The tension in the air was suffocating as the night deepened around the sprawling estate. Ivy found herself glued to Lu Cheng's side, every step forward making her more aware of the danger lurking in the shadows. The atmosphere was thick with uncertainty, and every glance from the guards around them sent shivers down her spine.
"Where exactly are we?" Ivy whispered, unable to shake the eerie feeling gnawing at her.
Lu Cheng's expression remained cold, his jaw tight. He didn't answer right away, his eyes scanning the surroundings as if expecting an ambush at any moment.
"This estate belongs to someone we're meeting," he finally said, his voice low and controlled. "A powerful figure. Someone we need on our side."
There was something about the way he said it that made Ivy's stomach churn. She wasn't new to the world of business deals, but this felt different. This wasn't about contracts and partnerships. This was about survival.
As they moved further into the estate, a group of men appeared from the shadows. Ivy's pulse quickened. She recognized none of them, but their presence immediately set her on edge. They exuded an aura of menace, the kind that made her instincts scream to run, to get as far away from this place as possible.
A tall man in the center, dressed in an impeccable black suit, stepped forward. His sharp features were illuminated under the dim lighting, and Ivy could feel the weight of his gaze as it flickered from Lu Cheng to her.
"Lu Cheng," the man said with a slow, menacing smile. "I see you've brought company."
Lu Cheng's stance didn't waver, but Ivy noticed his hand slightly tighten at his side. "Ivy is my assistant. She'll be present for all discussions."
The man's gaze lingered on her, eyes sharp and calculating. "Interesting choice," he mused. "But then again, you've always liked to keep secrets, haven't you?"
Ivy's throat tightened. She was certain this was more than just a meeting between businessmen. This was personal, and she was caught right in the middle of it.
The tall man gestured for them to follow, leading them through a dimly lit corridor to a lavish room with plush chairs and a fireplace crackling in the corner. The air was thick with tension as everyone settled in, but Ivy couldn't relax. Her eyes darted to Lu Cheng, trying to read his expression, but his face was a mask of calm.
"Let's get to business," the man said, taking his seat across from them. His voice was cold and commanding. "There's a matter that needs to be resolved between us, Lu Cheng."
Ivy felt the tension in the room rise even higher. This was it—the moment she had been dreading. She wasn't sure what the exact issue was between them, but she knew one thing for certain: things were about to go south, fast.
Just as the conversation began to escalate, a loud crash echoed from the hall outside the room. The men around them stood up in an instant, hands reaching for concealed weapons. Ivy's heart leaped into her throat as her eyes darted to Lu Cheng.
"Stay behind me," he said quietly, his voice hard as steel.
Before Ivy could process what was happening, the doors burst open, and chaos erupted. Armed men poured into the room, and everything descended into madness. Ivy's heart raced as she ducked behind one of the plush chairs, her breath catching in her throat.
Gunshots rang out, the deafening sound filling the air as bodies collided and fists flew. The air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder, and Ivy's mind raced with fear. This wasn't just a business deal gone wrong. This was war.
Through the chaos, Ivy could see Lu Cheng holding his own, fighting off the attackers with a calculated precision that left her stunned. His movements were sharp, efficient, and deadly, like a man who had been in this kind of situation far too many times. She had always known he was dangerous, but seeing it in action was something else entirely.
She had to do something, anything. But before she could think of a plan, a hand grabbed her arm, yanking her roughly to her feet.
"Got you," a deep voice growled in her ear.
Fear shot through her veins as she struggled against the man's grip, but he was too strong. Her heart pounded as she was dragged toward the door, her mind screaming for a way out.
Suddenly, a loud gunshot rang out, and the man holding her slumped to the floor. Ivy gasped, stumbling backward as she realized it was Lu Cheng who had fired the shot.
He was bleeding, his suit stained with blood from his previous wounds, but his eyes were fierce, unrelenting. "I told you," he breathed, stepping toward her, "I'll protect you."
Ivy's breath hitched in her throat as their eyes met. There was something in the way he looked at her, something raw, something more than just duty.
But before she could say anything, another wave of attackers crashed into the room, and the battle began anew. Ivy knew they were far from safe. Whatever business Lu Cheng had here, it was far from over, and the stakes had just gotten much higher.
By the time the fighting subsided, the room was littered with bodies, both alive and unconscious. The tall man from before was gone, having disappeared in the chaos, leaving nothing but a cryptic warning:
"This isn't over."
Lu Cheng was breathing heavily, leaning against the wall, his shirt torn and bloodied. Ivy rushed to his side, her heart still racing.
"You're hurt," she whispered, panic seeping into her voice.
"I'll be fine," he muttered, though his expression said otherwise.
But Ivy wasn't convinced. She had never seen him like this, so vulnerable, so... human.
For the first time since she had started working for him, she realized just how much Lu Cheng had been hiding from her. And now, as the weight of the night's events settled over them, she knew one thing for certain: there were some lines they couldn't uncross.