INTO THE LION'S DEN

💎 CHAPTER FOUR — INTO THE LION’S DEN

Amara stared at her signature on the contract, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure Dante could hear it. The ink hadn’t even dried, yet she already felt the weight of her decision settling on her shoulders like a cloak she couldn’t remove.

Dante closed the file carefully, almost possessively, and placed it inside a locked drawer.

“You start today,” he said.

Amara jerked her head up. “Today?”

“Yes. You don’t sign a contract with me and then go home to think about it.” His lips curved slightly in a half-smile. “You’re mine now.”

Her breath caught — whether from fear or something else, she wasn’t sure.

Before she could respond, a knock sounded on the door.

“Enter,” Dante said.

The same woman from earlier — the one who had scanned Amara with disapproval — stepped in again.

“Sir, the board members are waiting.”

Dante nodded. “Tell them I’ll be there in two minutes.”

The woman turned to leave, but Dante added, “Also — prepare a full employee package for Miss Amara. Access card, wardrobe credit, and medical forms.”

The woman blinked. “For… her?”

Dante’s voice sharpened. “Is there a problem?”

“No, sir.” She bowed slightly and hurried out.

Amara sighed. “She doesn’t like me.”

“She doesn’t need to like you,” Dante replied. “She just needs to obey.”

His confidence was unsettling — and strangely comforting.

He stood and handed her a sleek black phone. “This is yours now. My calls come first. Always pick up.”

She nodded.

“Follow me.”

He led her out of the penthouse office, past workers who pretended not to stare. Their eyes darted toward Dante, then toward her, then away again just as quickly. A whisper spread like electricity down the hallway:

“Who is she?” “Why is she with him?” “Dante never brings anyone up here…”

Amara swallowed, keeping her eyes forward.

This was definitely the lion’s den.

Welcome to the Maze

Dante walked quickly, and she struggled to keep up as he moved through corridors she soon realized weren’t ordinary office hallways. Security doors opened at the scan of Dante’s fingerprint. Cameras tracked their movement. Men in black suits stood guard at various points — and they weren’t typical security guards. They watched like hawks, shoulders tense, eyes sharp.

What kind of company was this?

She finally whispered, “Dante… what exactly do you do?”

He didn’t slow down. “Business.”

“That doesn’t answer anything.”

He smirked. “Good. You’re learning to question.”

They reached a private conference room. It was filled with glass, expensive leather chairs, and a long polished table.

Dante stopped at the door and turned to her.

“Rule one,” he said quietly. “If someone asks who you are — you say you’re my assistant.”

“Okay.”

“Rule two. Never speak unless I signal.”

She nodded.

“Rule three. Never trust anyone in this room except me.”

Her stomach tightened. “Why?”

Dante’s expression darkened, just slightly. “Because some of them would pay a lot of money to see me fall.”

She inhaled sharply. “You have enemies.”

“Of course.” His eyes locked onto hers, grey and unreadable. “Men with power always do.”

Before she could ask more, he pushed open the door.

Twelve men and women sat around the table. They all looked up — some curious, some annoyed, and one or two openly hostile.

One man, older, with sharp cheekbones and a mocking smile, raised a brow. “Dante. New… company?”

Dante ignored him.

He simply pulled out a chair for her beside him.

Not behind him. Not at the corner. Beside him.

The room stiffened.

She sat carefully, aware of every eye on her. Dante remained calm, adjusting his suit jacket, then said:

“Let’s begin.”

A Dangerous Introduction

The meeting was intense. Words like acquisitions, security clearance, risk levels, and territorial negotiations were thrown around. It didn’t sound like typical business.

It sounded… dangerous.

At one point, the older man who had mocked earlier spoke again.

“So, Dante. About last night’s attack—”

Dante’s jaw tightened for the first time. “We’ll discuss that privately.”

Attack?

Amara’s breath caught.

The man smirked. “I heard the target missed.” His eyes flicked to Amara. “Temporarily.”

A chill ran down her spine.

Dante’s tone dropped to something cold and lethal. “Simon, I suggest you stop talking.”

Simon grinned, clearly enjoying poking the bear.

Amara looked around. A few board members looked uncomfortable. Others looked amused. None looked surprised.

This wasn’t a normal boardroom.

This was a battlefield.

Not Just a Job

After nearly an hour, the meeting finally ended. Dante stood, and the room quickly emptied. He waited until the last person left before turning to Amara.

“You did well.”

“I didn’t do anything,” she said quietly.

“You didn’t panic,” Dante said. “That’s more important.”

She looked down at her hands. “Dante… that man said something about an attack. Is that why the SUV almost hit you yesterday?”

Silence.

Dante’s jaw clenched — the only sign the question bothered him.

“This job,” he said slowly, “will require you to stay close. Very close. There are things I’ll tell you in time. For now—just know that yesterday was not an accident.”

Her breath caught.

Someone had tried to kill him.

“And you think… what? That if I stay around you, I won’t be hurt?”

He stepped closer, eyes softening just a little. “I would never allow that.”

“But you said your world is dangerous.”

“It is.” His voice dropped. “But you are under my protection now.”

Amara exhaled shakily. “I don’t want to die, Dante.”

“You won’t,” he said simply. “I don’t lose the people under my care.”

She met his gaze, and for a moment, neither of them looked away. Something heated flickered between them — impossibly strong, too fast, too intense.

Dante finally broke the silence.

“There’s one more thing you need to see today.”

He reached for her wrist — not forcefully, but firmly — and guided her toward another hallway.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To show you exactly what you signed up for,” he said.

The elevator doors slid open.

Dante stepped inside.

“Welcome,” he murmured as the doors closed.

“Into my world.”