The tycoon's hidden heart

Episode 4

Lila Monroe’s pulse thundered as the elevator descended from Wolfe Industries’ sleek fortress, the glass walls reflecting her tense expression. The photo Tess had sent burned in her mind: the man in the dark coat outside the café, holding a burner phone, with Dylan’s hoodie visible in the background. Was Dylan part of Wolfe’s inner circle, playing her for a fool? Or was he caught in the same web she was, chasing Project Shadow’s secrets? Either way, she wasn’t waiting to find out. Tonight’s pier meeting could be her chance to crack Damien Wolfe’s empire wide open, and she wasn’t leaving without something tangible from this interview.The lobby buzzed with corporate drones, their polished shoes clicking like a metronome. Lila quietly stepped into a corner beside a decorative plant, acting like there was something important she was checking on her phone while she was glancing around, checking for the man in the dark coat. He had disappeared, but she could still see images of his cold stare and it sent a shiver down her spine. Her fingers hovered over Tess’s text: Pier, midnight. Camera feed shows two guys, armed. Be careful, Lila. Armed. The word twisted her gut, but she’d faced worse—eviction notices, her father’s hospital bills, the hollow ache of his absence. She typed back: I’m in. Send me the feed. If Project Shadow was as dirty as she suspected, she’d need hard evidence to bury Wolfe.Dylan’s voice echoed from the elevator: “Lila, you good?” He strode toward her, his wrinkled blazer doing little to hide his broad shoulders. His green eyes held that same mix of charm and scrutiny, like he was peeling back her layers. She readjusted, putting her phone back in her pocket.“Yes,i am,just trying to find a cab,” she lied, her tone was soft but her mind was running riot. “Should I be worried, are you my new stalker, Dylan?”He grinned, but it was less than it usually was, a little tighter, almost like he was trying not to let something show. “Just looking out for you wouldn't want you to get lost in the corporate jungle. Marcus can be intimidating.”“Intimidating’s my type,” she shot back, testing him. “What about you? You seem awfully cozy with the big shots for an accountant.”Dylan’s laugh was low, almost nervous. “I’m just good at my job. You should try it sometime—less sneaking around, more coffee-making.” His teasing tone didn’t match the way his eyes flicked to the lobby, scanning for something—or someone.Lila’s instincts flared. He was hiding something, and she wasn’t leaving Wolfe Industries empty-handed. “I forgot my scarf in the conference room,” she said, stepping toward the elevator. “Be right back.”“Hold up,” Dylan said, his hand brushing her arm. The touch sent a spark through her, unwanted but undeniable. “I’ll go with you. That floor’s a maze.”“No need,” she said, pulling away. “Despite what you might think I know my way around.” Before he could say anything, she was already in the elevator, the doors closing on his frown. Her heart pounded as the numbers climbed back to 42. This was her chance to snoop, maybe grab that Project Shadow file she’d seen during the interview. If Dylan was involved, she’d figure it out later. For now, she needed evidence.The hallway was eerily quiet, the receptionist gone for lunch. Lila quietly entered into the conference room, the Project Shadow file still laying on the table. She took a glance at the door, then flipped open the file, her hands shaking nervously. Pages of coded emails and financials stared back, meaningless without context. But one word caught her eye: Monroe. Her breath hitched. Was this about her father’s company? She took photos with her phone, her heart beating fast. She heard echoes of footsteps outside, and she froze, shoving the file back.The door opened, and Marcus was there in the doorway, his eyes narrowed as he saw her. “Ms. Monroe. Thought you left.”Lila’s mouth went dry, but she forced a smile. “Forgot my scarf,” she said, holding up a cheap blue one she’d stuffed in her bag for cover. “Found it under the table.”Marcus’s gaze flicked to the file, then back to her. “Careful where you wander. Some doors around here don’t open for just anyone.” His tone was cold, a warning wrapped in civility. Lila nodded, brushing past him, her skin prickling. Had he seen her with the file? She needed to get to that pier meeting before Wolfe’s people connected the dots.Back in the lobby, Dylan was waiting, his arms crossed. “Find what you were looking for?” he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.“Just my scarf,” she said, holding it up. “You’re still here? Don’t accountants have, like, spreadsheets to crunch?”He smirked, but his eyes were sharp. “Thought we could grab that coffee. You owe me a story, remember?” He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “What’s got you so jumpy, Lila?”Her heart skipped. He was too perceptive, too close. “Just not used to corporate life,” she said, dodging his gaze. “I’ll take a rain check on the coffee. Got a thing tonight.”His brow furrowed, but he nodded. “Suit yourself. Be careful out there. Chicago’s not as safe as it looks.” The words felt like a warning, and Lila’s stomach twisted. Was he worried for her, or warning her off?She left Wolfe Industries, the city’s pulse swallowing her as she headed for her apartment. Tess’s camera feed waited in her inbox—a grainy video of two men at the pier, one with a scar across his cheek, the other clutching a briefcase. The man in the dark coat was there, too, his face clearer now. Lila’s breath caught. She’d seen him before, years ago, at her father’s office—a lawyer tied to Wolfe’s takeover of Monroe Tech. Her revenge was closer than she’d thought.But Dylan’s face kept creeping in, his teasing smile clashing with the suspicion in her gut. She opened her laptop, pulling up Wolfe Industries’ staff directory. No Dylan Carter. Her blood ran cold. Was he a ghost, a plant sent to watch her? She texted Tess: Check Dylan Carter. Not in their system. Who is he?As night fell, Lila prepared for the pier, slipping a voice recorder into her pocket. Her phone buzzed—Tess’s reply: No record of Dylan Carter at Wolfe Industries. But I found a photo from a gala last year. It’s blurry, but… looks like your Dylan with Damien Wolfe’s security team. Lila’s heart stopped. The photo loaded: Dylan’s face, half-hidden, standing too close to Wolfe himself.She grabbed her jacket, her mind racing. If Dylan was tied to Wolfe, she’d been played from the start. But the way he’d looked at her, the spark in his eyes—could that be fake? She headed for the pier, the Chicago wind biting her skin. Headlights flashed behind her, too close, too steady. The black SUV from Tess’s photo trailed her, its tinted windows hiding the driver.Was Dylan leading her into a trap, or was he the key to unraveling Wolfe’s lies?