Head Of Intelligence

Chapter Five

Veyra’s POV

The next morning, I woke earlier than usual.

I had barely slept after everything that happened the previous day, and the conversation between Cairos and Orien kept returning to my mind no matter how many times I tried to push it away.

I got dressed for work and left after making sure Zuri is okay too.

The moment I stepped outside, I stopped.

Cairos was already seated in his car, ready to leave.

There was only one private car in the entire Underworld, and it belonged to Cairos. Most people moved around in military transports or settlement vehicles because fuel and working roads had become too valuable after the apocalypse.

When he saw me, he slowed down and lowered the window.

“I’m going your way. Get in.”

I opened the passenger door and got inside.

For several minutes, neither of us spoke.

The silence was not uncomfortable, but I could tell from the way he occasionally glanced at me that he had something to say.

Eventually, he looked at me. “Why didn’t you help the man who came to you yesterday?”

I turned toward him.

Who didn’t I help?

I had attended to countless requests from different settlements yesterday. Every request had been reviewed based on the level of danger, the number of people affected, and the resources available.

Then I remembered Orien standing in front of my desk.

I remembered the way he had knelt and begged me to save his settlement. “I…”

I wanted to tell Cairos that Orien did not deserve my help, but I stopped myself.

Cairos was too smart.

He was the 001 Commander, and he had known me for five years. He knew I did not normally refuse people who needed the Defense Network.

If I suddenly gave him a personal reason for refusing Orien, he would start asking questions.

“I had my reasons,” I finally said.

Cairos looked at me for a moment before turning his eyes back to the road.

“I can’t teach you your work.” His voice remained calm. “You know what to do.”

I nodded.

He did not question my decision again.

The car stopped outside my building.

I reached for the door, but before I stepped out, I looked back at him. “Cairos…”

He glanced at me.

I wanted to ask whether he knew about Orien and me, whether he knew that I had once been married to his brother, and whether he already knew the truth about everything that happened five years ago.

But I couldn’t bring myself to ask. “Nothing.”

His eyes remained on me for another second before he nodded.

I stepped out of the car and watched him drive away before entering the building.

The moment I reached my office, my assistant hurried toward me. “Ma’am.”

I looked at her. “What is it?”

“There are two people waiting for you.”

“Who?”

She hesitated. “I don’t know, but one of them is the man who came to you yesterday.”

My steps stopped. “The man who knelt and begged me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Orien?”

She nodded.

I took a slow breath before walking toward my office.

When I opened the door, I saw them sitting inside as though they belonged there.

Orien stood first. Vessa remained seated for a moment before slowly rising.

My eyes immediately fell on the insignia on her uniform.

The Head of Intelligence.

I stared at it for a moment. When did she become the Head of Intelligence?

Vessa noticed my eyes and smiled. “Oh.”

She tilted her head. “So this is the Head of Defense.”

I said nothing.

I simply walked toward my desk and placed my files down. I had known Vessa for years before the apocalypse.

She had been my best friend, now she stood in front of me wearing one of the highest positions in the Underworld.

Orien stepped forward. “I told you yesterday that you should have helped me.”

I looked at him. “And I didn’t regret my decision”

“Really? Talk all you want but watch what happens because of it”

Vessa smiled. “You refused to help him, yet you are still sitting comfortably in that position.” Her eyes moved over my uniform. “I honestly wonder how you managed to become Head of Defense.”

I remained silent.

She walked closer. “Weren’t you helpless when you first arrived here? Now you are one of the most important women in the Underworld.” Her smile became colder. “Tell me, what did you have to do to reach this position?”

Orien gave a low laugh.

I looked at Vessa without reacting.

She wanted to provoke me, but I would not give her the satisfaction.

“You have become quite powerful,” she continued. “But don’t forget that there are people above you.” She touched the insignia on her uniform. “Intelligence controls information. Without information, your Defense Network is blind.”

I finally looked at her. “And without defense, your intelligence officers have nowhere to hide.”

Her smile disappeared.

Orien stepped forward. “You still think you can speak to us like this?”

“I am speaking to you exactly as I would speak to anyone who enters my office without an appointment.”

Vessa’s eyes narrowed. “You really think this position belongs to you?”

“I earned it.”

“You earned it? Well my uncle gave me mine”

That made me look at her.

She smiled. “And my uncle has the respect of the 001 Commander.”

My fingers tightened slightly.

She noticed. “He listens to my uncle,” she continued. “So don’t become too comfortable, Head of Defense.”

Orien walked toward the door. “You had your chance yesterday.”

He stopped beside Vessa. “Now you can watch us take everything you built.”

Vessa looked at me one last time. “I’ll speak to my uncle.”

She smiled. “Let’s see how long you remain Head of Defense.”

They walked out together.

The door closed behind them.

I remained standing in the middle of my office.

For the first time since becoming Head of Defense, I wondered if my position was truly secure.

Vessa’s uncle was ranked 003.

Orien had betrayed Cairos in the past, yet he still seemed confident enough to believe that his brother would eventually need him and Vessa had just told me that her uncle had the respect of the 001 Commander.

I slowly sat behind my desk.

Cairos. If what Vessa said was true, how much influence did 003 really have over him?

And if Cairos truly respected him, would he allow them to take my position away from me?