Chapter 8 Of Devils and Blueprints

Elira sat cross-legged in front of her computer, her silk robe slightly slanted off one shoulder, the room dim with soft yellow lamplight and the quiet hum of the CPU cooling fans. Her lips curled into a dangerous smile as her gaze lingered on the paused image on her screen.

There he was.

Kieran Vale.

Exhibit A of expensive danger.

"Cold eyes, arrogant smirk, and a face sculpted by generational wealth," she mused to herself. "Playboy or not... he's my next weapon."

She clicked the screen off with flair, folded her arms, and leaned back like a villain in a lair.

"I don't care if he's the devil himself," she muttered under her breath, still smiling. "I'll conquer him. Break him if I have to. Use him. I mean, what better way to ruin Jason's perfect little empire than by using his uncle?"

Her laugh started low and wicked.

It grew.

And grew.

"MWAHAHAHAHA-!"

"Aunt Lira, you're evil."

Elira froze.

She blinked once. Twice. Slowly turned her head toward the small bed in the corner of the room.

There, nestled between plushies and soft lavender blankets, was Lily-her niece, wide awake and blinking her adorable beady eyes with judgment no child should possess.

Elira stared.

Lily stared back.

"...Uh-oh," Elira muttered.

She quickly scrambled toward the bed, kneeling beside it. "Baby, no, Aunty is not evil. Aunty is just... creative."

Lily tilted her head, unimpressed. "You said you're gonna use the bad man to fight other bad people."

"Well... yes," Elira admitted carefully, "but that doesn't make me bad, sweetheart. It makes me... efficient."

"Isn't that what bad guys say in movies before they blow up everything?"

Elira paused, mouth open.

Touché.

"...Okay, fair point," she conceded, pulling Lily into her lap. "But listen, sweet pea. The world isn't all black and white. Sometimes, you have to outfox the foxes. You get me?"

Lily frowned. "So you're like a fox?"

"Yes! A really pretty one with lipstick and a grudge."

Lily squinted at her.

"And that's... good?"

Elira nodded sagely. "It's very good. Good for the ecosystem."

"...What's an ecostem?"

"Elira."

The door creaked open, revealing Sabrina, her elder sister and Lily's mom, holding Marco's car keys in one hand and her heels in the other. "We're heading out-taking the kids for ice cream and a run in the park. Should be back by evening."

Elira stood, gently setting Lily back on the bed.

Sabrina hesitated before adding, "Actually... I was thinking maybe we do a sister's night out later. You know, get dressed, go out, flirt with waiters who can't afford our attention. Distract yourself a bit."

Elira smiled warmly. "Sounds good."

As Lily trotted to her mother, Elira added casually, "Oh, I'll be heading out soon too. I... left some important documents and blueprints at Jason's place. Might as well get them now while he's out."

Sabrina turned slowly, raising a brow. "Let me guess-you're going back to Jason's apartment."

Elira didn't blink. "I said what I said."

Sabrina narrowed her eyes but didn't argue. "Just be careful. People like him don't play fair."

"I know," Elira said softly. "That's why I stopped playing nice."

Sabrina gave her one last look before exiting the room with Lily bouncing behind her. The door clicked shut.

Alone again, Elira glanced at her phone.

No messages.

She exhaled.

Still nothing from Kieran.

"He's probably busy... or ignoring me," she muttered. "Whatever. I'll get what I want-one way or another."

Later That Afternoon

Elira's car purred to a halt in front of Jason's upscale apartment complex. The gates were oddly ajar. No guards. No staff. Not even the useless doorman who always smiled too much.

She squinted.

"Sketchy."

Still, she stepped out of her car, stilettos clicking against the driveway as she pushed the gate open herself.

It creaked like something out of a horror movie.

"Of course it would," she muttered. "Budget cut, maybe? Or maybe karma's on my side."

Her finger hovered over the door's biometric scanner.

He probably changed it.

But he hadn't.

The door clicked open like it still remembered her fingerprint... or couldn't bear to let her go.

Dramatic much, she thought, rolling her eyes.

The moment she stepped inside, her chest tightened with memories.

She could still smell Jason's cologne faintly embedded in the couch cushions. She could still hear their laughter in the kitchen. She could still-

Nope.

She shook off the emotion like an itch.

Straight to business.

She strode down the hallway and into what used to be their room. Everything was still in place. Same headboard. Same curtains. Even the same glass on the nightstand that he always forgot to clear.

She moved to the drawer. Pulled it open.

Papers. Files. Sketches. Business contracts.

She found the envelope labeled R&D Blueprints - Private and sighed in relief.

Stuffing the files into her bag, she zipped it and turned-

And screamed.

Jason stood in the doorway, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of scotch. He looked disheveled, tired, older somehow in just one day-but no less cold.

His voice was low. Steady.

"I knew you'd come."

Elira froze.

The breath she hadn't realized she was holding escaped her.

"I thought you were at your board meeting," she managed to say, her tone guarded.

"I left early." He stepped in, closing the door behind him with a soft click. "I figured you'd show up... you always circle back."

"I indeed did always circle back, but not this time around. I came for my things," she snapped. "You know, the documents you conveniently forgot to mail back. Or should I say, intentionally didn't give to me."

He took a slow sip from his glass. "Is that all you came for?" He inched towards her with a mixed expression on his face.

She frowned. "What else would I be here for? You?"

Jason stepped closer.

Elira refused to back down, even though every part of her screamed at her to bolt.

"I'm sorry," he said, his head lowered.

"I don't need your apology, Jason." Elira said coldly, "We are done."

"No we are not," he replied. "Just- let's just see it as a minor misunderstanding. Okay?."

She blinked. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? A minor misunderstanding?"