Amara didn't sleep well that night. Her dreams were full of shadows—whispers of warning and flashes of Adrian's eyes. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt his gaze on her, even though he wasn't there.
By morning, her nerves were taut. She forced herself into routine—breakfast, coffee, laptop open—but her thoughts kept circling back to him. To Adrian Voss.
She had told herself that she was in control. That this was about revenge. That feelings had no place in her plan.
And yet… she couldn't shake him.
The Unexpected Visitor
A knock on her apartment door made her jump. She wasn't expecting anyone.
Cautiously, she opened it. Standing there was Lydia Arkwright.
Lydia smiled, flawless and cold. "Hello, Mira… or should I call you Amara?"
Amara's heart skipped. She hadn't expected this—Lydia had been watching, but she hadn't anticipated a face-to-face confrontation so soon.
"What do you want?" Amara asked, voice steady despite the sudden surge of fear.
"Just a friendly chat," Lydia replied smoothly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "We don't know each other… yet. But I can tell you, you're playing a dangerous game."
Amara's instincts screamed. She moved to close the door, but Lydia blocked her with a calm, deliberate hand.
"You can't hide from me," Lydia said. "Not in this city. Not from Adrian."
Amara's pulse quickened. Her carefully constructed plan felt like it was unraveling in front of her.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Amara said, trying to mask her fear.
Lydia laughed softly. "Oh, I think you do. You're too close to him. And for someone like you… that's very, very dangerous."
Amara's mind raced. She needed to get Lydia out—fast.
Adrian Appears
Before Amara could act, a knock echoed through the apartment. Lydia's smile faltered slightly.
Amara peeked through the peephole. Adrian.
He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. His presence was commanding—silent but impossible to ignore.
"Amara," he said, eyes scanning the room, landing on Lydia. His expression hardened. "Who is she?"
Lydia didn't flinch. "A concerned friend," she said smoothly.
Adrian's eyes narrowed. He took a step closer, protective instinct clear in every line of his posture.
Amara's heart raced. He was here—he had come to protect her, even though he didn't fully know her.
"You're a step too close to something dangerous," Adrian said, voice calm but dangerous. "And I don't like threats near me—or near the people I care about."
Lydia's eyes flickered. "And who are you to care about her?"
"I'm Adrian Voss," he said coldly. "And I make sure threats get neutralized."
The air in the apartment felt electric. Every second stretched, tense, dangerous.
Amara realized something terrifying. She had been trying to manipulate Adrian… but now, she was the one caught in a trap she couldn't control.
The Warning
Lydia stepped back, a flicker of frustration crossing her face. "This isn't over," she said, her voice low and threatening. "Not by a long shot."
And then, just as suddenly, she was gone.
Amara turned to Adrian, her chest tight. "Thank you," she whispered.
He didn't smile. He only nodded once. "Stay close. But not for my sake. For your own."
Her fingers trembled slightly as he left. She realized then that she was losing control of more than just the situation. She was losing control of herself.
And that terrified her more than any threat.