CHAPTER 10- A WARNING IN THE DARK

(Jane's POV)

I never realized just how deep exhaustion could set in, but by the time we walked through the door of his penthouse, it felt as if someone had wrung me out completely, like a damp cloth.

The city lights shimmered through the expansive windows when we walked in. Everything inside looked immaculate, sharp, and expensive, a little too perfect. Suddenly, I was acutely aware of my dress, my makeup, and the forced smiles that had been plastered on my face for hours.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, I let out a long, shaky breath.

William loosened his tie while regarding me in silence. He also seemed worn out, but there was something about his exhaustion that felt regal like even fatigue suited him in an upscale way.

“You did well tonight,” he said softly.

I scoffed lightly. “I nearly passed out.”

“But you didn’t. That’s what matters.”

Rolling my eyes, I started toward my room, lacking the energy to dispute him further. Yet, his voice made me pause.

“Jane.”

I turned back to face him.

His expression softened just a touch, but enough for me to notice.

“If someone crossed a line today, I want to know,” he said. “Anything at all.”

Was he referring to Daniel? The reporters? The person who leaked the photo?

I swallowed hard. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not,” he insisted. “But you will be, so just don’t keep things from me.”

I was at a loss for how to respond, especially with him sounding... almost human.

So, I merely nodded and walked away.

But deep down, my stomach was churning with a feeling I couldn’t quite place.

The moment I stepped into my guest room, I peeled off my dress like I was discarding an unwanted second skin. A hot shower offered some relief, but my mind wouldn’t stop spinning, reliving the evening's chaos: the flashes of cameras, the murmurs, Daniel’s distraught expression, and William’s protective hold as if I were something fragile.

It all felt overwhelming.

After showering, I wrapped myself in a towel and finally checked my phone for the first time since morning.

That was a huge mistake.

Messages poured in, hundreds of them. Comments, notifications the whole lot.

I switched it off and tossed it onto the bed.

“I can’t deal with this,” I muttered to no one in particular.

I dried my hair, slipped into comfy pajamas, and finally climbed into bed. The weight of exhaustion dragged me under, like thick sand pulling me down.

I must have drifted off.

But I wasn’t sure how long it had been when something jolted me awake,the soft buzz of my phone.

Wonderful.

I reached over, grabbed it, and squinted at the bright screen.

One new message.

An unknown number.

No profile picture, no name just a gray placeholder.

I frowned and tapped it open.

The message contained just six words.

(You don’t know the full story.)

I blinked, feeling perplexed.

Typing bubbles popped up.

I sat up a bit straighter.

Another message came through.

(He knows why your life was ruined. Ask him what he did)

A chill ran down my spine.

I stared at the screen, reading the words over and over.

What he did? Who were they talking about? William?

My hand trembled as I anticipated more, feeling that another message was imminent.

And then it arrived.

(Don’t trust William Stone. You were never a random target)

A shiver crept up my back.

I hadn’t even realized I whispered, “What…?”

The typing bubbles reappeared.

My heart was pounding in my throat.

Another message came through:

(He’s lying to you. Just like he lied to her)

Her? Who?

Suddenly, a final message appeared, short but sharp, hitting me like a punch to the gut.

(Be careful. He ruins the women close to him)

My mouth went dry.

A shaky breath escaped me. This wasn’t just casual trolling; this was targeted. Personal. Dangerous.

Before I could respond, the screen flickered, and the messages began to vanish one by one, disappearing as if they had never existed.

“What...no, no, wait...”

I tapped and scrolled, desperate to retrieve them.

But the chat was empty.

Then, the number itself faded into Unknown Sender - Deleted.

I stared at the blank screen, my fingers icy and numb.

I felt nauseous.

Someone was watching me. Someone wanted to instill fear. Someone had information.

And someone wiped everything clean.

I stumbled out of bed, disoriented.

The penthouse felt eerily silent. Too quiet. Even the usual hum of the penthouse ventilation system seemed to loom heavier.

I hurried into the hallway, each breath uneven and quick.

Only one light shone in the distance.

It came from the office.

And then I heard a voice.

William’s.

Low, filled with anger, and tinged with danger.

“...I expect answers by morning,” he snapped. “I don’t care how many systems you have to dismantle. Someone is leaking information to the press. Someone within my inner circle.”

My heart raced.

So he was on the hunt for answers.

I heard a loud thud as he slammed something on the desk. Through the partially open door, I caught his voice again quieter, yet rougher.

“They're after her intentionally. This isn’t just a random attack.”

I felt a constriction in my chest.

“Find out who it is,” he instructed. “Before she gets hurt.”

A sharp twist of pain shot through me.

Was he… actually worried?

Before I could second-guess myself, I pushed the door open wider.

“William?”

His gaze shot up at me.

His face shifted from that of a furious businessman to a mask of unreadable intensity.

“Why aren’t you in bed?” he asked.

“I...." I paused, swallowing hard. “I got a message.”

He stiffened. “Show me.”

I held out my phone.

He took it cautiously, careful not to touch me, but close enough that I could feel his warmth.

He began to scroll through the screen.

And scrolled further.

His jaw tightened.

“What messages?” he asked.

“They were there! I promise. Then they just disappeared.”

“Someone erased them,” he replied grimly. “Remotely.”

A cold sweat broke over my skin. “So I’m not imagining things?”

“No.” He moved closer. “Someone accessed your phone.”

Wrapping my arms around myself, I shivered. “They warned me… not to trust you.”

For a fleeting moment, he froze.

Then he locked eyes with me.

“That’s precisely what they want you to think.”

“William, they claimed you harmed a woman. Before me.”

A muscle in his jaw twitched.

He turned his gaze away.

That action terrified me more than anything.

Because silence conveyed an answer as well.

“Is it true?” My voice trembled despite my efforts to stay composed. “Did you hurt someone before?”

He hesitated.

When he finally answered, his voice was low, heavy with weight.

“There are aspects of my past you don’t fully comprehend.”

“That’s avoiding the question,” I pressed.

He briefly closed his eyes. A shadow fell across his face, something haunted. Something I wasn’t meant to see.

“Jane” he said quietly, “your safety is what matters right now.”

“That’s not what I was asking.”

“I know,” he whispered. “But if you heard the complete truth tonight… you wouldn’t be able to sleep.”

My stomach dropped.

His reluctance didn’t feel cold; it felt protective.

And utterly terrifying.

Before I could push him for more, a loud buzzing sound erupted from the living room, a security alert.

William tensed. “Stay behind me.”

He moved quickly, and I hurried to keep up.

On the security console screen

A grainy, zoomed-in image sprang to life.

The empty hallway of the penthouse entrance.

Then.....

A shadow flitted by.

Not a person.

Just a silhouette.

Hovering just beyond the camera’s view. Watching.

A moment later, the feed distorted and went dark.

I felt my breath hitch.

“Is that....."

“Yes,” William replied, his tone sharp. “That’s the same interference as with your phone.”

Panic surged within me like suffocating smoke.

“Who would do this?” I murmured.

William turned to me, his expression unwavering.

“Someone who wants to bring me down,” he said. “And they’re using you to achieve that.”

I swallowed hard.

“And they’ve just gotten personal about it.”

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a tone I’d never heard from him before menacing, shadowy, yet protective.

“I promise you this, Jane,” he said earnestly. “Whoever is behind this… I will track them down. And I will ensure they never get close to you.”

His words should have reassured me.

But instead, I realized

The threat wasn’t just after me.

They wanted to obliterate him too.

And I found myself caught right in the middle.