On the side of the road, Viviana stood waiting for a cab, having switched her worn-out slippers for a pair of shoes that weren't her size. She tightened the laces to make them fit, determined to move forward despite the unease gnawing at her.
When a taxi finally stopped, she climbed in and instructed the driver, "To the main city, Cassius Headquarters."
The driver nodded slightly and drove off. Unbeknownst to Viviana, a car at the edge of the street started its engine and began following them. Her foot jittered nervously, and she bit her lips, her mind racing.
"Okay, what will I say to him? How will I reveal to him that I am Viviana?" she muttered under her breath. "He will recognize me right away! I'm sure of it! He will believe me. He will have to." She tried to calm her nerves, but an uneasiness lingered in her muscles. Even though she was free from Magnus's clutches, something felt off. It was as if Liora's body retained a deeply embedded sense of agitation, causing Viviana to feel like she had escaped her problems too easily, and that something difficult was looming.
The half-hour journey felt interminable. Finally, the taxi stopped in front of the Cassius Headquarters. Viviana handed the driver cash—more than the fare—but didn't care. She was too focused on what lay ahead. Meanwhile, Kiera, who had been following, parked nearby and kept an eye on her. His brow furrowed as he read the name on the building.
"Why is he going in there? Does Cassius Inc. have anything to do with Orion?" The confusion was evident on his face. The Cassius family had no known ties to the underworld and actively denied any such associations. This sudden involvement puzzled Kiera, leaving him no choice but to follow Viviana inside to uncover the truth.
Viviana walked into the familiar building as if it were her own, momentarily forgetting that she now looked like Liora. She approached the security barrier, which usually opened automatically for her, but now awaited her scan. She turned to look at the receptionist, who was initially casual but then surprised by the arrogant look on Viviana's face, not recognizing her.
"Do you mind?" Viviana said, her tone imperious.
The receptionist frowned. "You are not an employee here. You can't cross the area," she said sternly.
Viviana's irritated expression suddenly stiffened, and she placed her hand on her forehead before stepping over to the receptionist.
"Listen," she began, her voice firm, "I need to see someone very important inside."
"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked, lifting the phone.
"I am sure he would be more than pleased to see me when you tell him who is here to meet him," Viviana replied confidently.
The receptionist had her doubts but asked, "Who is it?"
"Alister Cassius," Viviana replied.
"Pfft!" The receptionist couldn't hold in her laugh. She covered her mouth to not appear unprofessional to the other people around but then spoke, "And what do I tell the chairman? Who is here to meet him?" she said mockingly.
Viviana's fists tightened, and she gritted her teeth. "Tell him Viviana is here to see him."
For a second, the receptionist's expression darkened. She placed the phone back in its place and looked the redhead in the eyes. "Listen to me, sir, I don't know what you are trying to play, but if you don't want to end up crippled or worse, dead, don't take that name so casually." The warning made the entire area feel grim and dark. Viviana was stiff for a second.
"You think I am joking? You better tell him that, or once he finds out, you are dead meat," Viviana retaliated. However, the receptionist didn't seem to take her threats seriously and instantly called the guard to drag her out of the building. Viviana was practically thrown out of the premises, shocked and unable to move her muscles for a long time.
"What? How? How dare someone like them treat me—me, Viviana Cassius—like that?" She had lost it. The guard, who had just thrown her out, stood at the door, ensuring there was no way she returned.
"Hah!" She gave out a heavy sigh. Her entire identity was shattered, the respect in the eyes of the people for her turned into disdain. They didn't see her as anything anymore. "I will kill them! I will kill them all," she hissed, shivering to the core. She couldn't believe something like that could happen to her. Her ego had been shattered, and she couldn't cope with it because that was her whole identity. She staggered back, her mind reeling, and sat on the curb, head in her hands, feeling the full weight of her fallen status crushing her.
Viviana's mind raced, her thoughts a chaotic storm. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she tried to process the humiliation and the stark realisation that her former life of power and privilege had crumbled. The disbelief turned to anger, and she clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms she punched her chest and her eyes tearing up the lining of her eyes blood shot. "This can't happen! I have to meet grandpa!!"
Kiera, who had witnessed the scene, silently watched, puzzled by the occurrence. Viviana continued to sit on the curb in a distressed state.
On the other hand, Viviana breathed out heavily one last time, rubbed the floating tears from her eyes, and stood up with determination. "I will go visit my home! I will wait for him there and confront him at home." She looked around for another taxi and soon found one.
"To the Bluezone residential area," she instructed, and the driver drove off. Kiera hurried to his car, ensuring he wouldn't lose track of her, and started to follow the taxi secretly. He watched as the taxi drove into a part of the city that was almost exclusively for the affluent—the Bluezone. This area was known for housing business tycoons, the highest-paid actors, and political officials. Owning a residence there was considered a mark of extreme wealth and privilege. Kiera's usually impassive face showed a slight confused frown.
The taxi continued to drive uphill, passing even more expensive properties. "Whoever he is going to meet doesn't seem like a simple person," Kiera spoke to himself, following the taxi for a long time. Finally, the taxi came to a stop.
Kiera stopped at a distance and watched closely. He saw Leo—Viviana in disguise—emerge from the taxi and walk hastily towards a beautifully designed gate guarded by four armed men. Kiera waited for something extraordinary to happen, like the guards bowing before Leo and taking him into the mansion with respect. He was on the edge of his seat, desperate to report back to his boss that their plan had worked and Leo had ultimately led them to Orion's hideout. He clutched his phone tightly, ready to call at any moment.
Leo approached the guards and spoke to them for a while. Kiera was patient, waiting for the outcome. After some back-and-forth, it seemed that Leo was trying to get into the mansion's gates, but the guards were not enthusiastic about the idea. Finally, Leo tried to use aggression to slip past them, but the men grabbed him by the arms and tossed him away, threatening to beat him up.
Kiera's hand clenched around the steering wheel, a glint in his eyes, and his teeth gritted at the sight of the unfolding scene. His body leaned towards the door his hand almost opening the door of the car but then his expressions changed and he shook his head and continued to watch.