HIS DARK SECRET

Chapter7

Kiran POV

The drive to the hotel didn't calm me.

When I reached my office, I found the door open.

It was leo my aunt’s son. Sitting in my chair, with his feet on my desk,

"Long time no see, brother," Leo smirked, swiveling the chair around.

"What are you doing here, Leo?" I asked. I didn't hide the venom in my voice.

"Grandpa kicked me out of the other quarter, but he made you CEO of the three hotels?"

He laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I’m not back to cause trouble, Kiran. I’m back to take your seat."

He stood up, walking toward me until we were chest to chest.

"Enjoy this while you can. he said.

I don't know what that shitty old man sees in you. Probably just lingering favoritism for your dead father. You should have just died with your parents, Kiran. I don't know how you survived that wreck, but it was a mistake."

The mention of the crash sent a white-hot spark through my brain. I didn't think. I lunged forward, shoving him hard against the wall.

Leo didn't fight back. He just adjusted his jacket and smiled. "I’m not hitting you back. I’m not the one who’s unstable."

He walked out, leaving me alone in the wreckage of my own temper.

I swept everything off my desk—the computer, the files, the glass awards—everything shattered.

My right hand began to shake uncontrollably. A tremor I couldn't stop.

I couldn't stay here. I drove straight to the club, the neon lights a blur.

The girl behind the bar she asked. "The usual, Kiran? Or something stronger?"

"Stronger," I rasped, watching my hand vibrate against my back.

As the drugs hit my bloodstream, the world finally started to slow down.

I don't take this because I like it.

I take it because I can't breathe without it.

It’s my only way of escaping a reality where my parents are dead and my so called family is trying to eat me alive.

When I finally returned to the villa, the house was quiet.

I walked toward the servant's quarters, looking for that rat, but her room was empty.

"If you're looking for Clara, she’s with your grandfather," the head maid informed me.

I walked toward the garden wing and stopped. Through the glass doors, I saw them. My grandfather and the rat were laughing. Truly laughing.

"I never knew you two were this close," I said, stepping into the room.

Grandpa looked up, his face brighter than I’d seen it in years.

"Yes, we are. Since Clara came, I haven't been lonely for a second."

I looked at Clara. She looked happy. Innocent. It irritated me. I grabbed her hand, pulling her up. "You’ll have to excuse us, i said to my grandpa."

he replied. “sure sure have your time.” like he was happy i came looking for clara.

Once we were outside, the coldness returned. "Did my aunt tell you to do anything today?"

She lowered her head. "Yes."

"And you weren't going to tell me?" I snapped.

"I was! She only just called!" Clara whispered. "She told me to find a document in your room about the new investments. I’m supposed to get it for her tomorrow."

I started to laugh. It was so predictable. "No wonder her lapdog showed up at my office today. They’re planning a coup."

I walked to my room, grabbed the files, and tossed them to her. Her eyes went wide. "You're... you're giving them to her?"

"Let them think they’re winning," I said, a dark smile spreading across my face. "I want to see the look on her face when she realizes she’s been playing my game the whole time. Call her. Tell her you found them."

Clara did as she was told.

I listened as Victoria praised her over the phone, promising her a fake document to swap out.

I looked at her. She was looking at me like I was a puzzle she couldn't solve. She didn't realize that in this house, the only way to survive a snake like Victoria is to be a bigger monster.

And for the first time, I had the perfect partner in crime.