Trust and betrayal
326 Words
The office was tense, the usual hum of activity replaced by whispers and sidelong glances. Rumors had begun to circulate—something about Ariana’s sudden fainting spell, the secret she desperately wanted to keep.
Liam watched the undercurrents, his protective instincts flaring. He refused to let anyone hurt Ariana—not now, not ever.
That afternoon, he called Ariana into his office.
“We need to talk,” he said, closing the door behind her.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself.
“I know someone’s threatening you,” Liam began, voice low and serious. “And it’s not just a warning.”
Ariana’s eyes widened. “How do you know?”
“We have security cameras. Records. And a little… help from my people.”
She swallowed hard, the fear knotting tighter in her chest.
“Who is it?”
“Vincent Marlowe,” Liam said. “A man who’ll stop at nothing to bring down Carter Enterprises—and anyone who stands in his way.”
Ariana shook her head. “Why would he care about me?”
“Because you’re connected to me now. And that makes you a target.”
Liam stepped closer, his expression softening.
“We need to trust each other, Ariana. No more secrets.”
She looked up at him, hope and fear warring in her eyes.
“I’m scared,” she admitted.
He reached out, brushing her hand gently. “Me too. But we’re stronger together.”
The days that followed tested their fragile alliance. Suspicious calls, anonymous notes, and shadowy figures lurking near Ariana’s apartment.
But instead of breaking them, the threats only drew them closer.
One evening, as snow began to fall softly outside Liam’s penthouse, they stood by the window, wrapped in a shared silence.
“You’re not alone,” Liam whispered.
“And neither are you,” Ariana replied.
Their hands found each other’s—fingers intertwining in a promise unspoken but deeply felt.
- Writer
