Shadows of the billionaire

CHAPTER 2

The morning sun shone brightly through the curtains in Zara’s small apartment. It made the wooden floors warm and inviting. Zara lay in bed, thinking about the engagement party and the strange conversation she had with Ethan.

Ethan had given her a puzzling warning that left her feeling confused and anxious. She knew she needed to clear her mind and distract herself from these troubling thoughts. Zara decided to start her day with a visit to the gallery, where she usually felt calm and inspired. As she arrived at the gallery, her assistant, Emily, was there to greet her.

“Good morning, Zara! How was the big party?” Emily asked with a friendly smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“It was... fine,” Zara replied, forcing a smile even though she didn’t feel like talking about it.

“Do you need any help today?” Emily asked, noticing that Zara seemed preoccupied.

“I just need some time to think,” Zara said, gently squeezing Emily’s shoulder for comfort. “Can you handle the gallery for a few hours?”

“Of course,” Emily said, though her smile faded into a look of concern. “Is everything okay?”

“I just need to clear my head,” Zara repeated, then headed to her office at the back of the gallery.

In her office, Zara spent the next few hours painting. The brushstrokes helped her calm down a bit, but Ethan’s words kept nagging at her. She couldn’t seem to shake off the unease. Finally, she decided she needed to confront Alexander about what she had learned.

That evening, Zara made her way to the Hughes’ penthouse. Alexander had invited her for dinner, and she hoped to use this opportunity to discuss her concerns with him. The luxurious building seemed even grander when she arrived. She took the elevator up to the top floor.

When Alexander opened the door, he greeted her with a warm smile. He looked handsome in a casual shirt and pants. “You look beautiful,” he said, giving her a light kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you,” Zara replied, managing a small smile. “I hope it’s okay, but I wanted to talk about something.”

Alexander’s smile faded slightly as he noticed her serious tone. “Of course. Let’s have dinner first, and then we can talk.”

The dining room was set up for an intimate meal. Soft red candles flickered, and they had a beautiful view of the city. As they ate, the atmosphere was tense. Zara pushed her food around her plate, trying to find the right moment to bring up her concerns.

Finally, she gathered her courage and spoke. “Alexander, at the party, I had a conversation with Ethan Carter. He warned me about your family.”

Alexander’s expression became serious. “What did he say?”

“He told me there are secrets I need to be aware of,” Zara said, her voice steady but worried. “He made it sound like there are things I should know.”

Alexander sighed and put down his fork. “Ethan has a tendency to interfere in matters that don’t concern him. He left our company under difficult circumstances.”

“What kind of circumstances?” Zara asked, her heart racing as she tried to understand.

“Ethan was accused of embezzlement,” Alexander explained. “But he always claimed he was framed. My father dealt with the situation discreetly to avoid further problems, but Ethan has held a grudge ever since.”

“So, you think he’s trying to ruin our engagement out of revenge?” Zara asked, feeling even more anxious.

“It’s possible,” Alexander said. “But don’t worry. I will handle any issues that come up. You don’t need to be concerned.”

“But I am worried,” Zara insisted. “This is not just about you and your family. It’s about our future together. I need to trust you.”

Alexander’s face softened with reassurance. “You can trust me, Zara. I promise I will protect you from any trouble. If you want to know more, we can look into this together.”

Zara felt a mixture of relief and understanding. “Okay. Let’s start by talking to Ethan. I want to hear his side of the story.”

The next day, Zara and Alexander arranged to meet Ethan at a quiet café in Midtown. Zara felt nervous as they waited for him to arrive. She glanced at Alexander, who looked calm but attentive.

When Ethan walked into the café, his eyes narrowed as he saw them. He approached their table with a cautious demeanor. “Thank you for meeting me,” Zara said, trying to ease the tension.

Ethan nodded and took a seat. “I’m surprised you wanted to hear what I have to say.”

“Zara needs to understand the whole situation,” Alexander said firmly. “Let’s get to it.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair and looked at them seriously. “The Hughes family is not what they seem. Robert Hughes is corrupt and ruthless. I was set up to take the blame for his illegal activities.”

“What kind of illegal activities?” Zara asked quietly, feeling uneasy.

“Offshore accounts, money laundering, and other shady practices,” Ethan said bluntly. “When I confronted Robert about these issues, he framed me for embezzlement. I lost my job, my reputation, and my future.”

Zara felt a shiver run down her spine. She turned to Alexander, who looked tense and worried. “Is this true?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Alexander’s face hardened. “My father is known for his ruthless behavior, but I didn’t realize how bad things were. Ethan, if what you’re saying is true, we need evidence.”

Ethan reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a USB drive. “I have documents that prove everything. But be careful. Going up against Robert is dangerous.”

Zara took the USB drive, her hands shaking slightly. “Thank you, Ethan. We’ll look into this.”

As they left the café, Zara felt a mix of fear and determination. Alexander held her hand and reassured her. “We will get to the bottom of this.”

Zara nodded, but as they walked down the busy street, she had an uneasy feeling that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder and saw a figure disappearing into the crowd. Her heart raced with a sense of danger in the air.