When Tom returned from scouting for furniture, he noticed his apartment door slightly ajar. His instincts kicked in immediately. Pulling out his pistol, he pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside, his senses sharp.
He exhaled in relief when he saw her—Lisa. She was sitting casually on the floor, her legs crossed, wearing her signature tight short skirt and a long trench coat draped open just enough to tease. She didn't even flinch at the sight of his gun.
"Really, Tom?" she said, her voice smooth and low. "A gun? Is this how you greet all your guests?"
Tom lowered the weapon but kept his guard up. "What are you doing here, Lisa?"
She smirked and leaned back on her hands. "I don't know how you live like this. No furniture? No comfort? This place screams misery."
"You shouldn't be here," Tom replied, his tone firm. "How did you find me?"
Lisa tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Oh, Tom," she said softly, her lips curving into a seductive smile. "Did you really think I wouldn't? You weren't exactly hiding. But I got your intended message loud and clear."
Tom crossed his arms. "Good. It wasn't right for you to disclose my location to just anyone."
Lisa chuckled and sat up straight, her coat shifting slightly to reveal more of her legs. "Fair enough. Consider me properly scolded," she said, her voice dropping to a mockingly submissive tone. "And you know what? You're lucky, Tom. You're the only man I've apologized to in years. Feel special yet?"
Tom sighed. "Why are you here, Lisa?"
She stood up slowly, deliberately, letting her coat sway as she moved. "What? I can't stop by for a friendly visit?" She sauntered toward him, her heels clicking softly on the floor.
Her finger pointed to a file resting in the corner of the room. "Fine," she said with a sly smile. "It's your fault there's no table to put that on."
Tom walked over and picked up the file, flipping it open. His expression hardened as he stared at the contents. A photo stared back at him—someone he recognized instantly.
"No," he said firmly, closing the file. "I'm not taking this job."
Lisa's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She stepped closer, her voice dripping with honey. "Oh, Tom," she purred. "I knew you'd say that."
Tom hesitated, then flipped the file open again to confirm what he already knew.
The picture showed Sureiyan—a woman who exuded power and danger. She was the infamous mafia queen he'd crossed paths with more times than he cared to count.
He clenched his jaw and looked up at Lisa. "Sureiyan? Why does the agency want to protect her?"
Lisa leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, the open trench coat framing her like a tempting silhouette. "Oh, Tom," she said with a soft laugh. "I know you two have... history." Her tone lingered, hinting at something deeper. "But here's the thing. Sureiyan is priority number one right now."
Tom frowned. " She's already untouchable. No one sane criminal organization in this city would cross her path."
Lisa shrugged, her lips curling into a sly smile. "True. But there's a new gang in town, and they're not exactly sane. They're making moves, trying to take her out and take over." She stepped closer to him, her voice dropping to a velvety whisper. "And trust me, they're nothing like Sureiyan. She has a code. Rules. This new group? They're chaos. They'll burn everything down if they get control."
Tom closed the file with a sharp snap. "Find someone else. "
Lisa sighed, dramatically placing a hand on her hip. "Sureiyan specifically asked for you." She tilted her head, her eyes locking with his. "And you know I don't lie. Not to you, anyway."
Tom's brow furrowed. He didn't trust Sureiyan, but Lisa wasn't one to make things up.
Lisa smiled, clearly enjoying his internal struggle. She walked past him, brushing close enough that he caught her familiar scent. "Have fun thinking about it," she teased. "Oh, and do yourself a favor—buy some furniture. Next time, I'm not freezing my pretty little bottom sitting on your cold floor."
With that, she opened the door, her heels clicking as she walked out.
She was gone, leaving Tom alone with the file.
He stared at the closed door for a moment, then at the document in his hand. This wasn't going to end well.