Dangerous curiosity

The restaurant was bathed in a soft golden glow, the hum of conversation blendíng seamlessly with the clinking of glasses.Sirena sat at a private table near the floor-to-ceiling windows,elegantly poised, her lips curled in amusement as she listened to the man across from her.

Alexander, a business partner and a long-time admirer, leaned closer, his voice low and honeyed. "You know, Serena, if you ever wanted to step away from your empire, l'd be more than happy to make sure you're taken care of"

She laughed, swirling the wine in her glass.

"Tempting, but you know me-l prefer taking care of myself."

Alexander's smirk widened, but before he could respond, Serena's gaze flickered past him to a figure entering the restaurant.

Damian.

he exudedDressed in a tailored black suit, effortless dominance, his presence commanding the room without a single word. And beside him, draped over his arm, was a striking woman with cascading dark hair, her fingers possessively Wrapped around his sleeve.

Sirena arched a brow, her amusement

deepening. So that's how he plays.

She expected the usual irritation to rise at the sight of him with someone else. Instead, a sharp thrill of míschief danced along her spine. She lifted her wine glass deliberately, her movements slow and calculated, and took a sip–her eyes locking onto Damian's just as the rim of the glass met her lips,

Damian's jaw tensed almost imperceptibly.

Sirena smirked.

The woman at his side leaned in, whispering

possessively around his arm. Damian turned hís head slightly, his voice even but cold. "You're here for business, nothing more. Don't forget that."

The woman stiffened but quickly composed

herself, narrowing her gaze at Sirena instead.

Sirena could feel the weight of the woman's

glare, but instead of being bothered, she decided to have a little fun. She let her siren energy hum just beneath the surface, subtly weaving through the air and threading itself into the woman's mind. It started as a whisper of doubt, then a creeping sensation of unease. The woman's confident posture wavered, her breathing shallowed. Her fingers twitched against Damian's sleeve as a sudden, irrational fear rooted deep in her chest an instinctual terror, as if something ancient and unseen was watching her from the shadows.

Serena didn't need to do much more. The woman swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably in her seat, her entire demeanor dimming as she fought against the primal fear gnawing at her. Satisfied, Sirena turned her attention back to Alexander, tilting her head. "Tell me, do you ever get the feeling you're being watched?"

Alexander's grin didn't falter. "I wouldn't blame them for looking"

She chuckled, but her siren senses sharpened.Damian was watching her, his presence like an ember at the edge of her awareness.

Good. Let him burn.

-------------------------------------------

Flashback: The First Confrontation TWO years ago.

The tension in the conference room was

table reflected the city skyline beyond the glass walls, but all Serena could focus on was the man seated across from her Damian Voss, the ruthless CEO of Voss Pharmaceuticals.

"My offer is more than generous," Damian said smoothly, his sharp gaze unreadable. "Your company would thrive under Voss

Pharmaceuticals. Your resistance is nothing more than stubbornness!"

Sirena leaned back, crossing her legs, a slow smirk playing on her lips. "And yet, I refuse."

Damian's jaw clenched, but his expression

remained composed. "You're making a mistake."

She tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Funny, I was just about to say the same to you".

Damian exhaled sharply, his fngers pressing

against the table. "You're belng reckless. Your little cosmetics brand may have a foothold now, but against me? Against my company? You won't last."

Serena's smile didn't waver. "Watch me."

The room seemed smaller, the space between them charged with an unspoken challenge.

Damian had underestimated her, assuming she Would bend to his influence, But Serena had built her luxury cosmetics empire from the ground up, and she wasn't about to let him take it away.

"I won't sell," she stated firmly. "And if you try to come after me again, l'll make sure you regret it!

A flicker of something dark crossed Damian's expression-not anger, not frustration, but something deeper. Something intrigued.

"We'll see about that," he murmured.

Back to the Present

Serena watched as Damlan's grip on his glass tightened. His date was unusually qulet now, her earlier possessiveness replaced with an air of discomfort. Every now and then, she glanced toward the dark corners of the restaurant, as If expecting something to emerge from the shadows.

Serena smirked, dragging a finger along the stem of her wine glass, before turning her full attention back to Alexander. "Tell me more about this deal you were mentioning."

Alexander, ever the opportunist, gladly continued, oblivious to the silent war happening across the room.

Damian's gaze darkened, suspicion flickering In his eyes. He knew Serena too well, He had warned her countless times not to do anything that could damage his reputation-after all, they were bound together in business, and any reckless move she made reflected on him as well. And yet, he couldn't look away from her. Every time she was near another man, it was like a low growl settled in his chest, a pull he couldn't

explain and a hatred he didn't want to understand. He had spent years despising her, and yet the thought of anyone else having her, touching her, was enough to send a sharp sting of possessiveness through him.

He leaned back in his chair, his expression

smooth, but the tight grip on his whiskey glass shattered betrayed his frustration.

Serena, ever the provocateur, simply smirked and lifted her glass in a silent toast to him.

That night, Serena returned to her private villa, the moonlight shimmering over the vast infinity pool. She stripped off her dress, slipping into the cool water, her human legs vanlshing as her iridescent tail shimmered beneath the surface.

But the moment of peace was short-llved.

A presence approached. A dark, famllar energy she couldn't ignore.

Damian.

She barely had time to conceal her tail when he stepped onto the terrace, his voice sharp with warning. "Serena, I swear to God, If you pull another stunt like that again"

She smirked, tilting her head, "Or what, Damian?"

And just like that, the tension between them

crackled once more.