The Syndicate's headquarters loomed ahead—a sprawling, high-tech fortress hidden in plain sight amidst the city's busiest district. Alicia and Marco arrived in silence, the tension between them thick as ever. The previous encounter with Ivana had left them both shaken, but there was no time for reflection. They had a mission to complete.
The elevator ride to the top floor was excruciatingly quiet. Alicia leaned against the mirrored wall, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the floor numbers as they lit up. Marco stood on the other side, his hands shoved into his pockets, the frustration radiating off him in waves.
Finally, Alicia broke the silence. "Do you have to brood like that? It's distracting."
Marco shot her a look, his jaw tightening. "I'm not brooding."
"Oh, really? Because it looks like you're ready to punch the next person who breathes too loudly."
"I wouldn't have to if you'd stop playing games," Marco snapped, his voice low but sharp.
Alicia turned to face him fully, her eyes narrowing. "I'm playing games? You're the one acting like I owe you an explanation for every decision I make."
Marco stepped closer, the heat between them crackling like a live wire. "You're reckless, Alicia. You think you can handle everything on your own, but this isn't just about you anymore."
Her chin tilted defiantly. "I've been handling things on my own long before you came along, Marco. Don't act like you know me."
Before Marco could respond, the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. They were greeted by the Syndicate's cold, sterile interior—glass walls, endless rows of monitors, and a group of heavily armed guards waiting for them.
The man in charge, a tall figure with piercing gray eyes, stepped forward. "Mr. Santorini. Miss Vega. We weren't expecting you."
Alicia forced a smile, though her anger still simmered beneath the surface. "We like to keep people on their toes."
The man raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "The board is in session. Follow me."
They were led into a conference room, where the Syndicate's leaders sat around a massive table. The air was thick with power and danger, but Alicia didn't falter. She took her seat, her confidence unwavering.
As the meeting began, the tension between Alicia and Marco simmered in the background, unspoken but undeniable. Every glance, every sharp remark, was laced with their unresolved feelings.
Halfway through the meeting, Marco leaned over to whisper in her ear, his voice a mix of frustration and something deeper. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Alicia didn't look at him, her lips curving into a faint smirk. "And yet, you can't seem to stay away."
Their whispered exchange was interrupted by one of the board members slamming a file onto the table. "Miss Vega," the man said, his tone icy, "would you care to explain this?"
Alicia glanced at the file, her expression carefully neutral. Inside were documents linking her to a covert operation the Syndicate hadn't authorized—an operation Marco had warned her against.
Marco's gaze snapped to hers, his eyes blazing with disbelief. "You went through with it?" he hissed.
Alicia lifted her chin, meeting his gaze head-on. "I did what needed to be done."
"You put us both at risk," Marco said, his voice low but furious.
"I put myself at risk," Alicia shot back. "You didn't have to follow me."
Their argument was cut short by the board member's sharp voice. "If you two are done, perhaps we can discuss the consequences of Miss Vega's actions."
The meeting ended in chaos, with threats, ultimatums, and an ultimatum: Alicia and Marco had 48 hours to fix the mess or face permanent exile from the Syndicate.
As they left the building, the tension between them reached a boiling point.
"You think this is a game?" Marco said, his voice rising.
"No," Alicia snapped. "I think it's survival. And if you can't handle that, maybe you shouldn't have come."
Marco grabbed her arm, pulling her to face him. "You're going to get yourself killed, Alicia. And I'm not going to stand by and watch."
"Then don't," she said coldly, yanking her arm free.
But as she turned to walk away, the ache in her chest told her she didn't mean it.