Chapter Five — The Choice
1019 Words
The following days felt like an endless blur of meetings, deals, and decisions Lydia wasn’t entirely sure she was prepared for. But none of that mattered, because every thought, every move she made, revolved around one thing—Xavier.
She couldn’t get him out of her head. The way he had looked at her that night, his voice dark and full of unspoken promises, made it impossible to focus on anything else. She had told herself it was just his charm, his presence, that had her so hooked. But deep down, Lydia knew it was more than that.
Xavier Liang was dangerous, and that made him irresistible.
The message he had sent her after their encounter still lingered in her phone—I’ll give you the keys to everything if you work with me. Every time she thought about it, her stomach twisted. The power he wielded, the control he had over her, was undeniable. And yet, there was a part of her that was drawn to it.
But she wasn’t weak. She couldn’t be.
Her mind kept returning to the deal Xavier had offered. He had promised her success, power—everything she had ever wanted. But at what cost? What would she have to sacrifice to get to the top? And most importantly, could she trust him?
Lydia wasn’t naïve. She knew how the game worked. People like Xavier didn’t help others without expecting something in return. But the question was, what did he want from her?
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By the time she arrived at the office, the weight of her thoughts was unbearable. Her eyes flickered toward her phone as it buzzed again, a message from Xavier. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw his name on the screen, and for a moment, she hesitated.
Her finger hovered over the message, but she took a deep breath and forced herself to put her phone down. She wasn’t going to let him control her like this. Not anymore.
But before she could focus, her assistant, Maria, knocked softly on the door.
“Ms. Lydia,” Maria called, peeking in. “There’s someone here to see you.”
Lydia looked up, her expression hardening. “Who?”
“A Mr. Xavier Liang.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She had expected him to appear sooner or later, but the suddenness of it caught her off guard. She had been trying to avoid him, but it seemed impossible.
“Send him in,” Lydia said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
A moment later, Xavier entered, his usual composed demeanor in full force. His tailored suit looked like it was made just for him, and his presence seemed to fill the room. He didn’t even bother to wait for her invitation to sit. Instead, he moved toward her desk, his eyes never leaving hers.
“You look like you’ve been thinking about me,” he said smoothly, leaning against the edge of the desk.
Lydia fought to keep her face neutral. “I haven’t been thinking about you.”
He raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a knowing smile. “Lydia, don’t lie to me. I can see it in your eyes.”
Her heart raced, but she refused to show weakness. “What do you want, Xavier?”
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “I told you. I want you to work with me. I want you to see what I can offer you, what you’ve been searching for all your life.”
She stood up, her resolve hardening. “I’ve made it this far without your help. I don’t need you.”
He took another step closer, his presence almost suffocating. “I think you do. You don’t even realize it yet, but I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted. You can have power, influence, control… if you stop fighting me.”
Lydia felt the heat rising in her chest, but she didn’t back down. “I’m not some pawn in your game, Xavier.”
He smiled again, that dangerous smile that sent a thrill through her despite herself. “I don’t want you to be a pawn. I want you to be the queen.”
His words hit her like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, Lydia lost her breath. She wanted to push him away, tell him that she didn’t need him and that she wasn’t interested in playing his game. But a part of her knew that he had a point.
Everything she had worked for could be within her grasp—if she accepted his terms. If she let go of her pride and worked alongside him.
But at what cost?
Lydia took a step back, her mind swirling. “I don’t trust you, Xavier. And I don’t think I ever will.”
Xavier’s eyes darkened slightly, but the edge in his voice remained calm. “Trust is overrated, Lydia. What matters is results.”
She stared at him, torn between the temptation of power and the desire to remain in control of her own life. Xavier wasn’t like anyone she had ever met. He wasn’t interested in playing by the rules—he created his own.
And now, he was offering her a chance to join him in his world.
Lydia exhaled slowly, her decision weighing on her heavily. She had worked too hard to let it all slip away. But could she really trust herself not to lose herself in Xavier’s world?
Xavier tilted his head, waiting for her response. The tension between them thickened, and Lydia knew that this was the moment that would change everything.
“I’ll think about it,” she said finally, the words feeling heavier than they should.
He gave her that same infuriating smile. “You don’t need to think too long, Lydia. The offer won’t last forever.”
As he turned to leave, she felt a strange sense of relief mixed with unease. She didn’t know what her decision would be, but one thing was clear: this was only the beginning.
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