Chapter 4: The Trap

I woke up to my phone ringing at five in the morning, Lucas's name flashing on the screen.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice still thick with sleep.

"Get to the office in an hour. Morrison called. We're signing today."

The line went dead before I could respond.

I jumped out of bed and rushed to the shower, scrubbing myself awake with cold water.

My stepmother was in the kitchen when I came downstairs, her eyes sharp and judging.

"Where are you going so early?" she asked, blocking my path to the door.

"Work," I said, trying to move past her.

She grabbed my arm hard. "Work? You've never worked a day in your life. What game are you playing?"

I pulled my arm free. "I'm not playing anything. I have a job now. Move."

"Your father wants to speak with you about Julian. You can't just break off your engagement and embarrass this family."

"Watch me," I said, pushing past her and walking out the door.

Her shouting followed me to the car, but I didn't care anymore. Their opinions meant nothing.

---

Lucas was already in his office when I arrived, three other men in suits standing around his desk.

"Eva, this is my legal team," he said without looking up from the papers he was signing. "They'll brief you on the contract."

One of the lawyers, a tall man with glasses, handed me a thick folder. "Read through sections five through twelve. Make notes on anything unclear."

I sat at the small table in the corner and opened the folder, my eyes scanning words I barely understood.

But I forced myself to focus, to read every sentence twice until it started making sense.

Lucas was on the phone, his voice cold and precise as he spoke to someone about the Morrison deal.

"I want the money transferred before noon. No delays. If Morrison tries to renegotiate again, walk away permanently."

He hung up and finally looked at me. "Questions?"

I had about a hundred questions, but I asked the most important one. "Section eight says Morrison keeps partial control for two years. Why would you agree to that?"

The lawyers all turned to look at me like I'd said something wrong.

But Lucas smiled. "Because in two years, Morrison will be bankrupt from his other failing deals. Then I'll buy out his remaining shares for nothing."

"That's cold," I said.

"That's business," he corrected. "Get used to it."

One of the lawyers cleared his throat. "Mr. Black, we should discuss the Lancaster situation."

My head snapped up. "What Lancaster situation?"

Lucas waved the lawyers out. "Give us a moment."

They left quickly, and suddenly the office felt too small with just the two of us.

"Your father called me yesterday," Lucas said, sitting on the edge of his desk. "He wants to meet."

My stomach dropped. "Why?"

"Because he knows you're working for me now, and he doesn't like it. He thinks I'm using you."

"Are you?" I asked, holding his gaze.

"Yes," he said simply. "But you're using me too. So we're even."

I stood up, my hands shaking slightly. "What does he want?"

"To threaten me into firing you and sending you back home to marry Julian like a good little daughter."

Rage burned through my chest. "I'm not going back there. I'm not marrying Julian."

"I know," Lucas said. "That's why I told him to come to the office this afternoon. You'll face him yourself."

"What? Why would you do that?"

He stood up and walked closer until we were just inches apart. "Because you need to stop running from them. You want revenge? Start by showing them you're not afraid anymore."

"I am afraid," I admitted, hating how weak that sounded.

His hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. "Then be afraid and do it anyway. That's what courage actually is."

My breath caught in my throat. His touch was gentle but his eyes were hard, like he was testing me again.

I stepped back, breaking the contact. "Fine. I'll meet him. But I'm doing this my way."

"Good," Lucas said. "Because if you let him control you, you're useless to me."

Those words should have hurt, but they didn't. They made me angry, and anger made me strong.

---

The morning passed in a blur of phone calls, meetings, and documents I had to file and organize.

Lucas worked like a machine, never stopping, never showing tiredness, just cold efficiency in everything he did.

At noon, his phone rang. He answered, listened for a moment, then looked at me.

"Your father is here early. He's waiting in conference room B."

My hands went cold. I wasn't ready. I needed more time.

"Now, Eva," Lucas said, standing up. "I'm coming with you."

"I thought I had to face him myself?"

"You do. I'm just there to make sure he doesn't cross any lines."

We walked down the hall together, my heels clicking too loudly on the floor.

Lucas opened the conference room door, and there sat my father, looking older than I remembered.

Next to him was Julian, his face smug and confident.

My stomach turned. Of course, Julian was here too.

"Eva," my father said, standing up. "Sit down. We need to talk."

"I'll stand," I said, staying near the door.

Lucas moved to stand beside me, his presence like a wall between me and them.

"Mr. Black," my father said coldly. "This is a family matter. Leave us."

"No," Lucas said simply. "Eva is my employee. Anything you say to her, you say in front of me."

Julian stood up, his face red. "Eva, stop this nonsense. You're embarrassing yourself and everyone who cares about you."

I laughed, the sound bitter. "Cares about me? Julian, you've been sleeping with Clara for six months. Don't talk to me about caring."

The room went silent.

My father's face turned purple. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," I said, my voice stronger now. "Julian and Clara have been having an affair. Ask him yourself."