A Dangerous Proposal

Jenny's pov

The next morning came within the blink of an eye, my head was still really heavy. Weighing me with memories from last night. Replaying. The alley. Daniel’s last words, and Adrian’s cold voice over the phone.

The thudding in my chest gradually began beating unevenly, as each memory graced through my mind in a brutal pictorial remembrance.

I moved through my apartment out of habit. Taking a quick bath. Although, the warmth of the water splashing gently against my skin did very little in terms of easing my nerves.

I closed my eyes, letting the water soak through my hair. Feeling the coolness it offered as it graced down my scalp.

But regardless, the memories kept replaying in an endless loop. I could still smell the scent of his blood mixed with the thickness of the air of that alley.

I immediately shook my head, attempting to pull myself out of my own mind.

“You’ve handled worse,” I muttered to myself, in a low voice. “You’re Jenny Havan. You dont back down. You do not run… you solve problems.”

With that being said, I straightened my back, squared my shoulders. A quick moment of resolve hit me, sharp as glass.

By 9:30, I was already dressed, a couple files packed neatly in my bag. My heart still raced unevenly, every instinct yelling at me not to go. but right now? That wasn't an option anymore.

The city blurred past in blurring motions, as the uber moved past the streets. My mind quietly ran a quick background check on everything I knew about Adrian Red and Redwell Biotech.

The illegal testings, unexplained disappearances… and Daniel, the only trusted friend i ever had in this cruel world. Gone, because we had come too close.

The car began to slow down at the curve of the building. Signaling we had arrived.

I got out and paused just for a moment, at the entrance of the building. Letting the weight of the moment settle in before finally going head to head with the devil himself.

The elevator ride felt longer than it should had. Every hum of the echoing machine felt like a serene warning, telling me to turn back.

It stopped me at the top floor. A subtle hum filled the tormenting quiet as the metallic doors slowly slid open.

I stepped out, now faced with only a short walk to his office.

The hall suddenly felt small. Suffocating. As each step towards his office felt heavier than the last. Like I was walking straight into a trap.

But then again… If he wanted me dead he would've killed me the moment, he knew I had something against him. But he didn't…

So I'll hold on to that.

The moment I stepped into his office, the tension was immediate. The silence stretched like a wire between us.

When he finally looked at me, I held his gaze, refusing to blink first. If there's one thing I've learnt over the years of dealing with people like him. Is they all expect the same thing. Pleading. Fear. Control.

But I wasn't here to fill his ego.

“What would it take,” his voice cut through the quiet. Calm and controlled, as he shifted his gaze back to files on his desk. He continued. “For you to forfeit the investigation?”

I dragged my eyes, slowly until it finally landed on his. “I don't just disappear from a case, it's kind of my job?.” I said, watching, as he folded his hands across his chest. Now finally facing his attention towards me.

He scoffed in a low tone, as the side of his lips curved, deliberate. Mockingly. “You seem very confident for someone sitting in my office.”

“I was invited,” I reminded him. My voice low, but sharp. “Invited,” he repeated, as if testing the word, to see if it sounds right. “Interesting choice of word.”

He rose slowly, measured. He moved closer, sucking the air in the room dry with his own presence. With every step he took, the room grew smaller, revolved around his suffocating presence.

“You can intimidate me all you want,” I said, my arms folded carefully across my chest. “But it will not change what I've found.”

“And what did you find?” he asked, his eyebrow slightly arched, his voice filled with amusement. Like he was rather enjoying this.

“Misreported assets. Shell accounts. Illegal money laundering. Running illegal tests on people.” I paused, as a small cunny smile cruised across my lips. “I could go on, and on.”

A sly smirk curved across his lips, like he saw all this as a waste of his time, rather than something to be worried about. “You think you have something?”

“I know I do.” I shot back calm but firm.

“And why is that?” he insisted.

“Because if this were harmless, you wouldn’t have killed my partner and then arranged a meeting with me. Now would you?” i held my head high, as his deep hazel eyes slowly pierced through every layer of my pretence, breaking me inside.

But on the outside? I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing he had any sort of effect on me. Suddenly, the sound of his laughing echoed through the four walls of the office, startling me briefly, then I composed myself back together, straighting my suit.

“Are you not scared?” he asked in a low husky tone. “I am,” I admitted. “I just don’t let it dictate for me.” For a minute, something like respect flickered across his face. Gone almost as quickly as it came.

“You should consider walking away while you still can darling,” he warned, his voice low. Sounding like danger itself.

“Don’t tell me the Almighty Adrian Red is scared of a mere lawyer like me?” I persisted, softly mocking him while maintaining eye contact, refusing to fall under his will.

“Tell me. Do you know what happens to people who dig too deep into things they shouldn't be involved in?” he paused, slowly crossing his leg over the other. “Or was the loss of your poor Daniel not enough of an example for you?”

My fingers curled into each other tightening painfully into my palm, until my knuckles turned pale. How dare he mention Daniel… “I’m not afraid of you.” I spat out, my voice filled with more confidence than it ever did since I stepped into this office.

But this time it wasn't a pretense. It was full of confidence, fueled with anger, and thirst for revenge.

Another pause followed, as he laughed mockingly. “Seem’s I've hit a nerve?” He said, as he returned to his desk, now holding a file in hand. “I have meetings to attend,” he stated, his eyes drowning in the files in front of him. “Leave,” he commanded.

His voice wasn't loud, but the order was unquestionably. The kind that'd get you moving before you could even think of resisting.

Dismissed? I scoffed loud enough to his hearing. Who does he think he is? I rose with grace from my seat as I made my way towards the exit.

My hand rested on the door handle, as I halted my movement, a sly smile slowly forming at the corner of my lips as I turned to him. “One more thing,” I said, my voice low but steady.

He didn’t look up.

“You asked what it would take for me to disappear.” I said, giving him just enough hope to lean in, though it was nothing more than a tease. And just as anticipated, that immediately got his attention.

“Yes,” he dropped the file, now facing his gaze back to me, as he leaned forward, interest flickering through his eyes.

“There’s nothing you can offer,” I continued. “And there’s nothing you can threaten me with.”

“Everyone has a price,” he said calmly as he leaned back into his seat. Completely laid back. “And you will too. Sooner than you think.”

I swallowed hard, immediately opening the door refusing to let him see the slight tremor in my hands. The hallway felt colder, more suffocating. I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding in.

As I walked toward the elevators, my phone buzzed in my bag.

A message from my supervisor.

‘We need to talk. Urgently.’

The elevator doors closed around me. I exhaled and slipped the phone back into my purse. I left the building, found the nearest taxi stand, waved down a taxi and went straight home.

I need a break.

I didn't relax until my apartment door was locked behind me. Dropping my bag on the desk, I spread Daniel's files across the wood, my hands still trembling slightly as I tried to focus on the numbers.

My phone buzzed. Unknown number. I froze. “Miss Havan,” his voice came, smooth. Calm and dangerously familiar. “I… Adrian?” I asked, trying my best to steady my voice. “Yes,” he confirmed. “Let’s settle this.”

“I thought you had meetings,” I replied sharply. “I canceled them.”

“Why?”

“Because,” he said, his voice dropping slightly. “I’ve reconsidered.” My brows furrowed together in confusion. “Reconsidered what?”

“What it would take for you to disappear.”

“And?”

He paused, for a while. It was deliberate.

“Come to my office tomorrow morning.” he finally said.

“No.” my response was instant, no hesistance. Just stern. And straight forward. “That wasn't an option.” he growled.

“I didn't ask if it was,” I paused as I took in a small breath. “You’ve already crossed the line, Adrain. I will continue.”

“Then…” he said slowly, “Why don't we talk about a solution that’ll benefit us both,” he said calmly. I scoffed. “Okay then. I’m listening.”

“Good.”

“So what’s the solution?”

The line went quiet. So quiet I could hear the faint rush of city traffic through his window. and the steady rhythm of his breathing. My own pulse thudded in my ears while I waited.

Then his voice came again finally breaking the silence. Calm, casual. As if he were discussing the weather or stock prices. He said. “Marry me.”