CHAPTER 14: PHASE 2
869 Words
The music drifted gently through the ballroom as Kelvin and Mackenzie continued their dance.
Neither of them spoke.
Words suddenly felt unnecessary.
For the first time in years, Kelvin found himself enjoying a moment of peace.
Mackenzie looked up at him.
"You know..."
Kelvin raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"I expected you to be terrible at dancing."
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"And why would you think that?"
"You always look so serious."
"I assumed you spent all your time working."
"I do."
"Then how did you learn?"
"My mother."
His answer surprised even him.
He rarely spoke about his family.
Mackenzie smiled warmly.
"She must have been a wonderful woman."
Kelvin's expression softened.
"She was."
For a brief second, sadness flickered in his eyes before disappearing.
---
The dance ended to polite applause.
Kelvin escorted Mackenzie off the dance floor like a true gentleman.
"Thank you," he said.
"For the dance."
She smiled.
"I should be thanking you."
Before either of them could say another word, Clara rushed toward Mackenzie.
"Boss!"
"Mackenzie, we have a problem."
Her smile faded.
"What happened?"
"The florist delivered the wrong arrangements for the charity auction room."
Mackenzie immediately switched into work mode.
"I'll handle it."
She turned to Kelvin.
"Excuse me."
He nodded.
"Take your time."
As she hurried away, Kelvin watched her disappear through the crowd.
Damien stepped beside him.
"You weren't watching the decorations."
Kelvin smiled faintly.
"No."
"I was watching the woman who made them."
Damien shook his head with amusement.
"You've changed."
"Maybe."
---
Meanwhile...
In the hotel's underground parking garage...
A man dressed as a maintenance worker opened a toolbox.
Inside wasn't equipment.
It was a small black device.
He checked his earpiece.
"Package ready."
A voice answered.
"Proceed."
The man quietly slipped beneath one of the luxury vehicles parked near the private exit.
He attached the device underneath the chassis.
It wasn't a bomb.
It was a GPS tracker.
Within seconds, he disappeared into the shadows.
---
Back upstairs...
The gala continued successfully.
Guests praised the event, donated generously, and congratulated Mackenzie on the flawless organization.
One elderly philanthropist smiled warmly.
"My dear, this is one of the finest charity galas I've attended."
"Thank you," Mackenzie replied.
"That means a lot."
Across the room, Kelvin watched the interaction with quiet pride.
She never sought attention.
She earned respect through hard work.
That was one of the many things he admired about her.
---
Hours later...
The event came to an end.
Guests slowly began leaving the hotel.
Kelvin approached Mackenzie as she stood near the entrance.
"You look exhausted."
She laughed softly.
"I feel exhausted."
"You've earned some rest."
"I'll sleep for a week after this."
He smiled.
"I doubt your schedule will allow that."
She smiled back.
For a moment...
It felt almost normal.
Like they were simply two people talking after a successful event.
Not a billionaire mafia boss...
And the woman unknowingly caught in his dangerous world.
"Congratulations," Kelvin said sincerely.
"The gala was a success."
"Thank you."
Their eyes met once again.
Neither noticed the black sedan parked across the street.
Inside...
Ricardo's lieutenant lowered a pair of binoculars.
"We've tagged Lawson's convoy."
Ricardo's voice came through the earpiece.
"Excellent."
"Let them lead us home."
---
Later that night...
Lawson's convoy moved through the quiet streets of Noctis.
The rain had stopped, leaving the roads slick beneath the streetlights.
Inside the lead SUV, Damien frowned as he checked the security monitor.
"Boss."
Kelvin looked up from his phone.
"What is it?"
"I think we're being followed."
Kelvin glanced into the side mirror.
A dark sedan remained several cars behind them.
It wasn't trying to overtake.
It wasn't falling back.
It stayed at the same distance.
"Don't react," Kelvin said calmly.
"Let's see how long they stay with us."
The convoy drove through three intersections.
The sedan remained.
A fourth turn.
Still there.
Damien's voice became firm.
"It's confirmed."
Kelvin's eyes grew cold.
"They found us."
"No..."
Damien corrected quietly.
"They found the manor."
Kelvin immediately understood.
Ricardo hadn't tracked him.
He had tracked where he lived.
And if Ricardo knew where Kelvin's private routes were...
It wouldn't be long before he discovered the routes connected to Mackenzie.
Kelvin reached for his phone.
"Move Miss Giovanni to secondary protection."
"Immediately."
---
Across town...
Mackenzie had just arrived home.
She smiled as she removed her heels.
The evening had been perfect.
She thought about the dance.
About Kelvin's smile.
About the unexpected warmth behind his serious exterior.
Then...
Knock. Knock.
She frowned.
It was almost midnight.
Who could it be?
She walked cautiously to the door.
"Who is it?"
No answer.
She looked through the peephole.
The hallway was empty.
Slowly, she opened the door.
No one was there.
Only a single black envelope lying neatly on the floor.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She picked it up.
Inside was a photograph.
It was the picture of her and Kelvin dancing only hours earlier.
On the back, written in neat handwriting, were six chilling words:
Now everyone knows where you stand.
Mackenzie's hands trembled.
For the first time...
She realized that whoever was behind the threats...
Had been inside the gala.
Watching her.
Watching Kelvin.
Watching everything.
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