The Million-Dollar Heart

Astrid fidgeted nervously beside Vivienne, apparently still wracked with guilt over the previous day's events.

Vivienne, unfazed, glanced at Astrid with eyes as soft as a strawberry cheesecake and stood up.

Astrid halted her with a call, "Vivienne."

Vivienne's lips curved into a smile, her bright eyes flashing with disinterest. "What is it?"

Astrid rose and approached her, lifting her shirt.

On her slender waist was a hideous black scar.

A knife wound, poisoned.

Astrid clenched her fist. "I got this on a mission when I fell into the enemy's trap. Now, I still suffer from the pain, especially when it rains, my whole body aches.

Vivienne, I'm not trying to gain your sympathy. I just want to tell you that we've sacrificed our lives to ensure that our organization can develop a defense against the biochemical weapons of rival nations.

So, on behalf of the organization and our country, I'm inviting you to join our fight!"

Vivienne's gaze fell on the scar on Astrid's waist.

It was clearly real.

She grasped Astrid's wrist and felt for her pulse.

The poison had been lurking in her body for years; she, indeed, had suffered greatly.

Vivienne casually took out a life-saving pill and popped it into Astrid's mouth. "This poison isn't hard to cure. Just come to me once a day."

After a pause, she added, "I'm quite interested in what you've said. I'll give it a try."

Astrid froze, surprised. "You mean you agree?"

Vivienne nodded slightly. "Yeah, but I'm out if your experiments don't meet my standards."

"Great. You'll find our experiments fascinating," Astrid said with a smile. "I'll notify the organization and see when they can take you to the lab." With that, Astrid went into her room.

Looking at her door, Vivienne let a sly smile creep onto her face.

phone and

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

could almost see Vivienne's cunning expression from those words - like a smug

the

out of bed yet," Heloise said, her heart aching for

A mere toss had broken

the timely hospital visit, he

limped to the couch. "I'm going stir-crazy lying in

in agony. It was better to move a

me.

to him. How could he just throw her out of the company?" "I told you, I should have joined the company instead of letting Fiona hog the spotlight. Now look what's happened. What are we

are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the company that way? Come out and figure out

with half their savings coming from her commissions at

they had lost a significant

Jeffrey's complaints below. She put on headphones, locked the door, and tuned them

not her most pressing concern. It

galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group's resources and connections, even using their transportation

her

to deliver as

number on her phone. "How's

still in our hands, being moved

close eye. I'll find a way to get her

the call, Fiona rubbed her fingertips, her

unfamiliar number

hesitating, she

voice replied, "Ms.,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

not close, but Fiona had heard of Calista in

medicine, the cheap daughter of the former Brooks family

become reclusive.

I do for you?" Fiona asked, her voice smooth, the earlier darkness

came through. "Got time for a