Chapter 6 - Playing with wolves

I wanted this party to be long over, but I had to smile through it. My mind always had to be sharp, not missing a bit on anything or anyone while always thinking about the files I had on Duke. It was nothing that helped my brother's case, but it sure wasn't good for Duke. He has been leaking information in exchange for money... biting the hand that feeds him, and here I thought dogs were supposed to be loyal.

The laughter in the room rises and falls like a tide I have no interest in swimming in. I smiled on cue, tilted my head just so, my hand loose around the stem of a half-empty glass as I walked to the door to say goodbye to some of the guests.

"Thank you for coming, I'll see you around, neighbor," I say before turning around into the apartment when Benjamin crosses my path.

"I think I'll lead out too." He says.

"Of course," I say, the same smooth social polish coating my words. But I don’t move aside just yet.

Benjamin stands too close, not inappropriately, but deliberately. Like he wants to leave an impression before the night ends.

"I'll see you on Monday then, so funny to think we work together," I say.

"Well, I kind of work for you," Benjamin says. "I guess that would make it inappropriate if I asked you out for a coffee."

“Inappropriate?” I echo, tilting my head. “That depends entirely on intent.”

Benjamin’s mouth curves like he’s enjoying the dance. He is. He thinks he’s winning.

“Just coffee,” he says, too quickly. “No hidden meaning.”

That’s the first lie he’s told me directly. I file it away with the others.

“Then I suppose it wouldn’t be inappropriate at all,” I reply and he smiles.

"Good night, Isabella." He says then leans in to kiss my cheek, I smile and as I pull aside, I notice Derek watching us. Good.

"Good night, Benjamin." I close the door with care, slowly, not because I’m afraid of slamming it, but because everything else tonight has been deliberate. Let this be no different.

I turn back to the room. The remaining guests chatter softly, draining the last of the wine as I walk up to Derek.

"Having fun?"

"I am." He says as he turns full thoughts me, his back blocking the view of the rest guests. "Tomorrow I'm going to the club, join me." His words are casual, but his eyes aren’t. "My family goes there on weekends to play tennis, relax... unless you already made other plans."

"Seeing how I already rejected your father's offer once, doing it again to you seems rude. So yes, I'll join you tomorrow. But I have to warn you, I'm very good at tennis." Only because I trained it hard, knowing it's your favorite sport. I know all about you, Derek, and I know how to use it all against you.

“I like a challenge,” he says, his handsome smile growing on his face so charming like a spell being cast upon you.

“Then it’s a date,” he says, as if the word slips out by accident. But nothing about Derek Ashford is accidental. I always remind myself of that.

I let the pause stretch, just long enough to make him wonder if I’ll correct him.

“It’s a match,” I reply, my tone light. Playful. Ambiguous. But the real answer hides behind my smile.

He reaches for his coat draped over the arm of a chair, but doesn’t put it on. Just holds it over one shoulder, watching me like I’m a question he hasn’t figured out how to answer yet. That’s fine. I didn’t come here to be solved.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then."

"Let me walk you out." I say and he lets me walk in front of him as we reach the door.

At the door, I open it slowly, letting the cooler night air rush in. He steps out onto the threshold, then turns back toward me, lingering in that liminal space between leaving and wanting to stay.

“You throw a good party,” he says.

“I throw an effective one,” I correct, just enough truth laced in it to keep him intrigued. “But thank you.”

His gaze drops to my mouth for the briefest second before returning to my eyes. Calculated. Like he’s waiting to see if I noticed. I did. I always do.

“Get some rest, Isabella,” he says, softer now, like we’re not just two sharks circling the same pool. Like we’re something... closer. “You’ll need it for tomorrow.”

“I always rest well after a win,” I say, and close the door before he can offer another line.

Click.

The rest of the guests left soon after, and I took the time to pick up the glasses from the tables when I heard a soft knock on the door.

I hurried to open it up. Levy, the contact I have on the inside Ashford enters my apartment.

"Did anyone see you?" I ask him.

"No." He says as he takes out a USB drive from his pocket.

"Did you get it?"

"Did you really doubt I would?" He says, cocky, full of himself. But so far he has never let me down. "I entered his apartment while he was here. I hacked his laptop and tablet, and as soon as he connected his phone, you would also have access to that."

"So, from now on I know everything Benjamin does?"

"What he does, where he goes, who he talks to, text to... you'll see it all first," Levy says, and I smile. I walk to my bag and take out my checkbook and write down a generous amount, then hand it to him.

"Here, you've earned it."

"You know," He says as he takes the check. "All of this is turning out to be quite fun... but I also see the dangerous part of it all... for you."

"I know the risk, but I'm willing to take it. But dont worry, even if I fall, I won't take you down with me." I reassure him.

"I dont mind going down, I've been there... possibly even worse. You were the one who gave me a new life, for that I will always be there to help you."

"Thank you," I say, and mean it, but only in the way I ever allow myself to mean anything.

He tucks the check into his coat pocket and glances toward the still-warm remnants of the evening, the scattered wine glasses, the half dimmed lights, the scent of expensive perfume and sharper tension still clinging to the air.

“Be careful, Isabella,” he says on his way out. “You’re playing with wolves who dress in suits.”

I walk him to the door, but it’s not until I lock it behind him again that I finally let the exhaustion show. Just for a second.

Then I take the USB and slide it into my laptop. The screen glows. Folders populate. His digital life unfolds before me like a confession.