Chapter 5: The Deal That Changed the Game
Scene: Private Casino Room – Monaco
The moment the door closes,
the noise outside is cut off.
Only silence.
Heavy silence.
A long black table.
Soft golden lights.
Beyond the glass walls, Monaco glitters—
as if everything is normal.
But inside…
it's a war zone.
Adrien sits on one side of the table.
His entire team stands behind him—
Lucas. Felix. Noah. Louis.
I take the opposite seat.
My team in perfect formation—
Mina. Liwa. Maria. Sakshi.
No chairs scraping.
No nervous movements.
Adrien speaks calmly,
"The deal was simple. High-grade weapons. Silent delivery. Clean payment."
I slide a slim black tablet across the table.
"Nothing is ever simple, Adrien.
It only looks clean."
The screen lights up.
Weapon blueprints.
Next-generation sniper rifles.
Invisible serial numbers.
Trace-proof technology.
Louis's eyes widen slightly.
For one second, Mina's gaze meets Louis's.
Hacker to hacker.
Silent respect.
Adrien keeps studying the tablet, then says,
"The price is double."
I don't waste even a second.
"Triple."
The room grows colder.
Felix lets out a low whistle.
"Bold."
Noah's jaw tightens.
Lucas's fingers twitch slightly—
sniper instinct.
Adrien looks at me, eyes sharp.
"You're asking for too much."
I lean back, calm.
"No.
I'm asking for the right price."
I change the screen.
A new file opens.
Adrien's operation routes.
Hidden ports.
Future targets.
A second of dead silence.
Louis holds his breath in shock.
Adrien's eyes darken.
"How do you have this data—"
I cut him off, my voice smooth but dangerous.
"I'm the Weapon Queen, Adrien.
I don't just sell guns…
I control information."
Mina smiles faintly.
For the first time, Louis looks impressed.
Adrien chuckles softly—
but this time, the laugh is different.
"So this isn't a deal… it's leverage."
I nod.
"Exactly."
Adrien leans forward slightly in his chair.
"You could be an enemy…
or the most powerful ally."
I meet his gaze.
"An alliance only exists
when both sides are equal."
A long pause.
Then Adrien stands.
Extends his hand.
"Deal.
But on one condition."
I raise an eyebrow.
"Say it."
In a low voice, Adrien says—
"In this game…
you'll play on my side."
The air in the room seems to freeze.
I take his hand.
Grip strong. Equal.
"Not on the king's side…
but from the center of the board."
That rare smirk appears on Adrien's lips.
"Fair enough, Queen."
The deal is sealed.
But…
the twist is still waiting.
Outside the door,
someone is listening in silence.
And their loyalty…
is not clear.☺♥