Chapter 3: The First Warning
1964 Words
Elaria woke up the next morning with one thought firmly planted in her mind.
She needed to stop thinking about Adrian Blackwood.
It was ridiculous.
She had known the man for barely two days, yet somehow he had already managed to occupy far too much space in her thoughts.
His voice.
His eyes.
The way he had looked at her in the elevator.
You.
She groaned and pulled the pillow over her face.
"No."
She threw the pillow aside and sat up.
"This is not happening."
Her phone buzzed on the bedside table.
She reached for it.
A message from Naomi.
Naomi: Tell me you didn't dream about your billionaire boss.
Elaria stared at the screen.
Then typed.
Elaria: Good morning to you too.
The reply came almost immediately.
Naomi: THAT'S NOT A DENIAL.
Elaria rolled her eyes.
Elaria: I have work.
Naomi: You have feelings.
Elaria locked her phone.
"Annoying."
She got out of bed.
She refused to admit that Naomi might be right.
Adrian wasn't her type.
He was too controlling.
Too arrogant.
Too difficult.
And there was something about him she couldn't quite explain.
Something guarded.
Something almost lonely.
She pushed the thought away.
He was her boss.
Nothing more.
At least, that was what she intended.
---
By nine o'clock, Elaria was at Blackwood Media.
She had barely settled at her desk when Chloe appeared.
"Mr. Blackwood wants the treatment."
Elaria looked at her watch.
"It's not even nine-thirty."
"He knows."
"Of course he does."
Chloe smiled.
"Good luck."
Elaria picked up the folder containing her work.
She headed toward Adrian's office.
She knocked once.
"Come in."
He was on the phone.
His back was turned toward her as he stared through the windows.
"No," he said coldly. "I don't care what the board thinks. The deal is not happening."
He listened.
His jaw tightened.
"Then tell them to find someone else."
He ended the call.
Only then did he turn.
His eyes landed on Elaria.
For a brief second, something changed in his expression.
Then it disappeared.
"You're early."
"You keep saying that."
"And you keep proving me right."
She walked toward his desk.
"I finished the treatment."
He took the folder from her.
"Sit."
Elaria sat.
Adrian opened the folder and began reading.
She watched him carefully.
Unlike most people, Adrian didn't react while reading.
No raised eyebrows.
No smiles.
Nothing.
It was almost impossible to tell whether he liked something or hated it.
After several minutes, he closed the folder.
"It's good."
Elaria smiled.
"That's the second compliment I've gotten from you."
"Don't get used to it."
Her smile widened.
"I'll treasure it."
He stared at her.
There was that look again.
Quiet.
Intense.
Too focused.
Elaria shifted in her seat.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"Then why are you staring at me?"
"I'm thinking."
"About?"
He leaned back.
"Whether you're always this confident."
She shrugged.
"Only when I'm nervous."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're nervous?"
"Obviously."
"You don't look nervous."
"I've had practice pretending."
Something about her answer made his expression change.
"Who taught you?"
Elaria hesitated.
"Life."
Adrian said nothing.
For a moment, the room became strangely quiet.
Then he looked back at the folder.
"There's one thing I want changed."
She frowned.
"What?"
"The ending."
"Why?"
"It feels too safe."
Elaria leaned forward.
"That's the point. The audience needs hope."
"Hope is predictable."
"So is cynicism."
His eyes lifted.
"You're challenging me again."
"Maybe."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Change the ending."
"I won't."
Silence.
Adrian stared at her.
Elaria stared back.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
"Fine."
She blinked.
"Fine?"
"Keep it."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
"Don't look so pleased."
"I am pleased."
"I noticed."
He pushed the folder toward her.
"There's another project I want you to read."
"Already?"
"You work here."
"Do you ever let your employees breathe?"
"During lunch."
She laughed.
"I'll take it."
She picked up the folder.
As she stood, Adrian's phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
Elaria noticed.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"That doesn't look like nothing."
Adrian locked the phone.
"You're dismissed."
She frowned.
"That's rude."
"It's efficient."
She walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
"Mr. Blackwood."
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"You know, you don't always have to act like you're made of stone."
His expression hardened.
"I don't."
"You do."
"Good to know."
She smiled.
"You're welcome."
She walked out before he could respond.
The moment the door closed, Adrian looked at his phone again.
The message was still there.
You should have left her alone.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
A second message appeared.
The girl will pay for what her father did.
Adrian's expression went cold.
---
Elaria returned to her desk and tried to concentrate.
She lasted twelve minutes.
Her mind kept returning to Adrian's strange reaction.
Something had happened.
She knew it.
And whatever it was, he wasn't telling her.
She opened the new folder he'd given her.
Inside were documents related to an upcoming film project.
She began reading.
A few minutes later, Chloe approached her desk.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah."
Chloe looked toward Adrian's office.
"Did he say anything?"
"About what?"
Chloe hesitated.
"Nothing."
Elaria raised an eyebrow.
"You were about to say something."
Chloe shook her head.
"Forget it."
"Now I definitely want to know."
Chloe lowered her voice.
"Just be careful."
Elaria frowned.
"About what?"
"Mr. Blackwood."
"Why?"
Chloe glanced around.
"People who work closely with him tend to leave."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
Chloe shook her head.
"Some people say he's difficult."
"And?"
"And some people say there's more to him than that."
Elaria's curiosity grew.
"Like what?"
Chloe looked uncomfortable.
"I really shouldn't."
Before Elaria could ask another question, Chloe walked away.
Elaria stared after her.
There's more to him.
She looked toward Adrian's office.
The blinds were partially closed.
She could barely see his silhouette behind them.
For a second, she wondered what kind of man could make an entire company whisper about him.
Then her phone vibrated.
Her stomach dropped.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
You were warned.
Her fingers went cold.
Another message arrived.
Ask Adrian what happened to Victoria.
Elaria stopped breathing.
Victoria.
She had heard the name before.
Adrian's former fiancée.
The woman who disappeared three years ago.
She stared at the message.
Then another one appeared.
He'll never tell you the truth.
Elaria looked toward Adrian's office again.
This time, the door opened.
Adrian stepped out.
Their eyes met across the office.
He noticed her expression.
Immediately, he started walking toward her.
"Elaria?"
She quickly locked her phone.
"Yes?"
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
He stopped in front of her.
"You don't look fine."
"I'm okay."
His eyes dropped briefly to the phone in her hand.
"Who messaged you?"
"No one."
"Elaria."
Something in his voice made her look up.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because you look frightened."
"I'm not frightened."
"Then show me your phone."
Her eyes widened.
"Excuse me?"
"Show me."
"No."
His jaw tightened.
"Someone contacted you."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know what this looks like."
Elaria stood.
"What does it look like?"
"Like someone is trying to get your attention."
She stared at him.
"Who is Victoria?"
Silence.
It was immediate.
Complete.
The color seemed to drain from Adrian's expression.
For the first time since Elaria had met him, she saw something in his eyes that looked dangerously close to fear.
Then it vanished.
"Where did you hear that name?"
"Answer me."
"Where?"
She held his gaze.
"Someone sent me a message."
His expression hardened.
"What did they say?"
Elaria hesitated.
"They told me to ask you what happened to her."
Adrian looked around the office.
His voice dropped.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"My office."
"I'm not going anywhere until you answer me."
He stepped closer.
"Elaria, this isn't a game."
"I know."
"You don't understand what you're involving yourself in."
"Then explain it to me."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who is watching you."
Her heart skipped.
"Watching me?"
Adrian's eyes locked onto hers.
"Yes."
A chill ran through her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Adrian reached for her phone.
This time, Elaria didn't pull away.
He read the messages.
His expression became unreadable.
He handed the phone back.
"You need to go home."
"What?"
"Now."
"I'm not leaving because someone sent me a text."
"You're leaving because I told you to."
Her anger flared.
"I'm not one of your employees right now."
"You are always one of my employees."
"And you're not my father."
His eyes darkened.
"No."
He stepped closer.
"I'm the man trying to keep you alive."
Elaria froze.
The words hung between them.
Adrian seemed to realize what he'd said.
His expression softened for barely a second.
Then the wall returned.
"Go home."
She shook her head.
"You owe me an explanation."
"I know."
"When are you going to give it to me?"
He looked at her.
"When it's safe."
"For who?"
"For you."
Elaria stared at him.
Then she turned away.
"Fine."
She grabbed her handbag.
But as she walked toward the elevator, one thought refused to leave her mind.
Adrian wasn't afraid for himself.
He was afraid for her.
And somehow, that frightened her more.
---
That evening, Elaria sat in the back of a taxi, staring through the window.
Lagos rushed past her in a blur of headlights and traffic.
Her phone rested in her lap.
She opened the message thread again.
The last message remained on the screen.
He'll never tell you the truth.
She swallowed.
"Victoria."
The name felt strange in her mouth.
She searched for it online.
Three years ago.
Blackwood heir's wedding called off.
Fiancée disappears days before ceremony.
Elaria's heart began beating faster as article after article appeared.
Most of them said the same thing.
Victoria Hayes had vanished.
No explanation.
No body.
No confirmed sighting.
And Adrian Blackwood had never publicly discussed it.
One article contained a photograph.
Adrian and Victoria.
Standing beside each other at a charity event.
He looked younger.
Less guarded.
Almost happy.
Elaria stared at the photograph.
Then she noticed something.
Victoria was wearing a necklace.
A small silver pendant.
Elaria's eyes narrowed.
She had seen that necklace before.
Not on Victoria.
On a photograph of her father.
She quickly opened her mother's old photos stored on her phone.
Her fingers trembled as she scrolled.
Then she found it.
A picture of her father standing beside an unfamiliar man.
The same pendant was visible around the man's neck.
Elaria stared at the screen.
"What the hell?"
Her father's face suddenly looked unfamiliar.
The taxi slowed outside her apartment.
She looked up.
A black car was parked across the street.
Her heart stopped.
It was the same car she had noticed yesterday.
The windows were tinted.
She couldn't see who was inside.
The taxi driver glanced at her through the mirror.
"Madam, this is your stop."
Elaria swallowed.
"Yes."
She paid quickly.
The moment she stepped out, the black car's engine started.
Elaria froze.
The car remained where it was for several seconds.
Then it drove away.
She watched until the taillights disappeared.
Her phone vibrated.
One final message.
Now you understand why you should have stayed away.
Elaria stared at the screen.
For the first time, she wasn't wondering whether the threat was real.
She knew it was.
And somewhere across Lagos, Adrian Blackwood was sitting alone in his office, staring at an old photograph of Elaria's father.
He had spent fourteen years trying to uncover the truth.
Now the daughter had walked straight into his life.
And whoever had been hiding that truth was finally afraid.
Because Elaria had started asking questions.
And questions had a way of bringing buried secrets back to life.
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