The drive to the high-security facility was tense, the atmosphere in the car heavy with anticipation. Milan, Enzo, and Thiago were calm but focused, their expressions hard as they thought through the strategy for their upcoming interrogation. Jade sat in the backseat, her mind racing. The thought of Vivienne being caught should have brought relief, but instead, it only fueled her anxiety. What if this was part of her plan? What if she had another card up her sleeve?
When they finally arrived, the sprawling gray building loomed before them, surrounded by tall fences topped with barbed wire. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter, and security cameras monitored every inch of the facility. It was clear Vivienne wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
A senior officer greeted them at the entrance, his expression stern. “She’s secured in the interrogation room. No weapons, no physical contact. And she’s under constant surveillance.”
Milan nodded, his tone clipped. “Good. Let’s get this over with.”
As they were led down the sterile, brightly lit corridors, Jade’s stomach churned. The closer they got, the more suffocated she felt. When they finally reached the interrogation room, she froze at the sight of Vivienne through the one-way glass.
Vivienne sat in the center of the room, her posture perfect, her chin held high. She looked nothing like a prisoner. Her sleek black suit was pristine, her makeup flawless, her dark red lipstick a stark contrast against her pale skin. She even smiled faintly, as if she were attending a business meeting instead of facing potential life imprisonment.
“She looks… good,” Jade muttered bitterly, her fists clenching at her sides. “How does she look so composed?”
“She thrives on control,” Enzo replied, his voice low. “This is her game, and she wants us to know she’s still playing.”
Jade shook her head, stepping back from the glass. “I can’t do this. I can’t see her sitting there, acting like she hasn’t destroyed everything. I’ll wait outside.”
Milan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “That’s fine. We’ll handle it.”
Thiago shot her a quick, encouraging smile. “Don’t worry, Jade. We’ve got this.”
The men stepped into the interrogation room, their presence commanding. Vivienne’s faint smile widened as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
“Well, well,” she said smoothly, her voice dripping with mockery. “If it isn’t my three favorite businessmen. Come to gloat?”
Milan sat across from her, his icy-blue eyes cold and calculating. “We’re not here to gloat, Vivienne. We’re here for answers.”
Enzo remained standing, his arms crossed, his dark eyes fixed on her like a predator watching its prey. Thiago leaned against the wall, his casual posture belying the tension in his expression.
Vivienne tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Answers? About what? I’m just a simple woman trying to make her way in the world.”
Milan’s jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. “You can drop the act. We know you were behind the explosion, the sabotage, everything.”
Her smile didn’t falter. “Guilty as charged. But I was just doing my job.”
“Your job?” Enzo’s voice was sharp, his tone deadly. “Destroying lives, ruining businesses, killing people. That’s your job?”
Vivienne’s eyes flicked to him, her smile turning sharper. “You make it sound so barbaric. I prefer to think of it as… strategic execution.”
Thiago let out a bitter laugh. “Strategic execution? You mean you’re just a pawn for someone bigger.”
Vivienne’s expression didn’t change, but a flicker of something crossed her eyes—something Thiago didn’t miss.
Milan leaned forward, his gaze unrelenting. “Who’s pulling the strings, Vivienne? Who’s your upper man?”
Vivienne’s smile faltered for the first time. She leaned back in her chair, her expression hardening. “You really think I’d tell you? Please. I’d rather die than betray him.”
“That can be arranged,” Enzo said coldly, his voice a low growl.
Vivienne chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, Enzo. Always so dramatic. But it won’t work. You can threaten me, intimidate me, even kill me, but I’ll never give you his name. I’m loyal to the end.”
Milan’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Loyalty? To someone who sees you as disposable? You think he’ll protect you? He’ll leave you to rot the moment you’re no longer useful.”
Vivienne’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t respond.
Thiago stepped forward, his voice more measured but no less intense. “You’re already here, Vivienne. The walls are closing in. He’s not coming for you. The only way out is to give us what we need.”
She stared at him for a long moment, her lips pressed into a thin line. Then, slowly, her smile returned, colder this time. “I’d rather take my chances.”
Milan’s fists clenched, but he forced himself to remain calm. He stood, motioning to Enzo and Thiago. “We’re done here.”