Chapter 17

Maya’s POV

The morning sunlight spilled weakly through the half-drawn curtains, turning the dust in the air into golden threads. I sat at the edge of my bed, still in last night’s clothes, staring at the tiny soil under my fingernails. My heart hadn’t stopped pounding since the moment I ran from Zane’s office.

I hardly slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face — the flicker of realization in his eyes, the gleam of the flash drive between his fingers, the sound of my name dripping from his lips like a warning.

And now, the universe seemed determined to mock me with normalcy. The hum of the air conditioner, the faint sound of the elevator down the hall, and then — a knock.

“Come in,” I said, my voice barely holding.

Ray stepped in, his sleeves rolled up, tie hanging loose. He looked tired, eyes shadowed like he hadn’t slept either. His expression was calm, but his voice carried a tension that sent a chill down my spine.

“We need to talk, Maya.”

I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Morning to you too.”

He ignored that. “What’s going on with you?”

I looked away. “What do you mean?”

He walked closer, folding his arms. “You’ve been... distant. Nervous. You flinch every time someone mentions Zane. And last night you didn’t answer your phone.”

I swallowed. My voice came out thinner than I wanted. “I was tired.”

“Tired?” His tone sharpened. “You look like you haven’t slept in days. Don’t lie to me.”

Something inside me snapped a little at that word — lie. I’d heard it too many times in the last twenty-four hours.

I stood up, my legs unsteady. “Maybe I’m just not in the mood for your questions.”

He stepped closer, his brows furrowing. “You don’t get to shut me out, Maya. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

My heart twisted at the sound of his voice — steady, protective, so unlike Zane’s smooth venom. But that only made it worse.

“Please,” I whispered, “just let it go.”

“I can’t.” His jaw tightened. “You’re hiding something, and if it’s about Zane—”

I flinched at the name before I could stop myself.

That was all it took.

“God, Maya.” He raked a hand through his hair. “What did he do?”

The words hit me like a blade. I wanted to tell him everything — about the flash drive, the lies, the way Zane’s hand had brushed my face like he owned my fear. But the memory of Zane’s voice, low and cold, still echoed in my ears: Everyone’s prey to someone.

I couldn’t drag Ray into that. He didn’t deserve it.

“He didn’t do anything,” I said finally, but my voice trembled.

Ray’s eyes darkened. “You’re lying.”

The word struck again. I felt my composure crumble, piece by piece.

“Ray, stop!” My voice cracked. “Just stop asking, please.”

He froze. The silence between us was deafening — the kind that fills your lungs until you can’t breathe. Then he spoke softly.

“I care about you,” he said. “That’s why I can’t stop.”

My throat burned. For a second, I thought I could tell him. That maybe, just maybe, saying it aloud would make it real enough to escape.

“Ray…” My lips trembled. “If I told you something — something dangerous — would you believe me?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Always.”

That was the moment everything inside me cracked open.

I sank back onto the bed, fingers gripping the sheets. The confession burned at the back of my throat, desperate to spill out, but my fear held it there like a chain.

“Zane isn’t who you think he is,” I said quietly.

Ray frowned. “What do you mean?”

“He—” I stopped, glancing toward the window as if Zane’s shadow might appear there. “He’s... dangerous.”

Ray’s eyes softened, but there was a flicker of alarm. “Dangerous how?”

“Controlling. Obsessive.” The words came out between breaths. “He has secrets, Ray. The kind that ruin people.”

“Then why are you still working for him?” His voice cracked with disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Because I can’t,” I said. “You don’t understand what he’s capable of.”

Ray knelt in front of me, his hand reaching out to hold mine. His warmth made something inside me ache.

“Maya, whatever it is, you don’t have to deal with it alone. If he’s threatening you, I’ll handle it.”

The sincerity in his tone almost undid me. I wanted to believe him — to trust that he could fix the mess I’d fallen into. But the image of Zane’s eyes the night before — calm, knowing, merciless — froze me.

“You can’t,” I whispered. “He’s not someone you can handle.”

Ray’s hand tightened around mine. “Try me.”

The words were too close. Too real. I opened my mouth — and the truth began to slip out.

“He found something last night,” I said. “Something that wasn’t meant for him to find.”

“What was it?”

My throat locked. The flash drive. The evidence. The danger.

But before I could answer, a sharp knock rattled the door.

Three times. Firm. Measured.

I froze.

Ray turned. “Who’s that?”

I didn’t have to guess. My blood already knew.

The door opened a fraction, and Zane’s voice slid through the gap like silk. “Am I interrupting something?”

Ray’s body stiffened immediately, his hand dropping from mine. He turned toward the door, his voice cold. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Zane pushed the door fully open and stepped inside, his expression unreadable. He wore his usual dark suit — crisp, unbothered, like the chaos of last night had never happened.

“Checking on my assistant,” he said smoothly. “She missed our morning briefing.”

His eyes flicked to me — a glance that said I know exactly what you were about to say.

I stood up quickly, forcing a shaky smile. “I was just coming to see you, actually.”

Ray looked between us, confusion and anger flashing across his face. “What’s going on between you two?”

“Nothing,” I said too fast. “I just—”

Zane cut me off. “She’s been under pressure lately,” he said with an easy smile. “I may have pushed her a little too hard.”

The way he said it — so controlled, so calm — made my skin crawl.

Ray didn’t buy it. “You think you can just walk in here and—”

Zane’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Careful, Ray.”

The air in the room changed instantly. Ray’s jaw clenched, but I saw it — the flicker of uncertainty. Zane had that effect on people; his words slid under their skin and stayed there like poison.

“I’m not afraid of you,” Ray said finally.

Zane smiled faintly. “Then you’re not as smart as I thought.”

Before Ray could react, Zane turned back to me, his voice suddenly soft again — the same tone that once felt protective but now felt like a noose tightening around my neck.

“We have business to discuss, Maya. Privately.”

“I’m not done talking to her,” Ray said sharply.

Zane’s gaze hardened. “You are now.”

The two men stared at each other, the air thick with unspoken threats. My pulse pounded so loud it filled the silence.

I stepped between them. “Stop it! Both of you.”

Ray looked at me, confused and hurt. “Why are you defending him?”

“I’m not—” The words stuck in my throat. “Please, just go. I’ll explain later.”

He hesitated, searching my face. “Maya…”

“Go,” I whispered.

Zane’s gaze never left me as Ray brushed past him and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The silence that followed felt like a vacuum.

I turned slowly to face Zane.

He smiled — not kindly. “That was close.”

My chest tightened. “You planned this.”

He didn’t deny it. “I couldn’t risk you saying something... unfortunate.”

Anger flared through me. “You’re insane if you think you can control everything.”

His smile faded. “I don’t need to control everything. Just you.”

The words hit me like ice water.

“Why?” I whispered. “Why me?”

He stepped closer, his eyes dark. “Because you saw something you shouldn’t have.”

My heart stopped. “The flash drive?”

He tilted his head slightly. “Among other things.”

I backed away until my spine hit the wall. “You don’t scare me.”

“Good.” His voice was a whisper now. “Because fear fades. Obsession doesn’t.”

The distance between us disappeared in two slow steps. I could feel his breath against my skin, the same scent of rain and danger that haunted my nightmares.

Then, just as suddenly, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his eyes narrowing — a flicker of irritation crossing his face.

He stepped back, sliding the phone into his pocket. “Duty calls,” he murmured. “But we’re not done, Maya. Not even close.”

And before I could say a word, he was gone — leaving behind only the faint scent of his cologne and the echo of a promise that wasn’t a promise at all.

I sank to the floor, shaking. My reflection in the mirror across the room looked like a stranger — pale, trembling, lost.

I whispered to the empty air, “What have I gotten myself into?”

But deep down, I already knew.

Whatever game Zane was playing, it had just begun — and this time, he wasn’t the only one with something to lose.