Though it provided little consolation, the morning light came through Sarah's apartment's thick drapes. The morning light shadowed every nook, as though the events of the previous evening had left traces on the very walls. Grasping a hot mug of coffee, she stood at the kitchen counter, her fingers quivering as though they were betraying the tempest inside her. Though it did not help her relax, the unpleasant scent permeated the room. Every thought spiraled back towards him.
Her head went back to the words Vane had spoken during their dance, each syllable dripping with meaning she couldn't quite understand: "Maybe I see something in you that even you don't."
Whose meaning was this? What did he observe?
Shaking her head, Sarah sought to drive out the ideas. She was also preoccupied with other issues. The art gallery was barely surviving, and the terms of Vane's investment, a temporary lifeline, felt like a tightening noose around her neck. She had not determined if she would let him run her gallery, much less over her life.
The sound of the coffee maker dripping broke the tight calm, providing a rhythmic accompaniment to her wild ideas. Her phone rang on the counter, cutting her from her whirl of ideas.
Unknown count.
She stopped, her finger gliding across the screen. Her heart hammered as she considered whether to respond. She swiped at last to grab the call, her voice wary. "Hi?
"Ms. Pierce," a rough voice met her. The tone was strange yet directive; every word was harsh and deliberate. The name is Elias Drayton. I assume you know Mr. Russell.
Sarah tightened her hold on the phone. She couldn't decide whether to wait or confirm. She responded gingerly, "I know who he is."
Drayton chuckled, the sound as low and unsettling as gravel underfoot. Obviously you do. But what he is, do you know?
Her blood flowed cold. His words carried something terrible, a disguised threat she was unable to overlook.
She tried to be consistent, but her voice shook. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said.
"Oh, but you will, Drayton said, his voice full of contempt. "Vane Russell does not engage in deals without repercussions."Whatever he promises you, be sure there is a price. a weighty one.
Sarah's heart thumping, she swallowed hard. "Why are you showing me this?"
"Think of it as a warning," Drayton replied, his voice exact and merciless. "Some relationships carry more risk than adversaries. Ms. Pierce, you're clever. Take great caution where you put your faith.
The call dropped before she could reply. Her hands were clammy and her head was spinning as she stared at the phone. Who was Elias Drayton, and why had he found her behaviour with Vane concerning?
The sound of her doorbell echoed through her flat. Still shaking, she placed down her coffee and headed towards the door. She felt her breath stop as she peered through the peephole.
Vane's name was...
As always, his presence was imposing; his fitted suit felt like an extension of his skin. His black eyes were fixed on the entrance, as if he was aware that she was watching.
She opened it slowly. Van. What are you doing right now?
Without waiting for an invitation, he entered and moved deliberately yet fluidly, like a predator crossing known territory. His eyes swept over her flat, quietly and intensely absorbing every detail. He stated simply, his tone unclear, "I came to check on you."
She said, crossing her arms, "Check on me." "Why?"
"You left the gala suddenly last night," he said, his eyes darting precisely to hers. I wanted to make sure you were... unhurt.
Sarah laughed, but the tense flutter in her chest betrayed her. Not harmed? I left Vane; I wanted space. It was not because I ran into danger.
His jaw clenched, the smallest flutter of irritation across his face before his expression smoothed over. With hands closed behind his back, he approached the window. The dawn light framed him, starkly contrasting half in shade, half in brilliance.
Finally, with a quiet and measured voice, he remarked, "There are forces at play that you do not comprehend." "You perceive these forces as mere pawns in their intricate schemes."
Sarah's irritation burst forth, her voice slicing through the suspense. She snapped, "Then maybe you should stop playing games with me." You enter my life, say mysterious things, and ask me to trust you. How can I trust you when I don't even know who you are?
With an inscrutable countenance, he turned to face her. And yet here you are, he whispered gently, stepping forward. "Sarah, you have not turned away. Why is it so?
She stammered, her life slipping away from her grasp. The reality was she didn't know. Despite her instincts screaming at her to leave, something about Vane kept her trapped.
"Maybe I'm just curious," she said, her voice softer now.
Vane smiled, his expression simultaneously horrifying and incredibly alluring. "Sarah, curiosity can be harmful."
"Is that a threat?" She pushed back, raising her chin.
"It's a fact," he asserted with a silky voice. "But no, it is not a threat," he said. I neither want to hurt you. Conversely, I wish to shield you.
Her pulse accelerated with each passing second, prompting her to ask, "What are you protecting me from?"
His focus hardened, the light-hearted edge disappearing. From guys such as Elias Drayton.
Her name set off a shock. "You know him?"
Sadly, sure, Vane said. His voice carried a weight that caused her stomach to knot. "And if he got in touch with you, he saw you as a weakness. a means of contact with me.
Sarah turned around in her brain. "What? What are his expectations from you?
"That's a story for another time," Vane remarked, his voice decisive and yielding no dispute. Right now, you have to believe me. Drayton is dangerous; he will not hesitate to use you to further his objective.
And what about you? She questioned, her voice shaking. "How can I find you not just as dangerous?"
He moved forward, his hand touching her arm. Like a fire and ice meeting, the contact shivered her—both soothing and disarming.
"You don't," he said sincerely, his voice lowering to a nearly whisper. But I have never misled you, Sarah. And I'm not starting right now.
Her mind became weighty with his words, and she became divided. She couldn't deny the hold he had on her, but she didn't trust him—not really.
Vane stepped back, his face softening as though he sensed her agony. Sarah, be cautious. Drayton is not someone you can dismiss. Tell me whether he gets back in touch.
And should I fail as well? She questioned, her voice rebellious even as anxiety bubbled under.
His eyes clouded, and his voice took on a dangerous edge. Then, you will be left on your own. You really don't want to be on your own.
He then turned and left, his departure as abrupt as his arrival. The door clicked closed behind him, leaving Sarah alone with her ideas and a thousand unmet questions.
With her mind racing, she collapsed onto the couch. The air seemed weighty, packed with an intangible strain she could not release. She was in far deeper than she had ever anticipated, albeit she had no idea who to believe.