Chapter 9: The First Crack

Ariana barely slept that night.

Victoria’s visit kept replaying in her mind.

Her sister had changed.

Or perhaps Ariana had simply stopped making excuses for her.

Six years ago, Victoria had stolen her fiancé and destroyed the life Ariana thought she would have. Ariana had walked away without fighting back because she believed distance would eventually heal everything.

But Victoria had followed her into the life she had rebuilt.

And now she wanted Damien.

Ariana sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the dark window.

She had promised herself that she would never allow Victoria to hurt her again.

But there was something else that frightened her.

Damien.

The way he had looked at her during the confrontation.

The way he had silently watched Victoria instead of immediately believing her tears.

Ariana didn’t know what he was thinking.

And she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

Her phone vibrated.

A message.

Damien Blackwood: Are the children okay?

Ariana stared at the screen.

It was nearly midnight.

Why was he still awake?

She typed a reply.

They’re fine. Ethan is sleeping. Emma too. Thank you for asking.

The reply came almost immediately.

Good. Get some rest.

Ariana smiled despite herself.

Then she deleted the smile from her face.

She was getting too comfortable with him.

That was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Six years ago, one night had changed her entire life.

She wasn’t going to let another man do the same.

…

The following morning, Ariana arrived at Blackwood Holdings earlier than usual.

She wanted to avoid Damien.

Unfortunately, the universe had other plans.

The moment she stepped into the elevator, the doors began closing.

A hand stopped them.

Damien walked inside.

Ariana’s heart skipped.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

The elevator doors closed.

Silence.

Damien glanced at her.

“You didn’t answer my question last night.”

“What question?”

“Whether you’re okay.”

Ariana looked at him.

“I’m fine.”

“You always say that.”

“Because I usually am.”

“That’s not true.”

She frowned.

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve noticed something about you.”

“What?”

“You carry everything alone.”

Ariana looked away.

“You don’t know me well enough to say that.”

“Maybe not.”

He leaned against the elevator wall.

“But I’m beginning to.”

Her heartbeat quickened.

Before she could answer, the elevator doors opened.

They stepped out together.

Ariana immediately walked toward her office.

Damien followed.

“I need the updated Riverside proposal before noon.”

“I’ll have it ready.”

“And Ariana?”

She turned.

“Yes?”

“Don’t let Victoria pressure you.”

Her expression changed.

“You heard us yesterday.”

“I heard enough.”

“She is my sister.”

“I know.”

“Whatever happened between us is complicated.”

Damien’s gaze remained steady.

“Complicated doesn’t mean you have to tolerate being mistreated.”

Ariana didn’t know what to say.

He walked away before she could answer.

She watched him disappear down the corridor.

Something about him was becoming harder to ignore.

…

Across the city, Victoria sat inside a luxury restaurant waiting for Ryan.

He arrived ten minutes late.

“You called me.”

Victoria looked up.

“I need your help.”

Ryan sat down.

“What kind of help?”

“Getting Ariana away from Damien.”

He frowned.

“Why?”

“Because Damien is interested in her.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened.

“You don’t know that.”

“I saw the way he looked at her.”

He leaned back.

“And why should you care?”

Victoria smiled.

“Because if Damien falls for Ariana, everything changes.”

Ryan stared at her.

“What are you really afraid of?”

Victoria’s smile faded.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

She leaned closer.

“Damien Blackwood has something you don’t.”

“What?”

“Power.”

Ryan said nothing.

“And if Ariana becomes his wife…”

Victoria paused.

“She’ll have everything.”

Ryan’s eyes hardened.

“She already has everything she needs.”

“No.”

Victoria shook her head.

“She has something much more dangerous.”

“What?”

“Damien’s attention.”

Ryan looked away.

For the first time, he realized Victoria wasn’t simply jealous.

She was scared.

And that meant there was something she wasn’t telling him.

…

By lunchtime, Ariana was reviewing the Riverside proposal when her assistant rushed into the office.

“Miss Cole.”

“What happened?”

“There’s a problem with the project.”

Ariana immediately stood.

“What kind of problem?”

“The architectural drawings that were submitted this morning have been altered.”

Her stomach dropped.

“What?”

“The eastern wing measurements are completely different.”

Ariana grabbed the folder.

She scanned the pages.

These weren’t her drawings.

Someone had changed the measurements.

If the plans were used, the construction could be seriously affected.

“Who submitted this?”

“We don’t know.”

Ariana’s mind raced.

Only a few people had access to the original files.

She immediately opened her computer.

The project folder had been accessed at 2:13 a.m.

Someone had logged into her account.

Someone had deliberately changed the files.

And they had done it using her credentials.

Ariana’s hands went cold.

“I didn’t do this.”

Her assistant nodded quickly.

“I know.”

Before Ariana could investigate further, the office door opened.

Damien walked in.

“What’s happening?”

Ariana turned toward him.

“The Riverside plans were altered.”

His expression immediately hardened.

“Show me.”

She handed him the file.

He studied the drawings.

“Who approved these?”

“No one.”

“Then how were they submitted?”

“We’re investigating.”

Damien looked at Ariana.

“Did you authorize any changes?”

“No.”

He held her gaze for a moment.

“I believe you.”

Those three words hit her harder than they should have.

“Thank you.”

Damien turned toward her assistant.

“Lock down the entire project database.”

“Yes, sir.”

“No one accesses the files without my authorization.”

The assistant hurried out.

Ariana stared at the altered drawings.

“This could destroy my reputation.”

“It won’t.”

“You can’t guarantee that.”

“I can guarantee I’ll find out who did it.”

His voice was calm.

But there was something dangerous beneath it.

Ariana looked at him.

“Why are you helping me?”

He paused.

“Because you’re part of my team.”

She nodded.

But neither of them believed that was the entire reason.

…

That evening, Ariana remained at the office.

Everyone else had left.

She was going through access logs when she noticed something strange.

One name appeared repeatedly.

Ryan Williams.

Her heart stopped.

Ryan had accessed the Riverside project folder three times.

But why?

She quickly took a screenshot.

Before she could investigate further, her computer screen went black.

Ariana froze.

Then her phone rang.

Unknown number.

She answered cautiously.

“Hello?”

No one spoke.

“Who is this?”

Silence.

Then a distorted voice whispered,

“Stop looking into the past.”

Ariana’s blood ran cold.

“What do you want?”

“You’ve already lost once.”

The line went dead.

Ariana stared at the phone.

Her hands trembled.

Someone knew.

Someone knew she was investigating.

She immediately stood and grabbed her handbag.

As she walked toward the exit, the lights in the hallway suddenly went out.

Ariana stopped.

Her heart pounded.

Then she heard footsteps behind her.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Getting closer.

She turned around.

“Who’s there?”

No answer.

The footsteps stopped.

Ariana reached for her phone.

And then a man’s voice came from the darkness.

“You should have stayed away, Ariana.”

She froze.

She knew that voice.

Ryan.

But why was he here?

And what exactly was he hiding?