Ava
swirled her drink, watching the slow ripple of amber liquid in her glass. She had felt the eyes on her for the past few minutes—calculating, curious, predatory in the way traders assessed competition. She let them watch.
It wasn’t until the woman finally approached that Ava allowed herself a slow smirk.
Jessica
slid into the seat beside her, gaze flicking over Ava like she was trying to place her. "Haven’t seen you around before."
Ava
tilted her head, expression cool. "That’s the idea."
Jessica
smirked. "A mystery. I like that. What’s your trade?"
Ava
leaned back, lazily running her finger along the rim of her glass. "Energy."
Jessica’s
brow lifted. "Big field."
Ava
exhaled through her nose. "Not for me. I have a large supply."
Jessica’s
smile twitched, forced casual. "A
large
supply?"
Ava
nodded, letting the words sink in. "Penny-selling a few power cells doesn’t put a dent in my stock."
Jessica
tilted her head, studying Ava more closely now. "And yet, here you are. Selling like everyone else."
Ava
smirked. "You think I came here to sell?"
Jessica
paused, something flickering in her expression. "What else would you be doing?"
Ava
lifted her glass in mock salute. "Checking the market. Seeing what’s worth my time."
Jessica
let out a short laugh, but there was tension in it now. "Sounds like something Anton would do."
Ava
took a slow sip, letting the silence stretch. Then, finally—
"I don’t know Anton."
Jessica’s
smile faltered. "He introduced you, though."
Ava
shrugged. "I let him."
Jessica
stared at Ava for a moment, as if trying to peel back layers that weren’t there. Then, her expression shifted—cool, composed, but interested.
"You should meet my boss."
Ava
raised a brow, feigning curiosity. "Should I?"
Jessica
smirked. "If you’re really sitting on a
large
supply, then yes. He’s always looking for reliable energy sources."
Ava
let a slow, calculated smile spread across her lips. "Then lead the way."
Jessica
motioned for her to follow, weaving through the high-end lounge with ease. Ava trailed behind, every step deliberate, every movement controlled. Lucas had prepared her well.
At a private table near the back,
Elijah Locke sat with two other military men, a glass of expensive whiskey in hand.
Jessica
approached first. "Captain, got someone you might want to meet."
Locke
looked up, sharp blue eyes scanning Ava in an instant. His gaze lingered—not in the way men looked at women, but in the way tacticians evaluated threats. Then, he smiled.
Jessica
gestured smoothly. "This is—"
"Ava Zhang,"
Ava cut in, extending a hand before Jessica could try to introduce her differently.
Locke
chuckled, shaking it firmly. "Straight to the point. I like that."
Ava
tilted her head, letting her confidence bleed through. "I hear you’re looking for fuel."
Locke
leaned back, smirking. "Depends on the supplier."
Ava
didn’t hesitate. She reached into her bag and pulled out a sleek black case, setting it down on the table between them. The latch clicked open with a smooth metallic snap.
Inside was
three modified fuel cells. Compact. Polished. Enhanced.
Locke’s
eyes flicked over them, sharp, assessing. He didn’t reach for them immediately. Smart.
Ava
smirked. "These aren’t your standard bunker-grade cells. Modified efficiency, longer lifespan, minimal heat waste." She tapped one lightly. "And no military tracking codes."
Locke
arched a brow. "Custom work?"
Ava
shrugged, leaning back. "Let’s just say I know someone."
Jessica
leaned in slightly, curiosity flickering across her face. "And just how many of these do you have?"
Ava
tilted her head, pretending to think. "Enough to make it worth your while."
Locke
finally picked one up, rolling it between his fingers. "And why bring them to me?"
Ava
smirked. "Because I like smart buyers."
Locke
chuckled. "Flattery. Nice touch."
Ava
raised a brow. "Just stating facts. You have resources, I have supply. I think we can make something work."
Locke
glanced at Jessica, then back at Ava, his smirk widening. "Alright, Zhang. You have my attention."
Ava
leaned forward slightly, letting the confidence bleed into her tone. "I promised a shipment to another buyer here in two days. But—" she tapped the open case, voice smooth, "—I can send in another batch for you in two weeks."
Locke’s
eyes flicked up, meeting hers. "Two weeks?"
Ava
tilted her head. "Unless, of course, you don’t want to wait."
Jessica
stiffened slightly beside him. "You’re saying you can reroute your existing buyer’s shipment?"
Ava
smirked. "I’m saying I’m flexible. If the right offer is made."
Locke
studied her for a moment before setting the fuel cell back down. "And what kind of offer are you looking for?"
Ava
ran a finger along the rim of her glass, as if considering. "Payment in energy cores. No tokens, no trade goods. Just cores."
Locke’s
brow lifted slightly. "That’s a steep ask."
Ava
shrugged. "For standard supply, sure. But I don’t deal in standard."
Jessica
exhaled sharply, arms crossing. "Who was your original buyer?"
Ava
smirked. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"
Locke
chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, Zhang. You want an offer?"
He
studied Ava for a long moment, his sharp blue eyes flicking over her face, her posture, the way she carried herself. Then—he smirked.
"Alright, Zhang.
"Let’s see if we can make this work."
Ava
tilted her head, feigning amusement. "Simple questions rarely have simple answers."
Locke
chuckled. "Then let’s see how complicated you want to make this."
He
picked up one of the modified fuel cells again, turning it in his fingers. "Who’s your supplier?"
Ava
leaned back, swirling her drink. "Me."
Jessica’s
brow furrowed. "You personally manufacture these?"
Ava
smirked. "Let’s just say I have a hand in the process."
Locke
watched her carefully. "And where’s your operation based?"
Ava
let the silence stretch, then sighed. "You really expect me to answer that?"
Locke
laughed. "Had to try."
Jessica
cut in, eyes narrowing slightly. "You said you already had a buyer. Who?"
Ava
lifted a brow. "I don’t share my client list."
Locke
smirked. "But you’re willing to cut them off for the right price?"
Ava
grinned. "Call it prioritizing efficiency."
Jessica
leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "How long have you been trading in Level One?"
Ava
sighed, setting her drink down. "You ask a lot of questions for someone who hasn’t made an offer yet."
Locke
laughed. "Fair enough." He set the fuel cell back down and folded his hands. "Then let’s stop wasting time."
His eyes gleamed.
"Name your terms."
Ava
didn’t hesitate. She leaned forward slightly, voice smooth and deliberate. "I want energy cores."
Locke
studied her, weighing the request. "How many?"
Ava
tapped the fuel cell in front of her. "For this shipment? Thirty high-grade cores. Non-damaged. Stored properly."
Jessica
snorted. "That’s a steep price."
Ava
smirked. "Not for what I’m offering."
Locke
drummed his fingers against the table, then nodded. "Twenty-five cores."
Ava
arched a brow. "Thirty, or I walk."
Locke
chuckled. "You drive a hard bargain, Zhang."
Ava
leaned back, swirling her drink. "You haven’t even seen how hard yet."
Locke
exhaled sharply, then smirked. "Fine. Thirty cores."
Jessica
frowned slightly, arms crossing. "And how do we know you’ll deliver?"
Ava
tilted her head, feigning mild offense. "You think I’d walk into Level One, sit at your table, and make empty promises?"
Locke
chuckled, but his sharp gaze stayed locked onto hers. "Let’s just say I like guarantees."
Ava
smirked, reaching into her bag. With a smooth motion, she pulled out a sleek black case and placed it on the table. "Then how about this?"
She
flipped it open, revealing six neatly packed fuel cells. "Take a sample. Six for now. When you hand over my payment—you get the rest."
Locke
exhaled sharply, clearly intrigued. He reached for one of the fuel cells, rolling it between his fingers. "And when’s the full exchange?"
Ava
tapped the side of her glass, completely at ease. "You have twenty-four hours. I still have a few more deals to close before then."
Jessica
stiffened slightly, but Locke just grinned. "Busy trader."
Ava
returned the grin. "Wouldn’t be worth your time if I wasn’t."
She
reached into her bag again and pulled out a second case—this one smaller, packed with thin, high-grade computer chips.
Locke’s
casual posture snapped into something sharper. His military instincts kicked in, eyes flicking between her and the chips.
Ava saw it immediately. Oh.
So that’s what excites him.
"Secrets and favors,"
she murmured, voice just loud enough for Locke to hear. "That’s what really buys power, isn’t it?"
Locke’s
grip tightened on the fuel cell, but his smirk widened. "Zhang, I think I like you."
Ava
grinned, pushing the stack of chips toward him. "Then let’s see how much."
Locke’s
smirk hadn’t even settled before Ava smoothly pulled the stack of chips back toward her.
"But you can’t be my buyer."
Jessica
stiffened immediately. "Excuse me?"
Locke
tilted his head, amusement flickering behind sharp blue eyes. "Now that’s an interesting way to negotiate."
Ava
shrugged, tucking the case of computer chips back into her bag. "I deal in fuel, Captain. These?" She tapped the bag. "They’re something else entirely."
Locke
leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table. "And what exactly makes me ineligible?"
Ava
smirked. "You’re too public. Too controlled." She gestured vaguely to Jessica. "You don’t make your own moves. You follow orders. That makes you unreliable."
Jessica
scowled. "You don’t even know how we operate."
Ava arched a brow. "Don’t I?"
Locke
chuckled, rubbing his jaw. "So if I can’t buy them... who can?"
Ava
stood, adjusting the strap of her bag. "That’s for me to decide."
Locke
watched her carefully, amusement never quite leaving his face. "And what if I change your mind?"
Ava
smirked. "Then I’ll be impressed."
She
turned, leaving them sitting at the table. Because she had just done exactly what Lucas had taught her.
Make them chase.