Chapter 7

I quickly adjusted my makeup and straightened my shirt. The compact in my hand trembled just slightly—maybe from nerves, or maybe from the thrill curling in my chest. A quiet joy fluttered beneath my ribs, giddy and warm, at the thought of what was coming. It made its way to my lips and shaped them into a smile, subtle but electric. I glanced at my wristwatch—almost time.

With one last look in the mirror, I breathed in deep, held it a second too long, then released it and stepped out of the room.

My steps were soft. Deliberate. Almost silent, except for the faint brushing of my shoes against the floor. The corridor stretched ahead, dimly lit, sterile in its quiet. I hugged the wall as if it could shield me from consequence, my heart beginning to drum faster. I leaned forward, just enough to peek around the corner—no one in sight.

Good.

I made sure of that. Every movement, every breath, is calculated. There was no room for error.

Then I saw her.

Arian.

She didn’t walk in—she charged. Her heels pounded against the floor, her entire body seething with fury, posture tight, eyes burning. The building didn’t know what was coming. She didn’t even pause at the door. She stormed in like a hurricane, all furious and no restraint, zero hesitation as she marched straight toward Justin and the woman seated next to him.

They were smiling.

Chatting.

Their laughter was soft, unaware. Innocent, even.

Unaware that the storm had found them.

And then, without warning, Arian slammed her palms on the table.

The sound cut through the air like a thunderclap.

A collective breath was stolen from the room. Heads turned. Conversations halted. Even I, tucked safely in the shadows, jolted. The force behind that one gesture said everything words couldn’t. It was the kind of rage that could melt steel if it burned any hotter.

It held the entire room hostage.

And I couldn’t help but wonder… was this love? Or something twisted, rotting, and hungry beneath the skin?

Obsession, maybe?

"And here is the man who said he was busy working," Arian’s voice sliced through the air, sharp and dangerous. There was no tremble, no falter. Just venom. "Are we really going to do this now? Going around, hanging out with other people?"

Her eyes didn’t leave Justin. Her glare pinned him in place like a butterfly on a board.

Then, she turned.

The woman beside him blinked up at her, startled, eyes wide. She hadn't signed up for this.

"How do you feel hugging a taken man?" Arian hissed, her words slow and icy, each syllable dipped in contempt.

The woman’s lips parted. "N-no, I didn’t—" she began, voice trembling.

But Arian didn’t wait for explanations.

She reached into her bag, pulled out her phone, and slammed it onto the table like it was a loaded gun.

"What the hell is this, then?"

Her voice cracked the air again. The tension in the room was unbearable, suffocating. Every head in the room tilted slightly, every ear straining. My pulse surged with anticipation. I wanted to leap from my hiding spot just to see—what had she shown? What image could shut someone down that fast?

The woman paled. The color drained from her face so quickly it was like someone had flipped a switch.

"Who gets this close to a man who isn’t their fiancé or husband?" Arian roared.

And in that split second, it hit me.

The picture.

The one I sent.

A grin bloomed on my face, slow and wicked. The satisfaction was delicious. I was watching the world unravel—and I had lit the match.

"You’re misunderstanding. It was just a hug," the woman tried again, flustered, her voice barely holding together.

But it was no use.

Arian had snapped.

She lunged without warning and grabbed the woman by the hair, dragging her halfway across the seat.

"Hug my foot!" she screamed, her voice raw with wrath as she yanked, vicious and wild.

Gasps rang out around the room.

Justin shot up, momentarily stunned. His hands scrambled to pull Arian off before she caused any more damage.

"Arian, what the hell is wrong with you?" he growled, wrenching her back. "Why do you always have to stir up more drama for me?"

His voice wasn’t confused—it was angry. Cold. Final.

Then I saw it.

His eyes.

He looked at her like she was a stranger. Like he’d hated her for years and had just now found the courage to show it.

There was no love.

Just fury.

And something worse.

Hatred.

If I had been in Arian’s place, I wouldn’t have survived that look. My chest tightened at the sheer cut of it.

And this… this was supposed to be his fiancée?

"Drama? I wish I was being dramatic!" Arian shot back, her voice rising. "I wouldn’t need to do any of this if you just kept your thing in your pants!"

Justin’s jaw clenched. "What the fuck are you talking about?" he barked. "When have I ever cheated on you? When have I ever given you a reason to doubt me? Tell me, Arian! I’ve done everything I could to be the man I was forced to become. But you? You never let me breathe. You treat me like I’m some caged animal. What? Are you afraid I’ll start doing the things you sneak off to do?"

His words weren’t just accusations.

They were revelations.

Something about the way Arian shifted… faltered… her eyes wide, her mouth struggling to form a reply—it made the air change.

"W-what do you mean?" she stammered.

There it was.

Guilt.

Undeniable. Tangible. Clear as day.

"I’m not doing anything… but you," she snapped back, suddenly defensive, and thrust her phone into his face. "This is my evidence. You’re getting way too close to women you shouldn’t even be around."

"She’s my client, Arian," Justin said through gritted teeth. "She’s from McKenzie’s. We’re supposed to discuss the deal."

But Arian had lost all sense of reason. Her words flew like wild fire, impossible to contain. She wasn’t arguing anymore—she was unraveling.

She screamed.

He screamed back.

And then—

Slap.

A sound so sharp it shattered everything.

The room plunged into silence.

I stopped breathing.

Arian had slapped him.

And in that moment, time crawled. The thrill in my chest evaporated. My heart thudded painfully. This wasn’t how I pictured it. Not like this.

Instead of satisfaction… I felt sick.

What have I done?

"You won’t get away with this, Justin… I promise you," Arian spat. Her voice shook, her fury now trembling with something dangerously close to heartbreak. Then she turned and stormed out, her heels striking the floor like gunshots.

Eyes followed her.

Then turned to Justin.

Whispers slithered across the room.

I didn’t need to hear them. I could feel them. Cold, accusing. Hungry for scandal.

This was spiraling fast.

Too fast.

And for the first time… I felt sorry for him.

But one thing he’d said lingered—McKenzie’s.

That woman… was she really Grandpa’s representative?

Was this the deal he’d mentioned? Were the Millers about to partner with Grandpa?

Or… was Justin just trying to prove himself to someone—anyone?

"I'm sorry."

The words cut through the fog of my thoughts.

I turned toward them.

Justin stood there, facing the woman, his eyes softer now. Pained.

"I'm so sorry," he repeated.

But she raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks.

"It’s done, Mr. Miller," she said, her voice firm but sad. "I think you’ve made it quite clear what working with you would look like. I’m sorry, but I can’t move forward with this deal. I hope this won’t ruin our friendship, but I have to do what’s best for my company."

She didn’t look back as she gathered her things.

Papers.

Files.

Her dignity.

Then she walked away.

Gone.

Just like that.

And in her wake, I was left with the full weight of what I’d done. I had no idea how important this deal was to Justin, but I knew now—I’d destroyed it.

All because I couldn’t let go.

I stepped out from the shadows.

My legs were stiff, my chest tight.

I wanted to go to him. Say something. Anything.

But I couldn’t move.

Guilt weighs heavier than pride.

Then, his phone buzzed.

He answered.

I couldn’t hear who was speaking, but the effect was immediate.

His face darkened. His hand slowly lowered. His shoulders tensed.

And then…

He turned.

And looked straight at me.

My heart stopped.

He saw me.

Had he always known?

No… he couldn’t. I had covered my tracks so well.

Still… the way he looked at me—

Like he saw everything.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to.

I already knew.

And as he turned and walked away… I followed.