The Man Behind the Curtain

Chapter four:

I stood in the quiet studio, staring at the painting of myself.

Liam had painted it in secret. He had watched me without saying a word. And now I was in his home, standing in a room no one else probably ever entered.

My heart raced.

Then I heard it—his voice.

Not in the hallway. Not near.

I followed the sound, tiptoeing down the corridor, past elegant doors and thick rugs, until I reached one door that was slightly open.

He was inside.

Talking to someone.

“No, you listen to me,” Liam said, voice low and sharp. “I told you I don’t want her involved.”

Pause.

“She’s not like the others. I don’t care what it looks like. I’m handling it.”

Another pause.

“If this gets out, we both lose everything.”

I froze.

She’s not like the others?

Who were the others?

And what exactly was he trying to hide?

I stepped back quietly, heart pounding harder now. I knew I shouldn’t be snooping, but the way he spoke… it wasn’t just business. It was personal.

He came out a minute later, phone in hand, face unreadable.

His eyes landed on me instantly. “You didn’t stay in the studio.”

“I heard voices,” I said. “You sounded angry.

He didn’t answer.

“Liam,” I pressed. “Who were you talking about?”

He looked at me for a long time.

Then he said, “Come. There’s something I need you to see.”

He led me through a hallway I hadn’t noticed before. At the end of it was a steel door with a scanner.

He placed his thumb on it. The door clicked open.

Inside was a private office—dark wood, wall-to-wall screens, folders, and a massive desk. Everything screamed power.

“This is my real office,” he said. “Where I run everything. Not just my tech company. Everything.”

“You mean... investments?”

“I mean things I don’t talk about over dinner.

He motioned for me to sit, and then handed me a file.

Inside was a photo. A woman.

Beautiful. Older than me. Dressed in red. Her smile sharp like a blade.

“That’s Scarlett Vale,” Liam said. “My ex-fiancée.”

I looked up, surprised. “You were engaged?”

He nodded. “Two years ago. She was the only person I ever trusted enough to give my name to.”

“What happened?”

“She betrayed me,” he said simply. “Tried to sell company secrets to my competitor. And nearly ruined my family’s name.”

“That call just now—was it about her?”

“Yes,” he admitted. “She’s back in town. And she’s not done with me.”

My stomach tightened.

“Why tell me this?” I asked. “Why now?”

“Because I’m starting to care about what happens to you. And Scarlett destroys anything I care about.”

The mood stayed quiet the rest of the evening. Liam said he’d have the driver take me home.

As we stepped outside, I turned to him.

“What if I’m not scared of her?” I asked.

“You should be,” he said. “Scarlett plays long games. And she’s good at finding people’s weak spots.”

He stepped closer.

“Isla, I need to protect you. But I also need to ask you something.”

“What?”

“Your father,” he said slowly. “Does he know anything about Scarlett?”

I frowned. “No. Why would he?”

But something in his eyes shifted.

“You don’t know much about your dad’s past, do you?”

“Enough,” I said.

He didn’t press further, but I could feel it—he knew something I didn’t

The next morning, I sat in the kitchen of my family’s house, watching Dad read the newspaper.

“Dad,” I asked casually, “Do you know anyone named Scarlett Vale?”

He froze.

Just for a second. But I saw it.

Then he looked up and smiled like nothing happened. “Doesn’t ring a bell. Why?”

“No reason.”

But I didn’t believe him.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown: Don’t mention her again. Watch your back.

No name. No trace.

Just a warning.

I looked up at Dad, who was pretending to drink his coffee. He was avoiding my eyes.

And I knew then—Liam wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.