"You bastard!" A curse burst from Clayton Jenkins, the bodyguard leader, as he stepped forward, his face twisted with fury while his shaking finger jabbed toward Avery.

To him, the attacker's attitude was beyond arrogant. He had never imagined anyone daring to provoke Kellan this openly, and in his mind, a quick death would be far too merciful for the attacker.

Irritation darkened Kellan's expression. This damn man had crossed him twice in one night, and he had no intention of letting that go unanswered.

Right as he was weighing his next move, his body jolted, and surprise flickered through his eyes when an icy sensation pressed against his waist.

Lowering his gaze, he spotted a short dagger, compact yet wickedly sharp, its tip resting precisely against where his spleen lay beneath.

Avery looked at him with careless calm, but the fury burning in her eyes was unmistakable as she exclaimed, "Get out!"

A faint crease formed between Kellan's brows before his hand snapped up. His grip closed around Avery's throat with frightening ease, and his fingers bit into her skin like steel clamps.

Pain felt in her head as if her neck were about to shatter, and blood seeped past his grasp, staining her white collar a deep red.

Shock replaced her earlier mockery, and her eyes widened as the weight of the situation sank in.

She had dominated the taekwondo world for five straight years without a single loss, yet the man in front of her was nothing like the opponents she had crushed before.

Locked in that suffocating moment, Avery's focus sharpened, and she shifted tactics again and again, searching desperately for an opening.

Every attempt failed. No matter how she moved, Kellan stayed ahead of her, dismantling each effort with effortless precision.

Panic crept in as Avery continued to struggle, and the truth became impossible to ignore. No matter how hard she pushed, Kellan did not move an inch.

Drawing in a sharp breath, she gathered what strength she had left and slashed at him with everything she had.

Her effort came to nothing. Kellan read the attack before it fully formed and slipped past it with ease. Retaliation followed immediately.

The world spun as a crushing force struck her, and her body was hurled across the room like a discarded object. She slammed into the floor with a heavy crash, pain exploding through her frame as though her bones were on the verge of breaking apart.

"Mr. Wright, this is on me. I failed to keep your rest from being disturbed." Clayton rushed forward once it was clear the fight was over, his voice shaking as he spoke. He extended a steaming towel with both hands.

"Take him!" Clayton yelled, motioning sharply for his men to move in on Avery.

Kellan accepted the towel, wiped his hands with slow precision, and spoke in a flat tone. "Just leave."

Without hesitation, the bodyguards filed out of the room. After finishing, Kellan cast a brief glance toward Avery sprawled on the floor, then turned away and walked off without sparing her another look.

Silence settled heavily once the door closed.

Gritting her teeth, Avery forced herself upright and stared toward the path he had taken. Her fingers brushed the cut at the corner of her mouth, and a cold, lethal spark flickered in her eyes.

Her attention shifted to the wound on her palm, and she clenched her hand, letting the pain sink in as a reminder she refused to forget.

For the first time in her life, she had tasted defeat. She swore that this humiliation would be repaid one day.

With that vow burning in her chest, she spun around and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

Steam filled the bathroom as Avery turned on the shower, and she drew in a slow breath when warm water spilled over her shoulders, the heat biting faintly at the wounds on her neck.

Her eyelids lowered while the spray traced her face and soaked through her clothes, droplets running down her cheeks and chest.

Fabric soon clung to her body, darkened by water and outlining her slender frame beneath it.

Remaining beneath the stream, she calmly shed her clothes one piece at a time, and her fingers finally found the concealed skin patch pressed against her chest.

Once it was removed, her true form was revealed.

After rinsing off quickly, she reached for a white bathrobe and wrapped it around herself.

In front of the mirror, Avery studied her reflection in silence. The wound along her neck had nearly sealed, yet a complicated mix of thoughts flickered in her eyes.

That man was Kellan Wright, the leader of Horizon Group, the largest and most enigmatic force in Wruosas's underworld.

Stories painted him as both feared and revered across every circle, and there were even whispers claiming he had no interest in women at all.

Three years ago, after returning to the country, he had driven Wright Pharma to the top of Wruosas's business world and into the position of the third largest pharmaceutical company globally. As its youngest CEO, he avoided every interview, and not a single clear photograph of him had ever surfaced.

Her fingers brushed the dried blood at her neck, and her understanding of him shifted. What happened tonight was only the opening move.

The sharp ring of her phone cut through her thoughts.

Bare feet touched the floor as she left the bathroom and crossed to the bed, picking up her phone and noticing a new message waiting.

With practiced ease, she unlocked it, and a short command flashed on the screen. "Get close to Kellan. ASAP!"

She erased the message the instant she finished reading it.

...

High above, on the ninth floor, soft lighting filled a lavish room where Kellan lounged against a white leather sofa in gray silk sleepwear, one leg resting over the other. His eyes were calm yet unfathomable as he asked, "Did you figure out who that person is?"

Clayton answered with a silent nod.

Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed as a subordinate rushed inside and passed a tablet to Clayton, who spoke without lifting his head.

"Mr. Wright, everything has been confirmed. Avery Brown, twenty five years old, a taekwondo world champion with the highest black belt certification. Six months ago, he entered Horizon Group through the security division. In just three months, he climbed from the lowest rank to captain of the third team. Tonight, he eliminated Conor alone."

Clayton swallowed before continuing, "Per your standing order, the one who took down Conor was supposed to receive a month in the Laurel Club luxury suite. However, someone mistakenly issued him the key to the room directly beneath yours. This mistake is mine. I accept whatever punishment you decide."

He lowered his head completely, not daring to meet Kellan's gaze.

No response came at once. Kellan slowly rolled the amber liquid in his glass, then took a measured sip of Islay whiskey. Through the crystal, his eyes looked deep and unreadable, like dark water hiding violent currents below the surface.

Sleep had always come lightly to him, and even the smallest disruption was enough to ruin it.

Tonight, someone had made the foolish decision to place Avery directly beneath his quarters, shattering what little rest he allowed himself.

Standing there, Clayton could not help but think the outcome was already decided. Avery was finished.

No one ever managed to predict Kellan's moods, and the way he handled problems was ruthless enough to keep even seasoned men on edge.

Back when he first returned to seize control of Wright Pharma, he had dismantled half of the senior leadership in just three days, acting fast and without hesitation. The fallout was immediate. Complaints spread behind closed doors, resentment festered, and enemies multiplied, all waiting for a chance to drag him down.

Tension thickened the air inside the room. Clayton stood rigid and silent, praying he would not become the next outlet for his boss's anger.

After a long pause, Kellan finally lifted his gaze, his eyes colder than steel. "That Avery. He caught my attention. Do you think he was planted by that person?"

The pressure rolling off Kellan made Clayton's shoulders stiffen. The name left unspoken needed no explanation. Everyone in their world knew exactly who Kellan meant.

Clayton drew in a careful breath before answering. "I do not think so. From what I can tell, Avery was likely not sent by him."

The words barely left his mouth before he swallowed hard, bracing himself under Kellan's scrutiny.

"Then why has there been no report about this?" Kellan asked, his tone sharp enough to slice through the room.

Cold crept up Clayton's spine as he answered quickly. "I will look into it immediately. I will find out how Avery ended up with that key card."

Without waiting for permission, he turned and left the room at once.

...

Morning light crept through the curtains when Avery finally stirred, warmth brushing against her face. She lifted an arm to block the brightness and frowned, confusion settling in as she muttered, "Where am I?"

Startled, Avery turned her head and spotted a wooden plaque resting on the table, the engraved words unmistakable. Laurel Club.

Everything from the night before rushed back at once. This was Kellan's private domain, a place she had heard whispered about ever since joining Horizon Group. Exhaustion from the confrontation had drained her so thoroughly that she had passed out without even realizing it.

She shoved the blanket aside, swung her legs over the bed, and rolled her stiff neck, irritation rising as Kellan's face surfaced in her mind.

The man had barged into her room and even beaten her. The more she thought about it, the more absurd it felt.

Her eyes drifted around the suite. Along one wall stood a row of refined wardrobes, their surfaces polished smooth and releasing a faint, clean scent into the air.

The same rare wood used for the main door had been spared no expense here either.

Gold edged paintings lined the walls, each one depicting indulgent scenes of naked men and women sprawled in excess.

Disgust curled her lip as she muttered, "Meaningless decor."

After washing up quickly, she faced the mirror and carefully applied a specially made chest skin patch, blending it seamlessly with her own skin before pulling on her clothes and heading out without delay.

Staying here felt dangerous. Her instincts warned her not to linger.

Down in the club's parking area, Avery stayed alert, her gaze sweeping for her car until a sudden sound behind her made her tense. She moved too fast and collided straight into someone's chest.

She pulled back at once and lifted her head, her breath catching when a sharp, handsome face came into view. It was Kellan.

Did he have a habit of showing up without warning, always at the worst possible moment?

Their eyes met, and a brief flash of surprise crossed Kellan's face before it vanished behind a mask of cool restraint, leaving nothing readable behind his gaze.

Recognition followed just as quickly. The person standing in front of him was Avery, the same one who had traded blows with him the night before.

Avery's hand curled into a fist as the memory surfaced, every ache in her body reminding her of how that encounter had ended.

A crooked smile lifted her lips as she spoke in a teasing drawl. "Well, this is a surprise. Did you wake up early just hoping to run into me?"

She leaned in slightly, close enough to brush Kellan's chest, her tone careless and bold while her eyes traveled over him like he was something to be appraised rather than feared.

Her body still throbbed from the beating he had given her, and she knew better than to challenge him head on again. If she could not win with strength, then she would tease him instead.

The effect was immediate. Kellan's expression cooled, sharp and unforgiving. Disrespect was something he never allowed, especially not when others could see it.

To mock him again so openly meant this person had learned nothing from the night before.

The shift in his presence set off alarms in Avery's mind, and unease crept in where confidence had been moments earlier. She straightened at once, her fingers tightening as instinct urged her to put distance between herself and the danger standing in front of her.

A sleek black Maybach rolled up and glided to a stop near Kellan and Avery. The special license plate gleamed in the morning sun as the door creaked open. Clayton sat stiffly in the front seat, his jaw dropping the moment he spotted Avery.

Before anyone could speak, Kellan extended his arm, his movements filled with authority that left no room for argument. He made it clear that in his territory, nobody would dare to cross him.

"If you think you can mess with me and get away with it, you're mistaken," said Kellan, his voice cutting through the silence. His cold stare could have sent shivers down anyone's spine.

Clayton recoiled, fear twisting his features.

Avery's pulse skipped when Kellan's hand clamped onto her collar. She refused to show weakness and instead flashed a playful grin. "Mess with you? Please. I just think there's something fateful between us. You sneaked into my room last night, and now here you are again. Fate keeps throwing us together, don't you think?"

She drew out her words, making sure every syllable dripped with mischief. Clayton watched with disbelief, certain this fool had lost his mind for daring to tease Kellan.

Kellan's expression grew even grimmer, and the air around them turned sharp with tension.

Lifting her brow, Avery met his gaze, her eyes sparkling with both defiance and humor.

Kellan paused to steady himself, but Avery was already moving. Her hand darted to her cufflink, and in a blink, a blade shimmered between her fingers.

"I guess this round is mine, don't you agree?" She chuckled under her breath and thrust the blade at Kellan's chest.

In a flash, the tables turned. Kellan caught her wrist, forcing the blade's edge against Avery's neck instead. "You've got five seconds to make a choice. Live or die?" said him.

A cold spark flickered in Avery's eyes as she registered just how fast he was.

She dropped her eyes to keep her feelings in check, then lifted her chin with stubborn resolve and pushed back anyway. "Die? That sounds foreign. But if you are the one who ends me, I suppose it would not be the worst way to go."

Calm settled into her gaze as she met him directly, showing no panic at all. "If you plan to do it, then be quick about it. Hesitation only makes you look weak."

Ever since she joined Horizon Group, Avery had been thrown into situations far worse than this. Threats no longer rattled her, even when they came from the man who technically ruled her professional life.

Kellan shifted his attention away from her and flicked the blade toward Clayton. Having just stepped out of the car, Clayton staggered for a second before snapping his hand out and catching it cleanly.

"Interesting. Looks like my judgment was not wrong," said Kellan, his brow lifting slightly. "You have guts, and I respect that. How about working directly for me from now on?" A slow smile appeared on Kellan's face as he looked back at her.

Confusion creased Avery's forehead as she tried to read what he was really after.

Shock flashed across Clayton's face as well. Only yesterday, Kellan had suspected Avery of being a planted operative, yet now he was inviting Avery to stay close. Clayton stared at Kellan, clearly struggling to understand the shift.

"So what is this really about? Are you saying this because you actually like me?" Avery asked with a light laugh, teasing curling through her tone as she clasped her hands behind her back.

Behind her playful front, her thoughts raced. She had been looking for a way to get closer to Kellan, and now he was offering it himself, placing the opportunity directly in her hands.

Maybe Kellan had picked up on something she did not intend to reveal?

Suspicion flickered in her eyes as she glanced over at him, as though worried he might actually be interested in her after all she had just said.

Clayton suddenly yanked a gun free and pressed it to Avery's temple. "You better watch what you say and remember who you're talking to! Who do you think you are? Show any more disrespect to Mr. Wright, and your life ends here!"

Every muscle in his hand tensed as his finger lingered over the trigger, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on.

"That's enough." Kellan's voice cut through the standoff as he motioned for Clayton to back off. Clayton nodded and slowly lowered the weapon, but his stare never left Avery.

"You'd better mind your words. Push me again, and you will regret it," said Kellan, fixing Avery with a steely glare.

Avery's response was to size him up from head to toe, then turn her back on him and walked away with an audible scoff.

Clayton started to move after her but froze when Kellan shot him a warning look. Kellan had no intention of forcing Avery's decision. A person with Avery's spirit would never rush into anything without careful thought. Avery had accomplished in months what others needed years to achieve, and that spoke volumes about his drive.

Someone like that would never be easily swayed once she made up her mind.

He preferred not to push. Deep down, he already knew how Avery would react.

Avery had talent that could rival anyone in his circle, but his disregard for authority grated on him. Both times they met, Avery had found some way to get under his skin.

Kellan found himself silently questioning whether Avery was really into men.

As Kellan settled into the back seat, Clayton hesitated for a moment, stealing a glance at Avery's retreating figure before slipping into the passenger seat without a word.

Letting someone walk away after multiple attempts on his life was not typical for Kellan. Clayton could not recall a single instance where Kellan had shown such leniency.

In Wruosas, both the criminal world and those on the straight path knew better than to challenge Kellan's authority.

It took a rare kind of courage—or recklessness—for Avery to keep pressing his luck the way he did.

A deep breath helped Clayton steady himself, still reeling from everything he had just witnessed.

"If you have a question, then spit it out," said Kellan, his tone low and commanding, impatience written clearly in his brow as he fixed Clayton with a sharp look.

Turning slightly in his seat, Clayton swallowed his nerves before speaking up. "Mr. Wright... that troublemaker really doesn't know his place. He keeps testing your limits without a care. Should I arrange for someone to handle it quietly?"

For a moment, Kellan said nothing, his gaze sliding toward the driver. The driver caught his eye in the rearview mirror and immediately exited the car without needing further explanation.

"Take the wheel," said Kellan, his words flat and cold.

Clayton's pulse jumped, but he did as he was told, quickly climbing into the driver's seat and starting the engine.

The car sped out of the club's lot, tires whispering against the pavement while Clayton's nerves only grew tighter with every passing second.

Kellan explained, lines creasing his forehead, "His instincts are razor sharp, and he's got far more going on beneath the surface than most people. If someone sent him after me, he's not just a problem—he's a serious threat. But killing him reveals nothing..."

Kellan let the thought trail off, his fingers rhythmically drumming on the padded armrest.

A cold shiver ran down Clayton's spine as he picked up on the unspoken meaning in Kellan's tone. In the rearview mirror, he caught a glimpse of Kellan's smile—one that was more dangerous than reassuring.

"Are you planning to bring him in for further probe, Mr. Wright?" Clayton asked, choosing his words with care.

"That's right. But if he jumps at the offer without a second thought, I'll know he's hiding something."

With a flick of his wrist, Kellan straightened the cuffs on his tailored suit, his movements deliberate and calm, the picture of someone in absolute control. He fixed his gaze outside, then spoke without turning his head. "Hand me the blade."

Memories of the compact blade Avery carried came rushing back, and something keen flashed in Kellan's eyes.

Clayton wavered for a moment, then placed the tiny blade in Kellan's waiting palm.

Kellan studied the handle, noticing the letter "A" etched into the metal. Kellan's voice was low and thoughtful as he remarked, "Avery... you keep getting more intriguing."