Victor returned to his private residence, a sleek, high-security villa tucked into the heart of the Safe Zone's executive quarter. As he stepped inside, a man who looked every bit the polished house manager approached with practiced deference.
"Sir," the man said, "your son left a message. He wants you to find a way to gain leverage over Mia Whitmore."
Victor paused mid-step. "Mia? He's still chasing that girl?"
"No, sir. He recently discovered she's an Awakened. He wants to bring her under his influence."
Victor's eyes lit up at that. "An Awakened, huh?"
But after a moment's thought, he shook his head. "The Whitmore family's too tightly tied to the Guard. With Colonel Reyes keeping an eye on her, we can't make a move on Mia—not yet."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Give it time. When the moment's right, women like her will be ours for the picking."
"Tell Ray to stay focused. His own growth matters more than any conquest."
"Yes, sir."
...
In the residential zone…
