"Home sweet home."
Rhea sighed as she sank into the couch in the living room, and she removed her glasses, placing them gently on the glass table in front of her. Linda trailed behind her but said nothing, her expression tight with fatigue.
Without a word, she made her way upstairs in hopes to get away from Rhea, only to come face-to-face with Steven. Her shoulders were slumped from being worn out today back at the mall, and Steven could tell who was responsible for it.
"You're both back, how did—"
"Don't ask," Linda interjected weakly, as she continued climbing up the stairs without stopping, and Steven felt pity for the woman as he watched her go.
Somehow, he had anticipated that Rhea would run Linda into the ground today, and he was right. He had volunteered to accompany Rhea to the mall, since he felt he was the only one capable of dealing with her theatrics. But, their boss had assigned Linda instead.
Shaking his head, he descended the stairs and made his way to the couch where Rhea remained slouched, softly humming an eerie tune to herself again. Her eyes lit the moment she spotted him standing nearby.
"Well, if it isn't the loyal watchdog."
"Did you create problems at the mall today?" He asked, maintaining a stern demeanor. Rhea pretended to be hurt by the sudden allegation as she sat up once, placing her hand over her chest, her expression a mockery of innocence.
"Problems? Me?" She said dramatically. "I already promised I'd be on my best behavior, didn't I? Honestly, it was quite the opposite. I had fun today, and so did Linda. You know, she's actually really sweet, and I think we bonded. She showed me around and helped me pick out some cool stuff for school tomorrow. Do you want to see the things I bought?"
"I'd rather not," Steven refused flatly, cutting off her excitement, and her smile faltered almost immediately. He certainly had no trust when it came to what this girl wanted to show him, and he chose to trust his own guts. He knew she had something devious planned behind her smile, and he wasn't going to fall for her feigned innocence.
Straightening his tie, he added. "It's good you're back, though. It's time for the briefing– easily the most important part of your day. Come on. Ladies first."
He gestured for her to walk ahead this time, and Rhea rose from the couch. She moved through the living room without hesitation, keeping her steps light, as Steven led her upstairs. They turned into one of the many dim corridors, and finally entered a small room dominated by a large, suspended screen.
Aside from a single swivel chair, the room was nearly barren. The lighting itself was low, but in a way Rhea considered to be perfect, as extreme brightness affected her eyes. She lowered herself onto the chair like a queen assuming her throne, crossing her leg over the other. Her eyes flicked to the blank screen, and then to Steven, who stood at the side, holding the remote like some underqualified priest preparing for ritual.
"The boss is currently occupied, so he asked me to give the briefing," Steven explained before pressing a button on the remote, and the screen came to life with a glow.
It revealed a girl in Novarion uniform— raven hair, arrogant eyes— and Rhea recognized her instantly. She was one of the hyenas she saw in the footage, the one who was busy circling her stepsister and feeding off her fear like it was oxygen.
A smirk immediately ghosted across her lips as she remembered it all.
She simply studied the girl's face, noticing the pride gleaming in her grey eyes. Rhea knew that kind of look never lasted in people, and the ones who wear them turn out to be, disappointedly, the kind who never deserved to wear it in the first place.
Her fingers twitched on her lap, not from her naturally unstable nerves, but from the itch. It only made her excited, as the mere thought of sinking her claws into the girl's skin played in her head. And this time, there'd be no prison. Just the work. The quiet. And the inevitable.
"This is Nesta Hinderman, she's eighteen, and your first target," Steven began, gesturing toward the screen. "Her father is a well-known businessman who's secretly on the verge of bankruptcy. The media hasn't caught wind of it yet, but we plan to be the first to bring his dirty dealings to light. His daughter will be your entry point once you arrive in Novarion. Word is, she bullies the weaker students."
He paused for a moment and continued. "To get her attention, you'll need to rein in your unpredictable nature and play the part while you're there— blend in, act harmless. For at least a week.
Rhea's brow rose, amusement flickering in her eyes. "So you're saying I let her bully me for a week?"
"Yes," he replied. "You're immune to pain. You can handle a week of it. That's the window the boss wants. While you play your role, we'll be working to uncover all the evidence regarding her father's embezzlement."
"Boring," Rhea muttered, folding her arms. "And what happens after a week?"
"If we succeed in exposing her father, then the family's influence will crumble. That means no protection, no power. And that's when you move in. You get to do as you please with her, and there will be no repercussions for it as long as they have no one to run to at the end of the day."
Rhea listened attentively, taking in every instruction given to her. Her mind had long been conditioned to obey orders from anyone with legal authority over her, and that was a rule that hadn't changed despite being a default. She would play their game, and she would help them win. Once that has been accomplished, they would discard her like a broken toy since she would no longer be needed. Because that's all she'd ever been to them–just a toy.
Her father had made that clear before experimenting on her.
"I understand the rules," Rhea said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "But you saw what those girls can do. You know my triggers. What if they push me too far? What if the bullying gets so bad that my life's in real danger? Will you still blame me for fighting back?"
Steven hesitated, clearly weighing her words, and he knew she had a point. After a brief silence, he finally replied. "If it ever comes to that… don't let it get past the third blow."
Rhea's smile widened, a flicker of something wild lighting her eyes. "Can I start packing my bags then?"