Chapter 18 - Adrian

As I stood there, feeling Jennifer's lingering touch on my cheek, I couldn't help but smile inwardly. The moment her lips brushed my skin, I felt Seraphina's anger surge through the line. I'd never been more certain that I was in the right position for this. I knew it wouldn't be long before Seraphina's jealousy came out, and honestly, it made my heart race with excitement.

I could practically feel her fuming from across the room, and it brought me a strange sense of satisfaction. Seraphina cared. She cared a lot, and deep down, I loved it.

I smiled at Jennifer, pulling back just enough to maintain my professionalism, though there was a playful glint in my eyes. "Well, that was unexpected."

Jennifer laughed, unbothered by my mild surprise. "I figured you could handle it, Adrian. You are quite the gentleman, after all."

"Of course, I can handle it," I said, smoothing the front of my suit. "But let's stay on topic. We both know we have more pressing matters to discuss."

I nodded toward the restaurant's dim-lit corner booth where we'd been seated earlier. I could feel Seraphina's anger still lingering in the air, despite the distance between us.

With a sly smile, Jennifer leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Yes, of course. Let's get to business, then. You're here for the real deal, aren't you?"

I maintained my calm composure, though I was taking in every word, every movement. This wasn't just about her making advances on me; it was about the information she could provide.

"So, Jennifer," I began, casually leaning in, "I was doing some research into the company, and I came across something interesting."

Her eyes flickered briefly, but she quickly recovered. "What's that?"

"Turns out, you aren't the official head of the company after all, are you?" I let the question hang in the air, watching her response carefully.

For a moment, she was silent, her face shifting into something more guarded. I pressed on, sensing I was getting closer.

"You've been pulling the strings behind the scenes, sure. But the real owner," I continued, "she's someone else, isn't she? Someone more elusive."

Jennifer's lips tightened, and I knew I was right. She hesitated for a long moment before responding, her voice soft but tinged with an edge of something like fear.

"You're very well-informed, Adrian," she said, with a forced smile. "But yes. It's true. I don't run things alone."

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms, letting my silence make her uncomfortable. Finally, she spoke again, this time with reluctance.

"There's someone else... a woman, actually. Her name is Isabella Reyes. She's the one who truly owns the company."

I could hear Seraphina's angry breathing through my earpiece, and I couldn't help but grin. She was furious, and I was loving every second of it. Her jealousy only confirmed what I'd suspected for so long—she cared.

I nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "And Isabella? Why hasn't she revealed herself to the public? What's her interest in staying behind the scenes?"

Jennifer's lips quivered slightly. "She's powerful. She doesn't want attention, Adrian. She's not someone you want to mess with. She's... a shadow."

Her tone was laced with a mix of respect and fear, and it only confirmed that Isabella Reyes was someone who shouldn't be underestimated.

I kept my composure, though inwardly, I was already mapping out my next move. "Thanks for the information. You've been very helpful, Jennifer."

As I stood up, I could feel the weight of Seraphina's eyes on me, even from miles away. She was still seething, and I loved how much she cared, how protective she was. It made my heart swell with something deeper, something I hadn't yet fully understood.

But as I walked out of the club, feeling the rush of adrenaline, I couldn't shake the feeling that Isabella Reyes was going to change everything.

I glanced at my phone, quickly typing a message to Seraphina: Got the info. Let's talk when I'm back. And by the way, I know you're angry, but you're not fooling me. I can tell you're jealous.

I grinned to myself as I sent it.

After the conversation with Jennifer at the club, I returned to the mansion, my mind racing with what I had just learned. Isabella was the one behind the façade. She was the true controller of the company that Jennifer had been running under her name. But there was still so much left to uncover, and I knew I had to dig deeper.

I walked into the mansion and saw Lyra already at her laptop, fingers flying over the keys as she searched for any scrap of information that could shed light on Isabella.

"Lyra," I called, "did you find anything on Isabella?"

Lyra didn't look up from the screen but muttered, "I'm getting there."

I sat down next to her, watching her work. The silence was heavy with anticipation as the minutes ticked by. Finally, after some time, she looked up, eyes narrowed in concentration.

"I've found something," she said, her voice a little strained. "Not much, though. Isabella's history is... well, it's clean. Too clean, actually. There's barely any information on her past, and what I did find is heavily filtered."

I frowned. "That's not enough."

Lyra nodded. "I know. But I did find one thing... Isabella prefers women."

I raised my eyebrows, confused. "What?"

"Yeah," Lyra confirmed. "She likes women. And recently, she had a breakup."

I glanced at Seraphina, who had been silently observing from the other side of the room. When Lyra's words hit, she immediately tensed up, her eyes narrowing with curiosity and something else. I could practically feel her irritation simmering.

Nick, ever the instigator, gave Seraphina a sly smile. "You know, she likes women, right?"

Seraphina didn't skip a beat. "I like women too, Nick. I'm a feminist. I cheer for women."

Nick grinned, clearly enjoying teasing her. "Oh, it's more than just feminism with Isabella."

Seraphina's eyes widened. She was about to choke on her own breath as she processed Nick's words. "Okay, you both need to stop looking at me like that," she snapped, her voice laced with annoyance. "Why is it always me? Why not Lyra? She's a woman too, right?"

Lyra, leaning back in her chair, shrugged. "I'm straight, so I can't."

Nick's reaction was pure satisfaction, a grin spreading across his face. He leaned back with a satisfied sigh, as if he had won some sort of victory.

Seraphina, now completely flustered, glared at him, trying to figure out the meaning behind his satisfied smirk.

Lyra, sensing the tension, stood up and walked over to Nick, casually slinging an arm around his shoulders in a side hug. "I think we're all just back-end support," she said lightly, her voice teasing.

I couldn't help but chuckle at their banter. They made a good team. But Seraphina looked like she was about to explode, and honestly, I wasn't sure if she was going to strangle me, Nick, or both of us.

"Yeah, well, not all of us can be the back-end team," she muttered, clearly unimpressed.

I grinned, savoring her discomfort. "It's karma, Sera. You know, what's happening to you now? That's what was happening to me a few days ago." I let out a laugh, clearly enjoying the irony of it all.

Seraphina shot me a withering glare, clearly having had enough of my teasing. "Yeah? Well, if something happens to me, you two are going to become strippers in a gay club. You'll regret it."

The room went silent for a beat. Then, without warning, Nick burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Oh, that's rich!" he gasped between laughs. "Strippers in a gay club? Man, I can't wait to see us in those outfits!"

I had to admit, I couldn't hold it in either. I broke into laughter, imagining the two of us in ridiculous outfits trying to dance on stage.

Seraphina didn't look thrilled, but the corners of her lips twitched in spite of herself. "You two are impossible," she muttered, though there was an amused sparkle in her eye.

Nick wiped away a tear of laughter, still snickering. "I can already see it," he said, grinning wide. "We'd be the stars of the show, strutting our stuff like we own the place."

Seraphina rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "You know, I don't appreciate being the butt of all your jokes," she said, her tone teasing but with an edge of playfulness.

I leaned in closer, placing my hand on my chin in mock thought. "Actually," I mused, "we could make some serious money from this. The fans would love to see us in a leather harness, wouldn't they?"

Seraphina's expression instantly turned into a glare. "Oh, don't even think about it," she warned, though her voice shook with restrained laughter. "I swear to God, if either of you even considers this, I'll never let you live it down."

Nick snorted. "What, you're not into leather harnesses, Sera? I thought you were a fan of the whole 'bad boy' aesthetic."

"Not on you two, that's for sure," she retorted, crossing her arms tighter. But her face was betraying her. She was trying too hard to keep the annoyed expression, but I could tell she was trying to suppress a laugh.

Lyra, who had been silently observing the exchange, suddenly chimed in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Maybe we could start a Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content—of Adrian and Nick's stripper careers."

Seraphina almost choked on her drink, and Nick's eyes widened in mock horror. "Okay, now you're just crossing the line," he said dramatically, holding his hands up in defense.

But I wasn't about to let this go. "Come on, Nick, think about it," I teased. "We'd have our own fanbase. We could become the hottest strippers on the market!"

Seraphina burst into laughter, unable to hold back any longer. "You two are a lost cause," she said, still chuckling. "I'm not even going to dignify that with a response."

Lyra and I exchanged knowing glances, and I could feel the tension finally lifting from the room. Seraphina had been so serious about everything, but now, she was relaxing. I knew the banter was getting to her—she was just too stubborn to admit it.

"Fine," she finally said, wiping a tear from her eye. "But if I have to watch you two dance, I'm charging a hefty fee for a front-row seat."

Nick smirked, completely unapologetic. "Deal. But only if you're our manager."

I couldn't resist. "We'll need someone to keep track of our fan mail," I added with a grin. "Maybe you could handle the 'special requests.'"

"Ugh, I hate you both," Seraphina muttered, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. "Just don't come crying to me when you end up regretting all this."

We all broke into laughter again, the tension in the room completely gone. It was moments like these that made me feel like everything was normal again, even amidst all the chaos we were navigating. And as much as Seraphina tried to act tough, I knew that deep down, she was enjoying this as much as the rest of us.

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The mansion was quiet, except for the low hum of the laptop as Lyra scrolled through the information on the screen. Seraphina, Adrian, and I stood around, waiting for Lyra to pull up something concrete about Isabella.

"Found it," Lyra said, her voice cutting through the silence. She looked up from the laptop, her face a mixture of excitement and focus. "Isabella's been frequenting a bar in the Middle East. It's a private, exclusive spot where she goes to unwind. And from what I can gather, she's been going there more often recently. Seems like she's had a bit of a rough time since the breakup."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the new lead. "A bar?" she repeated. "In the Middle East? That's a pretty big leap from a corporate mastermind to drowning her sorrows in a drink."

Lyra shrugged slightly. "People are complicated, Sera. You'd be surprised. But, I think this is where we need to be. If we want to get close to Isabella and see what she's really up to, this bar is the place to do it."

There was a long silence as Seraphina thought it over, her sharp gaze never leaving Lyra. I could tell she was considering the risks. But in the end, she sighed and nodded. "Fine," she said, her tone resigned but determined. "We'll go. But we have to be careful. We can't let Isabella catch wind of why we're really there."

"Agreed," Lyra said. "I'll keep searching for more intel while you two get ready. Let's get this right."

Seraphina nodded, but there was a faint, mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Just one thing," she said, looking at me. "Adrian, if I'm going to be stuck in a bar with you, I need to know you're going to be on your best behavior."

I raised an eyebrow, a grin forming on my lips. "You've seen me in action before, Sera. I'm always on my best behavior."

"That's debatable," she replied dryly, rolling her eyes.

Lyra chuckled softly as she closed her laptop. "Okay, you two. I'll make sure everything's in place. You focus on looking good."

As we got ready to leave, Seraphina turned to me one last time. "Keep your focus, Adrian. This is more than just about looking good."

I gave her a wry smile. "Don't worry, I know how to handle myself."

As the jet soared into the sky, heading for the Middle East, the mood was slightly different than usual. The tension of the mission, combined with the usual unease of working alongside Seraphina on such a delicate task, created an odd kind of dynamic.

I leaned back in my seat, glancing over at her. She was quietly watching out the window, her fingers lightly tapping against the armrest. The calm before the storm. I couldn't help but notice how composed she looked despite the tension in the air. Her dark hair fell in loose waves, and the dress she'd chosen for the mission made her look effortlessly elegant, the soft fabric hugging her form in all the right places.

Seraphina caught me staring and gave me a half-amused glance. "You can stop looking at me like that, Adrian," she said, her voice teasing but laced with a hint of seriousness. "We've got a job to do."

I smirked, leaning forward slightly. "What? I can't admire the woman I'm working with?" I teased.

She raised an eyebrow, but I could see the corners of her lips twitching as she fought to suppress a smile. "You admire me all you want, but right now, we need to focus on getting Isabella. She's no small fish, and she's not going to fall for any charm."

I nodded, my expression turning more serious. "You're right. Isabella's dangerous, and we need to make sure we get close enough to her without giving ourselves away."

Seraphina let out a breath and turned her gaze back to the window. "And we'll have to be careful about how much we reveal. She might be controlling things behind the scenes, but I can feel she's hiding something much bigger. Whatever she's involved in, we need to know."

I glanced at her, catching the steely determination in her eyes. She wasn't just angry anymore—she was resolved. "We'll get her," I said confidently. "One step at a time. Just stick to the plan."

She finally looked back at me, giving me a small, appreciative smile. "I trust you. Just make sure you don't lose your cool at the bar."

I raised my hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm not the one getting distracted by the drinks."

Seraphina shot me a pointed look but didn't respond. Instead, she leaned back into her seat, letting the conversation drift into silence as we both steeled ourselves for what lay ahead.

The jet continued its journey, the world beneath us disappearing into the horizon as we made our way toward the Middle East, toward Isabella—and the truth we needed to uncover.

After we landed in the Middle East and made our way to the hotel, the atmosphere was tense. Seraphina had locked herself in the bathroom for what felt like hours, preparing for whatever role she was about to play.As I waited, I couldn't help but think about the task at hand. Isabella was smart, and she wasn't going to make this easy. But we had to keep our cool, and I knew Seraphina could do that better than anyone.

The moment Seraphina walked out of the room, I couldn't breathe for a moment. She looked... absolutely stunning. The outfit she wore was simple yet incredibly seductive—a short, tight top that clung to her body like it was made for her, the fabric hugging her every curve. The top connected seamlessly to a long, form-fitting skirt that cascaded down her legs, its fabric smooth and alluring. The slit on the side—just high enough—gave me glimpses of her toned legs as she moved, adding a touch of boldness to the elegance of her outfit.

Her hair, as always, was flawless—falling in soft waves over her shoulders, catching the dim light and adding a softness to her sharp features. Her eyes, dark and intense, seemed to have an extra spark tonight—like there was something she wasn't letting me in on.

I couldn't help but admire how she moved. Every step was confident, controlled, and effortlessly graceful. Her lips, painted with a soft shade of red, curved up slightly in that sarcastic, amused way she had whenever she knew she had my full attention. And right now, she had all of it.

She glanced at me, catching me staring a little longer than I should have. I could see her smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth, but her cheeks had a faint blush that she couldn't quite hide. She knew exactly how she made me feel—how every time she entered a room, it felt like the world shifted.

She noticed me staring, and her lips twitched, her brow furrowing slightly. "Stop staring," she muttered, though the flush creeping up her neck betrayed her.

I couldn't help it. She was more than stunning. She had this power over me, and right now, as I looked at her, I wanted nothing more than to erase the distance between us. To pull her close, feel her warmth against me, but I had to remind myself this was about business. Isabella was the priority tonight, not whatever this strange, unexplainable thing between Seraphina and me was.

But damn, she was stunning. I smirked, stepping closer.

"You look... too good," I finally said, my voice softer than usual. "Careful, Seraphina. If you keep looking like that, I might forget why we're here."

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the faintest blush on her cheeks. That was enough to make my chest tighten.

"We're here for Isabella, remember?" she said, walking past me toward the door. I followed her out, keeping my thoughts in check. As we drove toward the bar, my mind was still on her. I could almost feel the tension building between us, like the universe was conspiring to make it more than just a mission.

But no. Not tonight. Not when we were so close to cracking this wide open. Still, I couldn't shake the thought of her, the way she looked, the way she made me feel.

Damn it.

I had to keep my focus.