Chapter 536: Dumplings

[Black Dragon Corporation]

Lucian sat behind his desk, staring into the distance as his thoughts wandered elsewhere.

He had just finished meeting with the company’s board members, many of whom also held positions within Dominion. During the meeting, he had informed them that there might be one—or several—moles inside the organization.

Now, all he had to do was wait.

Sooner or later, the guilty parties would make a mistake.

Knock. Knock.

Lucian didn’t react when the door opened and Gustav entered.

Gustav stopped several steps from the desk. As always, his posture was rigid and his expression stern. He placed a folder on the desk before giving his report.

"I’ve assigned people to follow every board member," he said. "The moment any of them makes a suspicious move, we’ll take the necessary measures."

Lucian didn’t look at him. "Good work."

Gustav lowered his head briefly, but he didn’t leave.

"About Nikki..." he began. "Lukas wants her removed from the company. He doesn’t believe she can be trusted, especially after Madam Ashley gave her complete authority over one of our major projects."

"I know."

Lucian turned his chair toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city stretched beneath him, covered by a gray afternoon sky.

"But Ashley has other plans," he continued. "She wants Nikki to remain in the company."

Gustav frowned.

After everything he had witnessed, he no longer doubted Ashley’s abilities. Still, that didn’t mean he understood her decision.

"Master, I’m not questioning whatever plan the madam has put into motion," he said carefully. "But I want to understand why she still needs Nikki. I can no longer trust that woman."

Even Lukas, who had once been in love with Nikki, had lost all faith in her.

Nikki had returned under the High Chamber’s orders while Lucian was recovering. She had claimed that she was there to help Ashley oversee Dominion. Tinie, Jony, and several others had arrived with her.

Tinie had already exposed his true allegiance when he shot Tommy.

The others remained inside the organization.

They were being investigated, but Gustav didn’t expect any of them to confess. These people had been trained to endure pressure and conceal information.

They wouldn’t talk unless they chose to.

"You don’t need to trust anyone, Gustav." Lucian finally turned his gaze toward his right-hand man. "This is no longer about trust. It’s about determining who can still be useful to us."

His eyes sharpened. "Until we know that, do what needs to be done."

Gustav’s jaw tightened. "Yes, Master."

He bowed his head and bid Lucian farewell. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the office.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, a figure approaching from the opposite direction caught his attention.

Nikki.

She stopped a few steps away from him.

"I need to speak with him," she said. "Is he available?"

Coldness flickered through Gustav’s eyes.

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he stepped aside and walked past her.

Nikki remained where she was, watching him pass without acknowledging her. She scoffed before turning toward him.

"Gustav."

His steps didn’t stop.

"I know it’s difficult for any of you to trust me," she called after him. "But my goal has never changed. I still want to help Dominion remain the strongest organization in the underground."

Gustav stopped.

Her words echoed in his head, almost making him laugh.

Slowly, he looked over his shoulder and met her gaze.

"You sold Lukas and me to save yourself," he reminded her. "I can understand wanting to survive. But you sold us to people who had no intention of protecting the master you swore your life to."

Nikki’s expression stiffened.

"We all wanted to live," Gustav continued. "But unlike you, we remembered that we had a duty."

He drew a deep breath and faced forward again.

"Then again, perhaps I expected too much. At the end of the day, we’re still part of a criminal organization."

Gustav resumed walking. "And we’re all criminally minded."

Nikki stared at his back as he disappeared down the hallway. Her expression tightened, but she refused to call after him again.

She exhaled sharply and turned toward Lucian’s office.

After composing herself, she knocked.

"Come in."

Nikki straightened her back, arranged a gentle smile on her face, and opened the door.

The moment she entered, her gaze landed on Lucian behind his desk.

He was still facing the windows.

"Lucian," she called softly.

She approached the desk and placed her folder on top of the one Gustav had left behind.

"I’ve finished meeting with our partners," she reported. Her voice was softer than necessary for a business report. "Everything went according to plan."

Lucian didn’t answer.

He didn’t even look at her.

Nikki drew a quiet breath and curled her fingers into her palms.

"Lucian, how have you been?" she tried again. "I heard what happened to Tinie. It’s a shame that someone so capable turned his back on Dominion."

Still, Lucian said nothing.

"I understand that all of this happened because people saw you in a weakened state," she continued. "But once you’ve fully recovered, Dominion will become stronger than ever."

Her smile trembled. "I believe in you."

Nikki waited for any sign that he had heard her.

Even a dismissive word would have been enough.

But Lucian remained motionless.

Nikki’s chest tightened.

"Are you angry with me too?" she finally asked, frustration slipping into her voice.

She didn’t care much about Gustav’s opinion. As for Lukas, she felt a little guilty because she had genuinely considered him a good friend.

However, neither of their opinions mattered as much as Lucian’s.

"I thought you would understand my decision," she continued despite receiving no response. "You wouldn’t have wanted your people to suffer merely because you had fallen. At least, the Black Dragon I knew wouldn’t have wanted that."

Her eyes studied his side profile.

"If I had known someone was poisoning you, I would’ve done everything in my power to stop it."

Lucian remained silent.

The way everyone else avoided her was something Nikki could endure. But his indifference hurt.

"You know my heart—"

Out of nowhere, the office door suddenly flew open.

"My boo!"

Nikki flinched and whipped her head toward the entrance.

Ashley strolled into the office without bothering to knock, a bright smile on her face.

She stopped when she noticed Nikki.

For one brief second, the two women stared at each other. Then Ashley’s smile widened.

"Hey there."

She resumed walking, heading directly toward Lucian.

Nikki could only watch as Ashley practically skipped around the desk and slipped onto Lucian’s lap as if the space had always belonged to her.

The moment Ashley settled against him, Lucian finally emerged from his thoughts.

"Stop overthinking." Ashley cupped his face and pressed a quick kiss to the tip of his nose. "I’m here now. Just think about me."

The coldness in Lucian’s expression melted almost instantly. The corners of his mouth lifted as he stared at his wife.

Only then did he glance toward Nikki.

"Lock the door on your way out." His eyes returned to Ashley before Nikki could respond. "What took you so long?"

"Traffic." Ashley pouted. "What about you? What were you thinking about so seriously that you didn’t even notice me come in?"

Lucian blinked slowly. "Dumplings."

Ashley stared at him. "Dumplings?"

"You said you liked the dumplings from the restaurant we passed a few days ago." He slid an arm around her waist. "I was wondering whether I should get some for you on our way home."

Ashley’s eyes brightened.

Nikki stood frozen on the other side of the desk.

She looked from Ashley to Lucian, forcing herself to maintain a composed expression as she swallowed the painful sight before her.

Just moments ago, Lucian hadn’t spared her a single glance.

Yet Ashley had only entered the room, and suddenly, he smiled.

Suddenly, he spoke.

Suddenly, his eyes held warmth.

"I left the reports on your desk," Nikki murmured, lowering her head.

Neither of them acknowledged her.

Her voice disappeared beneath their casual conversation.

Nikki tightened her fist and turned toward the door.

As she walked away, Ashley’s gaze slid toward her.

The sweetness in her expression remained, but something colder flickered in her eyes.

A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.

Back then, you killed me long before I actually died.

Ashley turned her attention back to Lucian, her smile becoming warm once more. But inside her mind, the rest of the promise echoed.

This time, I’ll kill you while you’re still breathing.