CHAPTER 5
966 Words
Rainora squeaked out, “I was directed here to drop some files for Wren Woods.” The moment she uttered those words, she felt the weight of the atmosphere shift as the tall man—Nikolas—studied her with an intensity that made her stomach twist. He was about 6ft3, with midnight hair lightly gelled back. His jaw could cut stone, and he filled out his three-piece suit like he was born in it. His swirling gray eyes were locked onto her, making her heart race even faster.Just then, a second man with sandy blond hair and brown eyes stepped forward from behind Nikolas. He wore a confident smile that somehow managed to defuse the tension in the air. “I’m Wren,” he introduced himself, extending a hand toward her.With trembling fingers, Rainora shakily handed him the files, trying to ignore the heat radiating from Nikolas’s gaze. “Here you go,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Wren took the file and flipped it open, scanning the contents. “Thanks for bringing this over,” he said, glancing back at Nikolas momentarily. Rainora could sense the unspoken communication between them.“Did you hear anything else?” Nikolas’s voice sliced through the atmosphere like a knife. He stepped closer, his presence looming as he drilled his gaze into her. Rainora’s throat went dry, panic rising in her chest. “N-No, I didn’t hear anything else,” she stammered, the words tumbling out in a rush.“Cut it off, Nikolas,” Wren interjected sharply, his expression turning serious as he stepped between them. “It’s okay, Rainora. You can go. Just—” he paused, searching for the right words. “Keep your mouth shut about what you heard, alright?” Y-Yes! I promise!” she nodded frantically, her pulse pounding in her ears. Without waiting for another word, she turned on her heel and practically sprinted towards the elevator, the weight of Nikolas’s gaze burning into her back.As the elevator doors slid open, she glanced back just in time to see the receptionist who had been absent earlier watching her with a mix of surprise and curiosity, her eyebrows raised as if to say, “What just happened?” Rainora felt a rush of embarrassment flood her cheeks as she hurried inside the elevator, pressing the button for the ground-floor with a sense of urgency. What had she just walked into? The conversation she’d overheard echoed in her head, and she felt a chill run down her spine. When the elevator dinged and opened in the lobby, she stepped out and quickly walked out of Woods Enterprises, the noise of the city hitting her like a wave. She needed to get back to Conway Law, back to the safety of her mundane tasks, where the biggest risk was dealing with a demanding client or a rude coworker. As she reached the street, she flagged down a cab, grateful for the small reprieve from the chaos of Woods Enterprises.“Conway Law, please,” she instructed the driver, sinking back into the seat. As they pulled away from the curb, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had stumbled into something far bigger than herself or anything she'd ever known.—-Nikolas watched the brunette scurry away, her shapely figure disappearing into the crowd outside Woods Enterprises. There was something about her that piqued his interest, something beyond the ordinary. He turned on his heel and strode back into his office, the door swinging shut behind him with a soft thud. Wren was seated at the expansive mahogany desk, thumbing through the files she had delivered. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken tension, and Nikolas didn’t waste any time addressing it. “You let her go?” he said, his voice low and edged with irritation. Wren looked up, his brows knitting together. “Nik, it’s just a girl. She didn’t seem like a threat. If she tattles, we can—”—quietly get rid of her?” Nikolas interrupted, his tone sharp as he leaned against the desk, his arms crossed. “What if she knows more than we think? You could’ve at least questioned her.” Wren shrugged, unfazed. “It’s not worth it. She looked terrified. I doubt she’d say anything, and if she does, we have ways to handle it.” Nikolas chewed over Wren’s words for a moment, the gears in his mind turning. Finally, he grunted a reluctant nod. “Fine. But I want you to look into who she is. Background check, the works. Find out everything about her.” Wren raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden shift in Nikolas's demeanor but not questioning it. “Sure thing, boss. I’ll get on it.” He waved goodbye and left the office, the door clicking shut behind him. Nikolas settled into his leather chair, a faint frown tugging at his lips as he opened the CCTV camera feed from the lobby. Just in time, he caught a glimpse of the curvy brunette hurrying through the glass doors, her long hair cascading behind her like a dark waterfall. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of interest and fascination take root within him. What was it about her? Perhaps it was the way she had stood there, wide-eyed and nervous, yet somehow defiantly holding her ground. Or maybe it was the brief moment of vulnerability he’d seen flash across her face when he’d pressed her about what she heard. He leaned closer to the screen, watching as she flagged down a cab, her small frame almost swallowed by the larger vehicle. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye. Either way, he was determined to find out.
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