Chapter Ten: Face to Face

The world around Zara seemed to stop

She struggled against the grip on her arms, but the two men holding her didn't loosen their hold.

The stranger sitting inside the van watched quietly.

He looked to be in his mid-thirties, dressed in a dark grey suit with no tie. His hair was neatly combed, and his expression was almost... friendly.

That was the unsettling part.

He didn't look like a kidnapper.

He looked like someone about to discuss business over coffee.

"Let her breathe," he said calmly.

The man covering Zara's mouth immediately removed his hand.

She gasped for air.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

The stranger smiled faintly.

"I was hoping we'd start with introductions."

"I wasn't."

He chuckled.

"I've heard you're honest."

She frowned.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Ethan Cole."

The name meant nothing to her.

"I don't know you."

"I know."

"Then why are you following me?"

Ethan leaned back in his seat.

"Because you've become very important."

"I work for Mr. Knight."

"You've worked for him for two days."

"Exactly."

"So why would anyone think I'm important?"

He studied her face for a few seconds.

"As it turns out... Adrian Knight trusts people far too quickly."

Zara's heart skipped.

"You've been watching him."

"For much longer than you can imagine."

The men beside her finally released her arms, though they remained close enough to stop her if she tried to run.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," she said.

"I know."

"Then why stop me?"

"I wanted to give you a chance."

"A chance to do what?"

"Walk away."

She laughed bitterly.

"That's the second time someone has said that to me."

"I assume you've received our messages."

"So it was you."

"Yes."

Her jaw tightened.

"You took the picture outside my apartment."

"I did."

"You threatened me."

"I warned you."

"There's a difference?"

"A very big one."

She folded her arms, refusing to let him see how frightened she really was.

"If you're trying to scare me into quitting, it won't work."

His eyebrows lifted.

"So you've decided to stay."

"I have."

He sighed.

"I was hoping you wouldn't."

"Why?"

"Because innocent people usually get hurt first."

A silence settled between them.

Despite everything, Zara couldn't shake the feeling that Ethan genuinely believed what he was saying.

"You kidnapped Mr. Knight's grandmother, didn't you?"

For the first time, his smile disappeared.

"I didn't."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I expect nothing."

"Then answer me."

"I can't."

"Because you don't want to?"

"Because if I answer honestly, someone dies."

The words hung in the air.

She searched his face for signs of deception.

There were none.

He looked tired.

Not nervous.

Not angry.

Just... tired.

A phone vibrated.

One of the men handed it to Ethan.

He glanced at the screen before answering.

"I'm with her."

...

"No."

...

"I said no."

His voice remained calm, but firmer now.

"I'll handle it."

He ended the call.

For the first time since she'd met him, he looked annoyed.

"Your friends don't sound very patient," Zara said.

"They're not my friends."

"They work with you."

"That's different."

She frowned.

Nothing about this situation made sense.

If he wasn't leading the group, then who was?

Ethan looked at her again.

"I'm going to ask you one question."

"I'm not promising an answer."

"Fair enough."

He leaned forward.

"Has Adrian shown you a silver flash drive?"

Zara's heart skipped.

She forced herself not to react.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

His eyes remained fixed on hers.

Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.

"Good."

She blinked.

"What?"

"You didn't answer too quickly."

"I'm confused."

"That's probably for the best."

He nodded toward the van door.

"You should leave."

She stared at him.

"That's it?"

"Yes."

"Aren't you going to kidnap me?"

"No."

"Threaten me again?"

"No."

"Then what was the point of this?"

His expression became serious.

"When you get back to Knight Technologies tomorrow..."

He paused.

"...don't trust everyone who smiles at you."

Before she could ask another question, the van door slid shut.

The driver pulled away.

Leaving Zara standing alone on the sidewalk.

---

She didn't realize her hands were shaking until she reached her apartment.

The entire conversation replayed in her mind.

He knew about the flash drive.

He knew Adrian.

He knew where she lived.

Yet...

He had let her go.

Why?

Nothing about Ethan Cole fit the image she'd created in her mind.

She wanted to tell Adrian immediately.

But it was almost ten at night.

Would he even answer?

As if on cue, her phone rang.

The screen displayed his name.

She answered instantly.

"Mr. Knight?"

"Where are you?"

His voice was unusually sharp.

"At home."

A pause.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"What happened?"

She closed her eyes.

"I think we need to talk."

"I'm on my way."

Before she could protest, the call ended.

---

Twenty-five minutes later, a black SUV stopped outside her apartment building.

Adrian stepped out before the driver could even open the door for him.

He looked... worried.

Actually worried.

He climbed the stairs two at a time.

When Zara opened the door, he immediately looked her over.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded.

"I'm fine."

His shoulders relaxed slightly.

"I lost contact with you."

She frowned.

"You were trying to call?"

"You weren't answering."

She reached into her handbag.

Her phone was on silent.

"I didn't even notice."

He stepped inside.

Her apartment was small.

Very small.

There was barely enough space for the two of them to stand comfortably.

His eyes wandered around the room.

The old sofa.

The tiny kitchen.

The patched curtain covering the window.

He didn't say a word.

But Zara suddenly felt embarrassed.

"I'm sorry it's... like this."

He looked at her.

"Like what?"

"So small."

He shook his head.

"This is your home."

She looked away.

"For now."

They sat opposite each other.

"So," Adrian said quietly.

"What happened?"

She told him everything.

From the black van...

To Ethan introducing himself...

To the warning.

She repeated every word as accurately as she could.

Adrian listened without interrupting.

When she finally finished, the room fell silent.

"Ethan Cole," he repeated.

"You know him?"

"I've heard the name."

"You've never met him?"

"No."

"But someone in my company has."

She frowned.

"You think there's still a leak."

"I don't think."

His jaw tightened.

"I know."

He stood and walked toward the window.

"The question is..."

He looked back at her.

"...who?"

Before Zara could answer, Adrian's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

It was Evelyn.

He answered immediately.

"What is it?"

Her voice sounded panicked even through the speaker.

"Sir..."

She took a shaky breath.

"We've found the security footage from the executive floor."

"And?"

"It clearly shows who stole Miss Daniels' ID badge."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Who was it?"

There was a long silence.

Then Evelyn spoke three words that made both of them freeze.

"It's... Mr. Lawson."