The storm clouds rolled in as Alicia sat in her office, the skyline outside her window disappearing into a blur of rain. The weight of the Syndicate's ultimatum pressed heavily on her shoulders, but her thoughts were not on the looming 48-hour deadline—they were on Marco.
Her fists clenched as she replayed their argument from earlier. He had no right to question her decisions, no right to act like he cared. And yet, every word he'd spoken clung to her mind, an irritating echo she couldn't shake.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door slamming open. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"We need to talk," Marco said, his voice low but firm.
"Does it have to be now?" Alicia asked without looking up, her tone sharp.
Marco strode across the room, slamming a file onto her desk. "Yes, because you're about to make things worse."
Alicia leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she finally met his gaze. "Worse? We're already on the brink of losing everything, thanks to the Syndicate. How much worse could it get?"
Marco's eyes burned with frustration. "You don't get it, do you? The Syndicate isn't the only enemy we're dealing with. Your little solo missions are putting targets on both our backs."
"I'm not dragging you into anything," Alicia snapped, standing to face him. "You chose to be here. If you can't handle it, there's the door."
For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and suffocating. Then Marco stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You think I don't care? That I'd walk away from you, from this? Don't mistake my anger for indifference, Alicia."
Alicia's breath hitched at the intensity in his voice, but she refused to back down. "Then stop acting like you're the only one who knows what's at stake."
"You're impossible," Marco muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"And you're infuriating," Alicia shot back, her eyes blazing.
The tension between them snapped like a live wire, and before Alicia could process what was happening, Marco closed the distance between them, his lips crashing against hers in a fierce, desperate kiss.
Alicia froze for half a second before the anger and passion swirling inside her took over. She grabbed his collar, pulling him closer as she kissed him back with equal intensity.
But just as quickly as it started, she pushed him away, her breathing ragged. "What the hell was that?"
Marco's expression was unreadable, but his voice was steady. "Call it a mistake if you want, but don't pretend you didn't feel it too."
Alicia glared at him, her emotions a tangled mess. "We don't have time for this."
"We never have time," Marco said quietly. "But that doesn't mean it isn't real."
Before she could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them. Alicia straightened, smoothing her hair and fixing her expression as one of their trusted employees entered.
"Miss Vega, Mr. Santorini," the man said hesitantly, "we've found something. A lead on the traitor. But... you're not going to like it."
Marco and Alicia exchanged a glance, the weight of their shared moment lingering as they followed the man out of the office.
Whatever feelings had ignited between them would have to wait. The clock was ticking, and the truth was calling.