Captivated By My Captor

Conditions with Adrian

Elena was sitting on the chair across Adrian with her arms folded with a calm expression and posture. She look at her surrounding.

The room smelled faintly of Espresso and polished wood. Outside, the sea wind was blowing, but inside everything felt suspended - two people measuring each other before a war.

"You know what I'm risking by helping you," she began. "To my agency I'm already a corpse. No passport, no name, no past. If I work with you, there's no undo button."

Adrian leaned against the table, hands braced on the edge, watching her the way one studies a complicated lock.

"So?" I raised my eyebrow.

"I want a condition or benefit for me as well. The things like yesterday wouldn't happened again." she replied calmly.

"Ok," I replied. "Set your condition?"

Elena inhaled slowly. She had rehearsed this in her head a hundred times, yet saying it make her hesitate.

"First- a new identity. A new identity for myself to room around freely."

"Done."

"Second- Protection. From Varga, from my former unit, from anyone who realised their dead agent is still breathing."

His voice was low. "You already have that."

"Third- Transparency. I don't work in darkness while you hold the flashlight."

Adrian grinned. "You don't trust easily."

"I trusted once. It got me hurried."

The words hung between them heavier than she intended.

"And last," She continued. Looked at him and said softly, "When this end- You got your Cargo back, I walked away. No favors owned. No invisible chains between us."

Adrian studied her in silence- not the way men usually looked at her, not with hunger or pity, but with an unsettling respect.

"You negotiate like you still wear a badge."

"I negotiate like someone who intends to survive. and I need to survive"

He extended his hand across the table.

"Agreed, Miss Elena."

His finger met his- warm, firm, unhesitating. The contact lasted for a second longer than necessary.

The deal was sealed.

Elena was the first to pull back her hands .

"Good," she said, smoothing her expression into something professional again. "Then we stop talking like diplomats and start working like criminal."

Adrian let out a quiet breath that almost sounded like amusement.

"You adapt quickly."

Elena folded her hand and sigh. "I need to Mr Mafia. We need to make a solid plan on how to get back your Cargo."

Adrian nodded his head and said."I have already make a planned. I just need to put it into action."

Elena paused for a split second and frown. She raised her eyes and looked at him.

"You already has a planned?"

"Yes," he replied calmly.

"That's fast. Why do you need me then when you already planned everything." she said curiously.

He remained silent and stood up from his chair.

"Since we are partner then let me show you something," Adrian replied after a brief silence.

He walked out from the room followed by Elena silently.

***********

At the study room

Adrian bought her to his study room.

Papers covered the desk in a mess. I frown and walked inside the room. I looked at the table and saw maps with red threads, shipping routes, photographs of men.

"Looked like you have been bleeding money from continuous attack over a months," She snirred after one glanced at the ledgers.

Adrian watched her move from table to table without touching anything and narrow his eyes.

"You see all that in thirty seconds. Impressive."

"I was trained to read rooms before reading people." she replied calmly.

She finally looked at him. "Someone isn't stealing from you. They are trying to provoke and test you. Measuring how far they can push before you break."

His jaw tightened. "And who do you think the mastermind behind it?"

"I don't know exactly but I'm sure it's not Varga," she said. "That bastard is not capable to move on his own. Someone powerful is behind him.The mastermind."

"Maybe someone who has grudge or problem with you like rival enemy."

Adrian looked at her intensively and deep in thought.

"Then we find the head together," he replied after snapping from his thought.

They started to planned and work for a while till late at afternoon.

Elena leaned over the desk, tracing the routes with a pencil. A strand of hair slipped from her shoulder, she pushed it back impatiently.

Adrian stared at her for a second longer than needed and noticed the scar on her wrist - thin, old . If looked at it from far it can be unnoticed.

She raised her eyes. Their eyes met across the table. The air between them felt warmer than it should be in a cold room.

Before either could recover, footsteps was heard approaching towards the study room.

Max entered with a folder pressed to his chest.

"Sir I got a new information. The rival family are making a moved. They are planning something on today's meeting."

The temperature in the study room dropped.

Elena felt the change and asked curiously. "Which family?"

Max glanced at her, uncertain.

Adrian answered instead, voice low.

"Moretti."

Elena was stunned and curled her fingers around the edge of the table.

Moretti.

The same family rumoured to have bought agents, judge, and has strong political background.

Adrian looked at her and saw her stunned expression and smirk.

"Welcome to the real game."

Elena met his gaze and sigh while clenching her fist tightly.

I have already involved in it. No turning back I guess

Just didn't know the enemy before hand.

Elena didn't answer immediately.

The name Moretti still echoed in her head. She was about to say something but suddenly feel her body started to ached and muscles weaken.

She gripped the table a little tighter.

Adrian noticed her abnormal behaviour and raised his eyes to looked at her.

"You look pale."

"I'm fine just a little tired."

He went nearer to her and hold her shoulder to support her. She feels his closeness and warmth and try to move a little in discomfort. But he hold her tighter.

"Don't move. You need rest for now. We can discuss tomorrow. Max you can leave the folder on the table. I'll see it later."

Max left the folder on the desk and withdrew while looking at them but didn't say anything. He turned around and closed the door behind him and left.

Adrian looked at her pale face and said with a cold tone. "You were unconscious for two months but tired yourself and act as if it's nothing."

Elena gave a short breath that almost sounded like a laugh.

"I remember. I just don't have the time to thing about it. Look like I'm at my limit now."

She moved away from the table and try to steps forward but suddenly Adrian took her in his arm carrying her towards her room.

Elena was stunned for a while before processing the incident and clenched her fingers tightly punching his chest lightly.

"What are you doing. Put me down?" She replied in a cold and icy tone while grinning her teeth.

"I'm helping you to reach your room faster Miss Elena. So stay quite and be obedient." He replied calmly.

Elena was fuming with anger but remained silent as she couldn't argue with him nor does she has the energy to. She extend her hand putting it around his neck for support drawing her closer to him and close her eyes in defeat.

Adrian looked at her in silent feeling her getting closer as she wrapped her hand around him pulling him closer to her.

Adrian could feel her breath and scent on his neck. He smile lightly while tightened his grip on her pulling her closer and walk towards the direction of her room.