Mia's POV
Red had the brains. I had the skill . One that could strangle a fucking kitten without making a single noise . And no, I wouldn't actually strangle a kitten in silence. I wasn't a monster. Yet.
"That took barely three minutes," Red said, sounding surprised.
"New record," I smirked.
And then there was Ash. The bastard who could play devil and angel in the same breath. Angel, because I probably owed him my life. Devil… well, you'd find out soon enough.
"Right turn," Red directed. "There."
Her guidance led me into the ladies' bathroom. I deadpanned. "A bathroom? Really?"
"Just change already."
I slipped into one of the stalls, lifting a black paper bag stamped with an expensive designer logo. Inside there was makeup. The full kit.
"I don't look that bad," I muttered, pulling out the brushes.
"You wish."
"You'll take that back once I'm done, baby doll," I sang.
Then I pulled out the dress. Gorgeous didn't even cut it. The dress was red with smooth silver patterns lined the edges of the deep V-neck. Off-shoulder straps would expose just enough of my collarbones to look both elegant and lethal.
"How did you get my exact measurements? This thing's suffocating me," I gasped, wriggling into it.
"Ash was a big help."
Of course he was.
The zip slid up and the dress hugged like a second skin, pressing curves I wasn't even trying to show off.
"You've got eight minutes," Red reminded.
I glanced at the ceiling. "No cameras in here, right? …Right?"
"Relax. Just finish up."
I leaned toward the mirror, carefully applying another layer of red lipstick. The more layers, the more untouchable I felt. Dangerous. Beautiful. Unbothered.
"Quit joking. Anyone could walk in on you," Red scolded.
I sighed, shoving my AirPods back in. Anyone could walk in…but they wouldn't understand. They'd never survive the weight I carried.
And why worry about my dead mom when I've got Red nagging in my ears?
It was a direct order so execution style chosen by the client, carried out exactly as requested, no exceptions. No debates, no excuses.
"What's his kill execution?" I asked, adjusting my hair in the mirror.
"Lethal injection."
I paused, fingers stilling for a beat before pulling out the small black pack. Perched on the closed toilet seat, I carefully unzipped it revealing syringes already loaded and waiting.
I brushed my fingers lightly over the capped needles. One of the cruelest ways to send someone into eternal sleep. Painful, excruciating, slow.
Lining them neatly, I clipped the holster around my left thigh that wasn't on display like my right, cause of the slit on the dress . One that gave it perfect access, like it was tailored for both glamour and murder.
"Four minutes," Red's voice cut through.
I slipped my purse onto my shoulder and slid the red mask over my face. I hated how it covered me, but it wasn't about preference tonight.
"You just have …damn, girl," Red's breath hitched. She must've caught sight of me through her private camera access.
I smirked. "Well, if I'm going to seduce this guy, might as well look the part."
Yeah right. I could probably seduce a man in pajamas if I wanted to.
"Well, you're in for a treat cause this guy's drop-dead gorgeous…"
My brow arched. Interesting.
"He's a business tycoon. Used to be a big name in one of New York's top companies. About a year ago he cut ties, started his own empire."
I snorted. "Dumb move."
"Yeah, except it paid off. Grew fast. Now he's merging back with the company he left. Not as a member this time—"
Red's pause was dramatic. "As a co-owner."
I rolled my eyes. "And?"
"And it's none other than… the Cartel Empire ."
I froze.
The rest of Red's words turned to static.
Two years. It had been two damn years, but wounds don't really heal, do they? Scars maybe. The pain? It just finds new ways to breathe. The name alone was enough to twist my gut, proof of how much power the past still had over me.
And as if the universe wanted to mock me, trouble walked in on heels.
"Oh my God, I had no idea he'd be here," came the squeaky voice, giddy with excitement.
Three girls swept into the bathroom like they owned the place.
"Company," Red murmured in my ear.
No shit.
"I haven't seen him in forever," the squeaker grinned like a lovesick schoolgirl.
"Oh, come on, he's not that hot," said the one in a sky-blue dress.
"Nonsense," another chimed in, swirling her martini. "He's a literal dream. Even with the mask on."
The squeaker whined, tugging at her glittery pink dress. "If I'd known, I would've worn something else. This is hideous!"
I turned the tap on, so I didn't look like I was straight-up eavesdropping.
But I was.
"Mia. Two minutes," Red warned.
I glanced at their reflections, and my stomach knotted.
She hadn't changed.
Andrea.
Andrea Parkinson.
She was stunning, annoyingly so. Hair, dress, posture—all polished to perfection, the kind that screams money and influence. A glittery flare dress skimmed down to her heels, matching shoes hidden beneath layers of pink shimmer. And that smile? The same one that had once made my life a living hell.
"Come on, you look gorgeous," the martini green-dress friend insisted, British accent dripping charm.
"I needed bold. Unique. Something that would stand out…." Andrea stopped mid-sentence, her gaze locking on me.
Shit.
Did she recognize me?
"Oh my God, I love your dress," she gushed, stepping closer.
I fought the urge to step back. To disappear.
"You're right," the martini girl added, brushing fingers toward my dress. I dodged her touch with a subtle shift.
I shut the tap and turned, finally facing Andrea.
Face-to-face with my past. Face-to-face with the girl whose grey eyes once shredded my existence.
"One minute," Red warned.
Andrea stared too long, her lips parting as she admired the gown instead of my face. "It's gorgeous… Where did you get it?"
My lips curved into a smirk. Keep her guessing, keep her drooling.
You have a job to do.
"Thirty seconds," Red pressed.
The third girl drifted closer, about to comment
"Three…"
Without hesitation, I snatched the martini and dumped it over Andrea's perfect pink dress.
Her scream was instant.
"Two…"
I pushed past them and slipped out the door as chaos erupted behind me.
"One. That was close." Red exhaled into my ear, relief clear in her tone.
"Was that necessary?" she added. "Do you even know who that was? You just drenched Andrea Parkinson, daughter of the owners. The people hosting this entire function."
I slid deeper into the hallway, soft orchestra music rising around me.
"Well, at least she's breathing," I muttered. "Better that than leaving two unconscious bodies and a not very a not very breathing one on the bathroom floor."
A smirk tugged at my lips as I adjusted the slit of my dress.
"Wouldn't wanna leave a bloody stain on my pretty dress ."