CHAPTER FOUR: HOW TO KILL A WOMAN?

“How does it feel, Naya? How does it feel to have everything crumble at your feet?”

Chloe asked her in the cold sterile police interrogation room as Naya sat in the chair, handcuffs over her wrists. She was shaking with so much rage that it was hard to see. All Naya saw was red.

Since her arrest after the birthday party, Naya had not been able to eat, sleep or drink. She was still in shock, nothing felt real,but each time she looked at her wrist she realized it was real.

“You can’t do this to me Chloe. Talk to Daniel. Hasn’t he hurt me enough?” 

Chloe arched an eyebrow. “Hurt you enough?’ Chloe laughed harshly. “If anyone’s been hurt in all this, it’s me. I’m the one that has watched you and Daniel for years, while my heart broke into two.”

“I don;t care about you and Daniel, all I care about is clearing my name. All I want is for you to tell the truth. You know I didn’t steal anything, stop supporting Daniel.” She didn’t know when she started to yell.

Daniel came in then, followed by a police officer who escorted Chloe out. Daniel sat in the chair opposite her, and leaned back, smiling smugly.

Tears welled up in her eyes again. He looked relaxed, as though they were sitting in a cafe having a casual chat and not watching her life fall apart.

“So, how’s the new accommodation?”

Naya spat at him, and she saw his eyes turn hard, and his jaws kept clenching and unclenching.

“Look here, wife…” The way he said the wife made her skin crawl. “You stole, and you will be punished for it. It’s all there in black and white, every transfer, forged signature. You’re doomed and it’s time you begin to accept it.”

Naya stared at her ex husband, finally seeing the monster she’d been living with. She pressed her lips together, as tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

She had no idea how he’d done it, but he was framing her for funds he stole from his own company. She slammed her fists on the table, ignoring the pain that shot up her arm.

“You set me up! You’ll regret this!” She was visibly trembling now, but despite the raw pain in her voice, Daniel only laughed in response.

He leaned forward on the table, his elbows resting on the table. “I won’t regret it, I promise. I have a baby on the way, remember? All you’ve ever given me were miscarriages.”

Naya’s nails dug into the table. “Don’t talk to me that way. I almost died.” She didn't want to think of her last miscarriage. 

“Thank God you hadn’t. I’ll always be grateful for that.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “You exist for this moment. To take the fall for me.”

“What did I ever do to you?” Her voice cracked. She was completely alone. Alone and betrayed.

Daniel clicked his tongue and shook his head. “It’s not what you did, my dear. Don’t you get it?” 

Chloe walked in, holding a hand to her stomach and rubbing gently. She stood before Daniel, and smiled sweetly. “I just met with the prosecutor. He says, he’lll have a word with you later.”

Daniel nodded, and then pulled her to sit on his lap. 

“Then what is it, Daniel? Why are you doing this to me?”

“We just want you out of the way, Naya. For good.” Chloe cut in, leaning down to place a kiss on Daniel’s forehead. She ran her fingers through his hair, and then smiled at her. “Daniel really has soft hair, but I bet you wouldn’t know.”

The tears continued to fall down her cheeks. Chloe had been her enemy all along. But how? They’ve been friends since middle school. 

“Get comfortable,” Dnaiel ssid with a smirk. “If the press gets a hold of this, you’ll be the most hated woman in the city. You’ll be a greedy thief who destroyed her husband’s company, Don;t you get it? We can spin the narrative.” A slow smile crossed his features. “I can play the victim. You’ll be rotting in here for years, Naya.”

Naya opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

“Oh sweetie, don’t be sad. I’ll visit with little Bryan.” Chloe chimed in, rubbing her belly fondly.

Naya's blood boiled. What did she ever do to deserve this sort of betrayal? Her heart ached and there was no one to rely on. She didn't have anyone who cared about her enough to help her out of Daniel's lie. She would rot in jail.

The door to the room creaked open, and the uniformed officer that helped Chloe earlier entered. He nodded to Chloe and Daniel and then turned to Naya with a hard glare. 

“Time to go back to your holding,”

Naya stared at him, too weak to argue. Meanwhile, Daniel looked like he was having the time of his life. 

“Say goodbye Chloe.” He said rubbing Chloe's hair fondly. “It'll probably be the last time we'll see her.”

But Chloe shook her head from side to side, barely glancing at Naya. She dragged Daniel's arm and the two of them left the room, leaving a bitter Naya staring at the cold hard table, wishing she would wake up from this bad dream.

Except when the officer pulled her to her feet roughly, she was reminded again that it was not a dream. It was really happening.

The officer cleared his throat, and she glared up at him. “You have a visitor.”

She arched an eyebrow at him. Surprised. “A visitor? Another one?” She wondered who cared enough to come for her.

The officer shot her a nasty look and left her standing there to go open the door.

Naya stared blankly as a tall man in a tailored suit entered the room. His dark hair was slicked back and his green eyes pierced through her the moment he caught her staring at him.

Naya blinked. He was a force. That was one way she could describe the man in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Who are you?” She asked him with a frown.

The man ignored her and took a seat across from her. He placed both hands on the table and leaned in. Naya sat down as well, forcing herself to hold his direct stare.

“My name is Adrian Wolfe and I'm your lawyer.” He said calmly.

“Lawyer? I don't know you. Besides, I didn't even ask for a lawyer.”

When he smiled, Naya forgot how to breathe. His smile made her feel strangely comfortable around him. “You didn't have to ask for one. I volunteered.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Let's just say y9h need my help and I like helping those in need. It's my thing, like Ryan Reynolds' thing is being funny.” 

Naya chuckled, then hurriedly cleared her throat. He was funny. 

“I didn't do this. I didn't commit any crime.”

Adrian nodded in agreement. “I know. You don't look like you have it in you.”

Naya shifted in her chair. “I should not be offended but I am. I don't look like I have it in me?” She cocked her head to the side.

He laughed this time, the soft rumble making her heart beat fast. “No. It was a compliment. You are beautiful and kind.”

Naya stared at him, speechless. The words felt foreign. When was the last time anyone called her beautiful? Her eyes welled up with tears and she looked away to hide them.

“You don't know me.” 

“I know you're innocent and trapped. Unfortunately your ex husband is an influential man. This won't be easy.”

“Then why are you here? Just leave me to my fate. This won't work anyway.” She turned to glare at him, not daring to hope.

“I said it won't be easy. I never said it's impossible. Trust me.” There was a dangerous confidence in his voice that made her hope. “They are not as invincible as they believe.”

“Can you stop this? Can you stop them before they ruin my life?” 

Adrian smiled a calculating, darker smile that made her blink. “I can do more than just stop them, Naya. But I won't. We need to get you out of here first.”

Naya paused. This was going too fast. She didn't want to step into a trap and yet she was already in a trap she needed saving from. Her headache and she buried her face in her palms.

“Okay.” She whispered, caving. She had no other choice. It was either the devil or the deep blue sea, and the deep blue sea was more appealing. “I'll trust you. I don't have a choice.”

His smile turned into a grin as he stretched out a hand to her. “Thank you, Naya.” 

Naya wondered if she'd made the wrong choice and made a deal with the devil instead.