CHAPTER 4
The room fell silent.
Not the normal kind of silence.
The heavy kind.
The kind that presses against your chest and makes it harder to breathe.
Vesper stood in front of me, completely still.
And yet—
It felt like the entire room revolved around him.
What is this feeling…?
The pain in my ankle…
Faded.
Not gone—but distant.
As if my body had decided something else was more important.
Him.
He stepped closer.
Slow.
Deliberate
Every movement controlled.
"I… I don't know who you are," I said, forcing my voice not to shake, "but you can't just walk in here."
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Oh, I can," he said calmly.
"And I already did."
Before I could respond, the Boss stepped forward and shook his hand like they were old friends.
Raven followed—high-fiving him like this was some kind of reunion
My confusion only grew.
"Long time," Raven said.
"Too long," he replied.
Wait… they know him?
"This is Vesper," the Boss said, turning to me. "The government spy assigned to assist on this mission."
Assist?
We don't need him.
The thought slipped out before I could stop it.
"We don't need a spy."
Silence.
Oops.
For a second, I thought I had said it out loud.
But then—
Vesper's gaze shifted to me.
Slow.
Sharp.
Like a blade finding its target.
Oh.
I did say it out loud.
Great
He tilted his head slightly, studying me.
"My instincts were right," he said.
"You really are… interesting."
Interesting? That's what you got from that?
I crossed my arms. "And you're unnecessarily dramatic."
Raven coughed, clearly trying not to laugh.
The Boss stepped in before things escalated.
"There's been a change in plans."
Something in his tone made my stomach drop
"Because of your injury," he continued, "we're swapping your roles."
I blinked.
"What?"
"You and Raven."
Silence.
"No," I said immediately. "That's not possible. We're already admitted—"
"I've taken care of that," he cut in. "New identities. New roles."
I turned to Raven.
She looked just as shocked as I felt.
"You're kidding," I said.
"I'm not."
This is bad.
Very bad.
Because this meant—
I'd be working with him.
Alone.
My eyes flickered toward Vesper.
He was smirking.
Of course he was.
He's enjoying this.
"I'll leave you two to discuss the mission," the Boss said.
Raven gave me a small wave before leaving.
Traitor.
The door closed.
And suddenly—
It was just the two of us.
Vesper walked toward the chair beside my bed and sat down like he owned the place.
Relaxed.
Confident.
Annoying.
I kept my gaze fixed on him, arms crossed.
If looks could kill—
He'd be dead.
He leaned forward slightly and placed his hand on my forehead.
I froze.
What is he doing?
My face heated up instantly.
"W—What are you doing?" I stammered.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Checking if you have a fever.
A pause.
Then, with a faint smirk—
"Or if this is just your natural temperature around me."
Oh. He's one of those.
"I'm hot," I snapped. "Way hotter than you."
"Confident," he said, leaning back. "I like that."
"I don't care what you like."
"Clearly."
A silence stretched between us
Sharp.
Tense.
Electric.
"Let's get one thing straight," he said finally. "We're working together now."
"I don't recall agreeing to that."
"You don't have to."
I leaned forward slightly, narrowing my eyes.
"I don't work well with people I don't trust."
He smiled.
"Good."
"Because I don't trust you either."
A challenge.
That's what this was.
And neither of us was backing down.
He leaned closer.
Closer than necessary.
"Careful, Ms. Trouble," he murmured. "You might lose this one."
My heart skipped.
But I didn't move.
Didn't look away.
Not happening.
"I don't lose," I replied, my voice steady.
"Everyone does," he said softly.
"Eventually."
Our faces were inches apart.
Too close.
Again.
Why does this keep happening…
"If I move even slightly—"
I didn't finish the thought
Because I didn't need to.
He understood.
His eyes flickered to my lips.
Then back to my eyes.
A slow, dangerous smile appeared.
"You're blushing."
"I'm not.
"You are."
"I'm not."
"Admit it."
"Never."
He chuckled.
Low.
Amused
And then
He pulled back.
Just like that.
Breaking the moment.
"I should step away," he said casually. "Before you fall for me like the others."
The audacity.
"You should worry about yourself," I shot back. "There's no one who can resist me."
His smirk faded.
Just for a second.
Interesting.
Then—
Something changed.
His expression sharpened instantly.
Gone was the teasing.
Gone was the flirtation
He turned his head slightly, listening.
Footsteps.
Multiple
Fast.
My heart dropped
That's not normal.
He looked at me.
I looked at him.
No words needed.
We both knew
Danger
Before I could react—
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
One second, I was on the bed—
The next—
I was in his arms.
"What are you—"
"Stay quiet," he said sharply.
No teasing.
No sarcasm.
Just command.
My heart started racing.
This is real.
He carried me out of the room, moving through the hallway like he had memorized every exit.
The back door.
Open.
Cold air hit my face.
And then—
I saw them.
Black SUVs.
More than one.
Engines running.
Waiting.
They're here for us.
"Hold on," he muttered.
And then—
We ran.
He placed me in the passenger seat of a red jeep and rushed to the driver's side.
The engine roared to life.
And within seconds—
We were gone.
But not alone.
The SUVs followed.
Fast.
Relentless.
The chase had begun.