Deadly Affairs

Chapter 6

Vivian couldn't get Alexandra Pierce out of her head. The mysterious figure lingered in her thoughts like a shadow, always one step ahead, always watching. As she walked the crowded streets of the city the next day, she found herself looking over her shoulder, half-expecting to spot Pierce's agents following her.

Her first stop was the Blue Orchid Lounge, an upscale bar frequented by the city's elite, and, if the rumors were true, a place Pierce was known to frequent. The bar was all muted lights and hushed conversations, an atmosphere charged with secrecy.

Vivian slipped inside, trying to look like she belonged, her gaze scanning the room. She settled onto a barstool, ordering a drink to give herself time to observe. As she sipped her cocktail, she noticed a man in a crisp suit watching her from across the room. His gaze was cold, calculating, the kind of look she'd come to recognize in people who valued information—and power—above all else.

She turned her attention back to her drink, but kept him in her peripheral vision. If he was watching her, there was a chance he was linked to Black Lotus. She decided to take the chance and approach him.

The First Encounter

"Mind if I join you?" Vivian asked, her voice casual as she approached the man's table.

The man looked her up and down before nodding slightly. "Vivian Chase, right?"

Vivian's heart skipped a beat. He knew her name. She kept her face calm, giving a small nod. "And you are...?"

"Let's just say I know who you're looking for." He leaned back, folding his hands. "But a word of advice—if you want to live, you'll stop looking."

Vivian felt a flicker of irritation at the warning. She leaned in, matching his stare. "If you know who I'm looking for, then you know I'm not easily scared off."

The man's lips curved into a smirk. "Determined, are we? Fine. But curiosity often leads to unfortunate ends in this line of work." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a card and sliding it across the table to her.

Vivian picked up the card and read the name. Alexandra Pierce – Lotus Holdings. There was no number, no contact information—just a symbol of a lotus flower embossed on the card.

"If you're serious, you'll find her there," the man said, his voice low. "But if you value your life, you'll stay far away."

Vivian tucked the card into her pocket, giving him a curt nod. "I'll take my chances."

Without another word, she left the bar, her heart racing. She'd been given her first real lead. Now, all she had to do was follow it.

The Stakeout

The next evening, Vivian parked a few blocks away from Lotus Holdings, a sleek, modern building that looked like any other corporate office in the city. But she knew better. She'd done her research—Lotus Holdings was a front, one of many that Alexandra Pierce used to hide her operations.

She sat in her car, watching the entrance, taking mental notes of everyone who entered and exited. Men and women in expensive suits, all carrying briefcases or sleek leather folders. They looked like any other business professionals, but Vivian suspected they were far from ordinary.

After a few hours, her patience paid off. A woman in a dark suit, with sharp features and piercing green eyes, stepped out of the building. Even from a distance, Vivian could tell this was Alexandra Pierce. She radiated an aura of control, each movement precise and calculated.

Vivian took a deep breath, feeling a thrill of adrenaline. She'd found her. Now, she just needed to find a way to get close.

Unexpected Interference

As Vivian prepared to follow Pierce, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Liam.

"Stop what you're doing. I need to see you. Now."

Vivian's pulse quickened. She had no intention of stopping her pursuit of Pierce, but something in Liam's message made her pause. It was unlike him to send such a direct warning.

Reluctantly, she texted back. "Fine. Meet me at my office in 20."

Back at the Office

Liam arrived at her office looking more disheveled than she'd ever seen him, his face lined with exhaustion and worry. He barely closed the door behind him before he spoke.

"Vivian, you have to stop this. I know you found out about Pierce, and I know you're planning to go after her, but this is too far," he said, his voice almost pleading.

Vivian raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair. "What happened to trusting me to make my own decisions?"

"This isn't a game, Vivian. Pierce... she's dangerous in ways you can't imagine." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched in every line of his face. "I know you're not scared easily, but Pierce will ruin you. She's destroyed lives for less than what you're trying to do."

Vivian watched him carefully, weighing her response. "Liam, I appreciate the concern, but you're not giving me any real reasons. What exactly is Pierce's role in Black Lotus?"

Liam hesitated, looking like he was wrestling with something. Finally, he sighed. "Pierce is the enforcer. She's the one who ensures that Black Lotus stays hidden. Anyone who becomes a threat to the organization... well, she takes care of them."

"So she's a hitwoman," Vivian said bluntly, her stomach twisting.

Liam nodded. "In a way. But she doesn't do it herself. She has people, resources. No one even knows her real methods, but the results are clear. People vanish without a trace, and anyone looking too closely ends up dead or missing."

Vivian's heart pounded. She'd known she was up against something big, but this was more than she'd expected. Still, she wasn't ready to back down. "Thanks for the warning, Liam. But I'm already too deep in this to turn back now."

Liam looked at her with a mixture of anger and desperation. "Vivian, don't you get it? If you go after Pierce, you'll be signing your own death sentence."

She stood, crossing her arms. "Then maybe you should tell me what else you're hiding. You're part of Black Lotus, Liam, whether you admit it or not. Why are you so desperate to protect me? Is it because you're afraid you'll end up a target, too?"

For a moment, he was silent, his gaze locked on hers. Then, unexpectedly, he took a step closer, his voice low and intense. "I'm not protecting you because of Black Lotus. I'm protecting you because..." He hesitated, his words hanging in the air.

Vivian's breath caught, her heart racing as she waited for him to finish. But he turned away, shaking his head. "Never mind. Just... be careful, Vivian."

And with that, he left, leaving her alone in the quiet of her office.

The Decision

Vivian sank into her chair, her mind spinning. She knew she should be afraid, that Pierce was someone far beyond the type of people she'd dealt with before. But Liam's reaction had only deepened her resolve. There was something he wasn't telling her—something that connected him to Pierce in ways she couldn't yet see.

Her eyes drifted to the card the man had given her, the delicate lotus symbol embossed in black. She knew the risks, but she couldn't walk away. Not now.

Taking a deep breath, she picked up her phone and made a call. It was time to meet Pierce face-to-face, no matter the danger.