DARK OBSESSION

CHAPTER THREE: A BEAUTIFUL PRISON

The next morning, Ivy woke with an uneasy feeling.

She couldn't explain it.

Nothing had happened. Nothing she could point to. Yet the strange sensation that someone was watching her had followed her into sleep and remained there when she opened her eyes.

She sat up slowly.

Her bedroom was exactly as she'd left it.

The curtains were closed. Her books were stacked beside her bed. Her phone was charging on the small table.

Everything was normal.

" You're being paranoid," she whispered.

She forced herself out of bed.

By the time she reached the kitchen, Ethan was already eating breakfast.

" You look tired," he said.

" I didn't sleep well."

" Nightmares?"

" Not exactly."

She poured herself some tea.

" I just had the strangest feeling that someone was watching me."

Ethan stopped eating.

" Who?"

" I don't know."

" Did you see anyone?"

" No."

He shrugged.

"Maybe you watch too many mystery movies."

Ivy laughed.

" Maybe."

She didn't tell him that the feeling had started before she ever watched anything.

At Kingston Publishing House, things were different.

A large black vehicle waited outside the building.

Ivy noticed it immediately.

She had seen the same type of vehicle several times recently.

At first, she assumed it belonged to a wealthy employee.

But when she walked through the glass doors, she saw Damien Blackwood standing near reception.

Her steps slowed.

She had seen his photograph in newspapers and business magazines, but seeing him in person was different.

He was imposing.

Quiet.

His expression revealed almost nothing.

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment, neither moved.

Then Damien looked away.

Ivy continued walking.

" That's him," Lily whispered excitedly.

" Who?"

" Damien Blackwood!"

Ivy glanced over her shoulder.

" I know."

" You don't sound impressed."

" I'm supposed to be?"

Lily laughed.

" Most women would faint."

" I need coffee, not fainting."

They continued toward their department.

Neither noticed Damien watching them leave.

Later that afternoon, Ivy received an unexpected call.

" Hello?"

" Ms. Adams?"

" Yes?"

" This is Blackwood Holdings."

Her eyebrows knitted together.

" How can I help you?"

" We would like to offer you a position within our publishing division."

Ivy stared at the phone.

" Excuse me?"

" The position comes with a substantial salary increase, accommodation assistance, medical coverage and other benefits."

She was silent.

It sounded too good to be true.

" I didn't apply for any position."

" We're aware."

" Then why are you calling me?"

A pause.

" Your work has attracted attention."

The call ended shortly afterward.

Ivy sat completely still.

Lily noticed her expression.

" What happened?"

" Blackwood Holdings offered me a job."

Lily's eyes widened.

" What?"

" I didn't apply."

" That's even better!"

" No, it's strange."

" Maybe they found your work online."

" Maybe."

But something didn't feel right.

That evening, Ivy arrived home to find a large package waiting outside her apartment.

There was no sender's name.

She looked at it suspiciously.

" Ethan?"

He came out of his room.

" What?"

" This came for me."

" Open it."

She hesitated before removing the wrapping.

Inside was a beautiful first edition of a rare novel she had spent months searching for.

Ivy's mouth fell open.

She knew this book.

It was almost impossible to find.

There was a small card inside.

Only four words were written:

" For your love of stories."

No name.

No explanation.

Ivy's stomach tightened.

" Who sent this?"

Ethan picked up the card.

"Maybe someone likes you."

She immediately shook her head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because nobody knows I wanted this book."

She looked at the package again.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Across town, Damien sat in his office.

The same book lay open on his desk.

Nathan stood opposite him.

" She received it."

" Did she like it?"

" She was surprised."

Damien smiled faintly.

" Good."

Nathan hesitated.

" Sir, may I say something?"

Damien looked up.

" Go ahead."

" This is becoming excessive."

Silence.

Nathan continued carefully.

" You're changing your schedule because of her. You're investigating everyone around her. You're sending gifts she never asked for."

Damien's expression hardened.

" I know what I'm doing."

" Do you?"

Damien stood.

" I've never lost control of anything."

Nathan lowered his voice.

" Maybe that's the problem."

For several seconds, Damien said nothing.

Then he turned toward the window.

" Leave."

Nathan obeyed.

The door closed.

Damien remained alone.

For the first time, Nathan's words disturbed him.

Not because they were completely wrong.

But because part of Damien knew they were right.

The following morning, Ivy made a decision.

She would reject the job.

She didn't know who was behind the offer, but she didn't like the uncertainty.

At work, she typed a polite email declining the position.

Before she could send it, her phone rang.

" Hello?"

" Ms. Adams, we received your decision."

Ivy frowned.

" I haven't sent anything."

" We're aware."

Her heart began beating faster.

" How?"

Another pause.

" Mr. Blackwood would like to speak with you."

" I don't think that's necessary."

" It concerns the position."

" I've already made my decision."

She ended the call.

For several minutes she stared at her phone.

Then Lily entered.

" You okay?"

Ivy forced a smile.

" Yeah."

But she wasn't.

That afternoon, Damien appeared at her office.

This time, there was no warning.

Ivy looked up from her desk.

" Mr. Blackwood."

" Ms. Adams."

He sat opposite her.

" I understand you've declined my offer."

" Yes."

" May I ask why?"

" Because I don't think it's right for me."

" Or because you're uncomfortable with the circumstances?"

She looked directly at him.

" Both."

For the first time, Damien seemed genuinely interested in her answer.

" You don't know me."

" That's true."

" Then why are you afraid?"

" I'm not afraid."

She paused.

" I'm cautious."

Something flickered across his face.

Respect?

Annoyance?

She couldn't tell.

" I admire that," he said.

Ivy frowned.

" Thank you."

Damien leaned back.

" I won't force you to accept the position."

She relaxed slightly.

" But I hope you'll reconsider."

" I won't."

A faint smile appeared.

" We'll see."

He stood and walked toward the door.

Before leaving, he turned.

" You should be careful, Ms. Adams."

Her expression changed.

" Careful of what?"

He didn't answer.

The door closed.

Ivy remained frozen.

That night, she couldn't sleep.

Damien's final words kept replaying in her mind.

You should be careful.

She checked the locks twice.

Then she checked them again.

She hated feeling afraid.

Especially when she didn't know what she was afraid of.

At midnight, her phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

One message.

Don't trust everyone around you.

Ivy stared at it.

Another message arrived.

Some people smile while planning to hurt you.

She immediately blocked the number.

Then she sat on her bed, breathing slowly.

She didn't know whether the messages were a warning...

Or a threat.

The following morning brought another surprise.

Daniel appeared outside her workplace.

" Hi."

Ivy smiled.

" Daniel."

" I was hoping I'd see you again."

They talked for a few minutes.

Then Daniel handed her a small notebook.

" I noticed you like writing."

Amara looked surprised.

" How did you know?"

" You mentioned it at the supermarket."

She smiled.

" Thank you."

Across the street, a familiar black vehicle sat motionless.

Damien watched them.

But this time, something was different.

He wasn't simply jealous.

He was concerned.

His investigation into Daniel had uncovered something unusual.

Daniel had recently become involved in a property dispute involving one of Blackwood Holdings' subsidiaries.

It might have been coincidence.

Or it might not.

Damien reached for his phone.

" Find out everything about Daniel Cole."

Nathan answered immediately.

" We already did."

" Then do it again."

That evening, Ivy returned home.

She opened the notebook Daniel had given her.

On the first page, she found a handwritten message:

For the stories you haven't written yet.

She smiled.

For the first time in days, she felt genuinely happy.

Then something fell from between the pages.

A photograph.

Ivy picked it up.

Her smile disappeared.

It was a photograph of herself.

Taken outside her apartment.

She had no memory of anyone taking it.

Her hands trembled slightly.

She turned the photograph over.

There was writing on the back.

You should have listened.

Ivy's breath caught.

She immediately locked the door.

Then she called Lily.

" Lily..."

" What happened?"

" I think someone is watching me."

There was silence.

" Are you sure?"

Ivy stared at the photograph.

" No."

Her voice shook.

" But I think I finally have proof."

Outside her window, a car slowly passed through the darkness.

Ivy moved towards the curtains.

She stopped before touching them.

She didn't want to look.

She didn't want to know.

But across the street, Damien sat inside his vehicle, staring at the same apartment.

For the first time, however, his expression wasn't one of satisfaction.

It was concern.

Because the photograph hadn't come from him.

Someone else was watching Amara.

And whoever they were...

They had just entered a dangerous game.