Chapter 5: The Invitation
908 Words
8:00 P.M.
Addie stood outside the Moretti estate.
The black envelope was still in her hand.
She looked up at the mansion.
Last time, she had entered as a guest.
Tonight, she was walking into enemy territory by invitation.
That made things more dangerous.
She handed the invitation to the guard.
He examined it before stepping aside.
“Miss Vale.”
Addie walked through the gates.
Inside, everything was unusually quiet.
No party.
No crowd.
Just security.
Too much security.
She entered the mansion.
A man was waiting for her in the hallway.
“Mr. Moretti is expecting you.”
“Of course he is.”
The man gave her a strange look before leading her toward the dining room.
The doors opened.
Damien sat at the head of the table.
Only one place had been prepared.
For her.
Addie sat down.
“Nice setup.”
Damien didn't answer immediately.
He studied her.
“You came alone.”
“You asked me to.”
“Most people wouldn't.”
“I'm not most people.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Clearly.”
A servant placed a glass of water in front of her.
Addie didn't touch it.
Damien noticed.
“Don't trust me?”
“I don't know you.”
“You've heard enough about me.”
“I've heard stories.”
“And you believed them?”
Addie smiled politely.
“I don't believe everything I hear.”
“Good.”
Damien picked up his glass.
“Because most of what people say about me is wrong.”
Addie watched him carefully.
“And what part is true?”
Damien looked directly at her.
“That's what you're here to find out.”
Silence filled the room.
Addie leaned back.
“I thought this was dinner.”
“It is.”
“Then why does it feel like an interrogation?”
“Because you keep answering questions I haven't asked.”
Addie paused.
Damien had caught her.
Not enough to expose her.
But enough to warn her.
She smiled.
“Maybe you're just asking the wrong questions.”
Damien's expression remained unreadable.
“Perhaps.”
He placed his glass down.
“Tell me about your family.”
Addie had expected that question.
“My parents live abroad.”
“Where?”
“Switzerland.”
“What do they do?”
“Business.”
“What kind?”
“Investments.”
Damien watched her.
“Convenient.”
“What is?”
“A family with money that leaves very little information behind.”
Addie's smile disappeared for half a second.
Then returned.
“Some families value privacy.”
“So do I.”
“I noticed.”
Damien slid a photograph across the table.
Addie looked down.
It was an old photograph of the Moretti organization.
Warehouse 17.
She kept her expression neutral.
“Interesting.”
“You recognize it?”
“No.”
“Have you ever been there?”
“No.”
Damien watched her closely.
She hadn't hesitated.
That bothered him.
People usually hesitated when they lied.
She didn't.
Either she was telling the truth—
Or she was very good.
Damien leaned back.
“Have you ever heard of Warehouse 17?”
“No.”
Another lie.
But Damien didn't know that yet.
He simply nodded.
“Interesting.”
Addie studied him.
“You seem very interested in what I know.”
“I'm interested in everything that enters my world.”
“And do I?”
“You tell me.”
Before Addie could answer, the lights suddenly went out.
The room went completely dark.
She stood instantly.
A loud crash came from somewhere down the hallway.
Security rushed past the dining room.
Damien didn't move.
Addie looked toward the doorway.
“What happened?”
“Stay here.”
Damien stood.
Addie noticed something immediately.
His entire security team moved when he gave an order.
But one man didn't.
Luca.
He remained beside Damien.
Watching her.
Addie understood.
This wasn't an accident.
It was another test.
She sat back down.
A few minutes later, the lights returned.
Everything was exactly as it had been.
Damien walked back to the table.
“Sorry about that.”
Addie raised an eyebrow.
“Was that part of dinner?”
“No.”
“Then what was it?”
“An unexpected problem.”
She smiled.
“Of course.”
Damien sat down.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he said,
“You can leave.”
Addie stood.
“That's it?”
“For tonight.”
She picked up her purse.
“Thank you for dinner.”
Damien watched her walk toward the door.
“Adeline.”
She stopped.
He looked at her.
“I hope we have another conversation soon.”
Addie smiled.
“I'm sure we will.”
She walked out.
The moment the doors closed behind her, Damien's expression changed.
“Luca.”
“Yes?”
“She's lying.”
Luca nodded.
“About Warehouse 17?”
“About almost everything.”
Outside the estate, Addie entered her car.
She immediately pulled out her phone.
ADDIE: He knows something.
A response appeared.
UNKNOWN: Did he discover your identity?
Addie looked back at the mansion.
ADDIE: No.
She paused.
ADDIE: But he's getting close.
She put the phone away.
Inside the mansion, Damien stood at the window, watching her car disappear into the distance.
The game had changed.
And neither of them intended to lose.
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