Eden McCain sat in the softly glowing prison of green energy, her back pressed against the invisible wall. She watched Su Zhan with wary eyes as he lounged on the sofa, swirling a glass of wine in his hand, looking entirely at ease. The cell he had conjured was strange—neither visible nor audible to anyone outside, but utterly inescapable for her.
At first, Eden was tense, every muscle coiled for flight. But as the minutes passed and Su Zhan did nothing more than sip his wine and occasionally glance her way, she began to calm. His power was undeniable. If he had wanted to hurt her, he could have done so already. She realized, with a reluctant sense of relief, that he was not her enemy—at least not tonight.
Su Zhan watched her, noting the subtle shift in her posture as her anxiety faded. He stood and approached the cell, the glass of wine still in his hand. A small opening appeared in the barrier, just large enough for him to pass the glass through. Eden hesitated, but the look in his eyes was not threatening. She accepted the wine, her fingers brushing his for the briefest moment before the opening sealed behind her.
She took a sip, a little too quickly, and a trickle of red wine ran down her chin, slipping into the hollow of her throat. Su Zhan's gaze lingered for a moment before he turned away, smiling to himself.
"Let's talk," he said, settling back into his chair. "Why are you following me?"
Eden wiped her mouth, composing herself. "You're so high-profile. It's not unusual to draw attention. I was just the first to act, that's all."
Su Zhan's expression was amused. "And what was your goal? Money? I doubt you're short on cash. With your power, you could have anything you want. Money must be meaningless to you by now."
Eden shrugged, her lips curling in a wry smile. "You'd be surprised. Sometimes, it's just about the thrill. But yes, I suppose I was curious. How are you planning to let me go?"
"Don't be in a hurry," Su Zhan replied, pouring himself another glass. "I have plenty of questions."
He paused, studying her. "If I remember correctly, you used to work for Bennet, keeping an eye on an Indian genetics professor. Is that still the case?"
Eden's brow furrowed in confusion. "Bennet? I don't know anyone by that name. And I've never met a genetics professor, Indian or otherwise. Are you sure you're not confusing me with someone else?"
Su Zhan watched her closely, searching for any hint of a lie. She seemed genuinely puzzled. Perhaps the timeline had shifted, or perhaps her story had changed. He glanced at the Haitian—his silent companion—and knew that if Eden were lying, the Haitian would know.
"Maybe I was mistaken," Su Zhan conceded. "So, are you still drifting through life, no real goal or faith to hold onto?"
Eden's eyes flashed with something like anger, then faded into resignation. "How do you know that? Do you know me from before?" Her voice trembled, frustration and a hint of sadness mingling in her tone. "You think you know everything, but you're not me. Don't pretend you understand."
Su Zhan's voice softened. "No need to get upset. It's just a shame to waste such a beautiful voice on shouting."
Eden let out a shaky breath, her anger ebbing. She looked at him, uncertain. Su Zhan waved his hand, and the green cell vanished. He stood and walked over, his manner casual.
"Today, you're lucky," he said. "If you'd run into me yesterday, I might have taken your ability. You'd be just another ordinary person, working to survive, worrying about rent and bills."
Eden stared at him, shocked. "You can take my ability?"
Su Zhan nodded. "Yes. Sylar can do it too, but his method is… less gentle. If he finds you, you'll lose your power and your life. I don't need your ability, but he'll take anything he can get. You should be careful—he might already be watching you."
Eden's voice was barely a whisper. "Then why let me go? What do you want from me?"
Su Zhan smiled, almost sheepishly. "How about you follow me? I already have a man with me, but he's more of a driver and a bodyguard. Sometimes, a female secretary is more pleasant company. Someone who can handle details, keep things organized, and maybe make life a little more enjoyable."
Eden blinked, surprised. "That's it? You want me to be your secretary?"
Su Zhan shrugged. "Isn't that enough? If you want more, well, you know what people say about bosses and secretaries. I'll give you time to think about it. If you're interested, come back here tomorrow."
Eden hesitated. "You're just going to let me go? Aren't you worried I'll run?"
"If I wanted a secretary, I could find a dozen women willing to take the job," Su Zhan replied. "And if I ever wanted to find you, even if you ran to the ends of the earth, I'd still find you."
Eden was silent, weighing her options. At that moment, a knock sounded at the door. Su Zhan did not move, but a wave of green energy opened the door. The Haitian entered, pausing as he saw Eden. For a moment, he looked awkward, as if he had interrupted something private. Su Zhan read his expression and knew instantly that the Haitian did not know Eden, confirming her story.
"I'll think about it," Eden said quietly. She set her wineglass down, gave Su Zhan a searching look, and slipped out of the room.
Su Zhan and the Haitian watched her go, neither making a move to stop her.
After a moment, Su Zhan turned to his companion with a grin. "What do you think? Would she make a good secretary?"
The Haitian said nothing, his face unreadable. Su Zhan laughed, knowing full well that he was not really asking for an answer.
The night settled in, and Su Zhan poured himself another glass of wine, content to wait and see what tomorrow would bring.