Operation: Zodiac

Chapter 5

Aquarius pov

The music swelled around us, soft and intimate, the kind that invited people to forget the world outside these gilded walls. Gemini's hand rested lightly in mine, her other hand on my shoulder as we moved in slow, measured steps across the dance floor. The shimmering emerald of her dress caught the light with every turn, but it was her smile—calm, confident, and utterly convincing—that held the room's attention.

She tilted her head slightly, her voice just above a whisper. "You're better at this than I expected."

I smirked, tightening my hold on her waist just enough to remind her that I wasn't entirely out of my depth. "You think I'd risk letting you lead?"

Her laugh was soft, private, the kind that might make an onlooker believe we were genuinely enjoying each other's company. But her eyes, sharp as ever, darted subtly around the room. She was scanning for threats, allies, or anything that might give us an edge.

"Focus, Aquarius," she murmured, her tone laced with amusement.

"I am focused," I replied, though my gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than it should have. The gala's opulent surroundings faded just slightly as I studied her—every calculated movement, every glance that seemed to hold a thousand unspoken plans.

The music shifted into a slower tempo, and she stepped closer, her voice lowering. "We've got eyes on us."

"How many?"

"Too many to count," she said with a wry smile, her lips barely moving. "Delacroix hasn't stopped watching us since we walked in."

"Think they've figured us out?"

"Not yet," she said, tilting her chin up slightly, her gaze locking on mine. "But if we don't give them something to believe in, they will."

I hesitated for half a beat before leaning down, my forehead brushing hers. The move wasn't rehearsed, but it was natural enough to seem real. Her breath hitched slightly, and for a moment, the tension between us wasn't just for show.

"Good improvisation," she murmured, her voice softer now.

"Just playing my part," I said, though my heart was pounding harder than it should have been.

---

The dance ended, but the night was far from over. We made our way back toward the main floor, Gemini's hand still looped through my arm. The whispers of another, more exclusive meeting upstairs were beginning to solidify into something tangible. The problem was getting there without raising suspicion.

Gemini steered us toward a server carrying a tray of champagne. She plucked two glasses with ease, handing one to me. "We need a distraction," she said under her breath, taking a sip.

I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of distraction?"

"The kind that gets Isabella out of the way," she said, nodding discreetly toward the woman in crimson, who was now speaking with two suited men near the staircase.

"Suggestions?"

Gemini smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Leave that to me. Be ready when the opportunity comes."

---

She moved with purpose, weaving through the crowd with the grace of someone born to this world of wealth and power. I hung back, keeping to the edges of the room, watching as she approached Isabella with the kind of confidence that left no room for refusal.

Their conversation was brief, but whatever Gemini said worked. Isabella's expression shifted from interest to mild irritation, and a moment later, she was moving toward the far end of the ballroom with one of the suited men in tow.