The Uninvited Intruder

Camille looked at Stella mockingly, watching the fear gradually spread across her face.

Finally, she seemed to grow bored and released her. Stella collapsed onto the floor, her body still trembling.

Camille bent down and pinched her chin, forcing her to look up.

"Stella, killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant. Remember that I'm in control here, and stay out of my way."

She released her chin and stood up, leaving Stella frozen in fear as she walked away.

......

After freshening up, Camille sat in her room with her laptop open. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as encrypted codes flashed across the screen.

Since legitimate websites offered little useful information about the Rodriguez family, she turned to the dark web.

Fortunately, her search wasn't in vain.

Matteo Rodriguez, the eldest son of the family, usually resided at the Rodriguez Mansion but frequently stayed at a private residential suite in Regalia Hotel.

A smirk appeared on Camille's face.

"Bingo."

She quickly searched for the hotel's address. If she wanted to get closer to the chip, Matteo Rodriguez was a good place to start.

It was time to pay him a visit.

......

Regalia Hotel

Matteo Rodriguez sat in the dimly lit room, dressed in a black suit without a tie. He swirled the whiskey in his glass while Diego, his right-hand man, stood before him with his head lowered.

"Boss, we've tried everything, but the firearms stolen from the coast remain missing. We haven't identified the group responsible."

Matteo's hand stopped moving.

The next moment, he slammed his glass onto the floor, shattering it.

"Are you all a bunch of useless fools? Do I have to handle everything myself?"

Diego lowered his head further. "We'll continue investigating, Boss."

"You'd better."

Matteo dismissed him with a cold wave of his hand.

Once Diego left, Matteo leaned back against the sofa, his eyes gleaming dangerously.

He despised anyone who stood in his way. Whoever had stolen his firearms would soon regret making him their enemy.

......

The following morning, Camille sat at the breakfast table with the Marcello family. From a distance, they appeared harmonious, but Stella's unusual silence suggested otherwise.

"What's wrong, Stella?" Bella asked. "You've barely spoken this morning."

"It's nothing, Mom," Stella replied quickly, stealing another nervous glance at Camille.

Camille noticed but continued eating without reacting. Eventually, Stella lowered her gaze and remained silent.

After breakfast, Camille stood.

"I'll be heading out."

Christian immediately looked up. "Where are you going? You're still new to Italy."

Camille met his eyes calmly.

"I was informing you, not asking for permission."

Christian frowned but eventually cleared his throat.

"Then take a driver with you."

"No, I'll manage on my own."

She left before he could argue further.

Back in her room, Camille gathered what she needed for her mission and headed out. Soon, a cab was carrying her straight to Regalia Hotel.

The building towered above its surroundings, its glass exterior reflecting the morning sunlight. Security personnel guarded the entrance, and the hotel was clearly designed for wealthy guests who valued their privacy.

Camille studied the building briefly before entering.

At the reception desk, she smiled at the stylish receptionist.

"Excuse me, miss. Could you tell me which room Meghan Scott is staying in?"

"I'm sorry, but we're not allowed to disclose guests' personal information."

"That's alright. I'll look for her myself."

Camille walked away, concealing her satisfaction.

The question had merely served as a distraction. She had already placed a small data-extraction device on the reception computer, allowing it to retrieve the information she needed.

Once the process was complete, she checked her phone.

Residential Suite — Room 354.

Matteo's room.

She also discovered that he wasn't currently inside.

A smirk spread across her face.

"Could my luck get any better?"

Camille entered the elevator and headed to the top floor. Her expensive, custom-made clothes helped her blend in among the hotel's wealthy guests, and nobody questioned her presence.

Soon, she stood before Room 354.

She tried the door handle, expecting to encounter a security system.

To her surprise, it opened.

"That was easy," she murmured.

She slipped inside and closed the door quietly.

Despite the morning sunlight outside, the room was almost completely dark, with its curtains tightly drawn. Camille was accustomed to working in such conditions, so the darkness barely slowed her down.

She began searching for anything that might help her mission.

Most of the documents she found appeared ordinary. Then she discovered several papers covered in lengthy codes.

Beneath them lay photographs of an underground facility in London.

Camille's expression grew serious.

The codes could be connected to the chip. But why would the Rodriguez family have an underground facility in London?

Could the chip be hidden there?

Had the Shadow Organisation overlooked something important all along?

She studied the photographs more closely, trying to find a connection.

Then she heard the door open.

Footsteps followed.

Someone had returned.

Camille immediately lowered the papers, her senses sharpening as she listened.

......

Matteo entered his suite and stopped almost immediately.

Something wasn't quite right.

A faint trace of unfamiliar perfume lingered in the air.

He narrowed his eyes.

Someone was inside his room.

He didn't call security or announce his presence. Instead, he moved silently into the darkness, searching for the intruder.

Camille remained still, unaware of how close he was getting.

Suddenly, Matteo drew a dagger and threw it toward the direction where he suspected the intruder was hiding.

The blade cut through the darkness.

Before it could reach its target, Camille caught it midair.

Silence filled the room.

Matteo's expression changed.

Whoever had entered his suite was no ordinary thief.

Camille tightened her grip around the dagger, already regretting how quickly the tables had turned.

Their eyes met through the darkness, each trying to assess the danger standing before them.

Killing intent filled the room.

"Who are you?" Matteo demanded, his voice dangerously calm.

Camille glanced at the dagger in her hand before looking back at him.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"That's an interesting way to welcome a guest."

Matteo's eyes narrowed.

"Guests don't break into my room."

"Perhaps I didn't like waiting."

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Matteo stepped forward, his expression turning icy and cold.

He had no idea who this woman was, but one thing was confirmed about her.

She had made a very dangerous mistake.