Chapter 211: Xavier’s Masterplan

The morning light poured through the curtains, but Xavier didn’t linger in bed. He woke, showered, dressed, and by routine made his way to Seraphina’s restaurant with Lyra and Lilia. Breakfast was always the same. Yet, today wasn’t ordinary. Not for the girls.

They sat across from him, forks in hand, eyes sharper than usual. With every sip of tea he took, every casual gesture, every bite of bread, they watched him. Studying. Comparing. Searching for cracks in the calm mask he wore. But Xavier gave them nothing. He laughed at Seraphina’s playful complaint about him always asking for extra butter, teased Lyra when she nearly choked from staring too long, and even flicked Lilia’s forehead when she zoned out. It was him. Exactly him. So normal, so collected… that it only made their suspicions worse.

Once they finished, Xavier slid his bike key across the table to Lyra. “Take Lilia with you. Go out, have fun. Reva will join you at City Central.”

Lyra frowned, picking the key up. “Why don’t you come with us?”

He leaned back, folding his arms with that faint smirk. “Because I’ve got business at the academy. Besides, this is your girls’ day. No room for me. Drive slowly though, just like I taught you.” His tone carried that subtle warning that always made Lyra click her tongue.

Lilia tilted her head. “Why are you giving us your bike? How will you get to the academy?”

“Oliver’s coming to pick me up,” Xavier said easily. “If the bike stays with me, you two will think I’ve slipped off somewhere else. This way, no doubts.”

The girls exchanged a look, but Xavier didn’t give them time to push further. Soon, they were out on the streets.

Meanwhile, Xavier returned inside. He slipped into Seraphina’s kitchen, leaning against the counter while she prepped for the lunch rush. Seraphina leaned against the counter, arms folded, eyes locked on the doorway the second Xavier stepped in. She didn’t even bother with greetings—her hunger and anger was written all over her face.

“You’re late,” she murmured, voice low and edged with need.

Xavier set the slate of excuses aside and simply walked closer. “Relax. I brought what you need.”

Her lips parted, and moved closer, but she didn’t kiss him. She waited for him to take the lead, like always. He stepped in, tugged her by the waist, and pressed her against the counter. No drawn-out teasing, no wasted time.

He gave her what she’d been waiting for. His “juice,” warm and thick, filling her until the lust in her body eased. Her grip on him was tight, almost trembling, like she’d been starving all night.

When it was done, she stayed leaned against him, panting softly, her hunger soothed for now. A faint smile ghosted her lips, sharp eyes softening as the edge faded. “It was so risky… anyone could have walked in.”

“Don’t worry about that. All the employees are busy dealing with the customers.”

“You know…” she looked into his eyes. “I can lose this restaurant’s license if we were to get caught or if someone were to complain to the FDA. We just had sex in the kitchen!”

“We did nothing wrong. I just saved a starving person by giving her a dose of love. They should in fact award me for my deed.”

Seraphina kissed him on the lips and said, “I need more of that dose, you know?”

He fixed his collar, and gave her a flat smirk. “Don’t get addicted. I’m not a tap you can turn whenever you want.”

Seraphina chuckled under her breath, though her eyes were still glowing faintly red. “Too late for that.”

He only gave a slight nod before leaving.

But he didn’t go to his apartment. His steps carried him to the door next to it. Viola’s. He rang the bell once, and the lock clicked almost instantly.

The door opened, and there she stood, her hair loose, eyes bright with expectation. She leaned against the frame, lips curving into a knowing smile. “I’ve been waiting for you… ever since I got your message,” she whispered, stepping aside to let him in.

A few minutes later, muffled moans echoed from Viola’s apartment, exhausted and out of breath. Anyone outside would’ve thought something indecent was going on, but inside it was Xavier twisting her arm in a practiced lock before flipping her onto the padded mat. Viola groaned as she landed, breath catching, then let out another half-pained, half-pleasured sound as she laughed it off.

“Gods, Xavier, your grip’s brutal,” she said, rubbing her wrist as she pushed herself up. “Not bad though. You’re picking this up fast.”

Xavier rolled his shoulders, watching her movements closely before mimicking the stance again. Sweat dotted his forehead, but his eyes were sharp. “I want to learn everything I can.” He jabbed, pivoted, then tried the sweep she’d shown him. “Doesn’t matter if it’s martial arts, guns, or magic. I’ll take it all.”

Viola smirked, circling him with her hands on her hips. “Ambitious, aren’t you? But in space? Everyone’s packing plasma rifles, cybernetics, or hurling fireballs the size of a truck. Hand-to-hand won’t save your life out there.”

“Maybe not,” Xavier muttered, catching her strike mid-air and countering with a quick grapple, forcing her off balance. “But it might buy me enough time to survive. That’s all I need.”

Her smirk widened as she broke free and shoved him back. “Fair point. Still… don’t think quick learning means anything without real fights to back it up.”

Before Xavier could respond, his comm buzzed in his ear. He tapped his buds and answered. Angel’s voice came through, clear and sharp.

“Xavier. It’s happening. Ethan just listed the company for auction, exactly like you predicted.”

“I didn’t predict it,” Xavier replied flatly, dodging a kick from Viola as he spoke. “Ethan spelled it out himself.”

Angel ignored the jab. “Either way, the listing’s live. As you instructed, I’ve already masked it. No one else can see it, so when the bidding starts, only your uncle and I will be there to act as buyers. No outsiders to mess things up.”

Xavier caught Viola’s leg, spun her, and pinned her arm behind her back in one fluid motion. She let out another moan as she tapped the mat, signaling surrender. He let go and straightened, wiping his brow. “Good. Then you and my uncle get ready. Penthouse meeting’s set for today?”

“…was that a moan?”

“Uhh… kind of.”

“Are you talking to me while having sex with someone?!” she exclaimed.

“Don’t just assume shit.”

“Anyway, the meeting is at 17:00,” Angel confirmed without hesitation.

Xavier paused, thinking. “One more thing. Can you access Alexander’s mercenary registry? I want that list—names, records, success rates.”

“I can view it,” Angel said, “but exporting would leave traces in the logs. If I tamper too much, the penthouse system might flag suspicious activity. Too risky before the sale goes through.”

“Then mess with the reports,” Xavier said calmly, glancing at Viola, who was stretching her back with a groan. “Tweak the numbers.”

Angel hesitated. “What do you want changed?”

“Look for a mercenary named Viola.” His eyes met the real Viola’s, who raised a brow, overhearing her own name.

“Found her,” Angel replied. “Low success rate, weak record. The only note worth anything is… her appearance. Damn… she really is hot as fuck.”

Xavier smirked, almost amused. “Then fix it. Boost her numbers just enough that when Ethan gets his money and starts scouting for the best, she ranks high. I want him to choose her.”

“And then Ethan would come to her with the same money you bought his company with. And…”

“Yeah!” Xavier let out a loud scoff. “That money will come back to me.”

Xavier was playing 4D chess with Ethan, where he didn’t even need to perform a checkmate. He had won the moment Ethan chose to mess with him.

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