The Mirror's Lie

Attraction I

Lena could feel the tension in the air before she even stepped into the first-class cabin.

It was subtle but unmistakable — the kind of nervous hum that rippled through the crew whenever someone important was onboard. The whispers had already started in the galley before takeoff.

“Did you see the manifest?” one flight attendant hissed, pretending to adjust the champagne flutes. “Zayn Specter. As in Specter Industries.”

“No way,” another whispered, her tone a mix of awe and disbelief. “He’s on the flight?”

“Front row, seat 1A. The man himself.”

“I heard he’s ruthless,” a third added. “Brilliant, but cold. The kind of guy who could smile while firing half a company.”

“And apparently a total heartthrob,” the first chimed in, grinning. “My friend met him once at a gala. Said he’s magnetic — the type you can’t look away from, even when you know you should.”

Lena forced herself to focus on aligning the cutlery and not the growing weight in her chest. If only they knew how true that last part was.

She caught her reflection in the galley mirror — flawless makeup, crisp uniform, her hair pulled neatly into a bun. She looked like Lana. Confident. Effortless. Someone who belonged here.

Inside, however, she was trembling.

When the captain’s announcement finally signaled that boarding was complete, she smoothed her blazer, drew in a deep breath, and walked toward the first row.

And there he was.

Zayn Specter.

Even seated, he commanded the space. His suit was perfectly tailored, the dark fabric emphasizing the strength in his shoulders. He had that rare stillness — a kind of quiet dominance that made others instinctively lower their voices. One arm rested casually on the armrest, his long fingers drumming once, twice, against the leather. Those piercing blue eyes flicked up from his phone the moment she approached.

Their gazes met.

The air between them seemed to thicken.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Specter,” she managed, keeping her tone steady, professional. “Welcome onboard.”

Zayn tilted his head slightly, studying her. There was something in her voice — soft, cautious, completely unlike what he’d expected from the woman in the photos.

Up close, she was even more breathtaking. The delicate symmetry of her face, the natural flush on her cheeks, those storm-gray eyes framed by lashes too long to be real.

For a second — one fleeting, forbidden heartbeat — he forgot himself.

And then the rage hit.

He saw not a flight attendant but the woman who had invaded his father’s life. The one who had, knowingly or not, fractured the foundation of his family. His jaw clenched, a flicker of fury behind his calm exterior.

How could someone like her look so pure? So untouched?

He forced himself to breathe, to remember the plan. This wasn’t the moment to unleash his anger. Not yet.

He needed her compliant. Trusting.

Only then could he destroy her hold over Alex Specter — quietly, efficiently, permanently.

So, Zayn smiled. Slow. Controlled. Dangerous.

“Good afternoon… Lana, isn’t it?” His voice was deep, smooth, edged with something that sent a shiver down her spine.

“Yes, sir,” she replied quickly, her pulse hammering in her throat.

Sir. The word rolled off her tongue, and his lips curved into something between a smirk and a promise.

He leaned back in his seat, still watching her. “I hope you’ll make sure my flight is… pleasant.”

There was an unmistakable undertone in his voice, and Lena felt heat crawl up her neck. Forcing a polite smile, she nodded. “Of course, Mr. Specter. Please let me know if you need anything.”

Zayn’s eyes darkened, tracking every flicker of her discomfort. He recognized that look — the way her pupils widened, the small intake of breath.

Attraction.

Ah, so the little bird was intrigued.

He wasn’t blind to his effect on women. He’d seen it a thousand times before — fascination, curiosity, the dangerous pull toward something they didn’t quite understand.

But this one… this was different.

There was a strange innocence in her. A sincerity that didn’t fit the profile Samson had given him. It only made him more curious to get to know this little actress that played the innocent too well.

He adjusted his cufflinks, his gaze still fixed on her as he made a quick decision against his initial planning to show her his famous ruthless behaviour.

Seduction.

Considering her involuntary reactions to his presence, then seduction was the surest way to uncover her motives — and end this … quietly… and permanently.

Charm her. Win her trust. Peel back her secrets.

And then?

Make her disappear from their lives without a trace.

He could already see it: her falling under his spell, her carefully constructed lies crumbling as she surrendered. It wouldn’t take long. They never resisted for long… especially when he was making an effort.

“Thank you, … Lana,” he murmured, his voice a low hum that seemed to curl around her. “I’m sure you’ll take… excellent care of me.”

Lena’s throat went dry.

Something in the way he said it — smooth, deliberate — made her stomach twist. She forced another polite nod before stepping back, desperate to escape the intensity of his gaze.

But even as she walked away, she could feel him watching her.

And Zayn, sitting alone in seat 1A, let his smirk deepen ever so slightly.

The game had begun.

--

The hours in the air felt endless.

Lena tried to focus on her duties — smile, serve, remain poised — but every time she stepped near seat 1A, her pulse betrayed her. Her heart raced like a trapped bird, fluttering against the walls of her chest, desperate to escape.

Zayn Specter had that effect.

He sat with the calm confidence of a man who owned the sky itself, every movement controlled, deliberate. Even when he wasn’t speaking, his presence filled the cabin — powerful, magnetic, impossible to ignore.

The other crew members whispered about him in the galley.

“He’s even more handsome in person.”

“Imagine having him look at you like that…”

“Forget that, I’d melt if he even said my name.”

Lena pretended not to listen, but her hands trembled slightly as she poured another glass of champagne. She understood now why the crew had been in such a frenzy. Zayn Specter wasn’t just a man; he was an atmosphere — commanding, consuming, and dangerously alluring.

Every time she came to check on him, his eyes found hers. There was something about the way he looked at her — unblinking, assessing, as if he could see right through her professional façade to the chaos underneath.

She tried to keep her composure, repeating her sister’s words in her mind: Just smile, be confident, and loosen up.

But how could she, when every smile she offered felt like stepping closer to a fire?

“Another glass, Mr. Specter?” she asked softly, holding the bottle steady even though her hand wasn’t.

He tilted his glass slightly, his lips curving into that infuriating, knowing smirk. “You seem nervous, Lana.”

She froze. “Not at all, sir. Just… focused.”

“Focused.” His voice was a low rumble, amused. “Good. Focus is important.”

Their eyes met again. And for a long second, neither moved.

The faint vibration of the aircraft was the only thing grounding her. Because the way he was looking at her — it wasn’t the way passengers usually looked at flight attendants. There was curiosity there, but also something darker. Something dangerous.

Lena’s throat tightened. She managed a polite nod before retreating toward the galley, her breath coming too fast.

Inside, she gripped the counter, closing her eyes.

What was wrong with her?

Many men had tried to charm her before — smooth talkers, confident smiles, the usual kind of flattery. She’d always been flattered, sometimes amused, but never moved. Never tempted to risk the peaceful rhythm of her carefully ordered life.

Maybe it was because she’d seen, firsthand, how unreliable men could be.

Her mother’s voice echoed faintly in her memory — soft but firm, the kind of voice that carried pain under its calmness. She’d been a single mother, raising twin girls on her own. The man she’d loved, the one she thought would stand by her, had vanished the moment responsibility appeared.

“Money for an abortion,” her mother had once said bitterly, eyes glassy. “That’s all he offered. Like we were a mistake to erase.”

Lena had learned young that men could be charming and still cruel. Sweet words meant nothing without loyalty behind them. So, she’d built her walls high, refusing to let anyone close enough to hurt her.

Until … now.

Zayn Specter didn’t just draw her attention — he pulled at something deep inside her, something that didn’t listen to reason. The way his eyes followed her, the subtle way his voice caressed her name… it was maddening.

When the cabin finally quieted after meal service, Lena excused herself and slipped into the lavatory. She leaned against the door, exhaling hard.

“Get it together, Lena,” she whispered to her reflection.

Her face was flushed, her pulse erratic. The mirror didn’t help — she looked too alive, too flustered.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered. “You don’t even know him. You shouldn’t even like him. He’s…”

Dangerous. Intense. The kind of man that could make you forget where the ground was.

She washed her hands with cool water, trying to calm the pounding of her heart.

After a moment, she straightened her uniform, took one more steadying breath, and opened the door.

And froze.

He was there.

Zayn Specter stood directly outside, waiting. As if he had known she would come out at that exact moment.

Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, neither of them moved.

Then he smiled. Slow. Confident. The kind of smile that could shatter the air between them.

“Excuse me,” she murmured, stepping sideways to give him space. But when he passed, he didn’t keep his distance.

He moved too close.

So close that his arm brushed against hers, his shoulder grazing her as he leaned in slightly — not enough to touch fully, but enough to feel.

His scent enveloped her — dark, expensive, masculine. Something deep and earthy with a hint of spice that lingered far too long after he’d passed.

Her knees went weak.

For a second, she forgot where she was. The hum of the plane, the distant chatter of passengers, all faded away.

Zayn glanced over his shoulder, eyes glinting with something wickedly knowing.

“Careful, Lana,” he murmured. “You might bump into trouble if you’re not watching where you go.”

And then he walked away, leaving her standing frozen in the narrow corridor, her heartbeat a chaotic mess.

She pressed her back against the wall, trying to breathe.

After a while, she blamed her reaction on exhaustion — or maybe her lack of experience with men like him. The kind who carried authority like a second skin.

But deep down, she knew it wasn’t just that.

It wasn’t inexperience. It wasn’t fatigue.

It was him.

Zayn Specter was doing something to her — something she couldn’t name, something she wasn’t ready to admit.

And as she looked toward the front of the cabin where he sat, perfectly composed, his eyes briefly flicking up to find hers again, Lena had the sinking feeling that whatever this was… it was only just beginning.