The moment Zayne left the penthouse, the silence grew heavy. Calla is standing frozen, her mind racing with everything she has uncovered. Mason's betrayal, Zayne's knowledge of it, none of this made sense. She feels the tension tighten around her like a noose, and her instincts screams that this is more than just business. But what could she do? Zayne is far ahead, playing a game she didn't fully understand.
Calla grabs her phone, debating her next move. She could not call Zayne, he clearly was not ready to tell her the full truth. But maybe there was someone who could fill in the gaps.
Her thoughts goes to Mason. She had never gotten a good read on him, quiet, reserved, always standing just behind Zayne like a shadow. He seem loyal, but apparently, loyalty was only an illusion in this world.
Maybe confronting Mason is the only way to get answers.
Calla slips out of the penthouse and makes her way to the elevator, her heart pounds. Zayne had told her to stay put, but she was done sitting on the sidelines. If she was going to survive this, she needed to know who she was really up against.
As the elevator descended, Calla pulls up her contacts and finds Mason's number. Zayne had given it to her weeks ago for emergencies, but she had never used it. Until now.
She hesitates for a moment, then dials.
The phone rings once before Mason answered. "Calla?" His voice was gruff, almost surprised.
"I need to talk to you," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's important."
There is a brief pause. "Is something wrong?"
"I think you know what's wrong," Calla replies, her pulse quickens. "Meet me at Crystal's in half an hour."
Before he could respond, she hangs up. She was not going to give him the chance to dodge her questions. She needed answers, and she wasn't leaving until she got them.
.....
The jewelry store is quiet as Calla arrives, the late hour keeping most customers at bay. Crystal's has always been a place of comfort for her, a world she understood. But tonight, it feels different. The glittering gems behind the glass counters seem colder, harder, as if they are mocking her for ever believing this world was anything but cutthroat.
She waits near the back, her eyes scans the room for any sign of Mason. When he finally walks in, his tall frame and stern expression immediately set her on edge. He approaches her with the same calm demeanor he always had, but now, Calla could see the cracks. His eyes darts around, assessing the store, the exits. He wasn't just here to talk, he was calculating every possible outcome.
"Calla," he greets her, his voice low. "What's going on?"
She didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I know about you and Sinclair. I know you have been feeding him information behind Zayne's back."
Mason's face didn't change, but there was a flicker in his eyes, just for a second, that told her she was right.
"Who told you that?" he asks, his voice measured.
"I found the file in Zayne's penthouse," Calla says, stepping closer. "He knows you have been betraying him, Mason. But he hasn't done anything about it. Why? What are you planning?"
Mason clenches his jaw. He looks around the store again, as if expecting someone to be watching. "You should not have gotten involved in this."
"Well, I am," Calla shots back. "So tell me the truth. What's really going on?"
For a moment, Mason remains silent, his eyes locked on hers. Then, finally, he sighs, the tension in his shoulders relaxing just a bit.
"It's not as simple as you think," he said quietly. "This isn't just about business. Zayne and Sinclair...they have been at each other's throats for years. But it's personal. And I am caught in the middle."
Calla frowns, her mind racing. "Personal how?"
Mason pauses, then leans in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It started with their fathers. Zayne's father, Elias Aldridge, and Victor Sinclair, once, they were partners. But something went wrong, and Elias betrayed Victor. It destroyed Sinclair's family, and he's been trying to rebuild ever since. Zayne inherited his father's empire, but he also inherited the war."
Calla's breath got caught in her throat. She had never heard any of this before. Zayne had always been so controlled, so calculated, he never talked about his father, never let on that there was a history behind his rivalry with Sinclair.
"Zayne does not talk about his father," Calla says, her voice soft.
Mason shakes his head. "He wouldn't. Elias was ruthless. He made enemies, burned bridges, and left Zayne to deal with the consequences. But the worst part is, Zayne's becoming just like him."
Calla's stomach begins to churn. She didn't want to believe that. Zayne is cold, yes, but there was something more to him, something good. Or at least, she had thought so.
"That is why you are working with Sinclair?" Calla asks, her voice rises. "Because you think Zayne's becoming his father?"
Mason's expression hardens. "I am working with Sinclair because Zayne's putting all of us at risk. He is making moves that are dangerous... too dangerous. If he keeps pushing, it is going to blow up in his face. I am just trying to protect myself."
Calla's mind spins. This is bigger than she had thought. Zayne and Sinclair weren't just business rivals, they were locked in a battle that had been building for years, and Mason was playing both sides, trying to stay afloat in a war that was not his.
But what did that mean for her?
"You think Zayne is going to lose," Calla says quietly, piecing it together.
Mason didn't respond, but the look in his eyes tells her everything. He didn't just think Zayne would lose, he is betting on it.
Before she could say more, the door to the store opens with a soft chime, and Calla's heart leaps into her throat. She turns, expecting to see Zayne, or worse, Sinclair. But instead, a woman steps inside, her icy gaze scanning the room.
Evangeline Sinclair.
Calla's blood runs cold. She had heard about Evangeline, of course, Victor's daughter, known for her beauty and her ruthlessness. But she had never seen her in person. Now, standing just a few feet away, Calla feels the weight of her presence, the chill in the air as Evangeline's eyes locked onto hers.
"Well, well, well," Evangeline says, her voice smooth and dangerous. "What do we have here?"
Mason immediately stiffens, his posture changes as if preparing for a fight. "Evangeline. This is not your place."
Evangeline smirks, her gaze flicks between Mason and Calla. "Oh, but it is. You see, Mason, my father and I have interests in this little arrangement of yours. And it seems you have been busy...recruiting."
Calla's heart leaps in her chest. She can feel the walls closing in, the tension between Mason and Evangeline crackling like static. She isn't supposed to be here. This is a game far beyond her understanding, and now, she is caught in the middle.
"I don't know what you think you are doing," Evangeline says, stepping closer to Calla. "But you are playing with fire, little girl. And in this world, you either burn or you burn everyone around you."
Calla swallows hard, her body now trembles with fear. She wanted to run, to get out of this nightmare before it consumed her. But she couldn't move. Evangeline's gaze fixed her in place, her words like venom sinks into her skin.
"Leave her out of this," Mason says, his voice tense.
Evangeline's eyes glints with amusement. "Oh, Mason. You should know by now, no one is ever 'out' of this. Especially not her."
Calla's breath hitches as Evangeline turns on her heel and saunters toward the door, her voice echoes behind her.
"See you soon, Calla."
The door closes softly behind her, leaving Calla and Mason alone once again. The weight of what had just happened settled over them like a storm cloud, and Calla feels like she was drowning.
"Mason," she whispers, her voice shaking. "What have I gotten myself into?"
Mason didn't answer. He just stares at the door, his jaw clenched.
And Calla knew, deep down, that this was only the beginning.