His Rival Her Sin

Chapter 5: The Invitation

Nina had promised herself she would be more careful.

The previous few days had reminded her how easily one mistake could put everything she had worked for at risk. She needed the documents connected to her father’s past, but she couldn’t afford to let desperation make her careless.

There had to be another way.

She sat at her dressing table, fastening an earring as she thought about her next move. Her investigation had brought her into the orbit of two brothers who could hardly have been more different.

Alex was open about what he wanted from her.

Ryan was harder to understand.

Whenever Nina thought about Ryan, she remembered how difficult it was to read his expression. He seemed to keep every thought behind a carefully constructed wall.

She pushed the thought aside.

She had more important things to worry about.

Her phone rang.

Alex’s name appeared on the screen.

Nina answered with a smile. “Hello, you.”

“Well, that sounds promising,” Alex replied. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten me.”

“It’s only been a few days.”

“A few very long days.”

She laughed. “You’re dramatic.”

“Only when necessary.”

“Is that what you tell every woman?”

There was a brief pause.

“No,” he said. “Just the ones I’m interested in.”

Nina’s smile softened.

Alex had a way of making his intentions clear without making her feel trapped by them. She liked that about him, even if she wasn’t ready to tell him how much.

“So,” he continued, “I have an invitation for you.”

“An invitation?”

“There’s a party this weekend. A few friends, some business associates, music, drinks. Nothing too serious.”

“Your idea of nothing serious probably costs more than my rent.”

Alex laughed.

“You haven’t even seen the place yet.”

“Should I be worried?”

“Absolutely not. I promise to behave.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.”

He laughed again, and Nina found herself smiling at the sound.

“Come with me,” he said. “I want you there.”

She grew quiet for a moment.

“Alex, I don’t know.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not sure I’m really a party person.”

“You don’t have to stay all night. Come for a little while. If you hate it, I’ll take you home myself.”

Nina looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Part of her wanted to say no. She had work to do, questions to answer, and a family investigation that seemed to grow more complicated every time she made progress.

But another part of her wanted an evening when she didn’t have to think about any of it.

An evening when she could simply be Nina.

“All right,” she said at last. “I’ll come.”

Alex’s excitement was immediate.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Good. I’ll send you the details.”

“And Alex?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t make me regret this.”

His voice softened.

“I wouldn’t want to.”

After they ended the call, Nina sat quietly for a moment.

She was looking forward to seeing Alex again.

That was the truth.

The part she didn’t want to examine too closely was how she might feel if Ryan happened to be there.

She had no reason to expect him at a party organised around Alex’s social circle.

At least, that was what she told herself.

⸻

At Cole International, Alex stood outside his brother’s office with his phone in his hand.

He had barely finished confirming Nina’s attendance when Ryan’s assistant informed him that Ryan was ready to see him.

Alex slipped his phone into his pocket and entered.

Ryan was reviewing a document behind his desk.

“You wanted to see me?” Alex asked.

Ryan gestured towards the chair opposite him.

“Sit down.”

Alex remained standing.

“If this is about the investment proposal, I’ve already explained my position.”

“And I’ve already explained mine. The board needs a revised forecast before we move forward.”

“You mean you need another opportunity to find a reason to reject it.”

Ryan looked up.

“Do you want to discuss the proposal, or do you want to argue?”

“Sometimes I wonder whether you even know the difference.”

Ryan closed the document.

“Your presentation has potential. The problem is that you’ve underestimated the financial exposure and overestimated the speed at which we can expand.”

“Then let me prove the numbers are right.”

“Bring me a better forecast.”

Alex stared at him.

“That’s all you ever say. Bring me more figures. Give me another report. Wait another week.”

“Because this is a business, Alex. Not a competition between us.”

“Easy for you to say when you’re the one making the final decisions.”

Ryan’s expression hardened.

“You think I enjoy carrying responsibility for every decision this family makes?”

“I think you’ve become so comfortable being in charge that you can’t imagine anyone else doing it.”

For a moment, neither brother spoke.

Their father’s expectations had shaped both of them, but in different ways. Ryan had learned to protect what their father built. Alex wanted to prove that the empire could become something greater under his leadership.

Neither understood why the other couldn’t see his side.

Ryan finally returned to the document.

“Have the revised figures ready by Monday.”

Alex gave a short laugh.

“Of course.”

He turned towards the door.

“Alex.”

He stopped.

“Don’t confuse my disagreement with a lack of confidence in you,” Ryan said. “If I thought you were incapable, I wouldn’t bother asking you to improve the proposal.”

Alex looked back at him, caught off guard by the statement.

For a moment, he almost responded honestly.

Instead, he gave a small nod.

“Monday, then.”

He left the office with mixed feelings.

Ryan could be infuriating, but Alex knew his brother wasn’t stupid. He also knew that earning Ryan’s respect would mean more than winning an argument in a boardroom.

One day, he would make decisions without having to seek his brother’s approval.

And when that day came, he intended to be ready.

The invitation arrived on Nina’s phone that evening.

Alex had sent the address, the time, and a short message telling her not to worry about transportation because he would arrange everything.

She read through the details, then searched for the venue.

It was a private event space overlooking the city, the kind of place where business deals could begin over cocktails and old rivalries could hide behind polite smiles.

Nina studied the photographs for a moment.

It looked beautiful.

She could almost imagine herself there, dressed for the evening, surrounded by music and people who had never had to fight for answers about their families.

For once, she wanted to enjoy something without questioning what it might cost her.

She opened her wardrobe and began considering what to wear.

Then she stopped.

Why was she suddenly so nervous?

It was only a party.

She was going because Alex had invited her, and because she wanted to spend time with him.

There was no reason to think about Ryan.

No reason at all.

Her phone vibrated again.

Alex: One more thing. Don’t let anyone intimidate you at the party.

Nina: Should I expect trouble?

Alex: Not trouble. Just people who think being rich makes them interesting.

Nina: And are you one of those people?

Alex: I’m hoping you can judge that for yourself.

She laughed.

Nina: I’ll be the judge of that.

Alex: Fair enough. See you soon, beautiful.

Nina read his final message, feeling warmth spread through her chest.

Alex made it easy to forget that she had entered his family’s world for reasons she could never explain to him.

But she knew the truth would not stay buried forever.

The closer she became to Alex, the harder it would be to keep her investigation separate from her feelings.

And if Ryan ever discovered what she had been searching for, everything could change.

The following afternoon, Ryan received the invitation to the same party.

He scanned the details while his assistant outlined the evening’s arrangements.

“Several of the company’s associates will be attending,” she explained. “Mr Alex Cole is expected to arrive early.”

Ryan set the invitation on his desk.

“Is there anything else?”

“Only that the host would appreciate your presence.”

Ryan glanced at the time.

“I’ll see what I can arrange.”

His assistant nodded and left.

Ryan returned to his work, giving the party little further thought.

He had no interest in spending an entire evening listening to people praise one another’s businesses over expensive drinks. But the event would bring together several people connected to the company’s expansion plans, and ignoring it might create unnecessary complications.

He would attend if his schedule allowed.

Across the city, Nina was making her own preparations for the same evening.

She had no idea that the party might bring her face-to-face with Ryan again.

And Ryan had no reason to expect that the woman who had recently crossed his path would become part of the evening.

For now, they were moving towards the same destination for entirely different reasons.

Alex wanted Nina beside him.

Ryan had business interests to consider.

And Nina wanted one evening in which she could forget the secrets she carried.

None of them knew what the night would bring.

But sometimes the most dangerous moments began with an ordinary invitation.

And this one was about to place all three of them in the same room.