Chapter 10: The Warning

Ariana couldn’t move.

The hallway was dark, except for the faint emergency light glowing near the stairwell.

“Ryan?”

She heard his footsteps approach.

A second later, his figure appeared from the shadows.

Ariana’s heart pounded.

“What are you doing here?”

Ryan looked around before answering.

“I came to warn you.”

She let out a bitter laugh.

“After everything you’ve done, you expect me to believe you?”

“I know how this sounds.”

“It sounds like another lie.”

Ryan stepped closer.

“Someone is trying to destroy you.”

Ariana’s expression hardened.

“Was that supposed to be you?”

“No.”

“Then who?”

“I don’t know.”

She stared at him.

“You accessed my project files.”

Ryan went silent.

Ariana’s eyes narrowed.

“So it was you.”

“I accessed them, yes. But I didn’t change anything.”

“Why were you looking at my files?”

“Because I was trying to find out who was sabotaging you.”

“Why would you care?”

Ryan’s face tightened.

“Because I still care about you.”

Ariana shook her head.

“You don’t get to use those words anymore.”

“I know.”

“Then stop.”

She turned to leave.

Ryan caught her wrist.

Ariana immediately pulled away.

“Don’t touch me.”

He released her.

“I’m sorry.”

She stared at him coldly.

“You’ve apologized enough.”

Ryan took a deep breath.

“Listen to me. Someone has been asking questions about you.”

Ariana stopped.

“What questions?”

“About your past.”

Her stomach dropped.

“What do you mean?”

“About where you lived six years ago. Where you worked. Who you were with.”

Ariana’s face went pale.

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

Ryan reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

“I received this message yesterday.”

He showed her the screen.

Tell Ariana to stop digging.

Ariana stared at the message.

Her breathing became shallow.

“Who sent it?”

“Unknown number.”

“Why would someone send this to you?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

Ariana took a step back.

Something wasn’t right.

The altered files.

The anonymous phone call.

The photograph Damien received.

And now this.

Someone was deliberately trying to frighten her.

But why?

“What exactly did you do six years ago?” Ryan asked quietly.

Ariana looked at him.

“What?”

“Before you disappeared.”

Her heart skipped.

“I didn’t disappear.”

“You left without telling anyone where you were going.”

“I had every reason to leave.”

“I know.”

Ryan’s voice softened.

“But there were things I never understood.”

Ariana looked away.

“There’s nothing to understand.”

“Are you sure?”

She looked back at him.

“What are you trying to say?”

Ryan hesitated.

“I think someone has been looking for you for a long time.”

Ariana’s blood ran cold.

Before she could ask another question, the elevator doors opened.

Damien stepped out.

His gaze immediately landed on Ariana.

Then Ryan.

Then Ariana again.

“What are you doing here this late?”

Ryan straightened.

“We were talking.”

Damien’s expression hardened.

“About?”

“That’s between us.”

Damien took a step forward.

“I wasn’t asking you.”

Ryan stared at him.

For several seconds, neither man spoke.

Ariana stepped between them.

“Enough.”

Damien looked at her.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded.

“Yes.”

He studied her face.

She was lying.

He could tell.

“You don’t look okay.”

“I’m fine.”

Ryan gave a bitter laugh.

“That’s what she always says.”

Damien’s eyes narrowed.

“Why don’t you leave?”

Ryan looked at Ariana.

“I’ll go.”

He turned toward the elevator, then stopped.

“Ariana.”

She didn’t answer.

“Please be careful.”

The elevator doors closed behind him.

Damien waited until Ryan disappeared.

Then he looked at Ariana.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Ariana.”

She sighed.

“Someone accessed my project files.”

His expression changed.

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

“Was it Ryan?”

“He says he didn’t do it.”

“And you believe him?”

“No.”

Damien stared at her.

“Good.”

She looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because he’s the last person I would trust.”

Ariana almost smiled.

“You’re not exactly his biggest fan.”

“I don’t need to be.”

He paused.

“I need to know if you’re in danger.”

The concern in his voice caught her off guard.

“I’m not.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I can handle myself.”

“I know.”

His gaze softened.

“But you shouldn’t have to handle everything alone.”

Ariana looked away.

Those words again.

Why did he keep saying things that reached places she had spent years trying to protect?

The following morning, Damien called Daniel into his office.

“I want a full security review of the Riverside project.”

Daniel nodded.

“Any particular reason?”

“Someone accessed Ariana Cole’s account.”

Daniel’s expression became serious.

“I’ll investigate.”

“And Daniel?”

“Yes?”

“Do it quietly.”

“Understood.”

After Daniel left, Damien opened the anonymous photograph again.

The woman.

The hotel.

The handwritten warning.

He couldn’t understand why these things bothered him so much.

Then something caught his attention.

At the bottom corner of the photograph was a small logo.

A hotel emblem.

Damien stared at it.

He knew that hotel.

The Blackwood Grand.

Six years ago, he’d spent one unforgettable night there.

He remembered almost nothing about it.

Only fragments.

A woman’s voice.

A perfume he couldn’t place.

A pair of frightened eyes.

And a feeling that he’d made a mistake he could never correct.

Damien rubbed his temples.

Why was this memory returning now?

His phone rang.

“Mr. Blackwood,” Daniel said, “we found something.”

Damien straightened.

“What?”

“The person who accessed Miss Cole’s project account used a temporary employee login.”

“Can you identify them?”

“We’re trying.”

“Find them.”

“There is one more thing.”

“What?”

“The login was activated from inside the building.”

Damien’s eyes narrowed.

“Meaning?”

“Someone inside Blackwood Holdings is involved.”

Silence.

Damien leaned back slowly.

Someone inside his company was sabotaging Ariana.

Someone had sent him an old photograph.

Someone was threatening Ariana.

And somehow…

All of it seemed connected to six years ago.

Across town, Victoria sat in front of her bedroom mirror.

Her phone rang.

She answered.

“Did you handle it?”

A man’s voice replied.

“Not yet.”

Victoria’s expression hardened.

“You said it would be done.”

“Your sister is more protected than we expected.”

“Then find another way.”

“We need to be careful.”

Victoria stood.

“I don’t care how careful you have to be.”

She looked at her reflection.

“I will not lose everything because of Ariana.”

The man was silent.

Then he asked,

“Are you sure you want to continue?”

Victoria smiled coldly.

“I’ve already come this far.”

She ended the call.

But what she didn’t know was that someone was standing outside her bedroom door.

Listening.

And that person had heard every word.