Chapter 19 – Behind Closed Doors

POV: Elena

For a moment, I simply stared at the bedroom door.

Richard's voice was calm, almost casual, but it immediately put me on edge. Jace had told me to lock the door and wait for him. Instead, his father was standing outside my room asking me to come downstairs.

I hesitated before unlocking the door.

Richard stood in the hallway with both hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored trousers. Even at this late hour, he looked perfectly composed, as though expensive suits were simply another layer of skin. His expression revealed nothing.

"I hope I didn't startle you," he said. "You did." A faint smile crossed his face. "I suppose that's fair." He turned without another word, clearly expecting me to follow. Curiosity got the better of me.

When we reached the study, he closed the door behind us and walked towards his desk. The room smelled faintly of leather and old books, the shelves lined with awards, framed photographs, and business trophies collected over decades.

Richard picked up a tablet from the desk and slid it across to me. "I think you should watch this." I looked down. It was security footage from the front gate. The timestamp matched only a few minutes earlier.

The grainy video showed exactly what I had seen from my bedroom window—a dark figure standing outside the estate before disappearing as headlights swept across the road.

My stomach tightened. "So I wasn't imagining it." "No." Richard folded his arms. "Our security team noticed the individual several minutes before you did." I looked back at the screen. "Did they identify them?" "They're working on it."

Something about his answer felt... rehearsed. I turned towards him. "Shouldn't we call the police?" "If it becomes necessary."

"If?"

He held my gaze without flinching. "At the moment, all we have is someone standing outside private property." "They sent us a photograph." His expression remained unchanged. "So Jace told you." I frowned. "You knew?" "Of course." A cold feeling settled in my chest. "Then why are you acting like this isn't a big deal?" "Because panic solves nothing." His voice remained measured, almost detached. "What solves problems is control."

There it was again. Control. Not concerned. Not fear. Just control. Richard stepped closer and rested one hand lightly against the edge of his desk.

"Listen carefully, Elena. The Calloway family attracts attention. Most of it means nothing. People gossip. They speculate. Sometimes they try to intimidate us. If we reacted every time someone wanted to provoke us, we'd spend our lives chasing shadows." "But this is different." "Perhaps"—his answer frustrated me. "Someone knows our engagement isn't real." "I know." "And you're not worried?"

"Oh, I'm worried."

For the first time that evening, something flickered behind his eyes. "It simply isn't the engagement I'm worried about."

Before I could ask what he meant, a sharp knock interrupted us. The study door opened. Jace walked in without waiting for permission. His eyes landed on me first before shifting to his father. "What did you want with her?" Richard didn't seem offended by the tone. "I was showing Elena the security footage. " Jace looked at me. "You okay?" I nodded. "I'm fine." He didn't look convinced.

His attention returned to Richard. "We need to increase security." "It has already been done." "And the photograph?" "We'll handle it." Jace's jaw tightened.

"No."

Richard raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"I'm handling it."

For several seconds, father and son simply stared at each other. The resemblance between them had never been clearer. The same grey eyes. The same stubborn pride. The difference was that Richard's control was polished, while Jace's barely concealed itself beneath the surface.

Finally, Richard spoke. Don’t let your feelings get in the way of your judgment. Jace laughed quietly. "You mean like you always do?" The room fell silent. Richard's expression hardened almost imperceptibly.

"Watch your tone." 

"No." Jace stepped closer. "This isn't just another business problem. Someone is watching our house." "And shouting won't change that." "No." Jace's voice dropped.

"But pretending it isn't serious won't either."

Without another word, he turned towards me. "Come on." I didn't hesitate. The tension in the room was suffocating.

As we walked upstairs, neither of us spoke until we reached the landing. "I don't trust him," I admitted. Jace let out a slow breath. "You don't have to." The answer surprised me. "I thought you'd defend him." "I used to." Used to. The word lingered in my mind.

Before I could ask what had changed, Jace's phone rang. He glanced at the screen. His expression immediately darkened. "Who is it?" I asked. He didn't answer. Instead, he held the phone out so I could read the caller ID.

Camille Brooks.

The phone stopped ringing.

A second later, a message appeared. Answer your front door. I left you a little gift.

My blood ran cold.