"Is everyone here?" Asher's cold voice pierced the dimly lit room like a blade.
It was unsettling—the way he spoke with so little effort, yet so much weight. The room wasn't pitch black, but the low, flickering light did little to illuminate much.
"Yes, they're all waiting for you," replied the same cold, metallic voice from the earlier phone call.
Asher hummed in understanding and began walking, passing the man and heading toward the others—those he called his circle. The man followed closely behind.
To the public, Asher Reed was a multi-influential CEO. A man women swooned over. A billionaire genius. But in secret, he led a high-level covert agency designed to bring justice to those who thought themselves above the law—untouchable by the very justice system they corrupted.
And lately? Their agency had a problem. One with red lips, a deadly aim, and a reputation that sent chills down spines.
Amelia—code name: Siren or as people liked to call her The Siren.
They'd heard of her before. She was a shadow in the dark, a rumor whispered among criminals. But it was when she began eliminating their own agents—close members, even—that she earned their full attention.
Tracking her was a nightmare. She was meticulous, clean, and didn't leave a trail. But eventually, they dug up enough: her identity, her affiliations, even the hands that hired her.
And so, Asher formed a plan.
If she was connected to the people they'd been hunting for so long, the easiest way to get to her—and them—was simple:
Marry her.
It was surprisingly easy. With a father like Mr. Davis, Asher knew Amelia's hand would come with the right price. And once they were wed, he'd get close, find out everything she knew, expose the network—and eliminate her if necessary.
A classic kill-two-birds-with-one-stone scenario.
But as he walked through the quiet corridor, something else stirred in him. A memory. One he buried so deep it only surfaced when he let his guard slip.
He never thought he'd marry—not even for convenience. Marriage, even in its most strategic form, felt... strange. Intimate. And once upon a time, Asher believed in it. Before the world taught him otherwise.
He grew up in a single-parent home. Just him and his mother.
His father? A coward. One who vanished the moment he found out Asher's mother was pregnant.
Her parents disowned her, saying they couldn't afford another mouth. She was forced into the streets—homeless, alone, and pregnant. Salvation came in the form of a kind woman who took her in. In exchange for a roof and food, she cleaned and cooked. No pay. No promises. Just survival.
And when Asher was born, she didn't complain. Even when she had nothing.
Later, she sought paying work. The only job available? Stripping.
She took it.
By day, she cleaned. By night, she stripped. Her beauty made her a quick favorite. They called her the "Mask Girl"—mysterious, alluring, and captivating.
She gave everything for her son. And yet, it was never enough.
Eventually, the demands increased. More offers. More pressure. The club boss pushed her harder, and when she finally broke... she agreed to more.
It was her "last job," she told Asher. One final night that would change their lives forever.
She wasn't wrong. It changed everything.
She was murdered—slaughtered by the very men she gave herself to.
On his birthday.
He would never forget the way her cold body felt in his arms.
The strip club shrugged it off. The men faced no consequences. The world moved on—untouched, uncaring. And that was the day Asher stopped being a child.
He vowed to destroy the people who abused power. To create something no corrupt official could reach. To become a smiling CEO by day—and a shadowy avenger by night.
That's why this agency existed. That's why he was who he was.
A sigh slipped out before he could stop it.
"Is there a problem, sir?" asked the man behind him.
"No," Asher replied, shaking his head. He pushed the memories down, tucked them back into the deepest corner of his mind.
They reached the meeting room. A dozen men sat waiting—ten of his closest agents, including Ryan.
Asher entered, composed again.
"Good evening, gentlemen," he greeted, walking to his seat. "As Ryan may have told you, Mr. Davis has agreed to my terms."
He paused. "And... his daughter surprisingly agreed as well."
Gasps filled the room.
"Siren agreed?" Ryan looked up, stunned. Asher chuckled at his expression.
"She did. Trust me, I was as surprised as all of you."
"But doesn't that seem... off?" Ryan pressed. "Why would she agree so quickly? Does she know who you are?"
Asher shook his head. "She may know me as Asher Reed, the CEO. But I don't think she knows anything beyond that."
The others nodded slowly, absorbing the information.
"I agree—it's odd. Which is why I called you here," he continued. "I want to brief you on what's next."
Everyone leaned in. Attention locked.
"So…"