As Aurora left her room, she dressed casually, feigning ignorance of Enzo's presence at the hotel. Making her way to the restaurant, she selected a corner table and pretended to be engrossed in her phone. Max was already seated a few tables ahead, and Aurora discreetly put on a small earpiece, concealing it beneath her hair as she continued scrolling through her phone.

Suddenly, she heard a voice asking if she would like to place her order. Startled, she looked up to see the menu held before her, but when she reached for it, she froze. The man holding the menu was none other than Enzo.

Standing tall, looking every bit the embodiment of perfection, Enzo approached Aurora with a smirk adorning his face. Aurora, unfazed, returned the smirk and remarked, "Took you long enough."

Enzo's smirk widened as he replied, "Well, with a talent as yours, even the best of my guys needed hours to figure out. But then, here we are." With a gesture, he asked, "May I?" and took a seat opposite hers.

They both ordered steak and wine, their eyes locked in a silent conversation that echoed the intrigue from the previous night. Their effortless rapport and magnetic connection didn't go unnoticed by the onlookers, who were there for safety but couldn't help but be drawn in by the palpable chemistry between them.

"I bet there shall be no verbal conversation for the next hour," remarked Ralph, observing the charged atmosphere between Aurora and Enzo.

Edgar shook his head in disagreement. "Nah, they'll talk after they get food. They are just... sizing each other up," he predicted with a hint of amusement.

Their predictions were interrupted as the waiter returned with their orders, cutting off their silent communication. Seizing the moment, Enzo leaned forward and addressed Aurora. "Well, Miss Aurora Merwell, what do you have to say about me?" he inquired with a hint of amusement.

Aurora's lips curved into a playful smile as she leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, Mr. Santoro, where do I even begin?" she replied, her voice laced with humor and intrigue, the tension between them palpable.

Aurora chuckled, amused by Enzo's attempt to maintain an air of superiority. "Well, for starters," she began, her tone playful yet confident, "Name : Enzo Roman Santoro;          Age : 28 years; Leader of Shadevale ;             Currently resides in his own mansion on 23 Green Avenue ; and has a liking for a 24-year-old hacker , aka me."

Enzo's smile widened at Aurora's response, his gaze lingering on her with a newfound appreciation. "Well, you've got a lot down there, Miss Merwell. Or may I have the honor to call you Aurora?" he asked, his tone gentle yet filled with intrigue.

Aurora met his gaze steadily, a hint of playfulness dancing in her eyes. "Oh, feel free to do so, Enzo," she replied casually, her nonchalant use of his name sending a thrill down his spine.

In that moment, Enzo felt a surge of desire coursing through him, an overwhelming urge to possess her, to unravel every secret she held. This feeling was unfamiliar to him, unexpected yet undeniable. He had always prided himself on his self-control, on his ability to keep emotions at bay. But now, in the presence of Aurora, all of that seemed to crumble away, leaving only raw and unbridled passion in its wake.

As they continued to exchange banter, Enzo found himself captivated by Aurora's confidence and boldness. There was something intoxicating about her, something that drew him in like a moth to a flame. He couldn't help but be fascinated by the lengths she was willing to go to, by her willingness to play the game on her own terms.

But just as he was about to lose himself completely in her presence, Enzo was abruptly brought back to reality by Ralph's voice over the earpiece. "Brother, you gonna speak anything worthwhile or are we gonna waste the trip?" Ralph's straightforward words snapped Enzo out of his reverie, reminding him of the purpose behind their meeting.

Despite the interruption, Enzo couldn't shake the feeling of elation that lingered within him. Aurora had managed to captivate him in a way he had never thought possible, and he found himself eagerly anticipating what other surprises she had in store for him. As they continued their meal, Enzo couldn't help but wonder where this newfound connection would lead, and he was more than willing to find out.

Clearing his throat, Enzo refocused on the conversation at hand. "Well, 'Aurora,' how come you are here in Astor?" he inquired, trying to steer the discussion back to more pressing matters.

Aurora's response was confident and unfazed. "I thought you had the best team, huh? Was it too tough to find?" Enzo found her assertiveness intriguing.

"We have speculations, but we would like to hear about it from you yourself," Enzo stated, his tone measured as he waited for her response.

"We?" Aurora questioned with a curious smirk catching Enzo off guards making him wonder if she was aware that Ralph and Edgar were listening in, although he couldn't confirm anything. "The woman sure is good at poker," he thought, impressed by her composure.

Clearing his throat, Enzo attempted to regain control of the conversation. "Well, that's not the answer I was looking for," he stated, his tone slightly strained as he held back his composure.

Aurora's gentle chuckle only added to his intrigue as she lifted her glass of wine. "Well, I got bored playing the child games, so what's a better place to go pro?" she replied casually, her words dripping with confidence and a hint of mischief. Enzo couldn't help but admire her audacity, even as he struggled to decipher her true intentions.

Enzo attempted to steer the conversation towards more practical matters. "So, what are your plans ahead?" he inquired, hoping for some insight into Aurora's intentions.

Aurora's response was nonchalant. "Come on, Enzo, I'm not that planned. I'll tell you when I decide on it," she replied with a shrug, her words leaving the atmosphere unresolved.

Enzo interjected, sensing an opportunity. "Well, if you don't have plans yet, you could join me," he suggested, earning another curious glance from Aurora.

Quickly realizing the need for damage control, Enzo continued, "You clearly have the skills, and you're here to make money. We need skills and can offer you money, so... we could work that out if you don't mind."

Enzo's nervous demeanor at the end of his proposal caught Ralph and Edgar off guard, earning a shared sigh from them. They found it difficult to reconcile this nervous version of their typically composed and stoic friend with the confident leader they were accustomed to.

Max, who had only known Enzo as an emotionless and ruthless figure, was equally shocked by the sudden shift in his demeanor. Enzo, the man to be feared, was now sitting before them, displaying a vulnerability that was entirely new to them—a man seemingly in the throes of love, nervous like a schoolboy with a crush. 

"I'll have to think about that," replied Aurora, her expression conflicted as she considered Edgar's offer. Sensing her hesitation, Enzo decided not to add any further pressure. Instead, he passed her his personal business card. "You can call on the number that's mine," he said, offering her a way to reach him directly.

Aurora accepted the card with a small smile. "I feel grateful for the honors, my lord," she remarked playfully, their exchange earning chuckles from both of them.

With the tension slightly eased, the rest of the lunch passed in a more relaxed manner. They enjoyed their food, engaged in light conversation, and exchanged meaningful glances, each silently acknowledging the connection between them.

Walking out of the restaurant, Aurora offered to accompany Enzo to the reception, but he declined firmly. "Nuh-uh, mademoiselle. I shall leave on my own. You need to be in the safety of your room, and that is where we are going first," he stated with a commanding tone, his eyes leaving no room for argument or resistance.

Aurora felt a heavy weight settle in her stomach, fearing that Enzo might discover the equipment she had set up in her room—files about him, evidence of her investigation. Each step felt heavier than the last as they approached her room's door.

Upon reaching her room, Aurora attempted to dismiss Enzo, saying, "I have reached the safe zone. You may take your leave."

Enzo raised an eyebrow, sensing her attempt to cut the conversation short. "Cutting it short now, are we?" he remarked, his tone playful yet probing.

Aurora met his gaze head-on, a smirk playing on her lips. "I would have invited you, but it wouldn't be a safe zone anymore, would it?" she countered, her words laced with a hint of challenge.

Enzo smiled warmly. "I'll be waiting for the call," he said, his voice carrying a note of anticipation.

Aurora nodded in acknowledgment. "I'll think about when to do the honors," she replied with a small smile.

As Enzo left smiling ear to ear, as a sense of relief washed over Aurora. She entered her room, exhaling deeply, grateful to have narrowly avoided a potential disaster. The encounter had left her on edge, but she couldn't deny the thrill of the unexpected connection she had forged with Enzo.

People ... this is how you get hired by a crime lord , take notes (btw not my fault if you die)

Ralph and Edgar need a pay raise .. and Max needs to get paid (Enzo and Aurora be taking illegitimate benefit of friendship now)