𝑳𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 | 𝟏𝟖+

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Ivelle’s POV

I slammed the door to my office shut, the echo reverberating through the empty hallway. Natasha’s news still lingered in my mind, tugging at me as I made my way toward the elevator. Three funerals in one month—it wasn’t just an unfortunate string of events. Something about it felt off, but Natasha was brushing it aside like it was nothing. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts as I stepped into the elevator, feeling the weight of a long day pressing down on me.

The moment the doors slid open to the parking lot, the cool breeze hit me, a sharp contrast to the warm air inside the building. I made my way toward my car, my heels clicking against the concrete floor, each step echoing the frustration simmering within me. Everything felt like it was spiraling out of control—Natasha’s strange excuses, the constant pressure of work, and now this nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.

I reached my car, unlocked it, and threw my bag onto the back seat. Just as I slid into the driver’s seat, the passenger door swung open without warning, and Alastor slipped inside with the ease of someone who had done this a thousand times before.

“Afternoon, Miss Siren,” he greeted, his tone playful, as if he had just walked into a casual lunch instead of sneaking into my car uninvited. He leaned back, making himself comfortable, his gaze fixed on me with that familiar cocky smirk that always set my nerves on edge.

I clenched my jaw, refusing to meet his eyes as I turned the key in the ignition. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Alastor?” I snapped, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. “Get out.”

“Relax, étoile chérie,” he drawled, using the nickname he knew I hated, his voice dripping with that irritating mix of mockery and charm. “Just wanted to see how you’ve been holding up. You look… tense.”

“Maybe that’s because you’re constantly showing up unannounced,” I shot back, finally looking at him. His dark eyes gleamed with mischief, and the way he leaned toward me, invading my space, made my skin prickle. “I don’t have time for your games today.”

Alastor’s smile only widened, as if my anger was a source of endless amusement for him. “Oh, come on, Ivelle. You used to love my games.” His words hung in the air, thick with unspoken memories, each one tugging at a past I was determined to keep buried. “And from what I heard, you’re having quite the day.”

“Spying on me now, too?” I shot him a glare, trying to keep my composure. The confined space of the car only heightened the tension, each breath feeling heavier than the last. “If you’re looking for drama, go find it elsewhere. I’m not in the mood.”

He leaned closer, his face inches from mine, his presence overwhelming as his scent— a mix of leather, sandalwood, and something distinctly him— filled the car. “I’m just here to keep you company, sweetheart. No need to get so worked up.” His voice dropped, softer yet edged with something darker, something that sent a shiver down my spine. “Unless you want to.”

I scoffed, refusing to let him see how his proximity was affecting me. “This isn’t some reunion, Alastor. And I’m not your plaything. So why don’t you do us both a favor and leave?”

But he didn’t budge. Instead, he reached out, his fingers grazing the strand of hair that had fallen across my face, tucking it behind my ear with a touch that was almost gentle. It was a deliberate act, one meant to disarm, and I hated how easily he could still get under my skin. His touch lingered just a moment too long, leaving a trail of heat that burned far deeper than I wanted to admit.