Chapter Five:A Door Left Open
618 Words
Chapter Five:A Door Left Open
Aria stared at the business card long after Nathan disappeared into the crowd.
The white card felt strangely heavy in her hand.
Lucien Devereaux Chief Executive Officer Devereaux International
She traced the embossed letters with her thumb before slipping it into her bag.
"Don't be stupid," she muttered to herself.
Men like Lucien Devereaux didn't invite strangers to meetings.
Not unless they wanted something.
She had spent months learning one painful lesson—nothing came for free.
With a sigh, she turned away and walked toward the subway station.
───
That evening, the apartment was unusually quiet.
Liam sat at the dining table, surrounded by old textbooks. He looked up as Aria entered.
"You look like today wasn't any better."
She managed a tired smile.
"It wasn't."
He closed his book.
"Another rejection?"
She nodded.
"But something else happened."
Liam leaned forward.
"What?"
She hesitated before placing the business card on the table.
"A CEO wants to meet me."
His eyebrows shot up.
"The Lucien Devereaux?"
"You know him?"
"Everyone knows him," Liam said. "He's always on the news."
"I don't know why he'd want to see me."
"Are you going?"
Aria stared at the card.
"I honestly don't know."
Liam reached across the table and covered her hand with his.
"Ari..."
She looked up.
"You've spent three months running from every opportunity because you were afraid of getting hurt again."
His voice was gentle.
"What if this one is different?"
She wanted to believe him.
She really did.
But hope had become expensive.
And she couldn't afford another disappointment.
───
Across the city, Lucien stood alone in his office.
The lights of the skyline stretched endlessly beyond the glass walls.
Nathan entered quietly.
"Still no answer."
Lucien didn't look away from the window.
"She'll either come..."
"...or she won't."
Nathan frowned.
"You don't sound concerned."
"I've learned not to expect people to do what I want."
Nathan almost smiled.
"That's not what your employees would say."
A faint chuckle escaped Lucien.
"Employees are different."
"And Ms Bennett?"
Lucien finally turned.
"I don't need an employee."
His expression became thoughtful.
"I need the truth."
───
Meanwhile...
Somewhere else in the city...
A man sat inside a dimly lit office.
Stacks of financial reports covered his desk.
A television silently replayed the day's business news.
His phone buzzed.
"Sir," a voice said from the other end.
"The journalist met Lucien Devereaux's assistant today."
The man slowly removed his glasses.
"Did she accept?"
"We don't know."
Silence.
Then...
"Keep watching her."
"And if she starts asking questions?"
The man leaned back in his chair.
His face remained hidden in the darkness.
"Make sure she never finds the answers."
He ended the call.
A slow smile spread across his face.
Outside his office, thunder rolled across the night sky.
The game had begun.
───
Aria couldn't sleep.
Near midnight, she stepped onto the apartment balcony.
The city lights shimmered beneath the stars.
She pulled Lucien's card from her pocket once more.
Her finger hovered over her phone.
One call.
One meeting.
Maybe one chance.
Or maybe another trap.
She inhaled deeply.
Then, before she could change her mind...
She dialled the number.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
A calm voice answered.
"This is Nathan Cole."
Aria swallowed.
"My name is Aria Bennett."
There was a brief pause.
"Mr Devereaux would like to meet you tomorrow morning."
She closed her eyes.
"I'll be there."
When the call ended, she remained standing on the balcony, the cool night breeze brushing against her face.
She had just taken a step into a world she didn't understand.
And somewhere in the darkness...
Someone was already waiting for her to fail.
- Writer
