CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

ANIYA’S POV

I stared at my phone.

I think they’re connected to the people who tried to kill KC Sterling last year.

For a few seconds, I couldn’t process what Corbin had just said.

Someone had tried to kill KC.

And now that same group might be watching me.

I looked at KC.

He had gone completely still.

“Who told you that?” he asked.

Corbin was still on the phone.

“I have sources.”

“Name them.”

“I can’t.”

KC’s jaw tightened.

“Then don’t make accusations you can’t prove.”

“I didn’t call to argue with you.”

“Then why did you call?”

“Because Aniya needs to know what she’s dealing with.”

I frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

Corbin’s voice softened.

“You need to leave KC.”

I closed my eyes.

“Corbin, I’m tired of hearing that.”

“This isn’t about jealousy.”

“Then what is it about?”

“Survival.”

The word sent a chill through me.

KC reached for the phone.

I gave it to him.

“Talk.”

There was silence.

Then Corbin said, “You know what happened last year.”

“Yes.”

“You know they never found the person who ordered it.”

“Yes.”

“And now someone is following your business partner’s ex-wife.”

KC’s expression hardened.

“She isn’t my business partner.”

Corbin laughed bitterly.

“You invested millions in her company.”

“That doesn’t make her yours to investigate.”

“I never said it did.”

“Then stay out of this.”

“I can’t.”

KC’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

Corbin hesitated.

Then his voice came through the speaker.

“Because I still care about her.”

My heart tightened.

KC looked at me.

Then back at the phone.

“You had your chance.”

The line went silent.

A second later, the call ended.

KC handed me my phone.

I stared at the screen.

“You didn’t have to say that.”

“I know.”

“You didn’t have to remind him that he lost me.”

His eyes stayed on mine.

“I wasn’t talking to him.”

My heart skipped.

“Then who were you talking to?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he looked toward the driver.

“Take us to the office.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“We need to review the security footage.”

“I thought you said I should go home.”

“I changed my mind.”

“That doesn’t reassure me.”

“It isn’t supposed to.”

I stared at him.

Despite everything happening around me, I almost smiled.

“You’re impossible.”

“And you’re stubborn.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“I know.”

The way he said it made me look at him.

“You know?”

He gave me a faint smile.

“I’m learning.”

For a moment, the tension disappeared.

Then his phone rang.

He answered.

“What?”

Ethan’s voice came through.

“We have a problem.”

KC’s expression immediately changed.

“What happened?”

“The man we picked up is dead.”

My blood ran cold.

“What?”

Ethan continued.

“He was found inside the vehicle.”

KC’s jaw tightened.

“Where?”

“Three blocks from the restaurant.”

KC was silent.

“Anyone else?”

“No.”

“Keep the police away from it.”

I looked at him.

“KC.”

He ended the call.

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Someone just died.”

“I know.”

“And you’re telling me it’s nothing?”

His eyes met mine.

“I don’t want you involved.”

“I already am.”

He didn’t respond.

I crossed my arms.

“You can’t keep telling me to trust you while hiding things from me.”

He looked away.

“You’re right.”

That answer surprised me.

“Then tell me.”

He sighed.

“The man following you was connected to one of my enemies. We believe he was hired to monitor you.”

“Why me?”

“We don’t know.”

“That’s not good enough.”

“I know.”

I looked out the window.

The city passed outside.

I had wanted a fresh start.

Instead, I had found myself caught in a world I didn’t understand.

My phone buzzed.

I looked down.

An email had arrived.

The subject line made my stomach drop.

AURELIA LUXURY: INVESTMENT WITHDRAWAL NOTICE

I opened it.

My eyes widened.

“What is it?”

I handed the phone to KC.

He read the message.

“The investor is withdrawing.”

“What?”

“Who?”

“A private investor who agreed to fund part of my first collection.”

He scrolled through the email.

“They’ve also terminated your manufacturing agreement.”

My heart sank.

“What?”

I grabbed the phone.

“This can’t be right.”

“They’re pulling out.”

“Why?”

KC looked at me.

“Because someone is pressuring them.”

I stared at him.

“Who?”

He didn’t answer.

I already knew what he was thinking.

“Corbin?”

“Possibly.”

My hands trembled.

“This is my company.”

“I know.”

“I worked for this.”

“I know.”

“They can’t just destroy everything because I left my husband.”

KC looked at me.

“Then don’t let them.”

I stared at him.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“Fight.”

The word was simple.

But something about it changed my entire mood.

I looked at the email again.

For the past few weeks, I had been trying to build something quietly.

Maybe that was the problem.

I had been thinking like someone starting over.

I needed to start thinking like a CEO.

I straightened.

“Call my lawyer.”

KC raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“I want to know exactly what these companies are allowed to do.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“There she is.”

I frowned.

“Who?”

“The woman I invested in.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I wasn’t.”

For the first time that night, I laughed.

⸻

The next morning, I arrived at my office before everyone else.

I called an emergency meeting with my entire team.

Sophia walked in carrying a stack of files.

“You look terrifying.”

“Good.”

She smiled.

“What’s happening?”

“We’re rebuilding the plan.”

She dropped the files onto the table.

“From scratch?”

“Not from scratch.”

I opened my laptop.

“From a stronger position.”

For the next three hours, we worked.

We contacted new suppliers.

We searched for alternative investors.

We revised our production schedule.

We found independent manufacturers who weren’t connected to Corbin’s network.

By noon, I had a new plan.

It wasn’t perfect.

But it was mine.

Sophia looked at me.

“You know what?”

“What?”

“You’re different.”

I smiled.

“I’m finally doing something for myself.”

My phone buzzed.

A message from an unknown number.

I opened it.

You should have listened to the warning.

My smile disappeared.

Another message appeared.

Leave KC, or your company will be the least of your problems.

I stared at the screen.

Sophia noticed my expression.

“Aniya?”

I locked my phone.

“Get everyone out of the office.”

Her eyes widened.

“What?”

“Now.”

She didn’t question me.

Within minutes, the office was empty.

I stood alone in the middle of the studio.

Then I heard footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Coming from the hallway.

My heart began pounding.

I reached for my phone.

“KC.”

Before he could answer, the lights went out.

I froze.

Then someone whispered my name from the darkness.

“Aniya.”

I stopped breathing.

It wasn’t KC.

It wasn’t Ethan.

It wasn’t anyone I knew.

And then I heard the click of a door locking behind me.