marble floor, not rushed. She didn't even look back as she exited.

But something was not right.

My gut tightened.

—

POV: Secretary

The second I stepped out of Hades' office and the door clicked shut behind me, I paused. I pressed my back to the wall in the hallway and took a deep breath.

I need to move quickly.

First, I opened my call history and deleted the last call. Gone. Then I go to my messages and remove a thread of texts. Everything that just happened between me and my brother has to disappear at least from this phone.

Then I opened a secure messaging app, the kind no one on Hades' IT team can trace and type carefully.

Text to Unknown Contact:

'He took the bait. Phase one is complete"

I didn't wait for a reply. I locked the screen and tucked the phone back into my pocket. My heart was calm and my face calm as well. But inside me, a storm was brewing and Hade had no idea what was coming.

___

POV: Hades

An hour passed, maybe more. I tried to focus on the proposal for RK Ventures, but my mind drifted again and again to her voice. That call. That strange tone she used, it was too calm and too coded.

What was she hiding?

I kept checking my inbox, no meeting details yet and no follow-up from her. I drummed my fingers on the desk, impatient.

Finally, the door opened and she walked in again.

She was holding a folder, her face, as always, was unreadable. It was like she wore it for armor.

'I have arranged the meeting," she said. 'Tomorrow. 3PM. Rooftop lounge at Hotel Azzurri."

That is a high-profile location, but it is open but private enough, classy and clean, too clean.

'Why there?"

'My brother suggested it," she said. 'He wants to ensure no one's spying or trying anything funny."

I nodded slowly. 'And you'll be there?"

'Yes," she answered quickly. 'It is the condition."

I tapped my pen on the table. 'Is your brother aware how important this is to me?"

Her gaze met mine without blinking. 'He does not care about your ambitions. He only cares about trust."

I chuckled dryly. 'Trust? That is rich, coming from you."

Her eyes twitched for just a second, however then it was gone in a short moment. Her emotions almost showed up, she locked it away.

She turned to leave again.

'Wait," I say.

She stopped mid-step and looked back over her shoulder.

'What is your brother's name?"

She pauses.

Then she said: 'Raheem."

Raheem.

I memorized it instantly. Something about it tugs at something in my memory, but I didn't know what yet.

'Tomorrow, then," I said.

She nodded, opened the door, and disappeared once again.

___

POV: Secretary

Back at my desk, I checked my phone. A reply finally came in. The response I had been expecting. It came just at the right time.

Text from Unknown Contact:

'Good. Phase two begins after the meeting. Watch your back. He is not stupid"

I smiled to myself. 'He is not stupid, no. But he is also not in control. Not anymore.