CHAPTER 8: CONFRONTATION

CIARA

I woke up with the smell of expensive cologne and damp sheets clinging to my skin. I stretched, wincing as my body protested the violence of the night before. The room air conditioning made it cold and fussy at the same time. I looked at Mathew, sleeping like the dead beside me. He looked peaceful, which made me feel like a hypocrite for feeling so angry.

I carefully slid out from under his arm. His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist, his eyes fluttering open.

"You're leaving?" His voice was raspy, thick with sleep.

"Yeah. I need to get to uni. I have a seminar."

He squeezed my wrist gently before letting go. "Stay. The weather's still crazy."

"It is," I agreed, but I was already moving toward the bathroom for a quick bath before moving to the closet. I needed to put distance between us and this place. Between us. I grabbed my clothes, throwing them on quickly. I didn't want him to see how much I was trembling inside.

"Did you sleep okay?" he asked, sitting up, his sheet falling to his waist.

"Better than I have in weeks."

I finished dressing and turned to look at him one last time. "I'll see you later."

"Later," he murmured, closing his eyes again.

I grabbed my bag and walked out the door, letting it click shut behind me. The silence of the apartment was heavy, but the hallway was quiet too. I took the elevator down, the metal walls reflecting my tired face. When I stepped out onto the street, the air was crisp, the rain having cleared to a grey, overcast day.

I called my driver giving the driver instruction to Queen Mary University. As the city sped by, I replayed the night over and over. The warehouse, Tony's smile, the police sirens, the way Mathew had kissed me like I was his only lifeline but underneath the desire, I felt the cold knot of reality tightening my stomach. Mathew was engaged to Maggie. He was using me for leverage, or at least that's what I told myself to keep from getting my heart broken all over again.

"Queen Mary University miss Ciara," the driver announced, pulling up to the curb. I paid him and stepped out, shaking off the feeling of unease.

I walked toward the main campus buildings, the architecture grand and imposing, a stark contrast to the shabby warehouses I'd been running from. I was heading to the business library to pick up some notes for my upcoming exam when I felt it. That familiar prickle on the back of my neck.

I stopped and looked around. There are so many faces and too many people around yet I recognise none.

"Hey, beautiful."

I froze. I knew that voice. It was low, oily, and dripping with fake charm.

I turned slowly. There he was. My uncle. He was a slim man with thinning hair and a suit that cost more than most rent. He smelled of expensive cologne and desperation.

"Uncle Adrian," I said, keeping my voice steady.

"Or should I call you 'Miss Ciara'?" He stepped closer, blocking my path. "My men saw you coming out of Mathew's place. I take it you spent the night?"

"I did," I said, crossing my arms. "Why are you following me, Uncle?"

"I'm your family, Ciara. That's what families do." He smiled, but his eyes were cold. "I've been watching you for months. You're doing a terrible job of managing your own affairs."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm nineteen, Uncle. I'm doing fine."

"You think so?" He leaned in, lowering his voice. "You lost your parents at a young age. You've got enemies coming out of the woodwork. You don't have the experience to run the family businesses, and you certainly don't have the time. You're too busy playing house with Mathew."

I felt a spike of anger. "Leave Mathew out of this and stay out of my life uncle. You're years too late to come around with your fake ass concern. None of you took me in after my parents death yet suddenly here you are once I'm an adult and getting control of the businesses."

"He's a dead end, Ciara. Just like your parents." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a thick envelope. "Here. Power of Attorney. I've drawn up the papers. You just sign them, and I'll take care of everything. The investments, the lawsuits, the threats. I'll handle it all for you. You just focus on your studies."

I stared at the envelope. It was tempting. God, it was tempting. Having someone to fight my battles would be nice. Having someone that's not Mathew to protect me from the things that went bump in the night would be amazing.

But I knew him. Adrian had been one of the people trying to steal my inheritance the moment the will was read. If I gave him Power of Attorney, I'd never see a cent of my money again.

"No," I said, pushing the envelope back toward him.

"What?" His smile vanished. "Don't be stupid. This is your best option."

"It's not," I said firmly. "I can handle my own life. I don't need you to play daddy for me."

"I'm trying to help you!" he snapped, his voice rising.

"And I said no!" I shouted, startling a few students walking past us. "You tried to have my father killed, Uncle. Don't think I've forgotten. For all I know you killed my parents because you're all sharks."

His face went pale. "That was a long time ago."

"Was it?" I stepped closer to him, looking him dead in the eye. "I'm not signing those papers. And I'm not coming to you for help. Ever."

"Then who will you go to?" he hissed. "Mathew? He's not going to save you. He's going to sell you out like the dirty secret you are to him."

I didn't answer. I just turned on my heel and walked away, leaving him standing there, staring at my back.

I walked faster, my heart pounding in my chest. I needed to get to the library. I needed to be somewhere where I could breathe but as I walked away, I felt a pair of eyes burning into my back, watching me leave. I didn't look back, but I knew he was still there. And I knew, with a sinking feeling in my gut, that he wasn't done with me yet.

I get a call "Miss Ciara, it's time to take over the business fully, your uncles are trying to buy shares to get into the company."