White Roses
725 Words
"I found her first."
The words echoed through the grand entrance hall.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
For a moment, even the air seemed frozen.
Vesper stared at the maid.
"A joke?"
The maid looked horrified.
"No, Miss."
The knot in Vesper's stomach tightened.
This wasn't funny.
Not even a little.
She had arrived less than thirty minutes ago.
Less than thirty.
And somehow someone had already gotten inside Zephyr's estate.
Inside the room prepared for her.
That shouldn't have been possible.
Apparently, Zephyr agreed.
His face had gone completely cold.
Dangerously cold.
"Take me there."
The maid immediately nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Without hesitation, Zephyr started toward the staircase.
Vesper followed.
So did Cassian.
A small army of security guards trailed behind them.
The entire situation felt absurd.
Who leaves flowers as a threat?
Psychopaths.
That was who.
By the time they reached the second floor, Vesper's heart was pounding.
The bedroom door stood open.
Several guards waited outside.
Zephyr entered first.
The second Vesper stepped inside, she saw them.
White roses.
A large bouquet sat perfectly arranged on the bed.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Completely terrifying.
Because nobody knew how they got there.
Slowly, she approached.
A black envelope rested beside the flowers.
Zephyr reached it before she could.
His jaw tightened as he opened it.
"What does it say?"
Silence.
Vesper frowned.
"Zephyr."
He handed her the note.
Three words stared back at her.
Welcome home, Vesper.
Her blood ran cold.
Home.
Not the estate.
Not the mansion.
Home.
Whoever left the flowers believed she belonged somewhere else.
Somewhere connected to her past.
A shiver ran through her.
Cassian took the note.
His expression darkened immediately.
"Okay, that's creepy."
"Very creepy," Vesper agreed.
Zephyr turned toward his security chief.
"Lock down the estate."
"Already done, sir."
"Check every camera."
"We are."
"Check again."
The poor man nodded immediately.
Nobody argued with Zephyr when he looked like this.
Honestly, Vesper understood why.
He looked capable of declaring war.
The security team quickly left.
Only Vesper, Zephyr, and Cassian remained.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Quieter.
Too quiet.
Then Cassian broke the silence.
"I'm staying."
Zephyr's eyes narrowed.
"No."
Cassian folded his arms.
"She's being targeted."
"Correct."
"So I'm staying."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Vesper groaned.
Here we go again.
The brothers turned toward her simultaneously.
"We're not children," Cassian said.
"You are literally arguing like children."
Neither responded.
Because they knew she was right.
The silence that followed was almost funny.
Almost.
Then Zephyr looked toward her.
"You'll stay in my suite tonight."
Vesper blinked.
"What?"
Cassian nearly choked.
"What?"
Zephyr remained calm.
"As a precaution."
"Your bedroom?"
"Suite."
"That's not better."
His expression remained annoyingly serious.
"It's the safest room."
Vesper stared.
Then stared harder.
Was he serious?
Apparently.
The man didn't even blink.
Cassian looked ready to lose his mind.
"Absolutely not."
Zephyr turned toward him.
"I wasn't asking."
The tension returned instantly.
Electric.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Vesper raised both hands.
"Stop."
Neither brother listened.
Again.
Typical.
Before the argument could continue, a knock sounded at the door.
Everyone froze.
A maid entered carrying a tray.
Tea.
Coffee.
Snacks.
Normal things.
Ordinary things.
The sight almost felt comforting.
Until Vesper noticed something.
The maid looked nervous.
Very nervous.
"Miss Vale."
"Yes?"
The woman hesitated.
Then handed her a small folded piece of paper.
Confusion crossed Vesper's face.
"What's this?"
The maid swallowed.
"It was found inside the bouquet."
The room went silent.
Immediately.
Vesper unfolded the note.
Her pulse quickened.
There was only one sentence.
Ask Zephyr why he chose you.
The color drained from her face.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She looked up.
Zephyr had gone completely still.
Cassian noticed immediately.
So did she.
And suddenly one question echoed through her mind.
Why had Zephyr chosen her?
Not a model.
Not a socialite.
Not a billionaire heiress.
Her.
A struggling woman drowning in debt.
A woman he had supposedly never met.
The room became unbearably quiet.
"Zephyr."
His jaw tightened.
No answer.
"Zephyr."
Still nothing.
The silence itself became suspicious.
Vesper's heart sank.
"You know something."
His eyes met hers.
Dark.
Unreadable.
Dangerous.
And for the first time since she'd met him—
Zephyr looked guilty.
The realization hit harder than it should have.
Because guilt meant one thing.
The note wasn't lying.
And whatever answer Zephyr had been hiding...
It was about to change everything.
- Writer
