Beneath The Marble Skies

Chapter3

Emery’s mind raced as she stood in front of Kade Kensington, the weight of his gaze pressing down on her like a physical force. His words still lingers in my mind, dripping with quiet menace. We need to talk. Now.

Her body moved on autopilot, each step toward him feeling heavier than the last, as though her legs were sinking into the ground. Kade’s presence was suffocating like a storm that was waiting to hit, and she had no idea where the lightning would strike.

She stopped just a few feet away from him, her palms suddenly clammy, her heart beating wildly in her chest. His piercing eyes studied her intently, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in the smallest of smiles. But it wasn’t a smile that brought comfort. It was a predatory grin, as if he were enjoying her discomfort.

“Well?” Kade’s voice was low, smooth, but held a sharpness that cut through the noise in the room. “You’ve made quite an impression tonight, Miss Lane.”

The crowd around them seemed to part, sensing the charged atmosphere between them. For a moment, everything else disappeared—the hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses—until all she could hear was the thudding of her pulse in her ears.

“I—I don’t know what you mean.” Emery’s voice faltered despite her best efforts to stay composed.

Kade’s gaze didn’t waver. “Oh, you know exactly what I mean. The sculpture? The design that you so graciously provided us with tonight?” His voice was cool, but his eyes were cold, almost as if he were measuring her worth in that moment. “You’ve really outdone yourself, Miss Lane.”

She clenched her jaw, trying to push back the wave of frustration that threatened to overtake her. “I didn’t design it,” she bit out, her voice strained. “Someone framed me. I told you already.”

He took a slow, deliberate step closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “Do you honestly think I care about your excuses, Miss Lane? You’re in a world you don’t understand, and you’re playing with fire. Now you’ve pissed off the wrong people.”

Her heart dropped. The wrong people? Who was he talking about?

But before she could respond, a sharp, gravelly voice cut through the tension.

“Enough, Kade. Let her speak.”

Emery turned toward the voice, and her stomach churned. Alexander Grayson stood a few feet away, his dark eyes flashing with an unreadable emotion. His expression was one of quiet authority, a man who exuded control with every inch of his being.

Kade’s gaze flicked to Grayson, but the smile that had been lurking on his lips disappeared instantly. “What do you want, Grayson?”

“I think Miss Lane deserves an explanation,” Alexander said, his tone calm but carrying an undercurrent of something far more dangerous. “After all, it’s her career on the line, not ours.”

Kade’s jaw clenched. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“Actually,” Grayson’s voice dropped lower, “it does. You and I both know that this isn’t just about a damn sculpture, Kade. There’s more at play here. And I’m tired of watching you push her into a corner.”

The words hit like a slap. Emery’s heart raced, but she couldn’t process them completely. Was Alexander protecting her? Or was he trying to manipulate the situation for his own gain?

Kade’s eyes narrowed, his demeanor shifting. The tension in the air thickened, the power struggle palpable.

“This isn’t your business, Grayson,” Kade growled, his words barely above a whisper. “But fine. We’ll talk. But not here.”

Kade motioned for his security to clear the area, and within moments, the crowd dispersed, murmurs rippling through the room as people fell back to their drinks and conversations, sensing the storm that was about to hit.

Emery’s mind spun as Kade turned back to her, his gaze now sharp, calculating. “Follow me,” he ordered, turning on his heel.

Without another word, Kade strode toward the back of the venue, and Emery, with no choice but to follow, felt the weight of her every step.

Back Room of the Gala

The backroom was dimly lit, the walls lined with black-and-gold decor that gave off a cold, imposing feeling. It smelled of expensive leather and aged wood. Kade walked to the center of the room and turned to face her, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Now,” he began, his voice low, menacing. “Let’s get one thing straight. You’re in my world now. You made a mistake, and mistakes don’t go unpunished. You’re either with me or against me. And if you’re against me…” He let the words hang in the air, his gaze never leaving hers.

Emery’s blood ran cold, but she refused to show weakness. She clenched her fists at her sides, steadying herself. “I’m not against you. I’m just trying to survive this.”

Kade’s lips curled into a cruel smile, his eyes glinting with something darker. “Survival? That’s a quaint idea. But you’ve stepped into a game that’s far more dangerous than you realize. You think you can survive it on your own? You can’t.”

Emery’s chest tightened. “What do you want from me?”

“I want you to understand,” Kade said, stepping closer until the space between them was practically nonexistent. His breath was warm on her face as he spoke. “You’ve got nothing left to lose now. You made an enemy out of me. You made an enemy out of people who can make you disappear in an instant.”

Her heart slammed against her ribcage. Disappear?

Before she could speak, Kade held up a hand to silence her. “And don’t think for a second that I won’t take what I want. I’m not here to babysit you. If you want to survive, you’ll play by my rules. You’ll do what I say.”

Emery’s mind whirled, and a sudden flash of anger ignited within her. “You think you control everything, don’t you? You think you can just tell people what to do. Well, I’m not some puppet you can pull strings on.”

Kade’s smile faltered for a brief moment, his eyes hardening, before he took another step forward, looming over her. “No. You’re not a puppet. But I can promise you this—if you don’t do exactly what I say, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

The tension in the room crackled, and for a moment, all Emery could hear was her own breathing, shallow and uneven.

Just as she was about to respond, a voice rang out from behind her.

“Emery.”

She spun around, her heart skipping a beat. It was Alexander Grayson, standing at the doorway, his arms crossed, eyes narrowed. He looked like a man who wasn’t afraid to step into a lion’s den.

“You’re making a mistake, Kade,” Grayson said coolly, his gaze flicking between Kade and Emery. “She’s not the enemy. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

Kade’s gaze flicked to Grayson, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Stay out of this, Grayson.”

“No,” Grayson replied, stepping into the room. “You need to listen. This isn’t just about a sculpture or some personal vendetta. There’s something much bigger going on, and I’m not letting you ruin her for it.”

Emery’s heart raced in her chest. What the hell was Grayson talking about? What was he trying to protect her from?

Kade’s jaw clenched. “You think you know what’s best for her? This has nothing to do with you.”

“I think you’ll regret underestimating her,” Grayson shot back, his voice a low threat.

Kade’s eyes shifted between them, his anger mounting. The room felt like it was closing in around them, the tension thick enough to choke.

Before Emery could process what was happening, the door to the backroom slammed open, and one of Kade’s bodyguards entered, his face pale. “Mr. Kensington, we have a problem. The package—it’s gone. Vanished.”

Kade’s eyes snapped to the bodyguard, fury darkening his features. “What do you mean it’s gone? Find it. Now.”

Emery’s mind raced. The package? What was Kade talking about?

But before she could ask, Kade turned to her, his expression cold and dangerous once more.

“You wanted to survive this? You’d better start answering questions, Miss Lane. You’re about to get dragged into something far worse than you ever imagined.”