Victoria had just come out of the shower when Hannah saw her.
Hannah was sitting on Victoria's bed waiting for her. Her eyes were roaming around the room. Eyeing every single detail.
Victoria hadn't noticed her sitting on her bed and directly went to her walk-in closet. Her dark black hair was wet, plastered on her back and face, her smooth skin shimmering, because of the water droplets.
Meanwhile, Hannah sat patiently on Victoria's bed, her eyes scanning the room with keen observation. The walls, adorned with black hues and fragments of glass, exuded an air of elegance. A magnificent black and golden chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow over the spacious chamber, which was perhaps the grandest in the entire mansion.
Victoria's room was a sanctuary she rarely visited, always preoccupied with her duties as the leader of Dark Wind. Her focus lay in her study or her secret hideout, known as the "office," or she would be found diligently managing other departments or embarking on missions. Rest was a luxury she hardly allowed herself, yet her room remained a testament to her meticulous nature and unyielding persona.
An entire wall was dedicated to a vast shelf displaying Victoria's most treasured collection of novels. Another shelf showcased photographs, capturing moments shared with her trusted team. Hannah's gaze lingered on one particular picture, taken over a decade ago when Victoria was just eleven, standing alongside her parents. The sight stirred a mix of emotions within Hannah, her eyes fixed upon the image momentarily before wrenching away, the bitterness of her past resurfacing.
But there was no time to dwell on personal matters. Hannah had urgent matters to discuss with Victoria. It was crucial for the leader of Dark Wind to rest, to recharge her formidable strength, but this issue demanded immediate attention. Venom had struck once more, and the mere mention of its name brought forth a venomous taste to Hannah's lips, a taste she expelled with a curse.
Dark Wind reigned supreme in the treacherous underworld of the mafia as well as the cutthroat business industry. Fear and respect were the currencies they commanded in both realms. However, someone had been relentlessly attempting to dismantle their empire, their identities shrouded in secrecy, leaving no trace or clue behind. These unseen adversaries sought to expose the non-existent "illegal transactions" and "dark secrets" of their respective companies, striving to tarnish their names.
A few months prior, they had managed to reveal a rumoured secret about the owner of the world's ten largest companies, including Victoria's fashion empire, Baxendale, as well as three companies belonging to Hannah and Jennifer's car enterprise, Hades. Audrey's companies, though subject to scandals and rumours, had managed to evade such attacks. One absurd rumour even accused Zoe Hitachi, the owner of the most prominent tech companies worldwide, of being a cannibal.
For a brief period, the girl under their alibies as the Big Four—Vienna, Ella, Damiana and Zoe—were thrust into the shadows, their reputations questioned. Yet, within a mere seventy-two hours, they swiftly reclaimed their positions, leaving the world astounded once again. Such was the extent of their power. Their thirty companies collectively raked in billions each week and over fifty billion annually. But their wealth did not breed arrogance or pride.
They directed a substantial portion of their earnings towards orphanages, hospitals, schools, and various institutions, even lifting Burundi from its position as the world's poorest country. They gave selflessly, receiving little in return from a world that seldom acknowledged their benevolence.
Victoria, the guiding force behind Dark Wind, possessed an unwavering kindness that transcended ordinary human limits. However, on the battlefield, she was a force to be reckoned with. She embodied karma, dispensing what others brought upon themselves.
Lost in her thoughts, Hannah's gaze turned toward the window, when suddenly, the door to the closet and the bedroom swung open simultaneously. Victoria's eyes widened in surprise as she took in Hannah's troubled expression. Her shock deepened as Audrey and Jennifer followed suit, barging into the room without permission.
"Girls," Victoria gasped, her voice breaking the silence that had enveloped the room. "What is happening?"
For a moment, nobody uttered a word. Finally, Hannah broke the silence, her voice filled with urgency. "We need to discuss this in private," she declared.
Victoria nodded in agreement, her eyes locking with Hannah's. The intensity of the moment was palpable as their gazes connected.
No one spoke for a minute. "We'll meet in the Plan Room. Number 4. Dismissed." Victoria ordered, breaking the tense silence.
Victoria nodded but Audrey and Jennifer had a stone-cold expression. Victoria had declared to meet in their secret Plan Room in the next twenty minutes, meaning something urgent was lingering in the air.
After hearing the leader's order, the girl left. Except for Hannah. "Aunnie." She spoke hesitantly; not sure how the elder would reply.
Victoria, who'd been fixing her hair into a messy bun just serenely nodded. Even at this angle, Hannah was looking at the elder as she fixed her hair, taking notice of her every mole, every curve.
She was dressed in a loose ensemble. A T-shirt too big for her 6'1" figure and a pair of loose trousers. She had her circle glasses on the bridge of her nose, her hair in a messy bun.
"You look pretty," Hannah said dreamily but slapped her hand to her mouth as soon as she realized what she had said. But she was not lying. Victoria looked undeniably pretty in those cold visuals of hers.
The elder just smiled, turning to face Hannah.
"So, Miss Kobayashi, tell me why you're here." She whispered.
Hannah hesitated, still unsure if she wanted to tell the elder the truth. But Victoria would find out anyway, and Hannah would get caught if she tried to lie. The Dark Wind was formed upon the foundation of trust, discipline and selflessness, and Hannah was smart enough to not go against them.
She opened her mouth, and only a tiny sound escaped her throat. "Your mother wanted to meet you tomorrow at 10 am."
Victoria, who had been searching around for her planner turned to face Hannah, her cold features turned even more ice cold. Her eyes were as if viper venom had been injected into them.
"Mother?"
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