The heavy steel gates of the Fox Forest estate slid open.
Aleksander drove his matte-gray Ducati down the ramp and into his bright, massive underground bunker.
He parked the bike, the kickstand clicking into place.
Tossing aside his tailored jacket, he walked straight into the main workshop.
It was time to leave the high school drama behind and get back to the real world: his underworld operations.
“Cortana,” Aleksander called out, his voice echoing in the large room.
“High school is on pause for the weekend.
Get the gear ready, finalize my flight to New York, and prep the prototype armor.
It’s time to take care of the hit.”
“Got it, Aleksander,” Cortana’s smooth voice replied.
The glowing screens around the room shifted.
Folders on Riverdale students disappeared, replaced by blueprints of a New York hotel and tracking maps for his targets, Floriana Campo and Alban Veseli.
“All systems are good to go.
Packing your weapons and gear now.”
Before Aleksander could check the final details, a soft chime grabbed his attention.
His phone was ringing on the steel workbench.
It was a sleek, custom piece of tech—a clear glass screen framed by smooth, glossy black edges.
A bright teal “Apex” logo glowed in the top corner.
When he picked it up, he could see his hand right through the glass.
Bright blue text and menus floated on the screen.
The display changed, showing a secure, encrypted caller ID.
Aleksander tapped the glass to answer.
“Father.”
“Aleksander,” Koji’s voice came through.
He sounded calm, but with the heavy authority of a man who ruled Yakuza.
“I looked over your reports.
You’re settling into town well, and I see you took the Campo job.
But you are handling too much by yourself.
I’m sending someone to Riverdale to be your personal assistant.”
Aleksander frowned, clearly annoyed.
He liked working alone, trusting only his own brain and Cortana.
“I don’t need a babysitter, Father.
And I definitely don’t need some secretary getting in the way of my work.”
“She is neither of those things,” Koji replied smoothly, ignoring his son’s tone.
“Her name is Page.
She’s been a high-level con artist for the past five years.
She’s a master grifter.
She knows how to read people, forge documents, and move hidden money.
She knows our world very well.”
Aleksander listened, reading through Page’s hidden files as they scrolled across his clear screen.
“Right now, you are trying to be a billionaire CEO, a secret operative, and a high school student all at once,” Koji pointed out.
“You need someone on the ground.
Someone to handle the normal business stuff and cover for you while you do…
what you do best.
She will be very useful.”
Aleksander looked over at his glowing tactical armor sitting in the vault.
His father was right.
Dealing with Veronica’s family, solving Riverdale’s mysteries, running his company, and hunting assassins was stretching him too thin.
A skilled con artist could handle the problems he didn’t have time for.
“Fine,” Aleksander finally agreed, his frown fading.
“Send her.
“She already knows,” Koji said, a hint of a smile in his voice.
“Good luck in New York, my son.”
The call ended.
Aleksander put the phone in his pocket and looked back up at the glowing screens.
“Cortana,” Aleksander said.
He grabbed a sleek pistol from the rack and checked the ammo.
“Add a new security code to the front gate for our guest.
And get the jet ready.
We have a flight to catch.”
A few hours before that phone call, a very different meeting happened outside a dark, private VIP lounge in Tokyo.
Max Conners grabbed her daughter’s arm, her perfectly manicured nails digging into Page’s sleeve.
“Page, focus,” Max whispered fiercely, looking her daughter up and down.
“This isn’t one of our usual rich, clueless targets.
This is Koji.
We owe him.”
Page rolled her eyes, flipping her hair and adjusting her silk blouse.
“Mom, it was one tiny mistake with a fake company—”
“It was the Yakuza, Page!” Max snapped back in a harsh whisper.
“They were going to kill me!
If Koji hadn’t stepped in to save us, I’d be at the bottom of Tokyo Bay right now.
In his world, a life debt means everything.
So when we walk in there, you smile, you nod, and you let me do the talking.
Actually, unbutton that top button—wait, no, button it back up.
He’s old-school.
Just look pretty and sorry.”
Page let out a loud sigh but followed her mother through the heavy wooden doors.
Inside, Koji sat at the head of a shiny black table.
He looked calm and powerful, slowly pouring a cup of green tea.
A sleek samurai sword rested on a stand behind him.
He had a heavy, quiet presence that commanded respect.
“Maxine.
Page,” Koji said, his voice low and raspy.
“Please, sit.
We live our lives dealing with consequences.
The consequence of your little scam in Roppongi…
is that your lives now belong to me.”
Max instantly turned on her million-dollar charm.
She gave a bright, polite smile.
“And we are so grateful for your help, Koji.
Truly.
Whatever you need, just ask.”
Koji set his teacup down, looking right at them.
“I have a son, Aleksander.
He’s currently handling some tricky business in a town called Riverdale.
He needs a shadow.
Someone who knows how to lie, hide money, and manipulate people.
Page, you will join his team and act as his personal assistant.”
Page got defensive right away, completely forgetting her mother’s warning.
“Excuse me?
An assistant?
I’m a closer.
I take rich men for everything they have; I don’t pick up their dry cleaning!”
Before Max could panic and apologize, Koji slid a glossy photo across the table.
Page stopped talking.
She looked down at the picture.
It was Aleksander Morozov.
As a top-tier con artist, Page made sure she knew the faces and bank accounts of every major CEO out there.
Aleksander wasn’t just a trillionaire; he was the mysterious, insanely handsome tech genius at the very top of her wish list.
Seeing his sharp jawline and dark eyes, her bad mood vanished instantly.
“Oh,” Page murmured.
Her frown turned into a sly, interested smile as she leaned over the table.
“Well…
the job market is pretty tight right now.
I guess I can be flexible.”
“Don’t misunderstand me, Page,” Koji warned.
He didn’t raise his voice, but the room suddenly felt a lot colder.
“He is not a target for you to rob.
If you try to run a scam on Aleksander, you will find he is far less forgiving than I am.
You work for him.
You watch his back.”
Koji leaned back, resting his hands on the table.
“In exchange for your loyalty, your life debt is cleared.
Plus, you will be paid well for your time.
Eight hundred million dollars.”
Max actually choked.
Page’s eyes went wide.
In the con-artist world, an $800 million payout wasn’t just a big score.
It was enough money to buy an island.
“Excuse us for just a second, Koji,” Max managed to squeak out, forcing a smile.
Max grabbed Page’s arm and practically dragged her to the far corner of the room, turning their backs to the table.
“Page, look at me,” Max whispered, practically shaking with excitement.
“Eight.
Hundred.
Million.
We can finally stop marrying terrible, wheezing old men.
We can buy our own country!
We can retire!”
“I know, I know!” Page whispered back.
She glanced over her shoulder at Koji with a giddy smile.
“I get to hang around the most gorgeous billionaire on the planet, and we get almost a billion dollars?
Mom, I’m practically putting on my secretary outfit right now.”
“Don’t ruin this for us, Page,” Max warned, gripping her daughter’s shoulders.
“You play the loyal assistant, you smile at the pretty boy, and we cash out.
Got it?”
“Got it,” Page grinned.
Max smoothed out her face, stood up straight, and turned back to the table with a bright, professional smile.
“Koji,” Max said, walking back over with a polite nod.
“Consider Page ready for work.”
Lovers
1)Page Conners from Heart Breakers