The tension from Evangeline's words still hangs in the air long after she had left. Calla stands frozen, trying to calm her racing heart, but it is impossible. She had step into a world she didn't understand, a dangerous game played by billionaires and their pawns.
She was a saleswoman, not a player in a war of empires, yet here she is, caught between Zayne and Victor, between betrayal and power.
And now, Evangeline Sinclair knows her name.
Mason's presence beside her suddenly feels different. It wasn't just that he is working with Sinclair, his role in this war is far more complicated. She had trusted him, relied on his quiet steadiness to navigate Zayne's high stakes world. But now, standing beside him in the dimly lit jewelry store, Calla realizes she might be standing next to a traitor.
"We need to talk," Mason says, breaking the silence, his voice is low and urgent.
"No," Calla snaps, pulling away. "You need to explain. How long have you been working with Sinclair? How long have you been lying to Zayne?"
Mason's jaw tightens. "It's not as simple as you think."
"I think it is exactly as simple as it looks," Calla shot back, her is anger rising. "You are working with Sinclair to destroy Zayne's business. Why? For money? Power?"
Mason's expression darkens. "I am not trying to destroy him, Calla. I am trying to save him."
Calla's heart skips a beat. "Save him?"
Mason nods, his eyes hard. "Zayne is reckless. He is pushing too hard, too fast. His obsession with expanding the gemstone empire, taking over the emeralds and rubies market, is driving him into dangerous territory. Victor Sinclair is ruthless, and he will stop at nothing to bring Zayne down. I have been working with Sinclair to keep Zayne in check, to make sure he doesn't make a mistake that could ruin everything."
Calla blinks, trying to process his words. Was Mason really playing both sides to protect Zayne? Or was this just another lie, another layer to his betrayal?
"And you think Sinclair is the answer?" Calla asks, her voice incredulous. "He is just as dangerous as Zayne. Probably more."
Mason sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know. But Zayne doesn't listen to anyone. He thinks he can outmaneuver Sinclair, but the truth is, Sinclair's been playing this game longer than Zayne's even been alive. If Zayne keeps pushing, he is going to lose everything, his business, his reputation, and maybe even his life."
Calla feels a chill run down her spine. Mason was not exaggerating. Zayne's world wasn't just about wealth and gemstones, it was about power, and power came with consequences. Really deadly ones.
"So what is your plan?" Calla asks, crossing her arms. "Keep feeding Sinclair information until Zayne backs off?"
Mason meets her gaze, his eyes serious. "It is not about feeding Sinclair information. It is about managing the situation and keeping both sides from going too far. If Zayne stays focused on his yellow sapphires and doesn't try to take over the emerald and ruby markets, he will be fine. But if he keeps expanding, Sinclair will take him down. And not just financially."
Calla swallows hard. She did not doubt for a second that Victor Sinclair is capable of destroying Zayne. He has the resources, the connections, and, most importantly, the willingness to do whatever it took to win.
But Zayne would not back down. That much she knew. He is ambitious, driven, and always in control. He wouldn't just sit back and let Sinclair take over the gemstone industry.
"I need to talk to Zayne," Calla says, her voice firm.
Mason shakes his head. "He won't listen. You will only make things worse."
"Maybe," Calla replies. "But I have to try."
....
The drive to Zayne's headquarters feels longer than it actually is. Calla grips the steering wheel tightly, her mind spinning with everything Mason had told her. Zayne was on the brink of something catastrophic, and he didn't even know it.
Or did he?
Calla had learned quickly that Zayne rarely did anything without a plan. He was always two steps ahead, always calculating his next move. But was this different? Was he so blinded by his desire to expand the Aldridge empire that he couldn't see the danger in front of him?
She arrives at the glass building that housed Aldridge Gemstones, she parks quickly and hurries inside. The receptionist gives her a curious look as she passes by, but Calla doesn't stop. She didn't have time for pleasantries. She needed to see Zayne, and she needed to see him now.
She rides the elevator up to his office, her stomach churning with nerves. The doors opens with a soft ding, and Calla steps out into the luxurious, modern space. Zayne's office is at the end of the hall, the floor-to-ceiling windows offers a breathtaking view of the city. But Calla barely notices it. Her focus is solely on the man behind the desk.
Zayne looks up as she enters, his expression is unreadable. "Calla."
"We need to talk," she says, her voice urgent.
He raises an eyebrow, leans back in his chair. "About what?"
"Mason," Calla says, stepping closer. "And Sinclair."
Zayne's eyes darkens, and for a moment, she thinks he will dismiss her. But instead, he just stands, walks around the desk to stand in front of her. "What did he tell you?"
Calla hesitates. She did not want to betray Mason completely, but Zayne needs to know the truth. "He told me that you are expanding too fast. That Sinclair is coming after you, and you don't even see it."
Zayne's jaw tightens, his eyes flashes with something she could not quite place. Is it anger? Frustration? Fear?
"And you believe him?" Zayne asks, his voice is low.
Calla takes a deep breath. "I don't know what to believe. But I do know that you are walking into a trap, Zayne. Sinclair is dangerous. Mason said..."
"Mason doesn't know what he is talking about," Zayne interrupts, his voice is hard. "He has been feeding Sinclair with information for months. He is not trying to protect me, he is trying to save himself."
Calla's heart pounds in her chest. "Zayne, you need to slow down. You are putting everything at risk."
Zayne steps closer, his gaze is intense. "I am not slowing down, Calla. This is my empire. My legacy. I am not letting Sinclair take it from me."
"But at what cost?" Calla whispers. "You could lose everything."
Zayne's expression softens, just for a moment, and Calla saw the weight he carried, the pressure to live up to his father's legacy, to build something even greater. But then, just as quickly, the hardness returns.
"I won't lose," Zayne says, his voice steely. "Not to Sinclair. Not to anyone."
Before Calla could respond, the door to the office burst open, and a man steps inside, his face is pale and frantic.
"Mr. Aldridge," the man says, breathless. "There has been a break-in at the sapphire mine in Madagascar."
Zayne's eyes narrows. "What?"
The man nods, his hands trembling. "We are still gathering information, but the guards are reporting a coordinated attack. The mine's been completely overrun."
Calla's stomach drops. The sapphire mine, Zayne's pride and joy, the cornerstone of his empire, was under attack.
Zayne's face is a mask of fury as he turns to the man. "Get the jet ready. I am going to Madagascar."
Calla's heart races. "Zayne, wait! "
But he is already moving, his mind focused on one thing: saving his empire.
......
The flight to Madagascar was tense, the air thick with unspoken fear. Calla sits beside Zayne on the private jet, her hands are clenched tightly in her lap. Zayne had not said a word since they had boarded, his focus entirely on the situation at the mine.
She didn't blame him. This is more than just a business crisis, it is personal. The sapphire mine had been his father's, a legacy passed down to him. Losing it would be more than just a financial blow, it would be a blow to everything Zayne has worked for.
As the jet begins its descent, Calla's mind races with questions. Who had attacked the mine? Was this Sinclair's doing? Or was there something even more sinister at play?
The moment they lands, Zayne is out of his seat, strides toward the exit with single minded determination. Calla follows quickly, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what to expect when they arrive at the mine, but she knows one thing for sure, things were about to get much worse.
As they drive toward the mine, the devastation becomes clear. Smoke billows in the distance, and the closer they get, the more destruction they see. Buildings were damaged, equipment lay in ruins, and the once bustling mine is eerily silent.
Zayne's face is now a mask of fury as he steps out of the car, surveying the damage. "Who did this?"
One of the guards approaches, his face is pale. "We don't know yet, sir. But there is something you need to see."
Calla's heart pounds as they follow the guard deeper into the heart of the mine's operations, where the damage was the worst, Calla's breath caught. What had once been a bustling hub of activity is now a scene of utter chaos. Equipment lay in heaps of twisted metal, conveyor belts were destroyed, and the ground itself looks like it had been ripped apart. Zayne's sapphire mine, the crown jewel of his empire, was in ruins.
Zayne's expression hardens, his jaw clenches as they approached a large, gaping hole in the earth. The guard leads them closer, his face pale as he motioned to the pit. Calla feels the tension in the air rise as they all peer into the darkness below.
"This wasn't just sabotage," the guard says, his voice is barely above a whisper. "It was deliberate."
Zayne's brows narrows. "What are you talking about?"
The guard hesitates before speaking. "We found explosives placed around the foundation. Whoever did this was not just trying to disrupt operations. They were trying to destroy everything."
Calla's stomach twists. This isn't just about business competition anymore, it is personal. Someone had gone to great lengths to cripple Zayne's legacy, and it was not hard to guess who is behind it.
"Sinclair," Zayne growls, his voice low and dangerous.
Calla steps closer, her heart pounding in her chest. "Zayne, we need to be smart about this. If Sinclair is willing to go this far, then this is more than just a business rivalry. He is trying to take you out completely."
Zayne's gaze shifts to her, his eyes cold. "I know exactly what Sinclair is trying to do. And he is not going to win."
The intensity in his voice sends a shiver down Calla's spine. She had never seen him like this, so focused, so determined, so ruthless. It was as if the calm, controlled businessman she had known had been replaced by a man on the edge, ready to do whatever it took to survive.
"Zayne, we need a plan," she insists, trying to cut through the fog of his anger. "You can't just react."
Zayne's lips press into a thin line, but before he could respond, the guard clears his throat nervously. "There is something else."
Both Zayne and Calla turns toward him, and the guard shifts uncomfortably before pointing to the edge of the pit. "We found this left behind near the explosives."
Calla follows his gaze, her eyes lands on a small, shimmering object lodged in the dirt. She steps closer, squinting to make out what it was. When she realizes what it is, her blood runs cold.
A diamond.
But not just any diamond. The intricate cut, the unique clarity, it was unmistakable. It was part of Zayne's custom engagement ring design, the one he had been working on for months with Calla. The yellow sapphire centerpiece might have been missing, but the diamond settings surrounding it were all there, glittering ominously in the wreckage.
Zayne's eyes darkens as he stares at the diamond. "How the hell did this get here?"
Calla feels a knot form in her stomach. The engagement ring was supposed to be a secret, known only to a selected few people in Zayne's inner circle. If the ring had made its way to the mine, it means one thing: the betrayal went deeper than they thought.
"Whoever did this," Calla whispers, her voice shaky, "knows about the ring. They are sending a message."
Zayne's fists clench at his sides, the fury radiating off him in waves. "Mason."
Calla's breath caught. Could Mason really be involved in this level of sabotage? He had admitted to working with Sinclair, but this... this was something else. Destroying the mine, using the ring, it felt personal.
Zayne turns abruptly, his eyes blazes with rage. "I am going to make sure Mason pays for this."
Before Calla could respond, the ground beneath them trembles, a low rumble that grew louder and more ominous with each passing second. The guard's eyes widens in panic. "We need to get out of here, now!"
Without warning, a deafening explosion erupts from somewhere deep within the mine. The ground shakes violently, and Calla stumbles, nearly falling before Zayne grabs her arm and pulls her close. The world around them descends into chaos as more explosions echoes from the pit, sending debris flying into the air.
Zayne's grip tightens on her arm. "We have to go!"
They run, dodging falling debris and smoke as they make their way back toward the cars. Calla's heart pounds in her chest, fear grips her as they race for safety. Whoever had planted those explosives was not done. This isn't just a warning, it is an attack.
By the time they reach the safety of the vehicles, the mine was engulfed in flames, thick smoke billowing into the sky. Calla collapses against the side of the car, struggling to catch her breath, her mind racing with the implications of what had just happened.
Zayne stands beside her, his eyes fix on the burning wreckage of his father's legacy. His fists are still clenched, his entire body taut with barely controlled rage.
"This is not over," he says, his voice low and deadly. "Not by a long shot."
Calla turns to him, her heart still racing. "What are we going to do?"
Zayne's gaze is cold and calculative. "We are going to take Sinclair down. For good."
.....
The next few hours passes in a blur of chaos and damage control. Zayne is on the phone with his security team, his lawyers, anyone who could help assess the situation and start formulating a plan. Calla watch him work, the relentless focus and determination etch into every line of his face.
As the sun begins to set, it casts an eerie orange glow over the smoke-filled sky, Zayne finally ends the last of his calls. He turns to Calla, his expression grim.
"They have traced the explosives," he says, his voice cold. "The materials used are the same ones Sinclair's company has access to. There is no doubt about it, this was his doing."
Calla's stomach churn. "What about the ring?"
Zayne's eyes darkens. "Mason."
Calla's heart sinks. She had suspected as much, but hearing Zayne confirm it makes it all too real. Mason, the man who had been Zayne's confidant, his trusted ally, had betrayed him in the worst possible way.
"What are we going to do?" she asks softly.
Zayne's jaw clenches. "We're going to confront him. Tonight."
....
Calla isn't sure what to expect when they arrive at Mason's apartment later the evening. The tension between her and Zayne had been palpable the entire drive, neither of them spoke, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
When they reach the building, Zayne didn't wait for the elevator. He takes the stairs two at a time, his anger propelling him forward. Calla hurries to keep up, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation.
When they reach Mason's door, Zayne didn't bother knocking. He kicks the door open with a force that sends it crashing against the wall. Inside, Mason stands frozen, his eyes wide with shock.
"Zayne" Mason started, but Zayne cuts him off, his voice deadly calm.
"You betrayed me."
Mason's face is pale, his hands raised in surrender. "I didn't"
"Don't lie to me," Zayne snarls, stepping closer. "I found the ring, Mason. At the mine. You were the only one who knew about it."
Calla watch as Mason's expression shift from fear to resignation. He knew he had been caught.
"I didn't have a choice," Mason says, his voice shaky. "Sinclair, he threatened me, Zayne. He threatened everything."
Zayne's eyes blaze with fury. "And you thought that justified betraying me? Destroying everything we have built?"
Mason swallows hard, his gaze drops to the floor. "I did not want it to come to this. I thought I could control it, keep Sinclair in check. But it got out of hand."
Zayne takes a step closer, his fists clenched. "You have made a mistake, Mason. A big one."
Before Mason could respond, Zayne's phone buzz in his pocket. He pulls it out, his expression hardens as he reads the message.
"What is it?" Calla asks, her voice trembling.
Zayne's eyes meet hers, his expression grim. "It's Sinclair. He is calling in the final move."