Chapter 21

‎Twenty-five minutes later, Cleo finally arrived at the estate address Ryan had given her. The cab pulled up slowly in front of a grand, gated entrance surrounded by tall iron fences and manicured hedges. She reached into her purse and handed the driver his fare, who nodded curtly before driving off into the distance. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Cleo stepped out of the car and made her way toward the estate gate.

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‎At the entrance stood a pair of security guards, their posture rigid and watchful, like immovable sentinels guarding the grounds. Their stern faces revealed no hint of softness, their eyes sharp as they scanned the visitors with professional suspicion. Cleo approached cautiously but confidently.

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‎One of the guards stepped forward and asked in a clipped tone, “And you are?”

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‎Her voice was soft but clear as she answered, “My name is Cleo. I’m here to see Mr. Abraham.”

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‎The guard’s eyes narrowed slightly as he considered her words, then nodded slowly. “Alright, follow me,” he said after a brief pause, gesturing for her to come along.

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‎Cleo followed silently as the guard led her through the security checkpoint and down the paved driveway, the tall trees lining the road casting long shadows in the evening sun. The estate was impressively large, the main house looming ahead with its elegant architecture and polished windows reflecting the sky.

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‎After a short walk, they stopped in front of a large gate marking the entrance to Ryan’s building within the estate. The guard reached out and pressed a button on a nearby panel.

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‎“We’re here,” he said, turning to her.

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‎“Thank you,” Cleo replied softly, offering a grateful smile. The guard’s eyes flickered with something akin to admiration, caught off guard by her gentle demeanor.

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‎“It’s my job,” he said with a small chuckle, trying to regain his composure before stepping back toward his post.

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‎Cleo sighed quietly to herself, a mixture of relief and anticipation filling her chest, then raised her hand and knocked firmly on the gate.

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‎Inside the security office, the other guard glanced at his computer screen. The face displayed matched the visitor standing outside. Confirming that this was indeed the person Mr. Abraham expected, he moved swiftly and opened the gate with a beep, granting Cleo entry.

‎“Good evening,” Cleo greeted softly as there security appeared, after opening the gate, her voice smooth and pleasant. The cool evening air brushed against her skin, carrying faint scents of jasmine from the garden beyond. She glanced briefly at the security guard stationed there, offering a polite smile as she reached out and effortlessly swung the gate open.

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‎“Evening, ma’am,” the security guard replied, his tone steady but betraying a flicker of surprise. For a moment, he stood frozen, caught off guard by her striking presence. In person, Cleo was even more breathtaking than the photos he had seen, her features radiant under the soft glow of the porch light, eyes sparkling with quiet confidence, and her poise commanding yet graceful.

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‎Feeling his unwavering gaze, Cleo tilted her head slightly, a curious smile tugging at her lips. “I’m Mr. Abraham’s guest,” she said gently, scanning his face as if searching for something unusual, a smudge, a stray hair, anything that might explain his distracted stare.

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‎The guard blinked, his cheeks coloring faintly as he quickly recovered his composure. “This way, ma’am,” he said respectfully, stepping aside to close the heavy gate behind her with a soft creak. The crunch of gravel under their footsteps echoed in the stillness as he led her down the winding driveway.

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‎Ahead, Thomas stood waiting like a statue, tall, unyielding, and silent. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, fixed on her arrival with a quiet intensity, his presence solid as the stone pillars flanking the entrance.

‎"Evening, Miss," Thomas said, surprised, as she approached him. At first, he didn't recognize her, but when she moved closer to him, he recognized she was his boss’s assistant, he had seen her around the company often, especially given how close he was to Ryan. His usual cold demeanor softened slightly; Cleo had always carried a friendly air about her.

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‎"Rock, how are you? It's been a while since I've seen you," she said with a bright smile, using the nickname she'd given him long ago. There was a warmth in her voice that made it feel like no time had passed at all.

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‎"I'm good and you?" he replied, a slight smile tugging at his lips. With a quiet nod, he turned and began to lead her toward the house.