The atmosphere in the room shifted once the woman entered. She didn't waste time with pleasantries, her gaze sharp and calculating as she studied both Alicia and Marco. There was a quiet tension in the air—one neither could ignore.
"You came," she said, her tone flat, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity, and maybe something darker.
"Didn't have a choice," Marco replied, his tone as cold as hers.
Alicia remained silent, watching her carefully. The woman stepped further into the room, her presence commanding and unnerving.
"Ivana," the woman introduced herself, though there was no warmth in her voice. "You've heard of me, I assume."
Marco shifted, his jaw tightening. "We've heard plenty."
Ivana didn't flinch. "Then you know who I am—and what I'm capable of."
Marco folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "What do you want?"
Ivana didn't answer right away. Instead, she took a seat across from them, resting her hands on the table as if they were merely discussing the weather. "Information. And not just any information. The kind that could destroy everything you've built."
Alicia leaned forward, her gaze fierce. "We've been looking for you. Tracking you down for weeks. Why have you been hiding?"
Ivana met her eyes, a sly smile playing at the corner of her lips. "I wasn't hiding. I was biding my time. Watching. Waiting." She paused, letting the silence stretch between them. "And you're not the only ones searching for answers."
Marco frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Ivana's smile widened, a glint of something darker flashing in her eyes. "There's a third party involved. Someone pulling the strings. Someone who doesn't want you to find the truth. And they've been watching you—waiting for you to make a mistake."
Alicia exchanged a glance with Marco, her mind racing. "Why should we trust you?"
Ivana shrugged. "You don't have to. But if you want to know who betrayed you, who's behind all of this, then you'll need my help."
Marco stepped forward, his voice low and intense. "What do you want in return?"
Ivana leaned back, her smile fading. "Not your money. Not your power. Just a chance to watch how this plays out. How far you're willing to go for the truth."
Alicia's fists clenched beneath the table. "And if we refuse?"
Ivana leaned closer, her eyes cold and unrelenting. "Then you'll never find Evanna. And you'll never know who's behind all of this."
A long silence followed as the weight of her words settled over them. Marco glanced at Alicia, his expression tense. The thought of trusting someone like Ivana wasn't easy, but they both knew they didn't have many options.
Alicia met Ivana's gaze with unwavering resolve. "Fine. But don't expect us to play by your rules."
Ivana nodded slowly. "No rules. Just trust—or the lack of it."