009

Valerie’s POV

The entire ride back to Ryan’s penthouse was tense. My heart was still racing from the hooded figure watching us. Ryan hadn’t said a word since we got into the car, but his grip on the steering wheel was tight, his jaw clenched as if he were holding something back.

I shifted in my seat, glancing at him. “Ryan…”

“Not now,” he muttered, his voice sharp.

I pressed my lips together, feeling frustration bubble inside me. “You can’t just ignore this. Who the hell was that?”

Ryan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pulled the car into the underground parking lot of his building, put it in park, and exhaled slowly. Then he turned to me, his dark eyes locked onto mine.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, which was somehow more unsettling than if he had.

I crossed my arms. “You sure about that? Because something tells me this isn’t just about some nosy paparazzi.”

He rubbed a hand over his jaw, looking almost… conflicted. That alone sent a shiver through me. Ryan Devante was never conflicted. He was always in control.

Finally, he spoke. “Come inside. We’ll talk.”

______

The moment we stepped into the penthouse, I kicked off my heels and turned to him, arms still crossed. “Talk.”

Ryan loosened his tie, rolling his shoulders as he walked toward the bar. “Drink?”

“Ryan.”

He sighed, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. “Fine. You want the truth? I don’t know who they were, but I have my suspicions.”

I frowned. “And?”

He took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down. “It could be someone watching us to see if this engagement is real. Investors, business rivals, even some reporters will go to extremes.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And the other possibility?”

Ryan’s gaze darkened. “Daniel.”

A chill ran down my spine. “Daniel?”

Ryan leaned against the bar, his expression unreadable. “He’s been too interested in us. The way he showed up at dinner, the way he kept pushing questions… He’s looking for cracks in our story.”

I swallowed hard. “But why? What does he gain from exposing us?”

Ryan studied me for a moment before shaking his head. “I don’t know yet.”

Great. That was comforting.

I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the room. “So what do we do?”

Ryan’s eyes followed my movements. “We stay careful. We stick to the plan.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “The plan? Right. The plan where I pretend to be madly in love with you while the whole world dissects my life and creepy strangers lurk in the shadows?”

His lips twitched. “Something like that.”

I glared at him. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Ryan pushed off the bar and walked toward me, stopping just inches away. “Believe me, Valerie, there’s nothing enjoyable about someone watching us like that.”

I swallowed, suddenly very aware of how close he was. His presence was intense, overwhelming.

“Then what do we do?” I asked, my voice quieter than before.

Ryan’s gaze flickered down to my lips before returning to my eyes. “We play smarter.”

Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine.

_____

I woke up the next afternoon to my phone vibrating aggressively on the nightstand.

Still half-asleep, I reached for it, blinking blearily at the screen.

Unknown Number: Did you sleep well, fiancée?

My stomach dropped.

I shot up in bed, my heart pounding as I reread the message.

No. No, no, no.

I immediately dialed Ryan’s number.

He picked up on the second ring. “Valerie?” His voice was alert, like he had already been awake for hours.

“Someone just texted me,” I said, my voice shaky. “An unknown number. They called me ‘fiancée.’”

There was a brief pause. Then, “Forward it to me. Now.”

I did as he said, my fingers trembling slightly as I pressed send. A minute later, my phone buzzed again—this time, Ryan calling me back.

“Pack a bag,” he said immediately.

“What?”

“I’m taking you somewhere safe.”

I frowned. “Ryan, you said it could be reporters—”

“This isn’t a fucking reporter,” he snapped. “Pack a bag. I’m coming to get you.”

Something in his voice made my stomach twist. He sounded… furious. But beneath that, there was something else.

Worry.

Ryan Devante didn’t worry.

And that terrified me.

____

Twenty minutes later, I was in Ryan’s car, my hastily packed bag in the back seat.

The entire drive was silent, tension thick in the air. Ryan’s grip on the wheel was tight, his jaw clenched.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Where are we going?”

“My private estate,” he said without looking at me.

“Private estate?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow. “How very billionaire cliché of you.”

He shot me a look. “You’re making jokes right now?”

I exhaled, rubbing my temples. “It’s either that or spiral into a full-blown panic attack.”

Ryan didn’t respond, but I saw his fingers tighten slightly on the wheel.

The estate was an hour outside the city, tucked away behind tall iron gates and surrounded by acres of trees. It was secluded, private… safe.

At least, I hoped so.

The moment we arrived, Ryan led me inside, locking the doors behind us. The place was stunning—modern but warm, with high ceilings, sleek furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a lake.

“Stay here,” he ordered. “I need to make a few calls.”

I nodded, still trying to process everything.

As soon as he disappeared into another room, I let out a shaky breath and sank onto the couch.

This was getting out of hand.

First the hooded figure, now cryptic texts… This wasn’t just about a fake engagement anymore.

Someone was watching me.

And I had a feeling it wasn’t just Ryan they were after.

I grabbed my phone, hesitating before typing out a message.

Valerie: Who are you?

A response came almost instantly.

Unknown Number: Closer than you think.

My blood ran cold.

I barely had time to process it before a floorboard creaked behind me.

My heart lurched. I turned around fast—

But there was no one there.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling.

I wasn’t alone and it was utterly terrifying.