The drive didn't take long, mostly because Alexa pushed the car faster than Lucian expected.
He thought they would end up at the flower shop, but instead, she pulled up in front of a strikingly beautiful house tucked behind tall trees.
The car rolled to a stop, gravel crunching under the tires. Without hesitation, Alexa pushed her door open. "Come on," she said, already striding toward the entrance as if she owned the place.
Lucian stepped out a moment later, shutting the car door behind him.
His eyes lingered on the house for a second, curious about why she had brought him here.
Then he followed her up the path, keeping close as she moved with purpose toward the door.
She knocked, and the door opened. A maid in a neatly pressed uniform greeted them with a polite bow. "Ms. Alexa, please come in. You too, Mr. Lucian," she said.
The moment his name rolled off her tongue, Lucian's chest tightened. He dreaded what was coming, though he didn't know why yet.
The two stepped inside, the polished marble floors echoing faintly under their shoes. That's when it happened.
From the far end of the hall, a massive pit bull came charging forward, its claws scraping against the tiles as it bounded toward them.
The dog was enormous, a creature bred for intimidation, its heavy muscles rippling under its short coat and its jaw large enough to crush bone.
Lucian's instincts screamed at him to move, to back away, to put anything between himself and those teeth.
He could bend steel with his bare hands, but this was different.
Ever since he was a child, dogs carried a primal fear for him, and now the sight of this beast tearing across the room made his throat lock.
He froze. His fists clenched, not in aggression but in hesitation, a man capable of killing ten with ease left powerless by the thunder of a dog's paws.
Alexa, however, didn't flinch. She crouched down smoothly, her expression softening in a way Lucian had never seen before.
Her voice, usually sharp and commanding, melted into a sing-song baby tone that didn't match her at all. "Aww, look at you, you big fluffy boy. Who's a good boy? Hm? Who's mommy's handsome man?"
The pit bull skidded to a halt in front of her, tail wagging furiously.
Instead of snarling, it leaned into her touch as she scratched its head, letting out a playful grunt like an oversized puppy.
She rubbed its cheeks, tapped its nose lightly, and giggled in a way that almost unsettled Lucian more than the dog itself.
When she finally stood, brushing off her hands as if nothing unusual had just happened, she turned her head slightly and glanced at him.
Her eyes, icy and unforgiving, carried no softness now.
It was a condemning look, sharp enough to pierce him where he stood, as if silently mocking him for what he had just revealed.
She had seen it, the way he froze, the way fear had gripped him at the sight of the animal.
Lucian's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. The cold weight of her gaze told him everything, she would never let him forget this moment.
Alexa pointed at the dog beside her with a light smile. "This is Sparkles."
Lucian blinked, staring at her first and then letting his eyes fall to the animal. The name alone made his brow twitch slightly. "Right. Sparkles," he muttered, the disbelief in his tone clear enough.
The maid, standing nearby with her hands neatly folded, spoke in a calm and professional manner. "She's already waiting for you."
Without further words, the group began moving deeper into the house. The heels of the maid clicked lightly against the polished floor, Sparkles padded along quietly at Alexa's side, and Lucian followed, his mind still lingering on the odd introduction. Sparkles did not fit that monster.
They stopped in front of a tall door with a silver handle. Alexa gave a soft knock, her knuckles barely making a sound against the wood.
A voice answered smoothly from the other side. "Come in."
The maid opened the door with practiced ease, and they stepped into the room.
Inside, Crystal was already seated behind a finely crafted table. The afternoon light from the window behind her cast a faint glow across her features.
She looked up slowly, her gaze immediately meeting Alexa's. A faint smile curved her lips. "I apologize, Alexa. I've let myself in."
Alexa's expression remained composed. She shook her head lightly. "No problem, madame."
Lucian's eyes narrowed slightly, the smallest flicker of surprise showing on his face.
This was Alexa's house, her domain, yet Crystal sat here as though she owned the space. More than that, Alexa didn't seem the least bit bothered by her presence.
Crystal didn't let the silence drag. She leaned forward, resting one manicured hand on the glass table between them.
Crystal's gaze shifted to him then, cool and steady. "Lucian. You're back… in one piece."
A "Yes, uhm, I did what you asked," Lucian finally said, his voice steady though his mind kept drifting back to Sparkles's piercing stare.
Crystal tilted her head, her smile curious. "Did you? That's great. Did everything go well? Nothing… wild, I hope?"
Lucian hesitated, but then answered. "Well, the guy told me to tell you he doesn't care about what obstacle you encountered. He wants his delivery."
Crystal's smile curved sharper, almost amused. "Ahh, old senile Russells. Always impulsive. Always ready to throw his weight around with those barbaric acts of his." She waved her hand as if dismissing the man's importance entirely.
Then her eyes fixed on Lucian with sudden focus, her tone dropping into something colder. "Tell me, Lucian… what do you think is better when leading? Fear… or respect?"
Lucian felt caught on the spot. For a moment, he stayed quiet, his throat dry, until he finally spoke. "Respect."
Crystal leaned back in her chair, her smile widening with satisfaction. "Respect… interesting." She tapped a finger against the table, studying him the way a queen might study a piece on a chessboard. Then, with the faintest laugh, she tilted her head. "Why not both?"
Lucian frowned slightly. "Both?"
Crystal's eyes glittered, sharp and knowing. "To achieve something, Lucian, people must fear you. Fear ensures obedience. It keeps traitors in line, keeps enemies from daring to strike. But your peers? Your inner circle?" She gestured around the room at Alexa and the dog "They must respect you. Otherwise, they'll turn the moment they think you're weak. Fear will make them follow you out of survival, but respect will make them follow you out of loyalty. Without both, you're nothing more than a tyrant waiting to be overthrown."
She leaned in again, her voice soft, almost conspiratorial. "Remember that, Lucian. Fear to control. Respect to endure. It's the balance that builds an empire."
Lucian didn't move, but his mind was racing. He'd come here only to make a delivery, and now Crystal was shaping his thoughts on leadership, power, and survival like she was planting seeds for something bigger.