Chapter 4: Dangerous Games
"Let her go, Damian." Elias's words cut through the night air like a knife. He kept his gun pointed at Olivia's head while his men circled them.
Damian's grip on Claire's arm tightened. "This doesn't concern you, cousin."
"Everything about Blackwood Enterprises concerns me." Elias pushed Olivia forward. "I'll trade. Your friend for the Hart girl."
Claire looked at Olivia's scared face, then at Damian's cold expression. How had she ended up between these two dangerous men?
"Don't do it," Olivia whispered.
Damian studied Elias with narrow eyes. "What do you want with Miss Hart?"
"The same thing you do." Elias smiled. "The truth about Richard Hart."
Claire yanked her arm free from Damian's grip. "I'm not a bargaining chip!"
In that split second of confusion, more gunshots rang out. Everyone ducked. Claire saw her chance and ran toward the edge of the bridge, away from both Blackwoods.
"Claire!" Olivia screamed.
A black car screeched to a halt at the end of the bridge. The door slid open, and a man with graying hair waved excitedly.
"Get in if you want to live!" he yelled.
Claire paused, but the sound of more gunfire made her choice. She raced toward the van and jumped inside. The door slammed shut, and the van sped away.
Claire caught her breath, heart beating wildly. "Who are you?"
"Leo Donovan." The man gave her a water bottle. "I used to work for your father."
"As what?"
"Security consultant." Leo checked the rearview mirror. "No one following yet, but they will be. Blackwoods don't give up easy."
Claire sipped the water, mind racing. "How did you know I'd be there?"
"I've been watching you since you found that key." Leo took a quick turn down a side street. "Your father asked me to keep an eye on you if anything happened to him."
"Why didn't you contact me before?"
"Waiting for the right moment." Leo pulled into an underground parking garage. "This is a safe house. We can talk here."
Inside a small flat, Claire paced while Leo checked the locks.
"Those documents you found," he said. "Did you read them all?"
Claire shook her head. "I only saw a few before Elias's men took them."
"Damian showed me one claiming Dad stole money."
Leo frowned. "That's their play, then. Making Richard look like the thief."
"Is it true?" Claire asked, her voice small.
"No. Your father was many things, but not a thief." Leo pulled out a laptop. "The Blackwoods framed him. They created fake deals, backdated papers, paid off witnesses."
Claire's hands curled into fists. "I'm going to make them pay."
"That's what they're counting on." Leo looked at her seriously. "You rushing in, making charges without proof. They'll destroy you like they ruined your father."
"Then what do I do?"
"Something they won't expect." Leo turned the laptop toward her. On the screen was a job ad for Blackwood Enterprises. "Executive assistant to the CEO."
Claire stared at it. "Damian already offered me a job. As blackmail."
"Then take it," Leo said. "But on your terms, not his."
The next morning, Claire entered Blackwood Tower. Her hair was pulled back in a neat bun, and she wore a simple but beautiful dress taken from Olivia's closet.
The security guard checked her ID. "Miss Hart for Mr. Blackwood."
He nodded and gave her a visitor card. "Elevator to the top floor."
As Claire rode up, her phone buzzed with a text from Leo: Remember the plan. Stay calm.
The lift opened to a sleek reception room. A tall, beautiful woman with sharp eyes looked up from her desk.
"Claire Hart?" she asked. "I'm Evelyn Sterling, Mr. Blackwood's chief of staff."
"I'm here to see Mr. Blackwood."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly. "He's expecting you. This way."
She led Claire down a hallway lined with modern art to a set of double doors. Without knocking, Evelyn opened them.
"Miss Hart is here," she stated.
Damian Blackwood stood by a wall of windows, his back to the door. He turned slowly, his dark eyes taking in Claire's look.
"Miss Hart. Right on time."
Evelyn left, closed the doors behind her. Claire and Damian were alone.
"I assume you've made your decision about my offer," he said.
Claire took a deep breath. This was it. The moment she'd been waiting for.
"You ruined my father!" she screamed, moving toward his desk.
Damian didn't move. He simply sat down and leaned back in his chair, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"Prove it," he said softly.
Claire slammed her hands on his desk. "You framed him. Made it look like he stole money. But I know the truth."
"And what truth is that?"
"That you and your family destroyed Hart Industries to steal his rights. You couldn't beat him fairly, so you cheated."
Damian's face didn't change. "That's quite an accusation from someone with no evidence."
"I had evidence until your cousin stole it!"
"Ah, Elias." Damian sighed. "Always complicating things."
Claire straightened up. "I want those documents back."
"I don't have them. As you said, Elias took them." Damian studied her face. "But I'm curious why you came here today. Surely not just to yell at me?"
Claire took another deep breath. "I want the job."
Surprise flickered across Damian's face before he controlled it. "The job? Why the change of heart?"
"I need money. And I want to see for myself what kind of man you really are."
Damian leaned forward. "The kind who wins, Miss Hart. Always."
"We'll see about that."
A slow smile spread across Damian's face. "You know what I think? I think you're here to spy on me. To find proof about your father."
Claire's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her face bland. "And you're offering me a job to keep me close. To control me."
"Perhaps we both have ulterior motives."
"Perhaps."
Damian stood and walked around the desk until he was right in front of her. Claire forced herself not to step back.
"Here are my terms," he said. "You work directly for me. As my personal assistant, you'll handle my scheduling, communication, and trip plans. In return, I'll pay you triple what you're making at your present jobs."
"And the documents about my father?"
"Will stay private. As long as you stay loyal."
Claire met his eyes. "I have terms too. No more threats. No more watching me. And I want a room in a safe building."
Damian raised an eyebrow. "Afraid Elias might pay you another visit?"
"I'm not afraid of anyone."
"Brave words." Damian walked back to his desk and pushed a button. "Evelyn, prepare the forms for Miss Hart. She starts today."
Claire tried to hide her surprise. "Today?"
"Problem?"
"No. No problem."
Evelyn entered with a tablet. "Everything's ready, sir."
"Show Miss Hart to her office. And arrange for a room in the office building."
As Claire followed Evelyn out, Damian called after her.
"One more thing, Miss Hart."
She turned.
"Trust no one. Not even me." His dark eyes bore into hers. "Especially not me."
In her new office, Claire sent a text to Leo: I'm in.
His reply came quickly: Good. Watch your back. And check for cameras.
Claire looked around the beautiful space. A desk, computer, small sofa, and bookcases filled with work titles. It was bigger than her entire flat.
A knock at the door made her jump. Evelyn entered with a stack of files.
"Your first task," she said, setting them on the desk. "Mr. Blackwood wants these reviewed by tomorrow."
Claire nodded. "Thank you."
Evelyn stayed. "Some advice, Miss Hart? Don't get too comfortable. Girls like you don't last long here."
"Girls like me?"
"The ones with something to prove." Evelyn's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Mr. Blackwood gets bored easily."
After Evelyn left, Claire started going through the files. Most were standard business papers, but one caught her eye—a folder titled "Hart Industries: Asset Acquisition."
Her hands shook as she opened it. Inside were details of how Blackwood Enterprises had taken over her father's rights after his death.
As Claire read through the pages, her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.
Look up.
Claire froze, then slowly raised her head. Through the glass wall of her office, she could see into Damian's. He was watching her, phone in hand.
Another text: The cameras see everything. Remember that.
Claire felt a chill run down her spine. She quickly closed the folder and tried to look busy.
Her own phone buzzed again—a different unknown number.
You're playing a dangerous game, Claire. Don't trust D. Meet me tonight. 8 PM, The Black Swan restaurant. —E
Claire glanced toward Damian's office, but he was now on a call, his back to her.
Another message appeared: I have what you want. Your father's real papers. Come alone.
Claire bit her
lip. Leo had warned her about Elias. But if he had the real papers...
She had to risk it.
What she didn't notice was Evelyn Sterling standing in the doorway, watching her read the texts with a calculating smile.