Love In His Arrogance

Rain had been pouring over Manhattan for almost three hours when Christiana stepped out of the elevator on the forty-second floor. She hated rainy nights. They made the city look pretty in a way that felt kind of fake. Through the huge windows of Bellmont Tower, Manhattan sparkled under the storm. Thousands of lights blurred behind the rain, and black cars moved along the streets like little shadows. Christiana barely noticed any of it. She was focused on the man standing by the conference room doors. You're late. She stopped. Mavin didn't even look at his watch. He didn't need to. His voice alone sounded like he expected the whole world to work around his schedule. Christiana slowly took off her wet coat. Then you should have started without me. Seven, who was standing a few feet behind Mavin, looked down like he was trying to hide a smile. Mavin's face didn't change. He was dressed all in black—a fancy suit, black shirt, no tie. His dark hair was a little damp, like he'd just walked in from the storm. He looked expensive. Dangerous. And way too pleased with himself. Christiana had seen pictures of him before. Pictures didn't do him justice. They also didn't show how arrogant he was. You were expected forty minutes ago, Mavin said. And now I'm here. That doesn't explain the delay. Christiana looked him straight in the eyes. Neither does your attitude. Silence. Seven cleared his throat. Maybe we should go inside. Mavin didn't move. His eyes stayed on Christiana. For several seconds, neither of them said anything. Then he stepped aside. After you. Christiana walked past him without saying thanks. She could feel his eyes following her. The conference room was huge. A long black table took up the middle, surrounded by leather chairs. At the far end was a giant screen showing a single document. Christiana froze when she saw the name at the top. THE CHRISTIANA VALE FAMILY TRUST. Her stomach tightened. She turned slowly. What is this? Mavin came into the room behind her. Seven closed the door. Sit. No. Mavin's eyebrow went up. Christiana folded her arms. You dragged me across the city in the middle of a storm. You can at least tell me why I'm here before bossing me around. Something like amusement flickered across his face. You've been difficult since you arrived. I've been difficult since you started talking. Seven coughed. This time, Christiana was sure he was trying not to laugh. Mavin glanced at him. Something funny? No. Then stop. Seven straightened up. Of course. Christiana looked between them. There was something weird about their relationship. Seven seemed to be the only person in the room who wasn't scared of Mavin. She made a mental note of that. Why is my family's trust on your screen? Mavin finally walked to the table. Because your father left something behind. My father is dead. I know. The bluntness of his answer made her chest tighten. Mavin kept going. And before he died, he signed an agreement. Christiana stared at him. What agreement? Mavin put a black folder on the table. With my family. She didn't touch it. My family doesn't have business with yours. Mavin leaned back against the table. You're wrong. I think I'd know. You knew what your father wanted you to know. That hit harder than she expected. Christiana slowly walked toward the folder. For months, people had been telling her there were things about her father's business that she didn't understand. She had ignored them. Her father had been a respected businessman. His company had run legally for decades. His name was on charity boards, university foundations, and tons of business magazines. He had never been linked to criminals. Never. Christiana opened the folder. The first page was a contract. The second had signatures. The third had a photograph. Her fingers stopped. The photo showed her father standing next to an older man she didn't recognize. But she knew the building behind them. A black marble mansion. She had seen it once, years ago. She had been thirteen. Her father had taken her there on a family trip and refused to say whose house it was. She remembered being told to stay in the car. Christiana looked up. Who is this? My father. Her eyes went back to the photo. Then to Mavin. You expect me to believe my father had dealings with your family? I don't expect you to believe anything. Then why am I here? Because the agreement concerns you. Her heart skipped. What does that mean? Mavin's face got serious. It means your father borrowed something from my family. Money? No. Then what? Mavin pushed the folder toward her. Protection. Christiana stared at him. The word sounded ridiculous. My father didn't need protection. Mavin's gaze sharpened. You really don't know. Know what? He didn't answer right away. Seven moved to the window. Outside, thunder rolled across Manhattan. Then Mavin said quietly, Your father wasn't the man you thought he was. Christiana's face went cold. Don't talk about my father like that. I'm not insulting him. You just did. I'm telling you the truth. You don't know him. I knew him better than you did. She slammed the folder shut. That's enough. Mavin didn't react. Instead, he looked at her with a creepy kind of calm. You've spent your whole life believing your father built his empire from nothing. He did. He didn't. Christiana shook her head. No. He made a deal. What kind? A deal that saved his life. She stared at him. And now? Mavin's eyes locked onto hers. Now the debt belongs to you. The room suddenly felt smaller. Christiana laughed once, but there was no humor in it. You've got to be kidding. I'm not. I don't owe your family anything. You inherited the obligation. I inherited my father's company. Not his secrets. Unfortunately, you inherited both. She stepped away from the table. This is ridiculous. Mavin pushed himself upright. Then you won't mind hearing the rest. Christiana hesitated. He noticed. Of course he did. Mavin always seemed to notice everything. Your father promised my family that, if anything happened to him, you would be protected. Protected from what? Mavin's jaw tightened. People who believe your father stole something from them. Christiana stared at him. What did he steal? Mavin said nothing. Answer me. It's complicated. I don't care. You will. Before Christiana could respond, the door opened. Gem rushed inside. Christiana. Christiana turned. Gem's face was pale. She had clearly run all the way from the elevator. What happened? Christiana asked. Gem looked at Mavin, then Seven. Can we talk privately? Mavin crossed his arms. No. Gem frowned. Christiana stepped toward her friend. Tell me. Gem swallowed. There was someone outside your apartment. Christiana's heart dropped. What? I called you six times. My phone was on silent. I know. Gem looked at Mavin. He left something. Mavin's expression changed. Not a lot. But enough. The arrogance disappeared. For the first time since Christiana had met him, he looked actually alert. What did he leave? he asked. Gem reached into her bag. She pulled out a small envelope. Christiana recognized her own address written on the front. Her name was written underneath. CHRISTIANA VALE. Mavin walked toward her. Don't open it. Christiana immediately pulled it away. You don't get to tell me what to do. Christiana. Something in his voice stopped her. Not fear. Authority. She hated that it worked. Mavin looked at Seven. Check the building. Seven nodded and pulled out his phone. Mavin turned back to Christiana. Where did you get this? Gem found it. Where? My apartment. Who has access? I don't know. Mavin took one step closer. Christiana instinctively stepped back. His eyes narrowed. You're afraid. I'm cautious. Good. He glanced at the envelope. Because from this moment on, you need to be. Christiana looked at him. What exactly is happening? Mavin's voice dropped. Someone knows about the agreement. And? They know about you. Silence. Rain hammered against the windows. Christiana looked down at the envelope again. What happens if I open it? Mavin stared at her. I don't know. That scared her more than anything else he'd said. Mavin always seemed to know everything. For the first time, he didn't. Gem touched Christiana's arm. Maybe we should leave. Mavin immediately shook his head. No. Christiana turned. Excuse me? You aren't going anywhere. I'm not staying here because you said so. You don't understand. Then explain. Mavin stepped closer. The people looking for you aren't interested in negotiating. Christiana's anger faded. Who are they? I don't know yet. Then how do you know they're dangerous? Mavin's face became unreadable. Because I know the world your father stepped into. Seven suddenly looked up from his phone. Mavin. Mavin turned. Seven's face was serious. We have a problem. What? The cameras on the thirty-eighth through forty-first floors went down twelve minutes ago. Mavin's eyes narrowed. How? Someone disabled them. Christiana's pulse sped up. Could that happen accidentally? Seven looked at her. No. The lights flickered. Gem grabbed Christiana's hand. Then darkness swallowed the room. A second later, emergency lights came on. Mavin was already moving. Seven. I'm checking the stairwell. Do it. Seven disappeared through the door. Mavin turned to Christiana. Stay here. She stared at him. You really need to stop giving me orders. He almost smiled. You're going to be the death of me. Christiana blinked. It was the first remotely human thing he'd said all night. Then a loud crash echoed from somewhere down the hall. Gem gasped. Christiana froze. Mavin immediately stepped between them and the door. His whole vibe changed. Cold. Focused. Protective. A second crash followed. Then silence. Mavin reached for his phone. Christiana watched him. Who are you really? He looked over his shoulder. What? You said you knew my father better than I did. His expression darkened. What aren't you telling me? Mavin studied her for a long moment. Then he said something that made the room go completely still. Your father didn't make that agreement with my family because he trusted us. Christiana's throat tightened. Why, then? Mavin's eyes locked onto hers. Because he was running from us. Before she could ask another question, Seven returned. His face was grim. There's nobody on the floor. Mavin frowned. What happened? Someone broke into the security room. Did you find them? No. Seven held up a small object. A black card. There was a single symbol engraved on it. A silver crown. Mavin stared at it. Christiana watched the color drain a little from his face. You know that symbol, she whispered. Mavin closed his hand around the card. Yes. Who does it belong to? He looked at her. An enemy my father thought was dead. The thunder outside shook the windows. Christiana looked at the contract on the table. Then at Mavin. For the first time, she understood that the meeting hadn't been about collecting a debt. It had been a warning. And somehow, she had become the center of a war she didn't even know existed. Mavin moved toward her. You're coming with me. Christiana lifted her chin. No. His eyes narrowed. Christiana— I don't know you. You don't have to. Then why should I trust you? Mavin stopped right in front of her. For several seconds, his arrogance came back. But under it was something else. Something she couldn't name. Because, he said quietly, whether you trust me or not, I'm the only person in this city who knows why they're coming for you. Christiana stared at him. Mavin held out his hand. She didn't take it. But she followed him when he walked toward the door. And somewhere beneath the thunder, the first piece of her father's secret began to surface. A secret that would change everything she believed about her family. And everything she believed about the arrogant guy.