CHAPTER 3

Maya’s POV

“Did you hear that?”

The silence in the office was unbearable. I could practically feel Ray’s gaze on me, cold and unblinking, as if I were some kind of test subject under a microscope.

I forced myself to keep my back straight, but inside, my legs were shaking. My mind raced, and all I could hear was the pounding of my heartbeat.

Ray’s voice was low, almost dangerous. "You guess?"

The word hit me like a slap, and my stomach churned. I knew I’d messed up—this wasn’t going to be easy. He didn’t tolerate ambiguity. Ever.

I lowered my eyes, my hands suddenly feeling clammy. “Nobody entered your room after I brought you back,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

There. The truth, as far as I knew it. No room for doubt.

The silence that followed felt like an eternity. A heavy weight pressed against my chest, and I couldn’t bring myself to breathe normally. I had no idea how long I stood there, waiting for him to speak.

Ray’s poker face remained unmoving, and every second of the quiet felt like a threat.

I couldn’t afford for him to find out the truth. If he suspected anything, my career—and Lana’s—could be over.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Ray broke the silence. “Okay.”

I exhaled, relieved, but that didn’t last long.

“Bring me the Seaward Group’s proposal,” Ray ordered in a tone that was businesslike and dismissive, his mind already elsewhere.

I nodded, my legs still weak as I quickly turned and walked out of the room. I managed to pull myself together, even if my insides were still a tangled mess.

Over the next month, the business trip continued, and I made every effort to avoid being alone with Ray. It wasn’t easy, considering the tight schedule and the frequent meetings. But I knew I had to be careful. One slip-up could cost me everything.

Then, one day, we returned to Harbor City. I had two days off after a month of constant travel, and for the first time in weeks, I thought I might get some peace.

Ray went straight to the office for an urgent meeting, as usual.

I was just starting to relax when I walked into the company dormitory. That’s when Lana’s voice broke the calm.

“Did Mr. Cole do anything afterward?” she asked, her voice lowered to a whisper as she leaned in close.

I froze. She was bringing up the one thing I had been desperately trying to forget. A wave of panic rose in my chest.

“Lana, not now,” I muttered, looking quickly toward the other rooms to make sure we were alone.

Lana smirked and waved off my discomfort. “Relax. We’re alone.”

I let out a breath, trying to calm myself. It had been a month since that night, but I still couldn’t shake the tension in my body whenever anyone brought it up.

When Ray’s face flashed in my mind—his unreadable expression, the cold silence—it all came rushing back.

“No,” I said quietly, after a pause. “He hasn’t done anything. He doesn’t care about what happened.”

Lana raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “You’re sure?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t as sure as I wanted to sound. “I’m sure. He’s not the type to... care. He just wanted to confirm something with me. It’s like it never even happened to him.”

Lana didn’t seem convinced, but she let it go. “Good, but still... be careful. Nobody ever wins with Ray. He doesn’t forgive easily.”

“I know,” I muttered, rubbing my temples. “I’m done talking about this.”

She seemed to relent and switched topics. “You really need to set some boundaries with your brother, Maya.”

I stiffened. “What do you mean?”

She frowned. “Your brother calls you for money constantly, and yet he hasn’t even started looking for a real job. How does that work?”

I could feel my face flush with irritation. “He’s trying, Lana. He’s just having a hard time, okay? He hasn’t found anything that suits him yet.”

Lana crossed her arms. “Well, he’s had plenty of time. And you’ve been sending him money for months now. It’s not fair that you’re carrying the load for him when your mom doesn’t even help.”

The mention of my mother made something inside me snap, but I bit back the sharp retort. “Let’s not talk about her right now,” I said, my voice firm. “I’m the one who took responsibility for him after Dad died. I’ll handle it.”

Lana, sensing my frustration, nodded but still didn’t seem pleased. “Fine. Just make sure you’re not enabling him. He’s an adult now.”

I grabbed my purse, trying to shake off the tension. “I’ll take care of it. I need to go to the bank. I’ll be back later.”

Lana sighed. “Go ahead, but don’t let him take advantage of you, Maya.”

I didn’t reply as I slipped on my shoes. Instead, I just nodded and walked out the door.

The sun was shining brightly as I stepped outside, but I could barely feel the warmth. It was as if the cold had followed me everywhere, settling deep in my chest.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts. I checked the caller ID and saw the name I dreaded seeing—Dudley Webb, my half-brother.

I answered with a sharp tone. “What now?”

His voice was strained. “Maya, I really need you to send me more money this month. I haven’t found a job yet, and—”

I cut him off, my patience wearing thin. “Dudley, you need to focus on finding a job, not asking me for handouts. You’re graduating soon, and I won’t be supporting you forever. Use this time to get your act together.”

There was a brief silence on the other end before he muttered, “I’m trying, okay?”

“Not hard enough,” I snapped, then hung up.

As I stood there in the street, the familiar feeling of resentment bubbled up. I hated the way he expected me to bail him out every time.

I shook my head and started walking toward the bank, trying to push the negative thoughts away. I didn’t have time for this. Not now.

I could handle my own problems, thank you very much.

But just as I approached the bank, my phone vibrated again. This time, it was from Ray. My stomach dropped.

“Where are you?”

The text was simple. Cold. And I knew that tone. He was annoyed, and I could already feel my pulse quicken as I realized the implications.

I was about to be dragged back into his world once again.