CHAPTER 51: FEAR

Naya stepped out of the bathroom, releasing a long, weary breath.

"I need to get a grip... I can’t stop thinking about him," she muttered in frustration, running both hands through her hair.

Anyone who saw her like that might’ve assumed she’d lost her mind.

But Naya didn’t care.

What truly unsettled her was how quickly she’d developed feelings for Caleb.

She wasn’t the type to get attached easily. Never had been.

She couldn’t understand how he’d done it. Was it because he’d appeared when she was at her lowest?

"No... it can’t be," she told herself, shaking her head.

She had met plenty of men during that same period—wealthy, powerful, charming.

But none of them had the effect Caleb had on her.

None of them made her crave their presence the way he did.

She remembered the kiss back in the VIP box—how fiercely he’d claimed her mouth, how his tongue danced with hers.

It was a short moment, but to her it felt as though she had lived a decade.

The sensation wasn’t one she was able to explain.

The softness.

The tenderness.

Even if he had done it so suddenly, he still did it so nicely that she craved more.

Her cheeks flushed deep red.

Slowly, Naya raised a hand to her lips, tracing the spot where his had been.

The memory was still fresh—the heat, the passion, the way her heart had raced.

She had loved every second of it.

Even if she didn’t want to admit it.

His words echoed in her mind:

"Maybe if you just accepted that you like me, it wouldn’t be so hard."

Was he right?

"Am I the one making this difficult?" she wondered.

"Should I just accept it?"

The more she thought about it, the faster her heart pounded.

She could already imagine the things they could explore together—the connection, the fire.

"He was right," she finally admitted.

Straightening her back, her eyes lit with determination.

"This time, I won’t let him catch me off guard. I’ll show him just how strong I am."

The first time, Caleb had completely dominated her.

He made her feel exposed... vulnerable.

She hated how helpless he made her feel.

Now she wanted a rematch.

"I’ll be the one taking the lead this time," she declared to herself, clenching her fist.

"I’ll make him feel so good, he’ll be the one left blushing."

Her eyes sparkled with resolve.

Naya turned and headed back toward the main hall.

But just moments after she left, the surface of the restroom mirror began to ripple like disturbed water.

A pale hand shot out from the glass, gripping the edge of the sink tightly.

Then, inch by inch, a figure pulled itself out of the mirror.

It stood tall, dusting itself off and glancing at its reflection.

Piercing green eyes stared back from the glass.

Clad in a pale green Kiton K50 suit, the figure radiated elegance and quiet menace.

A bright, satisfied smile spread across his face.

"It took time... but I guess his blood was enough," the figure murmured, inspecting itself as though surprised by what it had become.

"That boy is an anomaly..." he continued, his voice laced with intrigue.

"He’s not my mission... not yet. But he’ll be a problem for Sir X eventually."

He smiled again, sharper this time—more dangerous.

"I’ll kill him after this."

He turned from the mirror, stepping into the world with lethal intent.

------

Naya returned to the VIP box, only to find it empty.

The auction had already ended.

Her eyes swept the quiet room, searching—but Caleb was nowhere in sight.

’Did he leave without me?’ she thought, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

She crossed her arms, sighing.

Just as she turned to leave, the door creaked open behind her.

She froze.

Their eyes met.

"Oh, you’re here?" Caleb said, clearly surprised.

Naya blinked, her heart skipping a beat.

"He didn’t go," she thought, unable to suppress the smile forming on her lips.

But this time, she wasn’t going to be coy.

She had made up her mind.

She was going to accept him—all of him.

No more pushing him away.

She gazed into his green eyes. They still carried that same unshakable confidence...

Yet something felt... off.

Like a piece of him was missing.

’Am I imagining things?’ she wondered, tilting her head slightly.

’He looks fine... doesn’t he?’

She shook the thought away.

’This time, I’ll kiss him back. And I’ll be the one in control.’

A sly grin touched her lips.

With seductive grace, she closed the distance between them.

Each step was deliberate, her movements smooth and feline.

The slit in her crimson gown revealed the curve of her thigh, and the sway of her hips demanded attention.

Caleb’s eyes tracked her, a curious light in them.

Soon, she was right in front of him.

"Tonight, I take the lead," Naya said softly, her voice carrying sultry confidence.

She reached up, gently cupping the sides of his head, locking his gaze in place.

For a brief moment, she studied his face.

Something still felt... wrong, but she pushed the unease aside.

The air between them thickened, heavy with tension and the intoxicating scent of creamy vanilla and sandalwood.

She didn’t rush.

Even with their faces mere inches apart, she waited—savoring the anticipation.

Caleb blinked, visibly confused.

He opened his mouth, as if about to speak.

’Perfect.’

’Exactly the reaction I wanted.’

Her heart fluttered with giddy excitement.

’He didn’t expect this. I’ll dominate this moment... and him.’

Naya closed her eyes and leaned in.

Her lips brushed closer—

But then—

Caleb’s lips curled into a wicked grin.

His emerald eyes sharpened, a sudden flash of killing intent radiating from them.

------------

{DING!}

{Partner’s Life in Danger!}

Caleb’s heart clenched.

The notification hit him like a bolt of lightning.

He turned sharply to Julia.

"Naya! They’re going for her too."

He didn’t wait for her reply.

Without another word, he bolted out of the backstage room.

"Wai—Caleb!" Julia called after him, but he was already gone.

She cursed under her breath and took off after him.

Caleb tore through the corridors, his shoes pounding against the marble floor.

His mind raced faster than his feet.

Please let me be wrong. Please let her be safe.

He reached the bathroom.

Without hesitation, he kicked the door open.

Silence.

Cold, terrifying silence.

His eyes scanned the room—left, right—every stall, every shadow.

Nothing.

No blood.

No signs of a struggle.

No scent of perfume.

No Naya.

"She’s not here..." Caleb muttered, chest tightening.

Julia came up beside him, slightly out of breath.

"She’s not there."

"Yeah. I see that," he replied, eyes darting across the pristine restroom.

Still searching. Still hoping for any clue.

But the room was too perfect.

Untouched.

Unchanged.

And that’s what scared him most.

The mirrors hung on the wall, clean.

Not even a dent.

The ground sparkled, clean. No blood.

Everything showed no signs of a fight or struggle.

’There’s no way X can clean off a scene so quickly. Even something like this, they didn’t need to,’ Julia thought, studying the scene too.

"I don’t think they’ve gotten to her yet," Julia said.

Caleb though?

He wasn’t convinced.

"If they haven’t gotten to her yet, that’s all the more reason why we should get to her first," Caleb said, visible panic in his voice.

He could see that nothing had happened in the bathroom.

But the system notification...

It had never been wrong.

’The system has never been wrong.’

No, he could even tell... it wasn’t wrong.

He didn’t need to see Naya—it was almost as though he could sense the danger looming in the air.

"Where could she be?" Caleb asked, frustrated.

When she left them, she said she wanted to use the bathroom.

But at the moment, there were no signs of her.

And Caleb had completely no idea where she would have gone.

Julia didn’t look like she did either.

The two only stood there, their thoughts railing.

They thought of everywhere Naya could be.

’We just finished the auction. Maybe she went home?’ Caleb thought, but then... he realized.

’There’s no way she would know if the auction has ended, if she...’

"The Main Hall!" the two said at the same time.

Caleb didn’t waste any time. He bolted off again, this time with Julia directly behind him.

Several thoughts going through his mind.

’I hope she’s alright! Fuck, let nothing happen to her.’

It wasn’t just the mission from the system.

Yes, if she died, then he would possibly face some penalties from the system.

Her death would cut a huge sum from his net worth.

But that wasn’t a problem to Caleb at the moment.

He genuinely cared about her. He wanted her to be safe.

He didn’t want any harm to come her way.

Over time, he had grown an emotional bond—one that went far beyond the mission the system had given him.

’I can’t let her die!’ Caleb thought, resolve flashing in his eyes as the door of the VIP box came into view.

Caleb didn’t spare a second as he kicked the door open.

"Naya!"