Chapter 18: The Offer
The man walked closer, his presence overwhelming the space.
"Let's not make this complicated," he said calmly.
Maya forced herself to stand her ground.
"What do you want?"
"A conversation," he replied simply.
"With me?"
"Yes."
Ethan stepped forward. "No."
The man sighed softly.
"You're making this difficult."
"I don't care."
For a brief moment, tension crackled in the air.
Then the man smiled again.
Cold. Calculated.
"Fine," he said. "I'll be direct."
His eyes locked onto Maya.
"Join us."
Maya blinked.
"What?"
"You have a gift," he continued. "One that could be… very useful."
Her mind raced.
"I'm not interested."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"Are you sure?"
Maya swallowed, but nodded.
Something about him made her skin crawl.
"Think carefully," he said. "Refusing us rarely ends well."
Ethan's voice cut in sharply.
"She said no."
The man glanced at him again.
"You're still protecting people you shouldn't," he said quietly.
Something in Ethan's expression flickered.
Guilt?
Regret?
Maya noticed.
And that only raised more questions.