Chapter 23

{Hailey’s pov}

I needed a break from everything, Julian’s glare at the board meeting, Debra’s judgmental eyes, and the silence that followed every riddle I couldn’t solve. I left the office and walked toward the cafeteria to get some air. The moment I stepped in, I felt it. Eyes.

Everyone turned. People stared like I had grown a second head. Whispers rose in the corners of the room like smoke. I kept walking, pretending not to care, but I felt every single gaze, every hushed word.

I found an empty seat near the edge of the wall, a quiet spot where I could eat in peace. I ordered shrimp tacos. The smell in the Lachlan cafeteria was amazing, garlic, butter, and something sweet in the air. Honestly, for a company building, it was impressive. The place was beautiful. Gold lights hung from the ceiling, soft music played from hidden speakers, and everything looked like money.

I’d give it a solid ten out of ten. Still, the stares didn’t stop. But I didn’t give a damn anymore. Let them look.

My tacos arrived, steaming and golden. I was about to take a bite when I heard a voice.

“The Lachlan heiress,” the woman said, with a strange smile. “I’m Linda.”

I blinked, caught off guard. She stood in front of me, tall and sharp in a navy-blue pencil dress. Her lipstick was red, her voice smooth. She didn’t wait for an invitation, just pulled out the chair across from me and sat down.

“I work in the marketing department,” she added, watching my face.

I nodded slowly and said, “Hi.”

“You did well at the board meeting,” she said. “Given the fact that you’re new to this world.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or a subtle slap to the face. “Thanks,” I said, taking another bite of my taco. It was spicy and crispy, just the way I liked it.

Linda leaned forward a little. “Sorry for bothering you. I know you probably want to eat in peace. It’s just… in your position, I’d want to know.”

Know what?

I raised an eyebrow, curious despite myself. “Know what exactly?”

She smiled like she’d been waiting for me to ask.

“The Lachlan brothers,” she said quietly. “People don’t talk about them honestly. Not here. But I think someone should.”

I stared at her. “Go on.”

“For a long time,” she continued, “every woman wanted them. And anyone who liked men wanted to be near them. The way they looked, the way they carried themselves—it was like they were made of something different. Something more.”

I didn’t respond. “Even just being close to the Lachlans changes how people treat you,” Linda added.

I didn’t like how she was talking. Like they were gods, not people. Still, I listened.

“I used to be with Luca,” she said suddenly. That got my attention.

“Used to be with?”

She shrugged, then looked past me at a group of women whispering at a nearby table. “He was charming. Mysterious. Smart. And for a moment, when I was with him, I felt like I was important. Like I mattered.”

I didn’t say anything. I was still stuck on the “used to be.” Linda stared at her drink for a second, then said, “They were magic. All of them. When you’re in their orbit, you feel it. But the moment you’re out of it…”

Her voice trailed off. I shifted in my seat. “You’re not making sense.”

“They’re not what you think they are,” she said softly. “I wouldn’t want to live in that house.”

Now I knew where this was going. “Are you trying to scare me?” I asked, setting my taco down.

“No,” Linda replied. “I’m just trying to warn you. Because I wish someone had warned me.”

I shook my head. “Look, I get it. They’re powerful, rich, and broken. I already knew that before I moved into the house.” She leaned closer, voice low now. “The last girl who got too close to them? The one who lived in that house before? She died.”

The words hit me like ice.

“She what?” I asked, stiffening in my chair.

“She’s dead,” Linda repeated. “No one talks about it. Not here. Not openly. But if you ask the right questions… you’ll hear things.”

I blinked. “What happened to her?” Linda just smiled and stood up. “That’s the thing about the Lachlans, Hailey,” she said. “You never really know what you’ve stepped into until it’s too late.”

“Wait,” I called after her. “What was her name?” She looked over her shoulder and said, “It doesn’t matter. She’s gone. Just be careful.”

Then she walked away like she hadn’t just dropped a bomb in the middle of my lunch. I sat there, my taco untouched, my heart beating a little too fast.

Dead. Someone died in that house. Someone like me. I thought about the riddles, the hidden rooms, the way Marcus warned me, the way Julian looked at me like I didn’t belong.

And now this? Was I next?

No. I wouldn’t let fear win. But damn, this house… this family… it was darker than I’d thought.

I pushed my tray aside, stood up, and left the cafeteria with the taste of truth burning on my tongue. Something happened. And now I had to find out what. No matter what it costs me.