Tom strode into Lisa's office, his expression as unreadable as ever.
Lisa, sitting behind her desk, didn't bother hiding the mischievous glint in her eyes. She leaned back, her skirt hiking up just enough to reveal more than was necessary when she crossed her legs.
"Tom," she purred, her lips curving into a sly smile. "I was wondering when you'd drop by."
Tom barely glanced her way, his tone clipped and businesslike. "I've handled the loan sharks. My job with Tasha is done."
Lisa raised a perfectly arched brow, tilting her head in mock surprise. "That eager to move on? Didn't think you'd be in such a hurry to ditch a beautiful woman in need of saving."
Tom ignored the bait. "Is there a way to reassign me? I'm not cut out for this project."
Lisa chuckled, the sound rich and teasing. "Not cut out for it? Or just not interested? Do you think it's beneath you?"
"It's not about that," Tom said firmly. "My skills are for warzones, not this. I don't blend in with that world."
Lisa tapped her chin thoughtfully, her smile never faltering. "You'll soften up. Eventually, you'll learn to enjoy the company of society. That's why I put you on this project. You could use the exposure."
He didn't respond, his expression hard. Lisa's grin widened. "So," she said, shifting the conversation, "how did you handle the loan sharks?"
Tom's voice remained steady. "The head of their syndicate owed me a favor. I paid off Tasha's debt, including the interest. He agreed to back off."
Lisa leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes twinkling with intrigue. "You paid it? And where did you get the money for that?"
"The agency's account," Tom replied without hesitation. "It can be charged to Tasha's bill."
Lisa's laughter rang out, light but laced with amusement. "You really don't play by the rules, do you? And yet… I like it. Well done, Tom."
Tom gave her a nod and stood to leave.
As the door clicked shut behind Tom, Lisa leaned back in her chair, her smirk fading into something softer, more reflective.
She watched the empty space where he had stood moments ago, her mind drifting back to their first meeting.
It was in the middle of chaos—gunfire, smoke, and the deafening screams of a warzone. Lisa had been pinned down, terrified, and sure that her life was about to end.
And then, there he was. Tom had moved like a ghost through the wreckage, calm and precise, saving her with a level of skill and composure she had never seen before.
He hadn't just saved her life that day; he'd given her a new one. He introduced her to this shadowy world of secret missions and hidden alliances, a world where she thrived. But Tom? He remained an enigma.
Lisa sighed, her gaze drifting to the closed door. "I don't understand that man," she muttered to herself. "He's brilliant, capable… but so distant. It's like he's never really here."
Her thoughts darkened as she remembered what she knew of his past.
Tom wasn't like the others. He hadn't come into this life by choice. He'd been a child soldier, taken in by armed militia groups before he even had a chance to grow up. His world had been violence, his companions weapons. Peace was a foreign concept to him.
Lisa's lips curved into a bittersweet smile. "You saved me, Tom. And you might not realize it, but I owe you."
Her fingers drummed lightly on the desk as she made a silent vow. "I'll pay you back," she whispered. "I'll give you a chance to taste a normal life. You've never had that, and whether you like it or not, you deserve to know what peace feels like."