By 10:30 AM, a call came through the secured intercom. Their escort was ready. Mira straightened her blazer, taking a steady breath before stepping back into the controlled world beyond her door.

  The first day was only for registration and preparation, but even now, the weight of what lay ahead was unmistakable.

  As Mira stepped out of her room, she looked completely drained, dark circles under her eyes betraying the exhaustion she refused to acknowledge. Adrian, leaning casually against the doorframe of his suite, studied her for a moment before asking, "You good?"

  She ran a hand through her hair, forcing a small, tired smile. "I'm okay."

  They both knew she wasn’t, but there was no point in stating the obvious. The flight had been brutal, the security process relentless, and jet lag was hitting her hard. But today wasn’t the real battle—tomorrow was.

  The rest of the day was technically free. However, with an event of this magnitude, there was no such thing as downtime.

  A security escort was already waiting as they exited their suites, leading them down the restricted-access corridors to the registration zone. The process was seamless but intense.

  The biometric registration came first. A retinal scan, fingerprint verification, and voice authentication ensured that no impostors could slip through. Their ID badges, embedded with geo-tracking chips, were clipped onto their lapels, allowing security to monitor every movement within the summit zone.

  Even though they had gone through multiple security checks since landing, their belongings were screened again. Every personal electronic device was thoroughly inspected for unauthorized software, potential cyber threats, or foreign surveillance programs. Nothing was left to chance.

  Once cleared, they were ushered into a private lounge where a senior official handed them their finalized schedules. The itinerary was precise, with key locations marked: their private quarters, the secured meeting rooms, and the classified discussion zones where the real negotiations would take place.

  By the time they were done, Adrian addressed her without turning. "You want to eat?"

  She sighed. "Yeah…I should eat."

  Lunch was an option, but not in a typical banquet setting. Their security detail guided them to one of the designated dining rooms, an understated but meticulously guarded space where only high-profile attendees were allowed. There were no press, no unofficial guests—just select leaders, scientists, and policymakers. The walls were lined with discreet surveillance cameras, their presence subtle but absolute.

  They settled down at a table near the tinted windows, where soft, filtered daylight barely reached through the reinforced glass. The table had already been set with precision: crystal-clear water glasses, minimalist porcelain plates, and utensils arranged with military-level symmetry.

  A digital menu was provided, listing carefully curated meal options—nutrient-balanced, scientifically optimized for peak cognitive function.

  Mira barely looked at the menu. "I don’t care what I eat, as long as it’s not heavy."

  Adrian smirked. "So, no three-course feast?"

  She shot him a tired look. "If I pass out at the table, just pretend I’m deep in thought."

  He chuckled and selected something simple for both of them: grilled fish with light citrus dressing, a small portion of quinoa, and a side of vegetables. No alcohol was offered, only water and green tea—designed to keep them sharp, not sluggish.

  As they waited, Mira let her eyes drift around the room. Familiar faces—political leaders, military officials, biotech CEOs—sat in quiet clusters, their conversations hushed but charged with intent. Deals were being made before the summit even began. Alliances were being tested.

  She turned back to Adrian, lowering her voice. "See anyone interesting?"

  "A few. The Defense Minister from the UK, the CEO of Helion Biotech, and—" He stopped for a fraction of a second. "—that’s the guy from Echelon Dynamics. The one pushing for classified bio-enhancement trials."

  Mira stiffened. "Here already?"

  "Of course. People like him don’t wait for official sessions. They move before the board is even set."

  Their food arrived, presented with clinical efficiency. Mira picked at her plate, her appetite dulled by exhaustion and the sheer weight of the environment. Adrian, ever composed, ate methodically, his posture relaxed but his mind clearly elsewhere.

  Between bites, he finally spoke again. "You should rest after this. There’s still time before things get serious."

  "You’re resting too, then?"

  Adrian gave a slow, knowing smile. "Not a chance."

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Mira stirred her drink absentmindedly before glancing at Adrian. "Earlier, you mentioned filtering out interviews with journalists. What exactly are you asking me to do?"

  “Even though no press is allowed inside, the summit won’t stay in the dark. There will be post-event coverage, speculation, and leaks—some intentional, some not. We need to control our part in that. If anything needs adjusting or retracting, now’s the time to handle it."

  “And if I find something that doesn’t align with… let’s say, the official narrative?", Mira confirmed again.

  Adrian gave a small, knowing smile. "Then we fix it before someone else does."

  "So, what’s your plan after lunch?"

  Adrian leaned back slightly, considering for a moment before answering. "I’ll be meeting with a few people."

  "And I just rest, then?"

  "That would be the smart thing to do."

  She sighed, setting down her glass. "One more thing—our phones. Are we even allowed to use them here?"

  Adrian’s expression turned more serious. "Yes, but with restrictions. Personal devices are monitored. Encrypted summit-issued phones are the only secure way to communicate inside the venue."

  Mira frowned. "So if I need to reach you…?"

  He tapped the edge of the table lightly. "Use the secure line. Every attendee has an assigned number. You’ll find yours in your room.”

  "Wait, so if I can only call you from my room, and you can only call me from yours... what happens if we're outside?"

  "Then we stick together. Inside the summit zone, personal devices are restricted, and only designated communication channels are secure. If we’re apart, contact is limited." Adrian shrugged slightly, his tone calm.

  Mira exhaled, shaking her head. "Great. Feels even more like a high-tech prison now."

  Well, this was not what Mira had expected. She had spent so much time avoiding Adrian, keeping her distance, maintaining control over the boundaries she carefully built. And now—not only was she here to assist him, but she had to stick to him, shadow him like an extension of his presence.

  Her gaze lingered on him, but she wasn’t really looking at him. She was staring through him, lost in thought, caught in the unsettling realization of just how closely tied they now were.

  "Is there any problem?" Adrian’s voice pulled her back.

  Mira blinked, straightening slightly. "Nothing," she said quickly.

  Adrian studied her for a moment, then gave a slight smirk, as if he saw more than she was willing to admit. "Don’t worry about it. Just rest. I’ll be back in my room later and will call you when you're up."

  Mira hesitated for a second, debating whether she should even say it. It wasn’t like she had any proof, but something about this—about him—felt too deliberate. Too convenient.

  She exhaled slowly, then finally said, “Somehow, I feel like you planned all this.”

  Adrian barely reacted at first, casually setting down his glass. Then, with that maddening calmness, he said, “I didn’t know you would be the one to follow anyone’s plan that easily.”

  Mira blinked. “Excuse me?” Her irritation flared instantly. “So you did plan it, didn’t you?”

  For a second, she caught the way he pressed his lips together—like he was trying to hide the fact that he was enjoying this too much. “I just needed an assistant,” he said smoothly. “And it happens to be you who agreed to take the position.”

  Mira wasn’t convinced, not one bit. His expression held something that made her stomach twist.

  “Are you revenging me for not replying to your messages? For ignoring you?” The words slipped out before she could stop them.

  Adrian finally looked at her—really looked at her.

  “Now,” he said, quieter this time. “Are you saying you’ve been ignoring me on purpose? Should I know the reason?”

  Mira’s breath hitched as realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. What did she just do? She had practically walked herself into this conversation—no, she had dug her own grave.

  Had he been guiding the conversation this whole time?

  He hadn’t even pressed her about it. He hadn’t asked once why she ignored him. Not once.

  And yet, here they were. Talking about it.

  So naturally.

  Brought up by her.

  Her pulse pounded. Was this his plan all along? No, that was ridiculous… right?

  Then why did it feel like he already knew exactly how she would react?

  Mira swallowed hard, forcing herself to maintain a neutral expression. But damn it, she felt so uncomfortable.

  Adrian waited, watching her with that infuriating calm, as if he already knew the answer before she even opened her mouth. Which only made it worse.

  Mira clenched her jaw. Fine. If he wanted an answer, she’d give him one.

  She met his gaze, and spoke the truth.

  “I didn’t sign up for any drama at school.” Her voice was sharp, direct. “But you,” she pointed at him, “the damn genius, always draws attention. And your ridiculous fan club.” She huffed. “I don’t think we should get any closer to each other.”

  She could feel it, even without looking. That unbearable stillness when he was far too pleased.

  Mira ignored it and pressed on. “Let me study and graduate in peace. Or else, I’ll get terrorized by your fanatics. Oh, the truth is I already had.”

  “Terrorized?”

  “Yes.” Mira deadpanned. “You think they’d let me live if they knew I was this close to you?”

  Adrian leaned back slightly, taking in her words. “So, to be clear—you weren’t ignoring me because you were avoiding me. You were avoiding them?”

  Mira blinked.

  Oh.

  Damn it.

  “Whatever,” Mira muttered. "I only agreed to this because Ikeda didn’t tell me that you would be the one I’d be assisting. If I had known, I never would have signed up. Once the summit is over, things will go back to normal. I don’t expect us to have any reason to interact. No unnecessary contact.”

  Adrian, who had been calmly sipping his tea, set his cup down and tilted his head slightly. “Then… necessary contact is okay?”

  Her fingers curled into the fabric of her sleeve as she processed his words. The way he said it—so casual, so smooth—made her feel like she had just walked straight into another one of his traps.

  She hesitated, opening her mouth, then closing it, before finally saying, "No." That’s not what I mean. It’s better if there’s no contact at all.”

  Adrian watched her for a second longer, his expression unreadable, before giving a slow nod. “Alright.”

  It should have ended there. It really should have.

  But something about the way he agreed too easily made her feel like she’d lost this round.

  ?