CHAPTER 2: THE CHARMING DEVIL
838 Words
The next morning, Jose was already buried in work.
The events of the previous night lingered at the back of her mind.
The cold breeze.
The whisper.
The strange feeling that someone had been watching her.
She had convinced herself it was exhaustion.
Nothing more.
After all, ghosts didn't exist.
At least, that was what she told herself.
A knock sounded on her office door.
"Come in."
Her manager stepped inside with a grin that immediately put her on guard.
Jose narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
"Because today is a very important day."
"I have three meetings, two presentations, and a board review."
"Not that."
"Then what?"
The old man sat down without invitation.
"I found him."
Jose sighed.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
She closed her laptop.
"For the last time, I am not interested in getting married."
The manager folded his arms.
"You're twenty-six."
"So?"
"You work every day."
"So?"
"You spend your evenings alone."
"So?"
"You have no friends."
Jose frowned.
"Are you trying to insult me?"
"I'm trying to help you."
"I don't need help."
The old man smiled knowingly.
"That's exactly what someone who needs help would say."
Jose groaned.
"Please leave."
"No."
"Leave."
"No."
"Leave before I call security."
"You wouldn't."
A moment passed.
Jose sighed in defeat.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to attend a charity gala tonight."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"A gala?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"And someone will be there."
"There it is."
The manager laughed.
"Just meet him."
"I said no."
"Just one conversation."
"No."
"Five minutes."
"No."
"Three minutes."
Jose pointed toward the door.
"Out."
The manager stood.
But before leaving, he paused.
"Three minutes, Jose."
Then he walked away.
---
That evening, Jose found herself standing in front of the mirror.
She stared at her reflection.
The black gown hugged her figure perfectly.
Diamond earrings sparkled beneath the light.
She looked beautiful.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
Exactly how she liked it.
Yet for some reason...
She wasn't looking forward to the evening.
---
The grand ballroom buzzed with conversation.
Politicians.
Business executives.
Celebrities.
The wealthiest people in the country.
Jose moved through the crowd effortlessly.
She exchanged polite greetings.
Forced smiles.
Empty conversations.
Nothing interested her.
Nothing ever did.
Then she felt it.
A strange sensation.
Like someone was watching her.
Slowly, she turned.
And her breath caught.
A man stood on the opposite side of the room.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Dressed in an elegant black suit.
His sharp features carried an effortless confidence.
But it wasn't his appearance that unsettled her.
It was his eyes.
They were fixed entirely on her.
As though she were the only person in the room.
Jose quickly looked away.
Strange.
Very strange.
She didn't know why her heart had suddenly started beating faster.
---
"Miss Hartwell."
The deep voice came from behind her.
Jose turned.
And there he was.
The man from across the room.
Up close, he seemed even more intimidating.
And somehow...
More attractive.
He offered his hand.
"Adrian Blackwood."
For a second, Jose simply stared.
Then she accepted the handshake.
"Jose Hartwell."
A smile tugged at Adrian's lips.
"I know."
Something about the way he said it sent a shiver through her.
Not fear.
Not curiousity.
Something else.
Something unfamiliar.
---
For the next twenty minutes, they talked.
And for the first time in years...
Jose found herself genuinely interested in a conversation.
Adrian wasn't trying to impress her.
He wasn't intimidated by her success.
He challenged her opinions.
Questioned her beliefs.
Made her laugh.
Actually laugh.
The realization shocked her.
Adrian noticed.
"What?"
Jose looked away.
"Nothing."
"You smiled."
"I did not."
"You did."
"I didn't."
A chuckle escaped him.
And to her horror...
She smiled again.
---
Across the room, Jose's manager watched proudly.
Everything seemed perfect.
But he failed to notice something.
For one brief moment...
As Adrian turned away from Jose...
The charming smile disappeared.
His expression became cold.
Calculating.
Predatory.
Then it vanished.
So quickly that no one noticed.
No one except a frightened waitress nearby.
The tray slipped from her hands.
CRASH!
The room fell silent.
The waitress turned pale.
Adrian looked at her.
Only looked.
Yet the young woman's face drained of color.
As though she had seen something terrifying.
Something she dared not speak of.
A second later, Adrian smiled again.
Warm.
Charming.
Perfect.
And everyone relaxed.
Everyone except the waitress.
---
Later that night, Jose stood beside her bedroom window.
For reasons she couldn't explain, she found herself thinking about Adrian Blackwood.
His smile.
His voice.
His eyes.
She hated it.
And yet...
She couldn't stop.
Far across the city, Adrian stood in the darkness of his study.
A photograph rested on his desk.
A photograph of Jose.
Slowly, he traced his finger across her face.
Then he smiled.
"Goodnight, Jose."
His voice was soft.
Almost affectionate.
But the darkness in his eyes suggested something else entirely.
Something dangerous.
Something hungry.
And for the first time in her life...
Jose had unknowingly stepped into a trap.
- Writer
