CHAPTER 7: A SHADOW IN THE DARK
709 Words
Morning arrived with heavy rain over Noctis.
Dark clouds hung low above the city as people hurried beneath umbrellas, trying to escape the downpour.
Mackenzie stood in the kitchen of her apartment, stirring a cup of coffee while reading through the Lawson Holdings contract once more.
Every page looked too good to be true.
She smiled to herself.
"If this goes well, Giovanni Events will finally become the company I've always dreamed of."
Her phone buzzed.
It was Sophia.
"Mackenzie! Tell me you've signed the contract already."
Mackenzie laughed.
"Not yet."
"What are you waiting for? Divine confirmation?"
"I just want to read everything carefully."
Sophia sighed dramatically.
"You really are impossible."
"I call it being responsible."
"No, you call it overthinking."
The two friends laughed before agreeing to meet for lunch later that afternoon.
At Lawson Manor...
Kelvin stood in the private training room, his fists wrapped in black tape.
A heavy punching bag swung violently with every punch.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Each strike echoed through the room.
Damien entered but wisely remained silent until Kelvin finally stopped.
"Boss."
Kelvin grabbed a towel.
"What is it?"
"We've increased security around Miss Giovanni."
Kelvin raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't give that order."
"No."
"You gave us something better."
Damien looked directly at him.
"You told us no one is allowed to use her against you."
Silence.
Kelvin tossed the towel onto a bench.
"I changed my mind."
Damien frowned.
"Boss?"
"No visible protection."
"I don't want her to feel watched."
"But..."
"Keep the distance."
"Only intervene if she's in immediate danger."
Damien nodded.
"Understood."
Elsewhere...
Inside an expensive penthouse overlooking the harbor...
Ricardo DeLuca examined several photographs spread across a table.
Most were of Kelvin.
Meetings.
Convoys.
Business events.
Then...
One photograph caught his attention.
A smiling young woman leaving Giovanni Events.
Ricardo tapped the picture.
"Who is she?"
One of his men answered.
"Mackenzie Giovanni."
"What connection does she have to Lawson?"
"We're not certain."
"Then why has Lawson's security team been quietly monitoring her?"
The room fell silent.
Ricardo smiled slowly.
"So..."
He leaned back.
"The Devil finally has someone worth protecting."
He looked toward his lieutenant.
"Do nothing."
The man looked confused.
"Boss?"
"Not yet."
"If she's important to Lawson..."
His smile widened.
"...she'll eventually lead us straight to his heart."
Meanwhile...
Mackenzie and Sophia left a small café after lunch.
The rain had stopped, leaving the streets shining beneath the afternoon sun.
As they walked toward the parking lot, Sophia nudged her playfully.
"So..."
"What?"
"Are you going to tell me what Mr. Billionaire looked like up close?"
Mackenzie rolled her eyes.
"He's handsome."
"I knew it!"
"But intimidating."
"That's expected."
"And his eyes are..."
She paused.
Sophia grinned.
"What about them?"
"They're impossible to read."
Before Sophia could tease her again...
A motorcycle sped around the corner far too fast.
"Mackenzie!"
Sophia shouted.
The motorcycle headed straight toward them.
Everything happened in seconds.
A pair of strong arms suddenly pulled Mackenzie backward.
The motorcycle roared past, missing her by inches.
Her heart pounded wildly.
She looked up.
A tall man wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses released her carefully.
"Are you alright, Miss Giovanni?"
She stared at him.
"Y-Yes..."
He gave a small nod.
"Good."
Without another word...
He walked away.
Sophia blinked.
"Who was that?"
"I don't know."
Neither of them noticed the discreet earpiece hidden beneath the stranger's hair.
A few streets away...
The man stepped into a black SUV.
Damien looked at him.
"Report."
"Miss Giovanni is safe."
"Good."
The guard hesitated.
"It wasn't an accident."
Damien's expression darkened.
"The motorcycle?"
"It deliberately aimed for her."
Damien immediately reached for his phone.
Lawson Tower.
Kelvin answered on the second ring.
"Talk."
Damien didn't waste a second.
"Someone attempted to hit Miss Giovanni with a motorcycle."
The room became deathly silent.
"Is she hurt?"
"No."
"Our man intervened."
Kelvin slowly stood.
His face remained calm.
But his eyes...
They had turned cold.
"I want the rider."
"Alive."
Damien nodded.
"We're already searching."
Kelvin walked toward the window overlooking Noctis.
His voice was almost a whisper.
"If anyone thinks they can touch what's under my protection..."
He clenched his jaw.
"...they're about to learn why they call me the Devil of Valestia."
- Writer
