CHAPTER 153: IT DIDN’T SEEM RIGHT!!!

Sterling Security, Operations Room.

The room buzzed with low murmurs and the quiet tapping of keyboards. Large screens covered the walls, displaying city navigation grids, CCTV feeds, and infrared overlays. Every dot on the map was being tracked, every movement logged.

Monica sat at her office, joined remotely, a headset pressed against her ear, her sharp gaze fixed on the split screens in front of her. One feed showed the private rink earlier that day, Miles and Thea skating under soft light. Another, live, displayed the bustling floors of Star Central Mall where Miles and Thea now walked side by side, moving casually from shop to shop like any ordinary pair.

"Report," Monica said flatly.

"Ma’am," one of the agents responded immediately, his voice precise. "Boss has entered Star Central Mall with the target. Currently in section B3, fashion retail. No suspicious activity detected yet."

Monica’s jaw tightened. "Star Central..." She exhaled sharply. "Is this supposed to be a date? There is no way she can harm boss inside his own properties. What the hell is happening here?"

The agents exchanged quick glances but said nothing.

"Continue monitoring," Monica ordered, her eyes narrowing as she leaned back in her chair.

"Yes ma’am."

The feed zoomed in slightly. The screen caught Thea’s face as she paused at a jewelry display, her smile faint, her expression unreadable. Miles stood beside her, hands in pockets, his posture calm yet sharp—watchful even when appearing relaxed.

Monica’s gaze didn’t waver. "Keep an eye on every angle. If she tries something, I want to know before she even blinks."

"Yes, ma’am."

Another operator’s voice came through. "Update on her security detail. We tracked them through city cameras. All of them are currently seated at a local restaurant in Sector E. Having lunch. No movements towards the mall. We’re keeping constant surveillance."

Monica nodded slowly, tapping her fingers against the desk. "So they’re comfortable enough to let her walk with him alone... interesting. Fine. Keep monitoring their every move.

"Yes ma’am."

The room’s atmosphere grew heavier, the hum of the servers filling the silence.

In the center of it all, Monica’s expression was unreadable—calm but sharp, protective and calculating. Sterling Security had always been top class, but in recent days she had reshaped its structure, pulling in her own people, her own systems, integrating them with Sterling’s resources until it became a centralized hub of surveillance and control.

Everything fed back to this room. Every camera. Every signal. Every shadow.

And today, all eyes were on Miles.

....

Generate till here give it a good length The glass ceiling of the mall shimmered with daylight as Miles and Thea strolled through its wide halls. Bags hung from Thea’s arm — designer logos, delicate tissue wrapping peeking from the edges — while Miles walked beside her, hands casually in his pockets, unbothered by the spectacle.

"I think I’ve bought enough," Thea said with a soft laugh. "Aren’t you buying anything?"

Miles shook his head lightly. "I’m not much of a shopping person."

Thea smirked, tilting her head. "Yes, but you already have all the expensive stuff."

Miles gave a small chuckle. "My assistant says you should wear things that match your status — so others can look up to you."

Thea’s lips curved into a teasing grin. "That sounds exactly like what a boss would say."

Miles smiled faintly, eyes still scanning the storefronts. "Maybe. But right now, I’m just hungry. Aren’t you?"

"I’m starving," she admitted, her tone playful. "Let’s go to the food court. I want some junk food — I don’t get many chances for cheat meals."

Miles raised an eyebrow. "You on a diet?"

Thea laughed softly. "I try to be, but it doesn’t last."

"I eat whatever’s cooked in the kitchen," Miles replied. "I just work out accordingly."

"Hmm," she glanced at him up and down, the corner of her mouth twitching. "That explains the good build."

Miles coughed lightly, smiling. "I’m flattered. Let’s go eat before you start giving more compliments."

They found a quiet corner in the food court. Fries, milkshakes, burgers — simple things neither of them seemed used to eating. Thea laughed at the first bite, a rare sparkle in her eyes that made her look younger, less guarded.

When they finished, they wandered through the arcade, tossing darts, watching children run around, laughing at a claw machine that refused to let go of its prize. For a few hours, the day felt almost normal.

But as the sun began to set and they walked back toward the parking lot, Miles couldn’t shake the thought gnawing at him. Nothing suspicious. No strange phone calls, no hidden tails, no odd signals.

She knew about his ties to the Sterlings.

Her organization worked with Kyle.

Yet she hadn’t made a single move.

Too calm. Too perfect.

In the car, he caught her reflection in the rear-view mirror — composed, eyes focused on the road ahead, a faint smile still playing on her lips.

Thea noticed his gaze. "What is it?"

Miles’ voice was casual, but his tone carried weight. "I was wondering if you’re always this frank with strangers."

She turned slightly, her smile growing. "Calling me a stranger breaks my heart, Mr. Miles. I just have very few friends. I wanted to hang out, enjoy the day before leaving the city. Is that so strange?"

Miles kept his eyes on the road. "Didn’t mean it like that. It’s just — we’ve only known each other a few days."

"That’s fine," she said, shrugging lightly. "You were the one who stepped in when the goons surrounded me. And the one who sent me that lovely bottle of wine."

Miles smiled faintly. "So you think I send wine to every stranger who visits my restaurant?"

Thea’s laugh was soft. "Maybe not every stranger. But perhaps to special ones."

He smirked. "You got me. You were the first foreign guest, and we’d already met that morning. I just thought you deserved a bottle for being... special."

"Then you’re spending the day with a special guest," she said playfully. "Assume that and you won’t find it strange."

"Right," Miles replied, though something in his tone was distant.

Outside, traffic glimmered under the fading sun.

Inside the Sterling Security operation room

, red lights blinked over a live feed of the city grid.

"Ma’am," an agent said, his voice tense. "The men from the restaurant are moving. Three cars. They’re heading toward the boss."

Monica exhaled slowly and set her headset down for a moment before picking it back up. "Track them. I want eyes on all three."

She tapped her screen and sent a coded alert.

Inside the car, Miles’s phone buzzed.

He glanced down — incoming message: possible pursuit.

He typed a quick response with one hand, the other still steady on the wheel.

In the control room, Monica’s voice sounded as she read his message on headset.

"Stand by. I’ll signal if I need backup."

Monica frowned, but she didn’t argue.

In the car, Miles’ expression had already changed — sharper now, all warmth gone from his eyes.

Thea noticed. "Something wrong?"

Miles’ hand eased back onto the steering wheel. His voice calm again.

"Nothing. Just business stuff."

But deep inside, he already knew — the real game might finally be starting.

Few minutes later Sterling Security — Operations Room

The soft hum of machines filled the space, red dots flickering on a live map of Star Harbor.

"Agent One reporting — there’s a contact," the voice crackled through the comms.

"Three vehicles just intercepted the boss’s car on the public road."

Another agent frowned at the screen. "Wait, they won’t actually make a move in public... right?"

Monica leaned back in her chair, a half-smirk crossing her face.

"They can’t. She’s here under an ambassador’s ticket from Norway. Maybe not a permanent status, but they still have to bend to the national rules."

Her tone hardened slightly. "Besides... do you really think our boss can’t handle a few of her bounded bodyguards?"

The agent chuckled quietly. "You’re right, ma’am."

....

Miles pressed the brake gently, his car slowing as three black sedans blocked the way.

Thea glanced sideways, calm as ever. "Looks like it’s time to go."

Miles turned to her. "Go where?"

A man in a black suit approached and knocked on the passenger window.

Miles lowered it halfway.

"Miss Thea," the man said with professional firmness, "your flight has been rescheduled. We need to leave now."

Thea gave a single nod. "Alright, I’m coming."

The man bowed slightly, then walked back toward the convoy.

Miles looked at her, confusion in his tone. "So, you’re going already?"

Thea smiled, her eyes soft but unreadable. "I have to. Duty calls."

Miles exhaled, leaning back against his seat. "So this is goodbye, then."

Thea reached for the door handle and paused. "Mr. Miles, you’re a good man. It takes a lot of scars and learning to become one. Take care of yourself... and your family. I hope we meet again someday."

Miles frowned slightly. "Wait—what do you mean by that?"

She just winked, that same disarming smile on her face. "See you, Mr. Miles. And tell your mother—thank you for that wonderful dinner."

She stepped out, opened the rear door, pulled her bags from the back seat, and slid gracefully into her car.

The doors shut in unison. The convoy pulled away, black and silent, until it vanished into the stream of airport traffic.

Miles stayed parked for a long moment, her last words echoing faintly in his head. There was something beneath that goodbye — something that didn’t sit right.

Then his phone buzzed.

"Hello?"

Monica’s voice came through immediately. "Boss, what was that? Don’t tell me you’re planning to make her my sister-in-law."

Miles laughed under his breath. "What? She just left. Did we miss something?"

"No," Monica said quickly. "Did she say anything strange?"

Miles thought for a moment. "Not exactly. But... I felt like she knew me. More than she should."

"Anything that matters?"

"Nothing concrete," Miles replied, his tone thoughtful. "She wasn’t as dangerous as you made her sound. She seemed... normal. Bound by duty. Just a person doing her job."

"Boss, go home and rest," Monica said softly. "You’ve got Citadel City in a few days."

Miles smiled faintly. "You’re right."

The call ended.

He hadn’t even put the phone down when another call came through.

"Mr. Kai," Miles greeted.

"Boss, I found something," Kai’s voice said, slightly uncertain. "A small white pouch left behind the seats at the rink. It has a sticker on it that says—’For Miles.’"

Miles straightened. "What? Keep it there. I’m coming right now."

The engine roared alive. Miles pulled a sharp U-turn, tires screeching lightly as the car sped back toward the SubZero Center.

The day that had started calm was far from over.

To be continued ...