She leaned against the elevator wall, giving it a soft thud. Her eyes were fixed on the screen above the doors, watching the numbers count down floor by floor. It felt like time was frozen, and each breath made her chest feel tighter. Clutching her phone, Adrian's voice echoed in her mind from the call she had just wrapped up.
"I need to see you." Now."
She had almost dropped the phone.The terse whisper echoing in her mind – It's about your dad – was not merely the timbre of Adrian's voice, strained and laden with untold weight, but the chilling brevity of the message itself that propelled her into a state of heightened anxiety. The penthouse, once a symbol of their shared opulence, now felt hollow, the grandeur overshadowed by a premonition of impending collapse. Adrian, a dark figure outlined against the cityscape, exuded an aura of stark desolation that silenced her. Her tentative question, Adrian, what's going on? hung in the air, met with a gaze devoid of his usual arrogance, replaced by an unnerving devastation. His subsequent admission, I lied to you, sent a wave of dread through her, the unspoken truth already forming in the pit of her stomach, confirmed by his inability to meet her eyes.
In the tension radiating from his clenched jaw.
Adrian walked toward her, stopping a breath away. I didn't just find out who your dad is yesterday. Layla stepped back, looking confused. What do you mean? "I knew. From the beginning. From the moment you stepped into my office."
Her heart fractured. "You—you what?" "I checked you out," he said, his voice sharp. "I knew who you were. Who your dad was. And I still hired you. Still kissed you. Still—" He stopped himself, turning away like the truth was too much for him. Tears filled her eyes, and she hated it. She wanted to feel anger, not this. "Why?" she whispered. "Why would you do that?" Adrian ran his hand through his hair, looking miserable. "Because I wanted revenge." Layla flinched like he'd hit her. "My dad…
" Adrian's voice wavered. "Your father destroyed him. Took everything from him. From us. My whole childhood was a mess because of what Richard Hart did to us, Layla said, her knees giving way as she grabbed the sofa to steady herself. You really used me? she asked, her voice shaking."No!" Adrian stepped forward, desperate. "At first, yes, I wanted to make him pay. But then… I met you. And everything changed." She shook her head, stepping back. Don't even try to spin this any other way. You had it all figured out from the start.
She looked away, trying to pull herself together. Everything felt off, and the room felt like it was closing in on her. But pretending was still the plan. She needed to get away – away from him and the mess that was happening. A quiet thought crossed her mind: I can't handle this right now.
"But you still lied."She needed to get out. Away from him. From all of this. I really can't handle it right now. Adrian reached out for her, but she took a step back.Please, Layla. Just let me fix this. You can't fix anything, she replied, tears running down her cheeks.
"You broke it. You broke me."
Without another word, she fled the penthouse, the doors closing behind her with a final, heart-
wrenching thud.
Layla hurried into the elevator, her hands trembling and her heart weighing her down. It felt like she had left part of herself back on the marble floor of Adrian's place. How did she miss all the signs?Why did she let herself fall for him again? As the elevator descended, snapshots of their time together filled her thoughts.
Every touch. Every kiss. Every whispered promise in the dark. It had all been built on lies. All of it.
Her phone rang in her bag.
She ignored it.
Then again. And again.
By the time she stepped out onto the street, she had five missed calls.
All from him.She switched off her phone and walked into the chilly night, the cold striking her right away. Layla walked quickly along the city towards one side, clearly needing a break. She has no idea of where she's going in mind; she needs to get out of the stress that was weighing her down. After an hour, she found herself back in her apartment, where everything felt massively Wrapped up in herself, she looked blankly at the wall, lost in her thoughts. She hadn't cried yet she just felt empty and broken.Then, someone knocked on the door.
She froze.
Another knock, louder this time.
Then his voice. "Layla. Please." Her body stiffened. No, she whispered, but it barely made it out.The door shook again. I'm not going anywhere until we can talk. She got up slowly, her legs shaky as if each step toward the door was a struggle. When she finally opened it, there was Adrian, soaked from the rain that had just started, looking upset and like he needed help. What do you want? she asked, hardly audible.
"You."
She laughed bitterly. "That's convenient, considering how well you played me."
Adrian stepped forward, but she blocked the doorway. I know I messed up, he admitted. But I want you to understand—I planned to tell you. That night at the gala, when you asked if I was keeping something from you? I was. And it killed me inside.
Layla's lips quivered, but she stayed strong. You let me fall for you.
"I didn't let you. I fell with you. Harder than I've ever fallen."
She shook her head. "You still used me."
He didn't deny it. "I know. I won't ever let myself off the hook for this. But there's something else you should know. It's not just about getting back at someone anymore. Adrian's voice was serious as he said, 'This is bigger than just us, Layla.' Layla frowned, worried. 'Bigger how?' He glanced around nervously before answering. 'I've found out something troubling about your dad.' A chill ran through Layla. 'Troubling how?' He pulled a wrinkled piece of paper from his coat, his hands shaking a bit as he handed it to her.His body language showed how important this news was."This is a copy of a wire transfer. Millions—hidden in offshore accounts. It's connected to shell companies tied to human trafficking networks."
She stared at the paper, the words not quite registering.
"You're lying."
"I wish I was."
Layla took the paper with trembling hands, scanning the figures, the names.
Her father's name was there. In bold.
"This doesn't prove anything," she said, though her voice cracked.
"I have more. Emails. Transactions. Witness statements. He's not who you think he is, Layla. She looked up, feeling confused and a bit panicked. Why are you saying this? "Because I thought he just ruined lives. Turns out, he's still ruining them. And if I'm right, he might have had something to do with my father's death. It wasn't suicide."
Layla's heart thudded violently. "You think my father had your father killed?"
"I think your father is hiding more than just financial secrets."
Layla staggered back, everything spinning again. "No. No, this is too much."I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to drag you into this, but you're already involved.. Whether you like it or not."
Her voice rose. "You had months to tell me!"
"I know! But I didn't want to lose you. And I already have."
He took a step forward, his voice softening. "But you deserve the truth. Layla took a deep breath. "I need to be straight with you," she said, stealing another look at the paper, feeling anxious. "If this is real…" She spoke softly, "It could change a lot.Adrian nodded seriously.The rain poured hard against the windows, breaking the quiet with its loud rhythm. Layla felt her heart race, weighed down by things she hadn't said. She understood that sometimes, being honest can hurt more than sticking to comfortable lies.Taking a deep breath, she looked h
im in the eye, feeling more determined.I want to see it all."
All of it."