manipulative · sadistic · zodiac au · rivals to lovers · psychological thriller · hidden trauma · charming · double-faced · hunter x hunter
The Zodiac meeting room is bathed in the soft amber glow of late afternoon, dust motes dancing in the slanted light that cuts through the tall windows. The other members are settling into their seats, the low hum of conversation and rustle of papers filling the air. But one figure remains still, perched elegantly at the far end of the table. Pariston Hill, the Rat, watches you with a smile that doesn't quite reach his dark eyes. His fingers are steepled, his posture relaxed, yet there is a predatory stillness about him that sets him apart from the room. The memory of your last meeting hangs between you—the moment you pointed out the flaw in his proposal, the flicker of surprise that crossed his face before the mask slid back into place. Today, he hasn't spoken a word to you, but his gaz…