Five minutes ago,
Calming Mike, who was barely holding himself back from informing Henry Laurent, Aveline reread a message on her phone.
[They don't meet anywhere but Obsidian.]
It was from Nate. He had hired a private detective agency for her. And they found out Damien and Vivienne never really met anywhere but Obsidian. Finding proof during their public appearances at an event would be nearly impossible.
But if she wanted to file for protection against Damien, she needed proof of his affair. And getting security footage from Obsidian without cops involved?
Next to impossible.
Unless… Aveline glanced towards the tall man in a midnight blue tailored suit.
Alaric Lancaster.
Why would he help her?
He had no reason to break the rules of Obsidian. Upon that, he was Damien's friend. If anything, she might be putting herself in more danger by approaching him.
But he was the only person she could think of.
To get what she wanted, she had to offer something in return.
And all she knew was NexGuard's future - Bankruptcy, copyright infringement, and a smeared reputation.
Aveline drew her plan. A deal that benefits them both.
She picked up her bag and excused herself from Mike, "I will just come." Then she turned and walked out of the event hall.
She was halfway to the elevator when she heard the hurried footsteps of Damien's secretary. Suppressing an eye roll, she glanced over her shoulder and caught him awkwardly pretending to walk in the opposite direction.
Without hesitation, she slipped off her heels and ran barefoot, fast into another hallway. She rushed into the first door she could find and shut it behind her.
It took her a moment to adjust to the dimly lit, extravagantly designed office room with NexGuard embossed behind the leather seat. She was surprised to find the CEO's office on the ground floor.
"Interesting."
…
Aveline snapped out when Alaric slid a bourbon glass on the coffee table. She watched him unbutton his blazer and sit down, almost lazily. Sipping his bourbon, he looked effortlessly regal.
Whereas he watched her grab the rock glass. Her slender finger held the base of the glass as she gently twirled the light brown - almost golden - liquid in the glass. When the ice had melted just enough, she took a sip, so graceful, Alaric was mesmerised.
Be it a wine, champagne, or bourbon, she never looked out of place.
His heart skipped a beat when she met his eyes.
It was already a dream to have her in his office. He couldn't afford to slip. "Start talking." He said, his voice low, masking every emotion.
"Aegis."
Alaric resisted hard, but his hand froze mid-sip. If he hadn't seen her lips move, he might have thought he imagined it.
AEGIS was the second product of NexGuard. He was designing software to protect against advanced cyber threats using adaptive AI, specifically targeting large enterprises and governmental institutions in need of enhanced digital defense.
It was something only he knew. Not even Ezra was aware of it.
Then how did she know it?
If she were anybody, his fingers would have wrapped around their neck until they spilled the truth. But it wasn't just anybody. It was her.
Aveline Laurent.
He slowly set the glass down and leaned back, narrowing his gaze on her. Studying every word, every breath, every flicker of hesitation.
She continued to prove she wasn't bluffing there, "A revolutionary software that combines AI-driven threat detection, behavioral analytics…"
She almost choked when his green eyes turned darker than the night, sending a shiver down her spine.
Yes, she was playing with fire. But she had no other choice but to feel the burn.
She steadied her voice with a smooth pause, "And real-time incident response to provide unparalleled cybersecurity."
That's everything she knows about the software.
A tiny company, barely 15 members, filed a suit against NexGuard, claimed theft, and became millionaires overnight. NexGuard and Alaric's names were dragged through the courts. Their reputation was completely destroyed.
As if it were her illusion till then, Alaric looked so calm, like her words meant nothing to him.
She wondered if they hadn't even started working on Aegis. Anyway, she pushed once more. "They will steal it." Tipping her chin toward the glass door. "From there."
He blinked.
He was already mind blown that she knew about AEGIS, that no one yet. And now, what was she saying?
Theft?
"Predicting the future!?" He mused, a trace of a scoff in his tone. But oddly… a part of him unconditionally believed her every word.
She expected mockery. She just knows the future, and no one would believe her. She softly shrugged, "So be it."
The room suddenly filled with laughter. It was neither sarcastic nor cruel.
A pure amusement.
Aveline's body unknowingly eased when she heard the deep, resonant laughter.
If this was how he could bring her close to him, then 'so be it.'
He rose from his seat. His laughter faded abruptly, making her blink in caution. Then he walked toward her, yet she stood her ground.
She didn't budge.
When the silence was deafening in the room, the distance between them was reduced. As he neared, her breath hitched and she forgot how to pretend brave.
He stood just a step away from her. He leaned close just enough to reach her eye level. Resisting his urge to touch her, he smirked. His voice dropped, "Prove it."
Then he straightened, stepping away from her, to let her breathe, to let her gather herself, and to let her act strong, until she learned to be strong.
Aveline chugged her bourbon in one breath, but she was shaking. She struggled to compose quickly.
After a long pause, her fingers tightened on the rock glass, and her eyes glinted with determination.
Worst case, she would have to fight Damien head-on.
Until then, she wouldn't give up. She wasn't going to get burned quickly.
She spoke. Her voice was quiet but clear. "An invite. An investment. A tech company. His position. You refuse. He schemes."
Alaric turned sharply the moment she spoke. But she didn't look at him. She placed her glass down on the coffee table, picked up her bag, and then sauntered towards the door.
Alaric: "..."
Why did people want him to figure everything out?
Still, one thing was certain. Aveline was trying to help him.
And her riddle?
It was a warning. Maybe even his future.
Though it was ridiculous, he believed her.
When the door closed behind her, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. He said only one thing, "She is overwhelmed."
….
Aveline had no idea how she managed to get to the restroom. She barely reached the counter before her knees buckled.
Gripping the edge of the sink, she crouched down, giving in to her body that convulsed in raw fear and aftermath.
She didn't reveal Damien's name. Because the moment she heard herself, she sounded nothing but foolish and delusional.
Why would Alaric Lancaster believe her?
He probably thought she was a crazy woman, trying to grab his attention.
Even she wasn't sure anymore.
Maybe… She was losing her mind in this game of deceit.