The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word COMPLOT
C
O
M
P
L
O
T
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "It was intriguing" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case it was intriguing = complot.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does COMPLOT mean?
COMPLOT noun- A plot (involving more than one person), conspiracy
- To plot together; conspire.