threads of deception

chapter one~ CONTIND

The Lancaster Mansion]

A soft knock came knocking on the heavy, polished mahogany double doors of the study.

The elegant lady, dressed in a pristine white gown, paused. She leaned back slightly in her leather chair, her fingers with their beautifully polished nails lightly tracing the rim of a crystal glass containing dark red wine.

"Come in," she called out, her voice calm but commanding.

The door opened smoothly, and a man stepped into the room, keeping his eyes lowered. He stopped a respectful distance from her desk and bowed his head deeply.

"Yes, Liam. What have you got for me today?" Mrs. Lancaster asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied his posture.

Liam lifted his head slightly, delivering the news carefully.

"Ma'am, Andrew MacArthur came to see the young master at the campus today."

The lady’s expression shattered instantly. With a surge of pure fury, her beautifully polished nails gripped and violently smashed the crystal glass cup she was holding against the desk. Dark red wine splattered across the surface, dripping onto the floor as the glass broke into a dozen pieces.

"What?!" she screamed. She stood up, trembling with rage, gripping the edge of the desk. "Why can't Jaiden listen to me for once in his life?! God!"

Liam kept his composure, though he waited a beat before continuing his reply, lowering his voice even further. "And... Mr. MacArthur has been investigating and stalking the young master's new girl."

The lady paced behind her desk, her breathing heavy as anger radiated off her. "What does he want with her?! Why does this boy keep bringing these people back into his life?! Haven't they done enough already?!".

Liam stood completely still, keeping his head down and remaining silent, waiting patiently for her next command. The lady stopped pacing, her eyes turning cold as ice as she looked back at him.

"The girl... Liam, investigate. I need her details on my desk by 10 AM tomorrow."

"Yes, ma'am," Liam replied.

"And continue keeping an eye on him. Nice job today. Jake will send you some money. You can leave now."

A brief, professional smile touched Liam’s lips. He bowed respectfully.

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Mrs. Lancaster."

He turned on his heel and quietly left the room, closing the double doors behind him, leaving Mrs. Lancaster alone with her rage.

[Jaiden's Penthouse Suite]

Low, atmospheric music vibrated softly through the air of a jaw-dropping, ultra-luxurious penthouse suite. The space was a masterpiece of modern interior design, seamlessly blending rich, warm espresso browns with sleek, smoky grey accents. Massive, floor-to-ceiling glass windows wrapped around the living space, offering a breathtaking, panoramic view of the city skyline below. Every piece of furniture looked custom-tailored; a massive, plush sectional sofa in charcoal velvet anchored the living area, illuminated by the soft, warm glow of hidden LED ambient lighting running along the ceiling coves.

In the open-concept kitchen, the countertops were carved from a solid slab of rare, polished grey marble with deep chocolate veins running through it. The sleek, matte-black fixtures and hidden high-end appliances gave the space a dangerous, billionaire-bachelor edge.

Jaiden sat effortlessly on the edge of the smooth, cold marble kitchen slab. He was breathtakingly handsome, his dark hair falling perfectly over his forehead as he exhaled a slow, mesmerizing plume of smoke into the pristine air.

Two other guys were with him, both stunningly attractive in their own right.

The first was Madden, tall and striking with sharp features and dark hair like Jaiden's, giving him a distinct Asian look. He leaned casually against the marble counter, holding a smoking cigarette between his fingers.

The second was Darryl, a guy with vibrant ginger hair and piercing, ice-grey eyes. He was completely relaxed, stretched out on the plush velvet couch, his fingers casually scrolling through his phone.

Jaiden took another drag from his smoke, his expression unreadable.

"MacArthur came to visit today."

The room went dead silent. On the couch, Darryl froze. He dropped his phone onto the cushion and quickly stood up, moving closer to the kitchen counter. "What?!"

Madden stopped mid-exhale, looking at Jaiden in pure surprise.

Jaiden tapped the ash off his smoke, entirely nonchalant. "Warning me to focus and avoid distractions." Then, Jaiden’s eyes hardened. He snapped his gaze directly to both of them, his voice dropping an octave, dangerously quiet. "Why didn't either of you tell me about him stalking Hailey?"

Madden looked down, shifting uncomfortably under Jaiden's intense stare before picking up his head. "He called me two days ago to ask about you. I told him you were doing okay. Then, he started pressing for details... but I told him you wouldn't appreciate it, and that he should just call you instead. I had no idea he was running an investigation. I didn't know he found out about her."

Jaiden let out a slow breath of smoke, his anger cooling into a calculating calm, letting his friends off the hook. "It's fine. I just don't want my mother knowing about his visit. Next time, notify me of any moves he takes. And also... send two of the B's to watch over Hailey.

if he could know about her this fast then others can too.

I can't take any chance.

Darryl nodded quickly, already reaching back for his phone to handle the order. "On it."

Within seconds, Darryl's phone buzzed with a confirmation. He looked back up at Jaiden. "The B's are already heading to campus.

Hailey won't even know they're there."

Jaiden nodded once, his expression still dark as he leaned back against the cold grey marble counter. The smoke from his cigarette curled slowly toward the high ceiling, catching the soft ambient LED light.

Despite his calm exterior, his mind was racing. If Andrew MacArthur was already stalking Hailey, it meant the boundary lines had been crossed. And if his mother's right-hand man, Liam, sniffed around and found out... things would get dangerous fast.

Madden watched him carefully, extinguishing his own smoke in a sleek glass tray. "What's the plan if MacArthur tries to approach her directly? Do the B's intervene, or do they just report it to you?".