Second Meeting

I pressed a hand tightly against my chest, forcing myself to calm down. After waiting a few seconds and confirming there was nothing unusual outside, I slowly—very slowly—lifted the curtain again, just a fraction, holding my breath as I peeked out. Cassian was no longer at the entrance. Kade was gone too—most likely they had already gotten into the aircrafts. A mix of tension and relief surged through me. Good. As long as he’d left— But nearly fifteen minutes passed, and that entire row of flyers was still parked there in complete silence, with no sign of taking off. My eyes started to ache from staring, and a question slowly surfaced in my mind. What’s going on? Weren’t they leaving? Then why aren’t they leaving? Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. Then a voice came through the panel— “Miss Ashley, Mr. Virex requests your presence.” I immediately held my breath, freezing in place, playing dead. There was a brief silence outside. Just as I was starting to think Kade would give up waiting and leave, and I was about to secretly let out a sigh of relief— Ding—! The communicator on my wrist chose that exact moment to ring. A call request popped up—Kade. Panicking, I cut it off without a second thought, and silently rolled my eyes at the door. Almost at the same time, his voice came again from outside, this time with a hint of amusement, carrying cleanly through the door— “Miss Ashley, Mr. Virex requests your presence.” Of course. Fox through and through—cunning to the core. I took a deep breath, pulled the door open, and put on my best just-woke-up act. “Sorry, Kade. I went to bed really late last night—I just woke up… You said Mr. Virex wants to see me? Is something the matter?” Kade showed no intention of exposing my terrible acting. “I’m not aware of Mr. Virex’s arrangements. If it’s convenient for you, Miss Ashley, please come with me.” I nodded. “Then… please give me a moment. I’ll go freshen up.” “Of course. Take your time.” He even stepped back a few paces, standing elegantly to one side of the corridor as he waited. I ground my teeth quietly, but forced a polite, perfunctory smile onto my face and shut the door again. I walked quickly to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and peeked outside. The dozen or so aircraft were still parked there in neat rows, exactly as before. A flicker of suspicion rose in my chest. Why call me over again right before leaving? Second thoughts? Planning to take the money back? Honestly, that would be ideal—refund the money, cut all ties. Letting my thoughts run wild, I dragged my feet through washing up. When I was done, I stood in front of the mirror, glanced down at the same outfit I’d been wearing for days, then lifted my sleeve and gave it a discreet sniff. Yep. Still smelled like poverty. Strangely, I was almost satisfied. The more off-putting, the better. I straightened my clothes and opened the door again. At the sound, Kade looked over. His gaze lingered for a brief second on my obviously unchanged outfit, but his smile remained as flawless as ever. “Miss Ashley, this way.” I had no choice but to follow him downstairs. The receptionist had changed. The young woman from before was gone, replaced by a middle-aged man. The moment he saw Kade, he snapped to attention, all smiles and deference, personally escorting us all the way to the entrance. Kade led me to the aircraft in the center. The hatch was already open. One glance inside was enough—the interior was absurdly luxurious, forming an almost surreal contrast with the run-down street outside I had just walked through. Kade stepped aside and made a small inviting gesture. “Miss Ashley, please.” I looked at the massive craft in front of me and carefully stepped onto the boarding ramp. But the moment both my feet crossed fully into the cabin, Click. A soft sound came from behind me. My whole body stiffened. I spun around—the hatch had already sealed shut. The words flashed through my mind instantly, I’d walked right into a trap. …No. Not just a trap. I was a fish in a barrel. The air stayed quiet for a few seconds—until I turned around. Cassian was lounging on a massive leather sofa, looking completely at ease. One hand idly swiped through a floating holographic screen, as if dealing with something routine. His profile was sharp and clean, almost too perfect—like it had been carved. Only when he heard me did he lazily lift his gaze, then said a single word, as if it were nothing— “Sit.” He gestured vaguely toward the seat opposite him, his tone flat. I edged over carefully and sat down, my back ramrod straight. “How did you sleep last night?” He took a sip from his glass, sounding like he was just making casual conversation. There was no real concern in it—more like a formality. “Not bad. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Virex.” “Have you eaten?” he asked suddenly. I paused. If he could time it this precisely and catch me right after I woke up, there wasn’t much point hiding it. I shook my head. “Not yet.” Cassian lifted a hand slightly. An elegantly designed android glided over and placed a delicate crystal glass on the table in front of me. Inside was a pale green liquid, faintly fragrant. Beside it sat a small plate of pastries, The kind that practically screamed expensive. “Try it. Cuisine from Pix Prime.” He gestured casually. I stared at the glass and the plate, my throat tightening slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Virex… I—I’m not hungry.”