A Scandal in Nueva Aurora

002. Aether Rose

Chapter 002:
Aether Rose

We drove on in silence. The steady hum of the engine filled the air. Soon, my gaze locked onto the towering structure of Innotech, its sleek glass walls reflecting the fading light.

“What could we possibly be doing here… again?” I thought.

The vehicle stopped with a quiet jolt. The driver stayed motionless, a sour expression lingering from the last time we slipped out of his reach last time. My mind drifted to that mission with Raine. Her sister had sent him to drive me, so I could question suspects in a murder case. I was only following Raine's lead then, not involved in the chaos that happened.

I adjusted my thick jacket, trying to look presentable for whoever awaited inside. A quick glance at the rearview mirror revealed my unruly curls, which I smoothed with my fingers. Stepping out of the car, the crisp air hit me, bringing back the weight of memories tied to that well-known building.

"If you pull that trigger, something far worse will come for you, won’t it, Zane?" That woman's voice echoed in my mind, the same chilling words she had spoken a few months ago. Standing in the exact spot where it all happened, I could still feel the tension lingering in the air.

“What are you planning?” Raine had asked her back then.

“Isn’t it obvious?” the woman replied, her name still a mystery to me. “I was simply showing you a glimpse of what keeps me busy in this miserable world. Actually, it's just a teensy bit.”

At the reception desk, a new face greeted me—no sign of the woman Raine had once mixed up with her own name. Back then, Raine had me pretend I was her, going by Raine, while she became 'Zhane with an H.' What followed after that… well, those are memories I’d rather not revisit.

"Just Raine de Verra. The full name’s far too long," I remembered her saying right here in this very spot.

"So... that’s it? That’s all I need to say?" I had asked, unsure, trying to follow her lead.

“And if they ask what we’re here for, just say: Mr. Jerick summoned us. Apparently, it’s important,” she had added.

"Good morning, sir. How may I assist you?" a woman’s voice chimed, breaking through my thoughts as I stopped walking.

“Uh…” I hesitated, about to head straight for the elevator, but her question drew me closer. She wore shades and a sharp formal outfit. She grabbed a paper from her desk and handed it to me. “Zane Nuñez, right?” she asked, her tone steady and businesslike.

I glanced at the card in my hand—golden and gleaming—inscribed with the name Aether Rose and adorned with an elegant rose logo.

“What’s this for?” I asked.

“Please proceed to the 8th floor, Office of the CEO,” she replied, her gaze shifting on her computer, seemingly ignoring my question.

“CEO? Nice! Looks like I’m about to join the company,” I joked, laughing lightly, but her serious expression wiped the smile off my face, making my cheeks flush pink with embarrassment. “Zip it, Zane,” I murmured softly to myself, straightening up as I gathered my composure.

"Lorraine de Verra is waiting for you there," she added.

I strode towards the elevator, pressing the button for the floor she mentioned. Just as the doors began to close, I glanced back, but she had vanished without a trace. An unsettling feeling crept over me, heightening my suspicions about my surroundings.