The conversation had taken a turn, and it was clear that light-hearted banter was off the table.

"Vance, let's cut to the chase." Vivienne bit into a strawberry, savoring the burst of sweet, succulent flavor.

Vance sipped his wine, his gaze shifting between Vivienne and Percival.

"Vivienne, what do you know about Percival here?" He asked, nodding subtly towards Percival.

Vivienne tilted her head, eyeing Percival from head to toe. "Inside out," she declared.

Percival nearly choked on his Chardonnay.

What on earth was she talking about?

Were they not here for a formal discussion?

Vance was clearly taken aback, not expecting such a forthright answer from Vivienne.

Nor had Vivienne expected to say it, but seeing Percival's stern and ascetic demeanor, she just could not help herself.

Not everyone could understand the world of someone who cared about looks like she did.

Vance regained his composure and chuckled. "Well then, you must be familiar with his work. I was wondering if you might be interested in joining him professionally?" Percival coughed, glancing at Vance.

Was he suggesting Vivienne join the Vanguard Agency?

Vivienne speared another strawberry with her fork, the juice coating her taste buds in satisfaction.

"Director Vance, are you sure you can afford to hire me?"

awkward spot. He flashed a forced smile. "Perhaps the Vanguard Agency does have

back

of great interest to my upper echelons. But I'm only interested in one thing." Vivienne did not

"Karen's daughter," Vance said.

glint flashed in Vivienne's eyes, and the casual indifference

mother and you were not, I believe, acquainted," Vivienne said calmly, her tone laced with an enigmatic

with the Vanguard Agency,

was naturally a loner, not one to seek out friendships, so

stories, Vivienne had never heard

her mother's favorite protégé, Percival, was someone Vivienne had barely met in

wanted to recruit her

Wishful thinking, indeed.

wine glass and leaned forward. "I was

of sincerity, piquing

and I were rivals from the moment she joined the agency. She was stubborn, and so was I. We'd often butt heads, especially during a live exercise not long after she joined. Lark, Ashen Pigeon, and I

to use a tranquilizer gun, but Lark would not have it. She insisted the hostage not be

remembered her mother

Ashen Pigeon was Micah.

story, Karen had said, was to teach Vivienne that no matter

if getting injured wasn't a compromise. Karen replied that while protecting oneself was crucial, between one's safety and the hostage's, the hostage must come first-that was the creed of a

confidently told her mother, "I'd make sure never to get hurt if I were rescuing someone. I'd have

point in Lark's actions. I thought that if

until I went undercover that I finally understood. Your mother's

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