CHAPTER 15: TELL ME THE TRUTH
714 Words
Mackenzie barely slept.
The photograph remained on her bedside table.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the words written on the back.
Now everyone knows where you stand.
She picked up her phone several times.
Each time, she stopped before dialing Kelvin's number.
Finally, just after sunrise, she made up her mind.
"I deserve answers."
---
Lawson Tower...
Kelvin had just finished a meeting with the board of directors when his assistant approached.
"Mr. Lawson."
"Miss Giovanni is here."
His expression changed instantly.
"Did she make an appointment?"
"No, sir."
"She insisted on seeing you."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Show her in."
---
The office doors opened.
Mackenzie walked in with determined steps.
She wasn't smiling.
She wasn't nervous.
She looked... angry.
Kelvin stood from behind his desk.
"Good morning, Mackenzie."
She placed the black envelope on his desk.
"I want an explanation."
Kelvin glanced at the photograph inside.
His jaw tightened.
"So..."
he murmured.
"They've become bolder."
She stared at him.
"You knew."
"I suspected."
"You suspected?" she repeated, disbelief filling her voice.
"I've been followed."
"I've received threats."
"Someone nearly ran me over."
"And now this."
She pointed to the photograph.
"Tell me what's happening."
Kelvin remained silent.
His silence only fueled her frustration.
She took a step closer.
"Am I in danger because of you?"
The question hung heavily in the room.
Kelvin looked directly into her eyes.
"...Yes."
The single word echoed through the office.
Mackenzie felt her heart sink.
She had expected denial.
Instead...
He had told her the truth.
---
"I don't understand."
Kelvin motioned toward the seating area.
"Please."
She remained standing.
"I think I've earned the truth."
For several moments, Kelvin said nothing.
Then he spoke.
"My family has powerful enemies."
"You've met one of them."
"Ricardo DeLuca."
"The man behind the threats?"
Kelvin nodded.
"He believes you're important to me."
Mackenzie laughed bitterly.
"Believes?"
She looked around the office.
"We've only known each other a short time."
Kelvin's gaze never left hers.
"To him..."
He paused.
"That doesn't matter."
She searched his face.
"And to you?"
Silence.
Then, quietly...
"You matter."
The words were simple.
Honest.
Unrehearsed.
Mackenzie's breath caught.
She had expected excuses.
She hadn't expected sincerity.
---
A knock interrupted them.
Damien entered.
"Boss."
He stopped when he noticed Mackenzie.
"I'm sorry."
Kelvin nodded.
"Report."
"Our team recovered security footage from the hotel."
"And?"
"The waiter who photographed you and Miss Giovanni has been identified."
Damien placed a folder on the desk.
"He disappeared less than an hour after the gala."
Kelvin opened the file.
His eyes narrowed.
"Ricardo is cleaning up his tracks."
Damien nodded.
"There's more."
He looked at Mackenzie apologetically.
"The GPS tracker wasn't placed on your vehicle, Boss."
Kelvin frowned.
"Where was it?"
Damien answered quietly.
"Miss Giovanni's car."
The room fell silent.
Mackenzie's face turned pale.
"My... car?"
Kelvin's expression hardened.
"They were tracking your movements."
Not mine.
---
Mackenzie slowly sat down.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The strange feeling of being watched.
The threatening notes.
The phone call.
None of it had been random.
She looked at Kelvin.
"What happens now?"
He walked around the desk until he stood in front of her.
"I'll make sure you're safe."
She looked up.
"And if I don't want bodyguards following me everywhere?"
"You won't see them."
"You'll just know that if someone tries to hurt you..."
His voice became steady and resolute.
"...they'll have to get through me first."
For the first time...
Mackenzie saw beyond the billionaire.
Beyond the rumors.
Beyond the feared reputation.
She saw a man carrying the weight of protecting everyone he cared about.
And for some reason...
She believed him.
---
Outside Lawson Tower...
A man wearing a baseball cap lowered a camera.
He had been watching the entrance for over an hour.
As Mackenzie finally left the building, he quietly made a call.
"Boss."
"She stayed with Lawson for forty-three minutes."
Ricardo's cold voice came through.
"So."
"There really is something between them."
The man hesitated.
"What are your orders?"
Ricardo looked at the photograph from the gala one last time.
Then smiled.
"It's time."
"Invite Miss Giovanni to dinner."
The man frowned.
"...She'll never accept."
Ricardo's smile widened.
"She won't know it's from me."
- Writer
