The Million-Dollar Heart

Commander Blake stood firm in the dimly lit control room, his eyes glued to the surveillance footage, exuding an aura of deep contemplation. With a sense of urgency, he dialed the higher-ups once again. The call was promptly answered, and the woman on the other end was still fuming with anger.

Twirling a ring between his fingers, Commander Blake spoke with a gravitas that filled the room, "Your anger is misplaced. It's your people who slipped up. Had they been more careful, none of this would have come to light."

The woman, realizing her fault, forced herself to calm down.

"What's our next move?" Blake's tone carried a hint of displeasure. After all, the site in question was of significant importance to him, and it hadn't yet served its intended purpose.

"Shift whatever assets we can, and for those we can't, expedite their usage. I want the plan executed within a week."

Blake hummed in acknowledgment, the ring's edge revealing a sharp blade as he made a small cut on his finger, a single drop of blood emerging.

"If all else fails, we destroy the site," the woman added.

The thought of destruction sparked a predatory glint in Blake's eyes. He had no time for setbacks.

darkness, save for the moon's soft glow streaming through the windows. Vivienne, standing in

caressed her cheek, unable to resist planting a gentle kiss on the side of her face, his body

a whirlwind of passion. Vivienne, her body softening in his arms, clung to him

Vivienne as a tingling sensation spread throughout her body, leaving

lifted her effortlessly, placing her on the cold marble of a nearby console

Awakening later, Vivienne found

her phone forty from Arthur, five from Maddox, and

the day, Vivienne admired Percival's handsome features, a rare sight given he

a pleasant surprise. "Why pretend to sleep?" Vivienne

closeness was just... distracting," Percival teased, his voice dropping suggestively at the end, causing Vivienne's cheeks to burn

grabbed a nightgown from his closet, her movements betraying her fluster as she escaped

from Arthur. Not that she cared much for Arthur, but she owed it to her mother's expectations. Percival, emerging

his fearlessness as long as she was by his side, Percival acquiesced to her plan

to find Hailey and Dracon in the