Mine
727 Words
"They were looking for you."
The words hit Vesper like a bucket of ice water.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then—
"What do you mean they were looking for me?"
Zephyr's expression remained unreadable.
"I mean exactly what I said."
Vesper laughed nervously.
"Okay, no. That's not possible."
"It is."
"I literally own nothing."
"They weren't searching for valuables."
"Then what were they searching for?"
Zephyr's jaw tightened.
The hesitation lasted only a moment.
But she noticed.
"Something connected to your mother."
Vesper froze.
The mention of her mother felt like a slap.
"My mother died when I was twelve."
"Yes."
"So what does she have to do with any of this?"
"I don't know yet."
The answer sounded suspiciously incomplete.
Before Vesper could push further, Cassian stepped closer.
"You knew about this?"
Zephyr's silence answered for him.
Cassian's face darkened.
"You knew someone was after her."
"I suspected."
"And you didn't tell her?"
"I didn't have proof."
Cassian looked ready to punch him.
Honestly, Vesper was considering it too.
Instead, she folded her arms.
"Okay. New rule."
Both brothers looked at her.
"If people are breaking into my apartment and stalking me, nobody gets to keep secrets."
Zephyr said nothing.
Cassian nodded immediately.
"Agreed."
"Good."
Vesper pointed at Zephyr.
"You start talking."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're giving orders?"
"Yes."
"You've known me for three hours."
"And already I'm exhausted by you."
Cassian choked on a laugh.
For a brief second, Zephyr actually looked offended.
The sight was strangely satisfying.
Then his expression shifted.
Serious again.
Dangerous again.
"The safest place for you right now is my estate."
"No."
"Vesper—"
"No."
His jaw clenched.
She pointed a finger at him.
"I just found out somebody bought me."
Another finger.
"Then I found out my childhood best friend is your brother."
Another finger.
"Now you're telling me someone broke into my apartment."
She crossed her arms.
"I'm not moving into a billionaire fortress with a man I've known for five minutes."
The room fell silent.
Cassian looked impressed.
Zephyr looked annoyed.
Very annoyed.
Good.
Then the CEO did something unexpected.
He stepped forward.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Until there was barely any space between them.
Vesper's heartbeat betrayed her immediately.
Traitor.
His voice dropped lower.
Dangerously low.
"Do you think this is a game?"
The humor vanished from his face.
Completely.
"This isn't about whether you trust me."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"It's about whether you survive."
A chill raced through her.
Because for the first time since meeting him—
He looked afraid.
Not for himself.
For her.
The realization unsettled her more than it should have.
Suddenly the office felt too small.
Too warm.
Too intense.
Zephyr reached out.
His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.
The touch was gentle.
Unexpectedly gentle.
The gesture stole the air from her lungs.
"Come with me."
Not an order.
Not a command.
A request.
And somehow that was worse.
Much worse.
Because part of her wanted to say yes.
Before she could answer, Cassian stepped between them.
The spell shattered instantly.
"She's not going anywhere alone with you."
The room temperature dropped ten degrees.
Zephyr's eyes hardened.
"You don't get a vote."
"I absolutely do."
"You absolutely don't."
Vesper groaned.
"Oh my God."
Neither brother listened.
Typical.
Cassian folded his arms.
"I'm coming too."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Try stopping me."
The challenge hung in the air.
The brothers glared at each other.
Again.
Honestly, they were exhausting.
Then Zephyr's phone rang for the third time.
This time he answered immediately.
His expression darkened.
Rapidly.
Dangerously.
The person on the other end spoke.
Zephyr listened.
His face turned to stone.
"What happened?" Cassian asked.
No response.
The call ended.
Slowly, Zephyr lowered the phone.
Vesper suddenly had a very bad feeling.
The kind people got before disasters.
"What is it?"
His gaze met hers.
And for the first time since she'd met him—
The powerful CEO looked shaken.
"They found something."
Her stomach twisted.
"What?"
A long silence followed.
Then he spoke.
"Your mother's name wasn't really Amelia Vale."
Vesper blinked.
"What?"
"That wasn't her real identity."
The world stopped.
Every sound disappeared.
Every thought vanished.
Because there was only one question left.
If Amelia Vale wasn't her mother...
Then who was?
And who exactly was Vesper Vale?
- Writer
