Chapter Eight: The Obsession Deepens
Ethan's POV
I leaned back in my leather chair, my phone pressed to my ear as Amelia's voice filled the room.
"I've settled into the house," she said curtly. "It's nice enough, but don't think this changes anything."
I smirked, swirling the glass of scotch in my hand. "I don't need it to change anything, Amelia. Just do your job, and keep your tantrums to yourself."
She let out a sharp breath, clearly annoyed. "I don't know why you insist on treating me like this, Ethan. One day..."
"Save it," I interrupted coldly. "I'm busy."
I ended the call without waiting for her response and placed my phone on the desk. Before I could enjoy the silence, Marco, my most trusted man, stepped into the office.
He carried a folder in one hand and a single photograph in the other. His expression was neutral, but the faint twitch of his jaw told me he had something significant to share.
"Boss," he began, placing the photo and papers on my desk. "This is the woman you asked me to find."
I picked up the photograph, my pulse quickening the moment my eyes landed on her face.
Her.
The woman from the cafe. The one who had somehow etched herself into my thoughts like an unsolved puzzle.
"What did you find?" I asked, my voice low but sharp.
Marco cleared his throat. "Her name is Kiara Daniels. Twenty-two years old. No significant family connections except a boyfriend named Dave. She recently relocated to Lakewood to stay with him. He inherited a small business from his grandmother."
I clenched the photograph tighter. "What else?"
"She's not employed currently but has been looking for work. No criminal record. Seems...ordinary," Marco added, though his tone suggested he didn't believe that himself.
"Ordinary?" I scoffed, leaning forward. "There's nothing ordinary about her. Keep digging. I want to know everything,her past, her connections, her weaknesses. I want every single detail."
Marco hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to ask why I was so interested. But he knew better than to question me.
"Yes, boss," he said with a slight nod.
"And Marco," I added, my tone colder than the steel walls of my office, "this stays between us. Not a word to anyone, not even my wife."
"Understood."
As Marco left, I leaned back in my chair, holding Kiara's photo in my hand.
"Kiara Moore," I murmured, a wicked grin spreading across my face. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding."
Just as I placed the photo on my desk, my phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't Amelia. It was a text from an unknown number.
Unknown: You're not the only one looking for her.
I froze, the glass of scotch slipping from my hand and shattering on the floor.
I clicked on the message, my jaw tight with tension.
Unknown: You're not the only one looking for her favor. I also want that job.
For a split second, my mind raced with possibilities. Who could this be? What job? But as I read the last line again, the absurdity of it settled in.
My grip on the phone relaxed. So, it wasn't a threat after all just some desperate fool vying for a position.
Still, it reminded me of something Marco had said earlier. She's looking for work.
The thought sparked a memory, and I leaned forward, pulling up the file Marco had left. If she was truly in need of a job, I had the perfect opportunity to place her right where I wanted.
And then, another realization struck me like a lightning bolt.
"She's in Lakewood," I murmured, my fingers drumming against the desk. "The same place as Amelia."
A twisted smile crept onto my face.
I reached for the phone and dialed the tech department of one of my companies in Lakewood. It didn't take long before someone picked up.
"Mr. Blake," a nervous voice greeted me. "How can I assist you?"
"Is there a job opening in the Lakewood branch?" I asked curtly.
"Yes, sir," the man replied quickly. "We have a vacancy for an assistant position in the tech division. Should I forward the details to your office?"
"No need," I said, cutting him off. "Keep the position open. Don't fill it until I say so."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
I hung up and leaned back in my chair, my mind already formulating a plan. Kiara needed a job, and I had the perfect bait to lure her in.
The only question now was how to offer it to her without raising suspicion.
BACK TO KIARA'S POV
Kiara's POV
I was in the middle of folding laundry when my phone buzzed. I wiped my hands on my jeans and picked it up, my brows furrowing as I read the email subject line:
"Job Offer from Blake's Software Company, Lakewood."
Wait, what?
I quickly opened the email and scanned the contents. It was an official job offer—salary, benefits, everything. The thing is, I hadn't applied for this job. Not here, not anywhere.
"What in the world..." I muttered, scrolling through the details again.
Before I could process it, Tasha sauntered into the room. Her eyes darted to my phone, and she smirked, crossing her arms.
"What's that look on your face?" she sneered. "Don't tell me you actually got a job. Who in their right mind would hire you?"
I shot her a glare but didn't bother replying. I had bigger things to think about.
Ignoring her, I grabbed my phone and stepped outside. The chilly air helped clear my head as I dialed Mr. Bennett's number.
The line rang twice before he picked up.
"Kiara," his voice came through, calm and composed as always. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I just got an email," I said quickly. "From Blake's Software Company. They offered me a job I didn't even apply for. Did you...did you do this?"
There was a pause.
"No," he finally said, his voice laced with genuine confusion. "I had nothing to do with that. Are you sure it's not a mistake?"
"It's not a mistake," I said, pacing. "It's too specific to be random. But if you didn't do it..."
My voice trailed off as a strange feeling crept over me. Something wasn't adding up.
"Kiara, are you okay?" Mr. Bennett asked.
"I—" I started but decided against saying more. "I'll call you back."
Before he could reply, I ended the call.
As I turned to go back inside, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Tasha was standing right behind me, arms crossed and her trademark sneer firmly in place.
"Who were you talking to?" she asked, her voice dripping with suspicion.
"No one you need to worry about," I snapped, trying to brush past her.
But of course, she wouldn't let it go.
"First, you get a random job offer. Now, you're sneaking around on calls?" she said, blocking my path. "I knew you were up to something."
"Tasha, move," I said, my patience wearing thin.
"What's the matter?" she mocked. "Afraid Dave will find out about your little secrets?"
I clenched my fists, refusing to take the bait.
"You know what, Tasha?" I said, stepping closer. "For once, just mind your own business."
Her smug expression faltered for a split second, but I didn't stick around to enjoy it. I stormed back into the house, my heart pounding.
Who offered me that job? And why?