The sound of a champagne cork popping echoes through the opulent office as Zayne Aldridge pours himself a glass. He moves with a quiet confidence that was becoming all too familiar to Calla. They are in Zayne's penthouse, perched high above the city with a view that seem to stretch to the ends of the earth. The grandeur of the place is overwhelming, every piece of furniture, every detail, is carefully selected to project power and wealth.
Calla is standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, feeling small in the vastness of it all. She hadn't fully absorbed the gravity of her decision yet. All she knows was that she had just signed herself over to a life that didn't feel like her own anymore.
Zayne walks over, handing her a glass. "You made the right decision," he says softly, his eyes searching hers. "To move forward in this world, you need to be fearless."
She takes a sip of champagne, the bubbles fizzles on her tongue. "I'm just trying to keep up."
Zayne smirks, but there is something in his gaze that unsettles her, a sharpness, a hunger that was not entirely hidden behind the charm. "You will do more than keep up. Trust me."
Before Calla could respond, his phone vibrates on the sleek marble table. Zayne's eyes flicks to the screen, and his expression shifts ever so slightly, the smoothness cracking for a fraction of a second. He answers quickly, his tone clips. "What is it?"
Calla could only hear his side of the conversation, but the tension in his voice is unmistakable. "No," he says coldly. "I don't care what Sinclair thinks. We move forward. Keep everything under wraps until the deal is done."
The name Sinclair sends a chill through Calla. Victor Sinclair, Zayne's rival, a man she had only heard of but had already come to fear. Whatever was brewing between them, it wasn't just business, it felt personal.
Zayne hangs up and turns back to her, his calm demeanor is restored. "It is nothing to worry about. Just some last-minute issues with the Madagascar acquisition."
Calla was not convinced. She hadn't been a part of this world for long, but even she knew that when Zayne Aldridge said, "nothing to worry about," it meant something big was happening.
"Is Victor Sinclair involved in the acquisition?" she asks, keeping her voice steady.
Zayne's eyes flashes, the briefest flicker of irritation crossing his features. "Sinclair's always involved in one way or another. But it is nothing I can't handle."
Calla nods, unsure whether to push further. The last few days had been a whirlwind, her life transforming in ways she couldn't have imagined. But even as Zayne pulled her into his world, she sensed there were layers he wasn't showing her; dark, dangerous layers.
Suddenly, Zayne's phone vibrates again, this time with an alert that lights up his face in the dim light. His expression is darkened as he read the message. Without a word, he grabs his suit jacket from the back of the chair and started for the door.
"Where are you going?" Calla asks, setting down her glass.
"I need to deal with something. It's urgent," Zayne replies, his voice tight.
"What about me?" Calla didn't want to sound needy, but the thought of being left alone in this labyrinth of luxury was unsettling.
Zayne paused at the door, his hand resting on the handle. "Stay here. You wjll be safe. Lock the doors, and don't answer to anyone but me."
Calla's heart begins to thud in her chest. "What's going on, Zayne?"
He hesitates, something unspoken hangs between them. "There are things you don't need to know right now. Trust me, Calla. I will be back."
And with that, he leaves.
The moment the door closed, the silence of the penthouse swallows her. Calla takes a deep breath, trying to calm the rising anxiety that had been simmering since Zayne's cryptic phone call. She knew better than to poke around his business, but she couldn't help herself. Something wasn't right, and she wasn't going to just sit here and wait.
She pulls out her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen. She still hadn't deleted the message she had received at the restaurant, the one that had warned her to be careful who she trusted. That text had rattled her, and now, more than ever, she felt the need for answers.
Without really thinking, she dials the unknown number.
The line rings once. Twice.
And then someone answers.
"I knew you'd call."
The voice on the other end is low, male, and strangely calm.
"Who is this?" Calla demands, trying to keep her voice steady.
A soft chuckle. "Someone who knows you have gotten yourself involved in something dangerous. Aldridge doesn't play fair, Calla. You need to be careful."
Her pulse quickens. "You don't know anything about me."
"I know more than you think. And I know Zayne is not telling you everything. If you want to stay alive, you will keep your eyes open."
The line drops dead.
Calla stares at her phone, her mind racing. The unknown number, whoever it was, has warned her again. What exactly had she stepped into?
She looks around the penthouse, the once luxurious surroundings now feeling like a cage. The champagne on the table looks less like a celebration and more like a bribe to keep her pacified. Everything feels off.
She needs to figure out what was really going on.
Unable to sit still any longer, Calla moves to Zayne's desk. She knew it was risky, but something in her gut told her that whatever Zayne was hiding, it was important. She opens one of the drawers and finds files neatly arranged. At first glance, it looked like standard business paperwork, acquisition agreements, gemstone appraisals, contracts. But then, tucked underneath the files, she finds a folder labeled "Sinclair."
Her heart races as she opens it.
Inside are documents detailing not just business dealings, but personal information, everything about Victor Sinclair. His properties, his financial records, and shockingly, surveillance photos of him meeting with men who looks like hired muscle. One of the photos shows Victor shaking hands with none other than Mason Carter.
Calla's breath caught in her throat. Mason is Zayne's trusted mine manager. What was he doing meeting with Victor Sinclair?
The more she reads, the more it becomes clear. Mason is working with Sinclair, feeding him information from the inside. It was a betrayal, and a dangerous one at that.
Calla feels a wave of panic. If Zayne didn't know about Mason's treachery, this could put everything at risk, including her. But what if he already knew? What if this was part of the game he was playing?
Before she could process what to do next, the door to the penthouse swings open.
Calla spins around, her heart leaping into her throat. Zayne stands in the doorway, his face unreadable, his gaze sharp as he takes in the scene, the open folder on his desk, the papers in her hands.
"I thought I told you to wait here," Zayne says, his voice dangerously calm.
Calla swallows hard, unable to hide the fear creeping up her spine. "I... I couldn't just sit here. I found this, Zayne. Mason is working with Sinclair. He's been betraying you."
Zayne's eyes flicks to the folder, then back to her. For a long moment, he didn't speak, his expression cold and distant. Then, finally, he speaks.
"I know."
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. He knew? He knew Mason was betraying him, and he hadn't done anything about it?
"You knew?" Calla whispers, her voice shakes. "Why didn't you stop him?"
Zayne steps closer, his presence overwhelming. "Because, Calla, I need Mason exactly where he is. This is bigger than you realize."
Calla's head spins. Nothing made sense. If Zayne knew about Mason, why was he letting it continue? What game was he playing?
"I trusted you," she said, her voice barely audible. "You said I was part of this. But you ars still keeping things from me."
Zayne's gaze softens, but only slightly. "I'm protecting you. The less you know, the safer you are."
Calla takes a step back, her mind reels. She had walked into this world thinking she could handle it, but now she wasn't so sure. Zayne isn't just playing a dangerous game, he is controlling it. And she is just a pawn.
Before she could respond, Zayne's phone vibrated yet again, and he answers it without hesitation. "What is it?"
His expression darkenes as he listens, his grip tightens on the phone. "I will be right there."
He hangs up and turned to Calla, his voice urgent. "Stay here. This isn't over."
And just like that, he leaves again, leaving her standing in the middle of his web of lies.
Calla sinks into the nearest chair, her mind races. She has uncovered part of the truth, but it wasn't enough. Zayne was hiding something bigger, something dangerous. And she wasn't sure if she could trust him anymore.
The game had changed, and she wasn't sure she was ready for what came next.