Chapter 2
1370 Words
Morning sunlight drifted into the penthouse, casting a gentle, golden light over everything. Olivia stood barefoot in the kitchen, her silk robe wrapped around her ankles, and a quiet hum of the espresso machine.
She hadn’t slept.
The message played on repeat in her mind, a relentless refrain that haunted her thoughts
Your deceit sparkles like a diamond in the light.
The message was gone, but the fear remained. The knowledge that someone had been watching her, possibly listening to her, unsettled her. Someone who saw beyond her pretense to the truth she worked so hard to hide.
Ethan stepped into view, his charcoal suit tailored to perfection, his tie neatly knitted. His face was a mask of calm. He displayed an aura of effortless professionalism, as if confidence were woven into the very fabric of his being.
You heading out early?” she asked without turning.
He kissed her cheek. “You know the London call won’t wait. But let’s have lunch later?”
She gave a distracted nod. “I’ll check my schedule.”
Ethan stood there for a moment, like he wanted to say something more. Instead, he turned to leave, abandoning her to the silence of the room, with her coffee but it didn’t calm her nerves.
The door clicked shut.
Olivia exhaled for what felt like the first time in hours.
As she walks into her office, she closes the blinds and lets the calm settle around her. Everything in her room reflected her need for order, the clean lines of the furniture, the neatly arranged books and the desk. It was her peaceful corner, a place that always helped her breathe a little easier.
She sat at her desk and opened her laptop, pulling up the security footage from the night before. With the kind of wealth she had, nothing went unseen, every moment captured, every step leaving a digital trail behind her.
Her eyes scanned the footage, the faces blurring together until one caught her attention.
There he was.
7:42 PM flashed on the screen, and her gaze locked onto a specific moment.
The footage brought back a flood of memories as Alex Turner’s face appeared on the screen, dressed in a sharp black suit, clean-shaven jaw. He walked with a confident stride that covered ground quickly.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Alex.
Just seeing him brought back memories from over a decade ago; it hit her like a punch to the chest, sending a chill down her spine like the past had come crashing back all at once.
She zoomed in on his face. Older, but those eyes still cut like before, sharp, calculating. He wasn’t dangerous because of his strength. He was dangerous because he knew her too well.
What the hell was he doing back?
Why now?
As she closed the laptop, her grip on control slipped. She had spent years burying the past, walking away from him, from the life she once lived. Olivia Cole wasn’t just a name; it was a new beginning. One built to forget who she used to be and what she had done.
The knock at her door startled her.
After a brief pause, she pulled herself together, tightened her robe, and opened the door. Clara stood there, waiting with a phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
Clara breezed in, coffee in one hand, phone in the other. I’ve got the latest rumors and your caffeine fix, a perfect pairing, right? She said with a playful smile. Have you seen what Business Digest is saying about your speech?
“I haven’t had the pleasure,” Olivia replied, forcing a smile.
Clara handed her the coffee. “They’re calling you ‘The Ice Queen with the Golden Touch.’ Honestly? Kinda love it.”
Olivia chuckled softly. “That doesn’t sound like praise.”
“It’s power, babe. And power scares people.”
Clara wasn’t just Olivia’s best friend; she was the force behind her public image. From Cassara’s humble beginnings, Clara had been her manager, her advisor, her steady hand in the chaos. She was the one who helped Olivia navigate the spotlight and shape the woman the world saw.
“So… you good?” Clara asked, settling onto the couch. “You seemed a little off last night.”
Olivia sipped her coffee, pretending to savor the flavor. “Just tired. Long week.”
Clara’s gaze sharpened as she studied Olivia’s face. You’re not just tired, she said quietly. Something is going on. And that pause during your speech? That’s not like you.
Olivia arched a brow. “You monitor my pauses now?”
“I monitor everything. That’s my job.”
A long silence settled between them. Olivia turned to the window, her eyes fixed on the city skyline, lost in thought.
Did someone reach out to you? Clara asked, her voice softer now. Something unexpected?
“Her eyes glanced briefly to the drawer, where the envelope lay hidden, its secrets heavy in her thoughts, refusing to let go.
“No,” she lied smoothly. “Just pressure. Forbes. The board. The press.”
The silence hung in the air. Clara kept her eyes on Olivia, then suddenly changed her tone and stood up, her movements quick and sure.
All under control, Clara said gently, eyeing her with quiet concern. You look sharp, as always. She reached for her bag, then paused. If you need to pull out of any press events, just let me know, I’ll take care of it. No explanations needed.
““I won’t need to.”
Clara paused at the door. “You sure you’re okay?”
Olivia smiled. “Always.”
And then she was alone again.
That afternoon, Olivia drove herself to the office, something she hadn’t done in a long time. She needed the silence, the solitude behind the wheel. The hum of the engine, the blur of passing streets and the pulse rising in her chest reminded her that she was still in control.
She slipped in through the private garage. The executive elevator carried her straight to the top floor, where her polished desk and minimalist decor sat against a skyline that screamed control.
But it felt different today. Like something had shifted beneath the surface.
She set down her bag, sank into her chair and opened her emails. Everything looked normal. No strange messages. No warnings. Maybe it was just Alex, stirring the past, trying to shake her. Trying to remind her he still knew her.
Her assistant knocked lightly and entered with a few files.
“There’s someone here to see you,” she said, her voice carefully, almost hesitant.
Olivia didn’t look up. “Who?”
“He wouldn’t give a full name. Said he’s an old friend. From before Cassara.”
Her head snapped up.
“Did he say his name was Alex?”
The assistant blinked. “No. He said to tell you it’s Simon.”
Olivia’s heart dropped.
Simon.
Another ghost.
I’ve got meetings all day, there is no time for distractions, Olivia said firmly. If he doesn’t leave on his own, have security escort him out.
The assistant nodded and backed out of the room.
Simon.
She hadn’t heard that name since the trial.
The image of Simon, flashy in her mind, gray hoodie, haunted eyes, the trembling voice as he swore never to forgive her for what she had done.
She stood and paced the room. If Alex and Simon were both resurfacing, the path wasn’t just knocking , it was breaking the door.
This was a warning.
They were circling.
And she was trapped in glass.
The distant city lights burned like quiet fires, symbols of life, passion and energy. But from her dark office, Olivia felt miles away from it all, detached from the world still moving outside her window.
She stared down at the second message she’d received.
Your deceit sparkles like a diamond in the light.
She whispered the words under her breath, as if saying them aloud might dull their edge, make them hurt a little less.
But they still cut.
They always would.
And something told her this was only the beginning.
- Writer
