Beneath The Marble Skies

Chapter2

Emery Lane stood frozen, her heart pounding as Alexander Grayson’s words echoed in her mind, a haunting refrain. We all have something to lose tonight.

The man in front of her exuded power—his dark eyes sharp, calculating, and entirely unreadable. His presence was like a storm cloud threatening to burst. He was the type of man who made it clear he didn’t need to speak loudly to control a room, and in that moment, he had an unnerving control over her.

“Do you understand what I mean, Miss Lane?” His voice was smooth but laced with an underlying threat.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, Grayson, but I’m not here for it. I’m just trying to fix my mess, if you don’t mind.”

He tilted his head slightly, as if considering her words, then gave her a sly smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, I think you do understand. You’ve been in the game longer than you realize. And now, you’re tangled up in something much bigger than you ever expected. Don’t think for a second that Kade’s little ‘problem’ with you is personal. It’s business, Miss Lane. Always business.”

Her stomach churned. Kade Kensington. The very name made her blood boil with both anger and an inexplicable sense of awe. He was the powerful, merciless billionaire who controlled every inch of this event. His words earlier had cut through her, leaving scars she hadn’t expected. But now… now something else was at play. Alexander Grayson knew something. And the fact that he was implying it was bigger than just her screw-up at the gala made her pulse race in a different way.

“You think I’m tangled in something?” Emery scoffed, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m just trying to survive this disaster. I’m no one’s pawn.”

Grayson leaned in slightly, his expression darkening. “Trust me, Miss Lane, if you aren’t careful, you’ll be someone’s pawn without even realizing it. But by the time you figure that out, it might be too late.”

Before she could reply, Olivia appeared at her side, her face flushed with panic.

“Emery, we need to talk. Now,” she hissed, her eyes darting between her and Grayson, who was still standing too close for comfort.

Emery didn’t have the energy to argue. She could feel the weight of the situation bearing down on her, the stakes higher than she had ever imagined. She shot one last look at Grayson, who had already turned his attention elsewhere, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.

“Fine,” Emery muttered, following Olivia toward the back of the event hall.

As they reached a quieter hallway, Olivia turned on her, her face pale. “What the hell is going on, Emery? What did you do? This is Kade we’re talking about. The man doesn’t forgive anyone who gets in his way. And you—” She took a shaky breath, “You’ve just humiliated yourself in front of every major player in this city. I’m trying to hold this company together, and you’re making it impossible.”

Emery’s frustration rose as Olivia’s words hit her like a slap. “You think I don’t know that? You think I wanted this? I didn’t design that damn sculpture, Olivia. Someone set me up.”

Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “Who would want to do that? Who could possibly have anything to gain from messing with you?”

“That’s exactly what I need to figure out,” Emery said, her voice tight. “Because whoever did this isn’t just trying to make me look bad. They’re trying to destroy me.”

Olivia was silent for a moment, and then she exhaled sharply. “You’re right. But that’s not even the worst of it. You’re still in the spotlight. Kade—he’s the one who’ll make sure you’re finished. If he wants to bury you, that’s what’ll happen. No one stands in his way, Emery. No one.”

The weight of those words hit her harder than she expected. Kade Kensington—the untouchable, ruthless billionaire who ran this city like a chessboard. He could end her career with one move. And tonight, he already had his sights set on her.

“I don’t care,” Emery muttered, more to herself than to Olivia. “I’ll fix this. I have to fix this.”

But even as she said the words, a knot formed in her stomach. How could she fix something she didn’t understand? How could she get out of this mess when every step forward seemed to lead to another trap?

Before Olivia could respond, Emery’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her hands trembling slightly. The screen displayed Unknown Number.

Her stomach twisted in knots, a sense of foreboding settling deep within her chest. She answered without thinking, her voice low, “Hello?”

The voice on the other end was gravelly, rough—distorted almost, as if it were being intentionally hidden.

“Miss Lane,” the voice said, sending a chill up her spine. “You’re playing a dangerous game. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. Kade doesn’t take kindly to people who stir things up. Stay out of his way, or things will get worse for you. Trust me.”

The line went dead before Emery could get another word out. Her breath caught in her throat, and she looked up at Olivia, whose expression was tight with worry.

“Who was that?” Olivia asked, her voice cracking slightly.

“I don’t know,” Emery whispered, her mind racing. The message had been clear: whoever this was, they were watching her. And they weren’t just watching—they were warning her.

The heaviness of the situation settled over her like a thick fog. She had no idea what Kade was truly capable of, but if the threats were anything to go by… it was worse than she imagined.

Just as she was about to speak, a loud crash from the main hall broke through the tension. A shattering sound—glass breaking, followed by shouting, then screams.

The hairs on the back of Emery’s neck stood up as she and Olivia rushed toward the noise, their footsteps hurried and frantic.

The lights flickered—then went out completely.

The room plunged into darkness.

For a few long seconds, there was nothing but chaos—screams, clattering of chairs, and the sound of people scrambling. Then, as quickly as it had gone dark, the lights flickered back on.

Emery’s blood ran cold.

Kade Kensington stood at the doorway, flanked by two large security men, his presence commanding the room. The buzz of conversation stilled instantly, and all eyes turned toward him. His gaze swept the room with deliberate precision, then zeroed in on Emery, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart stop.

He wasn’t angry—he was dangerous. His eyes burned with a cold, almost clinical assessment of her.

“Miss Lane,” Kade’s voice rang out, the words icy and laced with authority. “We need to talk. Now.”

The room seemed to hold its breath, the weight of his presence suffocating.

Emery’s pulse raced. Now? What did he want? She had already humiliated herself in front of him, already tried to fix the damage, and now—now this.

A deep breath, a fleeting moment of clarity. This was her moment. She had no choice but to face him. The storm was here, and there was nowhere left to hide.

She took a step forward, her body moving on autopilot, her thoughts swirling in a haze. But just as she reached the threshold, Kade’s gaze locked with hers again, his lips curving into a slight, knowing smile.

“You’ve made a mess, Miss Lane. But don’t worry… I’m going to enjoy watching you clean it up.”