The message burned in Lana's mind as she stared at her phone screen. The ominous words, "You can't trust him. Be careful," felt like a noose tightening around her neck. Her first instinct was to call Aaron, but she hesitated. If it was him, what was his motive? And if it wasn't… who was watching her?
The bartender's voice jolted her from her thoughts. "Everything okay, miss?"
Lana blinked, forcing a small smile. "Fine. Just a work thing."
But nothing about this felt fine. She slipped her phone into her bag and left the bar, the cool night air hitting her like a slap. The city lights blurred as she walked quickly toward the nearest taxi stand, her thoughts racing.
Nicholas's warning echoed in her mind. The people you let into your life can either build you up or tear you apart. Was he talking about Aaron? Or was there something more he wasn't telling her?
As the taxi pulled up in front of her apartment building, Lana couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced over her shoulder, but the street was empty save for a few pedestrians. Shaking off the unease, she hurried inside, locking the door behind her.
Her apartment felt different tonight, the silence oppressive. She tossed her bag onto the couch and went straight to her laptop. If she was going to meet Nicholas's two-week deadline, she needed to work, no matter how unsettled she felt.
But as she opened her documents, her phone buzzed again. Another message.
"Ask him about Paris."
Her blood ran cold. Paris. The one city she never mentioned to anyone. Her fingers trembled as she read the message again, trying to make sense of it.
Paris was where everything had fallen apart with Aaron. The lies, the betrayal, the secrets—everything had started there. But what did Nicholas have to do with it?
She stared at the message, her heart pounding. Who was sending these texts? And how did they know about Paris?
A knock on her door shattered the silence, and Lana jumped, her pulse spiking. She approached cautiously, peering through the peephole.
Nicholas stood on the other side, his expression unreadable.
She hesitated before opening the door, her mind racing. "Mr. Sterling? What are you doing here?"
He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his presence commanding as ever. "We need to talk."
Lana closed the door behind him, crossing her arms. "About what? My work? Or are you here to deliver another cryptic warning?"
Nicholas turned to face her, his gaze sharp. "I don't deal in cryptic, Miss Daniels. I deal in facts. And the fact is, you're in over your head."
Her breath caught, but she forced herself to stay composed. "What are you talking about?"
"Your friend," he said, the word laced with disdain. "Aaron Blake. Do you know what he's been up to since Paris?"
The mention of Paris sent a chill down her spine. "How do you know about Paris?"
Nicholas's jaw tightened. "Because Aaron's betrayals didn't stop with you. He's been involved in shady deals for years. Deals that intersect with people I don't want anywhere near my business."
Lana's head spun. "You're saying Aaron is… dangerous?"
"I'm saying he's reckless. And now, he's trying to drag you back into his mess."
She sank onto the couch, her mind reeling. "This doesn't make sense. Why would he warn me about you?"
Nicholas frowned. "Warn you?"
She hesitated, then pulled out her phone and showed him the messages. His eyes darkened as he read them, his expression unreadable.
"Ask him about Paris," he murmured, his tone colder than she'd ever heard.
"Do you know what it means?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nicholas handed the phone back to her, his jaw clenched. "It means Aaron is trying to manipulate you. He knows I won't tolerate interference, so he's planting seeds of doubt. Don't let him win."
Lana stood, her frustration boiling over. "You keep telling me to trust you, but you're just as cryptic as he is! If you want me to believe you, then give me the truth. What aren't you telling me, Nicholas?"
For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer. But then he stepped closer, his blue eyes locking onto hers.
"There are things in my past I'm not proud of," he said quietly. "Things I've done to protect what's mine. Aaron was part of that past, and if he's resurfaced, it's not a coincidence. He's playing a dangerous game, and now you're caught in the middle."
Her breath hitched. "What kind of game?"
Nicholas's gaze didn't waver. "The kind where trust can cost you everything."
The weight of his words pressed down on her, but before she could respond, another knock echoed through the apartment.
This time, when Lana checked the peephole, her stomach twisted. Aaron stood on the other side, his expression dark and determined.
She turned to Nicholas, panic rising in her chest. "He's here."
Nicholas's jaw tightened, and in an instant, his calm demeanor shifted into something colder, more dangerous. "Let him in."
"What?"
"I said, let him in," Nicholas repeated, his voice low. "It's time we settle this."
Lana hesitated, her hand on the doorknob. She could feel the tension radiating from Nicholas, could see the storm brewing in his eyes. When she opened the door, Aaron stepped inside, his gaze locking onto Nicholas immediately.
The air crackled with unspoken threats, and Lana knew she was standing between two men who had no intention of backing down.
"Aaron," Nicholas said, his tone razor-sharp. "It's been a long time."
Aaron smirked, but his eyes glinted with malice. "Not long enough."
And just like that, the night spiraled into chaos.