The moment Seraphina stepped into the training room, she knew—tonight was different.
The usual setup was gone, replaced by something deliberate. It felt like control itself had been stitched into the air. Dim lights cast long shadows against the walls, stretching with an eerie stillness that told her this wasn't just another session.
She turned, scanning the space, when suddenly—
A low voice brushed against her ear from behind.
"Tonight's going to be long."
Ezrin.
She didn't get a chance to react before she heard the quiet click of the door locking.
When she turned, he was already watching her—standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, gaze unwavering.
Ezrin's stance was easy, but his presence? Heavy. Commanding.
"You hesitate when someone gets too close," he said, voice low and sharp. "That's a weakness."
She didn't move. Didn't blink.
He stepped forward, closing the space between them.
"Even in a fight, your enemy won't respect personal space. So tell me, Seraphina—will you hesitate then, too?"
Another step. The heat of his presence grew closer, lingering between them. The moment stretched—tight, charged.
She held her ground.
Ezrin's lips curved slightly, a smirk edged with something deeper.
"Show me."
A challenge.
Seraphina didn't falter, but the tension in the air was thick, unrelenting. Then—he moved again, closing the distance completely. The moment his hand brushed her arm, a whisper of contact—she reacted.
Fast. Precise.
She grabbed his wrist, twisting to break free—but Ezrin had already anticipated the move.
A shift in weight. A shift in control.
And suddenly—he was behind her.
"Better," he murmured near her ear. "But not enough."
Her breath hitched. Barely noticeable. But he noticed.
He always did.
Then, without another word, he moved back.
She exhaled quietly.
A hand closed around her wrist, spinning her before she could react.
Her back hit the mat—harder this time.
Ezrin's smirk remained.
Seraphina barely had time to register the shift before Ezrin reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
A black cloth.
Her breath steadied. Controlled.
"You rely too much on sight," he said, tightening the cloth across her eyes.
Darkness. No sight. No control. Only him.
His voice came from somewhere to her left. Then right. Then behind.
"If you can't see your opponent, can you still fight them?"
A shift in the air. A presence too close. He was circling.
Then—a touch.
Not a strike. Just a ghost of a presence. Over her wrist. Her shoulder. Gone before she could react.
"Rely on instinct, not vision," he said, voice closer now. "Feel the movement. Anticipate."
She focused. Listened.
Ezrin moved again. She heard the faintest shift.
This time—she struck first.
Her fist shot toward the sound, not aiming for force, but for contact. Control.
Her knuckles barely grazed fabric before he caught her wrist mid-air.
A firm grip. Unshakable.
She didn't panic. Didn't resist.
"Better," he murmured again, holding her there just a moment too long. "But you hesitate in the last second. Why?"
She didn't answer.
Ezrin pulled the blindfold away.
And the moment the fabric dropped—he attacked.
Fast. Unrelenting.
She barely had time to react, dodging and countering on instinct alone. He didn't give her a second to recover. Every movement tested her precision, speed, and endurance.
Her body lagged behind her mind.
He noticed.
A misstep.
Ezrin caught her wrist and used her own momentum against her.
Her back hit the mat again.
His weight held her down, his grip firm on her wrists. His eyes locked onto hers.
She glared up at him, breath uneven.
His expression? Unreadable.
"You push," he said quietly, "but not hard enough."
She tested his hold. Just slightly.
He didn't loosen his grip.
Didn't move.
A flicker of something passed through his gaze. Something unreadable.
"Let go," she said, voice calm. Controlled.
Ezrin tilted his head, smirking.
"Make me."
A pause.
Then—she smirked.
"You think I won't?"
His grip tightened. Slightly.
His fingers flexed against her skin—not to hurt. To remind.
"Careful what you ask for, Seraphina."
His voice was low. Steady. Dangerous.
The weight of his presence pressed down on her—unmovable.
Then—he let go.
Slow. Controlled. Like it was his decision.
He stood first, stepping back, gaze still locked on hers.
"Two hours," he said simply. "Not bad."
Seraphina sat up slowly, rolling her shoulders.
Not bad? She felt ready to collapse.
She exhaled, steadying her breath, as Ezrin turned toward the door.
"Rest," he said over his shoulder. "You'll need it."
And then—he was gone.
Leaving Seraphina sitting on the mat, something unspoken weighing on her chest.
This wasn't just training anymore.
Something had shifted.
And she wasn't sure she was ready for it.
The moment Ezrin left, Seraphina let out a long breath, her body finally sinking into the mat.
Her muscles ached—but that wasn't the problem.
Her mind? That was the problem.
She stared at the ceiling, replaying every second of the session. Every movement. Every look.
What truly unsettled her wasn't the fight.
It was the hesitation.
Not because she was weak. Not because she didn't know how to counter.
But because it was him.
Ezrin Theon Holloway.
If it had been anyone else, she would've won. She was sure of it.
She had learned from him. Adapted. Improved.
But none of it mattered if her own body betrayed her whenever he got too close.
Her fingers curled into fists.
This can't happen.
Not here. Not with him.
She forced herself to her feet, brushing it off.
Just training. Nothing more.
She grabbed her things and left.
Not because she was exhausted.
But because if she stayed any longer, her mind would take her to places she wasn't ready to go.
Ezrin stepped out of the shower, towel draped around his shoulders.
The cold water had done nothing.
Because the image was still there.
The way she looked beneath him. The hitch in her breath.
He clenched his jaw, running a hand through his wet hair.
It was just training.
She's just an intern.
His grip on the towel tightened.
Then why—why did he like it?
The thought irritated him.
Ezrin wasn't the kind of man who let distractions take root.
And yet, as he pulled on his shirt and grabbed his keys, he knew:
Seraphina Elowen Vail was becoming a distraction.
And that?
That was unacceptable.
The next morning, as Seraphina's eyes fluttered open, her mind betrayed her immediately.
The training.
The proximity.
The feel of his breath against her skin.
She shut her eyes again. Exhaled sharply.
No.
She needed a distraction.
Her hand reached for her phone.
A message from Kieran.
Kieran: Today's off for you. But do your research on the organization.
She sighed. So much for a break.
Before she could decide what to do, her phone lit up again.
Callum.
She hesitated—then answered.
"If you're free, we could go shopping," he said, lighthearted. "You need a break, don't you?"
A distraction.
Perfect.
"Alright," she said. "Why not?"
She threw off the blanket and pushed the thoughts away.
It was just training.
She dressed in something elegant yet casual—fitted blouse, tailored trousers, ankle boots. Something that made her feel in control.
By the time she reached the mall, Callum was already waiting, flashing her a grin.
"Ready?"
She smirked, finally feeling a bit more like herself.
"Always."
As they walked, Callum gave her a look.
"I wanted your opinion on something," he said, hands in his pockets. "I want to buy a gift. For a girl."
Seraphina blinked. "So you want me to help you pick?"
"You're good at reading people. Thought you'd have better insight."
She exhaled. "Alright. Let's find something perfect."
An hour passed. They scanned store after store.
Then her eyes landed on a delicate gold necklace with a small pendant—simple but refined.
"This," she said.
Callum nodded. "Perfect."
She moved to another section, finding an elegant gold bracelet with engraved edges.
"Pair it with this," she suggested. "A set always feels more intentional."
Callum looked impressed. "You're good at this."
She smirked. "I know."
After purchasing, they stepped into the cold air.
"Thanks," he said. "Really."
"It's what I do."
Then curiosity got the better of her.
"So… who's the lucky girl?"
Callum hesitated—just for a moment.
She caught it.
"That pause was suspicious."
He laughed. "It's for my girlfriend."
Seraphina blinked. "Alright… and?"
"We've been together for a month."
She stopped walking. "A month?"
"I know how that sounds."
"And you're already buying jewelry?"
He shrugged. "Not just jewelry. We're getting engaged."
She stared at him.
Then laughed.
Callum frowned. "That's not the reaction I was expecting."
"One month, Callum? That's insane."
"When you know, you know."
"Or… when you don't, you just convince yourself you do."
"You're impossible."
"And you're rushing."
He grinned. "See? You can be nice."
"Don't get used to it."
After lunch, Seraphina returned home.
It had been a good distraction.
At least—it was supposed to be.
But the moment she was alone, her thoughts betrayed her again.
Ezrin.
His proximity. His voice. His touch.
She could still feel it.
It had meant nothing. Just a lesson.
So why was she still thinking about it?
She growled under her breath and ran a hand through her hair.
Enough.
But even curled up on the couch, her mind refused to obey.
Meanwhile, in his penthouse, Ezrin sat at his desk.
The laptop glowed in front of him. Work piled up.
But his focus?
Gone.
His thoughts were back in that basement.
The hesitation in her.
The tension in her grip.
He noticed everything.
She resisted something she didn't understand.
Ezrin exhaled sharply.
Just training.
But he was still thinking about it.
And that?
That was a problem.
Seraphina finally had enough.
She opened her laptop and began digging into Horizon Initiative.
Surface data. Financials. Records.
Then—deeper.
Inconsistencies. Patterns. Irregularities.
She found them.
After five hours of nonstop work, she closed her laptop.
Her body ached, but her mind? Quiet.
Her phone rang.
Lena.
"Are you home? I could come over."
Seraphina hesitated—then agreed.
A real distraction.
Lena arrived with her usual dramatic energy.
"It's been forever since I curled your hair," she declared.
Seraphina sighed. "Fine."
She leaned back, eyes closed, letting Lena work.
Until it wasn't relaxing.
A sudden burn on her neck made her wince.
Lena froze. "Oh my God!"
Seraphina hissed. "You—"
"Wait! Ice. I need ice!"
Lena dashed off and returned with an ice cube, pressing it to the burn.
Seraphina winced again.
"I'm so sorry," Lena rambled. "I hate myself."
Seraphina smirked. "I already knew you were a danger to society."
Lena groaned. "Never letting me live this down, are you?"
Seraphina raised a brow.
"I'll buy you coffee tomorrow." Lena said.
"Make it hot chocolate." Seraphina replied.
Lena grinned. "Deal."