CHAPTER 11: A Risky Alliance
Allen paced back and forth in his room, the weight of his secrets and the mounting danger pressing heavily on his shoulders. His mind raced with thoughts of the criminal syndicate, his father's betrayal, and Elena's grim warnings. The rain had stopped outside, leaving an eerie silence in its wake, but the storm inside him continued to rage.
He had to confront Daisy. This arrangement—this charade of a relationship—was spiraling out of control. They were bound by lies, and each passing day, Allen felt like he was sinking deeper into a pit from which there might be no escape. But before he could confront his enemies, he needed to clear the air with Daisy.
Taking a deep breath, Allen left his room and made his way to Daisy's study. The door was slightly ajar, and the soft glow of a desk lamp illuminated the room. Daisy was seated behind the grand wooden desk, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished surface as she reviewed a stack of documents. Her focus was sharp, cold, and unyielding.
Allen hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. "Daisy, we need to talk."
Without looking up, Daisy responded in her usual detached tone. "This better be important, Allen. I'm swamped with preparations for the wedding."
Allen swallowed hard, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "It is important," he began, his voice tight with the weight of what he was about to say. "I'm grateful for everything you've done—saving me, protecting me—but I don't know how much longer I can keep living this lie."
Finally, Daisy looked up from her papers, her piercing eyes locking onto Allen's. "What lie are you talking about?" she asked, her voice icy.
"This fake engagement," Allen replied, taking a step closer. "I can't pretend anymore. My life is turning into a nightmare, and now, with the threat from the syndicate, I don't even know who to trust. I'm drowning in secrets, and I just don't know how much more I can take."
Daisy's expression didn't soften. If anything, it grew harder, more guarded. "You agreed to this arrangement, Allen. You knew what was at stake."
Allen shook his head, frustration bubbling to the surface. "That was before I knew the full extent of everything! Before I found out about my real family, the Morgan's, and the enemies that come with it. Now, you want me to marry you for some twisted power play between your father and Princeton? I can't do it."
Daisy leaned back in her chair, her gaze unwavering. "You don't have a choice, Allen. We made a deal, and I expect you to honor it. You may think this engagement is just a game, but for me, it's about survival. My father wants to control me, to use me as a pawn in his political games. If I don't marry you, he'll force me into a marriage with Princeton, and I refuse to let that happen."
Allen's frustration turned to disbelief. "So, what? You're just using me as a shield? I'm nothing more than a pawn to you, too?"
Daisy's eyes narrowed. "This isn't about you, Allen. It's about power, control, and survival. You're caught up in it, yes, but don't pretend like you're the only one struggling. We're both trapped in this game."
Allen clenched his jaw, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "So, what now? I just go along with it, pretend everything is fine while the walls close in around us?"
Daisy stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. She walked around the desk, stopping just inches away from Allen. "Yes," she said coldly, her voice low and firm. "You will go along with it, because the alternative is far worse. You want to survive, don't you? Then play your part."
Allen stared at her, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew she was right, but it didn't make the situation any easier to accept. The weight of their arrangement hung heavily between them, a pact forged in desperation and sustained by necessity. But how much longer could he keep up this charade? How much longer could he live a life that wasn't his own?
Before he could respond, the door to the study creaked open, and Butler Joe stepped inside, his face pale and lined with concern. "Forgive the intrusion," he began, his voice grave. "But we have a serious problem."
Daisy turned sharply, her eyes narrowing. "What is it?"
Butler Joe's gaze flickered toward Allen before returning to Daisy. "The Morgan company is under attack from within."
Allen's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean, under attack?"
Joe stepped forward, his expression grim. "There's been a series of suspicious transactions and decisions made by individuals close to the board. It seems that someone is trying to destabilize the company, and if they succeed, it could mean the end of the Morgan empire."
Allen's heart pounded in his chest. "Who's behind it?"
"We don't know for sure yet," Joe replied. "But we suspect it's someone who has ties to the syndicate. They've been infiltrating the company, and if we don't act fast, the damage could be irreversible."
Daisy's face was a mask of cold fury. "So, they're coming after the company now? Typical. They can't beat us outright, so they're trying to rot us from the inside."
Allen felt a surge of panic rising in his chest. The Morgan company was his birthright—his connection to the family he barely knew—and now it was in danger. "What can we do?" he asked, his voice tense.
Joe shook his head. "We need to move carefully. If we act too quickly, we could expose ourselves, and whoever's behind this will go into hiding. But if we wait too long, they could complete their sabotage."
Daisy crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "So, what's the plan?"
Joe looked between them both, his eyes shadowed with worry. "We need to find the traitor, and we need to find them fast. If we don't, everything the Morgans have built will crumble."
A heavy silence fell over the room, the weight of the situation settling on their shoulders like a leaden shroud. Allen's mind raced as he considered their next move. The Morgan company, the engagement, the syndicate—everything was closing in on him, and the choices he made in the coming days could determine not only his fate but the fate of everyone around him.
Daisy broke the silence, her voice steady but laced with determination. "We'll find them. We'll expose them. And when we do, they'll regret ever crossing us."
Allen nodded, though doubt gnawed at him. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep pretending, how much longer he could play this dangerous game. But for now, he had no choice. The stakes were too high.
As Joe bowed his head and excused himself from the room, the door closing softly behind him, Allen turned back to Daisy. Their eyes met, and in that moment, he realized just how deeply they were both entangled in this web of deception, danger, and betrayal.
The game was far from over. In fact, it had only just begun.