Chapter 111: Meet Maverick
Avery’s car glided into the basement of Damien’s estate, the soft hum of the engine echoing against the cement walls. Evelyn glanced around, the low lighting and stark walls giving the place an eerie feeling. She couldn’t remember ever being down here—Damien always handled his business elsewhere. She looked at Avery, expecting her friend to feel the same unease, but Avery’s expression was, surprisingly, one of amusement.
"Well, I didn’t think he’d be this cliché," Avery smirked as they stepped out of the car, her heels clicking on the concrete. "A secretive basement office? Really? How very mafia of him."
Evelyn shook her head. "This one is better than the one I visited last time." Luckily, Damien seemed to be kind enough to choose a different location, as going through that road would remind her of their accident again.
Avery shrugged. "True, but this is next level. I was expecting a sleek office in some high-rise building, but not this. Batcave." She paused, looking at the metal door that led deeper into the estate’s basement levels. "Makes me wonder what things he’s been hiding down here."
"Guess we’re about to find out," Evelyn said quietly, moving forward. As the two women approached the door, Evelyn noticed her hand shaking slightly as she reached for the handle. Whether it was from nerves or the cold air seeping through the cracks, she couldn’t tell.
The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit stairway leading further down. Avery arched a brow. "Seriously? This is straight out of a crime novel." Her teasing tone broke the tension a little, and Evelyn found herself rolling her eyes.
"Come on, let’s just get this over with," Evelyn said, leading the way down the stairs.
The cold of the basement seemed to grow as they descended, the air thick with a sense of secrecy. It wasn’t long before they reached the end of the staircase, where another heavy door stood in their path. Before Evelyn could knock, the door swung open, revealing Lucius on the other side. His face was unreadable, as always, though there was a certain gravity in his posture that made Evelyn’s pulse quicken.
"Welcome," Lucius stepped aside, allowing them to enter. "Damien is waiting for you."