Chapter 7: The Anonymous Message
706 Words
The morning sun cast a golden glow across the city, but Aria barely noticed it. She sat at her desk, staring blankly at her computer screen. The presentation in front of her remained unfinished, her thoughts tangled in the events of the past few days.
Ryan's confession had raised more questions than answers.
Had he truly sacrificed their relationship to save hundreds of employees?
Or was it simply another excuse that came too late?
She rubbed her temples, trying to push the memories aside.
A soft knock on her office door broke her concentration.
"Come in."
Maya stepped inside carrying two cups of coffee.
"I figured you could use this," she said, placing one on the desk.
Aria smiled gratefully.
"You're a lifesaver."
Maya studied her friend's face.
"You've barely spoken all morning."
"I'm just tired."
"No," Maya replied gently. "You're hurting."
Aria looked down at her coffee.
"It's complicated."
"It always is."
Before either of them could continue, Aria's phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
She frowned and opened it.
Her smile disappeared instantly.
Stay away from Ethan Blake if you value your life.
A cold chill ran down her spine.
"What is it?" Maya asked.
Aria hesitated before handing her the phone over.
Maya's eyes widened.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"I don't think so."
"Maybe someone sent it to the wrong number."
Before Aria could answer, another message arrived.
This is your only warning. Next time, you won't be so lucky.
Her hands began to tremble.
At that very moment, Ethan was leaving the hospital after another long night beside his mother's bed. The doctors had scheduled her surgery for Friday morning, and although they remained optimistic, the risks were impossible to ignore.
As he stepped into the hospital parking lot, he noticed a black sedan parked across the street.
The windows were heavily tinted.
The engine was running.
For a brief moment, he felt as though someone inside was watching him.
When he looked again, the car pulled away and disappeared into traffic.
He tried to convince himself it was nothing.
Still, a strange feeling settled in his chest.
Later that afternoon, Aria received a call from Ethan.
"Can we meet?" he asked.
His voice sounded unusually serious.
"Of course."
Thirty minutes later, they met in a quiet park near the office. Children laughed on the playground nearby, and joggers passed along the winding paths, unaware of the tension between them.
Ethan looked at her carefully.
"You've been avoiding me."
"I thought maybe you needed space after what happened on the rooftop."
"I should've stayed and listened."
Aria took a deep breath.
"Ryan is my ex."
"I figured."
"He came back unexpectedly. Whatever you saw... it wasn't what it looked like."
Ethan nodded.
"I believe you."
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard.
"You do?"
"I've learned that judging people by a single moment usually leads to regret."
For the first time in days, Aria felt the weight on her shoulders begin to ease.
Then she remembered the messages.
She unlocked her phone and handed it to him.
"I need you to see this."
Ethan read the texts slowly.
The warmth left his face.
"Did anyone else send anything?"
She shook her head.
"No."
He looked around the park instinctively.
"This isn't random."
"What do you mean?"
"I think someone is trying to frighten you."
"But why?"
Ethan hesitated.
"Because of me."
Before Aria could ask another question, his phone rang.
It was his company's head of security.
He answered immediately.
"What happened?"
The voice on the other end spoke rapidly.
Ethan's expression hardened.
"What do you mean someone broke into my office?"
Aria's heart sank.
The call ended after a few moments.
"They searched my office last night," Ethan said quietly. "Nothing valuable was taken."
"Then why break in?"
"They weren't stealing."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"They were looking for something."
At that same moment, neither of them noticed the figure standing across the street, partially hidden behind a newspaper stand.
The stranger lowered a camera after taking several photographs of them together.
A faint smile appeared on the stranger's face.
"The game has finally begun," the figure whispered before disappearing into the crowd.
- Writer
