A Gift from the Goddess

The plan was simple; Track down Kieran and demand he fix whatever he did to me.

With Noah tied up and locked inside a cupboard, I would head towards the hotel which had been listed i n Victor Lycroft’s information folder.

With any luck, his son had the same taste in accommodation.

Once I found him and got my answers, I’d then just have him undo the effects before going back to Noah t o finish the job.I'd complete my mission tonight and get back home without any issues.

As a result, Father would begin to trust me again and Gavin wouldn’t need to drag me back into the basement.

Everyone will be happy.

Well...except probably Noah.He’d be dead.

But that was unfortunately just the way it had to be.

‘C'est la vie’ some would say.Now to just pray that nothing went wrong.I hailed a taxi and gave the driver directions to the hotel, doing my best to make my clothes seem more casual on the way over.

There wasn’t much I could do but I worked with what I had.

By the time I arrived, there was nothing on me that would stand out too much in a public setting.

Upon stepping out of the car though, I found the hotel was surprisingly large.

The kind of place only the very wealthy could afford which, given he was the son of a literal mayor, I guess that made sense.

Though for a small town I’d never heard of before, they sure seemed to have the cash to spare.

Whilst this was an interesting thing to note, it unfortunately meant that sneaking in was going to be difficult.

The place would have security cameras and staff walking around everywhere.

So how was I meant to...And then I smelt it.

That intoxicating scent that I could recall so vividly now.

The one belonging to Kieran.

He was here or, at least, he’d been here sometime recently.I would just need to follow it and hopefully scope out the area before entering his room.

But the scent didn’t lead me towards the elevator as I expected.

No, it led me to the hotel’s bar area.

A place where far too many people would be around to witness.

Certainly not an ideal development in this plan.

"Apologies, madam," a man at the entrance said, holding a hand out to pause me.

"I just need to quickly confirm your name and room number, or the room number of the person you're here to see." I stared at him blankly, confused.

This hotel was apparently far more exclusive than I’d realised.

However, I’d had to deal with far worse obstacles than this before.

"Oh! Is that so?" I asked innocently.

"That’s a little awkward...You see, I was sent here to surprise Mr Lycroft but no one told me his room number.I guess i t was just a mix-up.Isn’t there any way I could still g o inside? Just this once?"

He looked uncertain and taken a little off guard.

This wasn’t the kind of job where you’d want to accidentally insult the wrong influential person.

"Oh ...Well I suppose I could quickly go in and find him to confirm.Mr Lycroft you said?"

He took a step away as if to enter, but I knew if he did that and Kieran told them to not let me in, then this whole plan would become messy.

"That won’t do," I said a little too quickly.

I then walked over to gently touch his arm.

"As mentioned, it’s meant to be a surprise.We haven’t seen each other in the longest time and his father, Victor, told m e Kieran was in town."

"Madam...we have precautions in place to ensure the safety and privacy of our gu—."

"The whole family will be so disappointed if it’s ruined.We’ve been planning this for a while now.I know Victor likes to come here regularly when he’s here for business.It would be a shame if this one unpleasant experience tarnished that...Especially if I have to call the family so late for something so petty "

Immediately, he became flustered, but I didn’t give him any more time to process the situation.

After all, bad decisions were always made under pressure.

"Please...," I repeated, giving him my best smile.

And it only took a few more seconds before, finally, h e cracked.

"Okay...very well.I’ll just need your name for the record and you can head on inside."

of smug giddiness rose inside me as I won

call me

I entered the bar before he could ask any

expected.It was mostly a lot of people sitting close together

one would

liked to have a drink, but I was familiar with

here today for that.I

I could still catch his scent as it slowly became stronger the

person I walked

a lap of the entire floor, I was beginning to worry I’d

he? I kept walking, heading

when I finally found

the room itself, but veering off through a door

that held a sign saying ‘Staff

wasn’t going

looking, I slipped through the door and continued to follow his scent until it led me into a back

untouched for the

places...? It was almost as if he knew I was tracking

that, he would have to know I could trace his scent,

my head but, as I rounded the corner, everything seemed to

found myself falling into that trance as

him again made me start

been scratching away

because he

in front of him, within feet

met, he wore a perfectly fitted suit,

in every

had inside me to not just immediately rush into his arms...though I couldn’t say the same

my eye, he instantly moved forward as if to embrace me, but it was that

to fix this exact issue, one which was causing me to feel this way about a

as I took a step

he said, sounding almost relieved, and it caused a shiver to spread

looking for you for days.Do you have any idea

one losing my mind, and yet this guy was almost

Was I missing something?

to say, so extremely confused by this turn of

you some time to cool down before I explained a few things to you, but it’s

to find out how I could contact you, but out of everyone I spoke to, only one person seemed to know of you.Something that they even admitted to not knowing prior to

have to be him since I didn’t end

you looking

then stalk her? Why are

do anything.What you’re experiencing is

said,

someone and instantly become infatuated.It doesn’t stop them from being able to function...or work...or

I needed it.I needed it more than anything if I wanted to stay

that.I can’t just undo

yelled, and I

what you did

conversation but he was

going back to my father empty-handed, the choice

"Woah...slow down," he said.

it

I didn’t let him lull me into another trance, choosing

him into taking me seriously.I was quick

forgot that h e was also just as skilled, proving that back when we’d met the

my dagger anywhere near him, suddenly he was wielding one of his own

that

was definitely

"Calm down!" he yelled.

everything but you need to just

But I was angry.

before in m y

feelings bubbling inside that I wasn’t used to, all jumbling

was angry at him, at my own new inability

my situation…

I would b e losing

angry tears beginning to

have to

me and we

to

doing this sort

me, it was the first time facing someone who was anywhere

that was both impressive and concerning

might not be as easy

areas that I thought he left open, and

faster I moved, but nothing seemed

quickly as

that I knew

you! ?" I