Chapter 5: The Red Signal
The air in the penthouse was thick with the lingering scent of cinnamon and the aftermath of a storm that had nothing to do with the weather outside. Elena lay back against the dark velvet of the sofa, her golden hair a disheveled ocean against the fabric. Her skin, pale and luminous in the dim light, glowed with a soft sheen. The sharp, icy CEO was gone, replaced by a woman whose every breath was a slow, rhythmic surrender to the man standing over her.
I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, adjusting my shirt. My reflection in the glass was different now. My shoulders were broader, my gaze steadier. The Mastery Mode had permanently altered the way I occupied space.
[Desire Value: 9.5/10]
[Authority Points: 3]
[System Notification: Bond with 'Sovereign Queen' Established.]
[Passive Unlock: 'Queen's Favor' – You gain a 20% charisma boost when dealing with subordinates of Elena Sterling.]
"You're thinking again," Elena's voice drifted from the sofa, no longer a command, but a soft, silken lure. She sat up, the silk camisole clinging to her curves in a way that made my pulse jump. She traced the line of her collarbone with a slow finger, her sapphire eyes locked on mine. "Most men would be celebrating. You look like you're preparing for war."
"Maybe because the war hasn't ended, Elena," I said, turning to face her. "The men in the van... they weren't just kidnappers. They knew your schedule. They knew your secondary car location. They were invited."
Elena's expression flickered. The vulnerability I had seen moments ago retreated behind a wall of cold granite. She stood up, her statuesque form regaining its regal poise even in her disheveled state. The sway of her hips as she walked toward her mahogany desk was slower now, more thoughtful.
"Oakhaven is a city of vipers, Fang Li," she said, her voice regaining its edge. "I have enemies in every boardroom. But tonight... tonight felt different."
She reached her desk and stopped. Her hand froze just inches from a sleek, silver paperweight.
[Subtle Observation Active...]
[Warning! High-Frequency Signal Detected!]
[Source: Underneath the desk lamp.]
"Don't touch it," I barked.
Elena jumped, her eyes snapping to mine. "What? It's just my—"
I was across the room in three strides. I reached under the lip of the heavy marble desk and ripped away a small, adhesive device. A tiny red light was blinking rhythmically, like a mechanical heartbeat.
"A tracker?" Elena whispered, her face going pale.
"Worse," I said, holding it up. "A short-range transmitter. It's not just sending your location; it's broadcasting audio and video. Someone has been watching... everything."
[Ding!]
[New Ability Triggered: 'Digital Intrusion' (Level 1)]
[Processing Signal Source...]
[Tracing... 4.2 Miles... Location: The Obsidian Crown Executive Lounge.]
The realization hit me like a physical blow. The man from the lounge—the one in the tailored suit I had humiliated. He hadn't just scrambled away; he had left a gift.
"Marcus," Elena hissed, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the edge of the desk. "He's been trying to force a merger for months. If he has footage of... of us..."
"He doesn't want a merger anymore," I said, crushed the device in my palm. "He wants leverage. He wants to own the Sovereign Queen."
[System Notification!]
[Emergency Quest: 'The Silent Watcher']
[Objective: Neutralize Marcus and retrieve the data before the 48-hour deadline.]
[Failure Penalty: Public Exposure & System Reset.]
I looked at Elena. Her chest was heaving, the anger and fear swirling in her eyes. She looked at me, and for the first time, I saw a flash of something new: Dependence. She wasn't just attracted to me; she needed me.
"What do we do?" she asked. The Queen was asking her analyst for orders.
I stepped closer, invading her personal space until our chests were inches apart. I reached out and cupped her face, my thumb tracing the curve of her lower lip.
"We don't 'do' anything, Elena," I said, my voice a dark, resonant promise. "I am going to finish what I started. Marcus thinks he's a player, but he's just a material. And my system... it's very good at processing materials."
[Desire Surge: 10/10 (Maximum Bond Reached!)]
[Ability Unlocked: Desire Syphon]
Description: You can now draw raw energy from the target's desire to temporarily boost your physical and mental attributes to superhuman levels.
Elena leaned into my touch, her eyes fluttering shut. "Go," she whispered. "Finish him. And Fang Li..." she opened her eyes, the blue fire burning brighter than ever. "If you bring me his head... Oakhaven is yours. And so am I."
I didn't need any more motivation than that. I turned and headed for the private elevator, the system's HUD glowing a fierce, predatory crimson.
[Status: Predator Mode Initiated.]
[Target Locked: Marcus Thorne.]
[ETA to Confrontation: 12 Minutes.]
As the elevator doors closed, I caught one last glimpse of Elena Sterling standing in the center of her glass palace. She looked like a goddess waiting for her champion to return from the slaughter.