Eyes That Follow

Chapter 14

Rita’s pov

"You are moving too fast." Ethan said. His voice cut through the tension in the conference room.

I did not look up from the documents in front of me. I said calmly, "No, I am moving exactly as I should."

There was silence. I could feel Ethan's eyes on me studying me, questioning me.

"You have only been back a few days Rita.. You have already started shaking things up. The board is unsettled." Ethan said.

I replied simply "Good." Because when people are unsettled they make mistakes.. I needed them to make mistakes.

Ethan exhaled, leaning back slightly. "Vale Group is watching, " he said.

My pen paused for a second. Victor..Of course Victor was watching.

I closed the file. Finally looked at Ethan. "Let them watch, " I said.

His gaze sharpened. "Your confidence is new, " he said. I corrected him quietly "It is not new. It is learned." I learned it that way.

The meeting ended. But The weight in my chest did not go away. It followed me down the hallway into the elevator and out into the New York air.

Five years ago I ran from this city because I was broken. Now I walk through it like I own it.. That does not mean the past is not still here. It is still here waiting and watching.

That night I could not sleep. Again. I sat by the window of my apartment staring at the city lights with my phone resting in my hand. Dubai feels like a lifetime. Aria feels like a lifetime.

My chest tightened at the thought of Aria. She is safe. She is far from all of this. Far from Victor. That was the plan. That has always been the plan.

Things are changing. Too fast. Victor is already too close. Closer than I expected. Closer than I'm ready for.

My grip on the phone tightened. What if Victor finds out about Aria? Not by me. Not on my terms. That thought alone sent a wave through my body.

I unlocked my phone before I could overthink it. I scrolled through my contacts. Found Maya's number. My finger hovered over the call button for a second. Then I pressed it.

Maya answered, "Hello?" Her voice is familiar. My throat tightened slightly. "Maya it is me, " I said. There was a pause. Then warmth. "Rita, is everything okay? " Maya asked.

I closed my eyes briefly. "No it is not, " I admitted quietly. There was a shift in Maya's tone immediately. "Is it about New York?" she asked.

"Yes, " I replied. “Victor?” She asked.

I did not answer. I did not need to.

"I knew this would not be easy. Talk to me." She said gently

I inhaled slowly trying to steady the storm inside me. "I left Aria in Dubai to protect her, " I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I thought distance would be enough." Maya asked softly ". Now?"

I opened my eyes, staring out at the endless city lights. "Now I am not so sure, " I said. There was silence between us. It was heavy. It was real.

I continued, "Victor is already involved in my life again. Business, meetings, proximity."

My jaw tightened. "I can control myself, " I added. "That is not the problem."

Maya finished my sentence "The problem is Victor finding out about Aria."

"Yes, " I said. There was another pause. Then Maya asked, "What do you want to do?" That question lingered. Because the truth is, I did not know.

I said slowly "I cannot risk Victor finding out from someone. I cannot risk losing control of that situation."

Maya asked carefully ". Bringing Aria to New York solves that?"

I admitted, "No it complicates everything. It is dangerous. It exposes Aria."

But at least Aria would be where I can protect her.

Maya was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "You are not just thinking about protection." I swallowed. Because Maya was right.

I whispered, "I want Aria with me." It is the truth. It is raw. It is unfiltered.

I have spent five years building a life without Victor. I built it for Aria. Now I am here facing everything I ran from without Aria. I cannot do that.

Maya sighed softly. "Then you have already made your decision, " she said.

I looked down at my hands. At the tremble I could not completely hide. "Yes, " I said quietly. "I have made my decision."

Maya said, "I will arrange everything from here.. Rita once Aria is in New York things change." I know. "I will handle it " I said firmly. Even if I am not sure how yet.

After the call ended I sat there for a time. Thinking. Planning. Preparing.

Because bringing Aria to New York is not a decision. It is a risk.

In the morning, I stepped out of the building, my heels steady, against the pavement. composed. controlled. untouchable. Just as I reached the car that feeling hit me again. It is sharp. It is unsettling.

I paused. I turned slightly.. There was nothing. Just the usual city rush. People. Cars. Noise. Still something felt off.

I got into the car without another word.. My instincts did not quiet. Across the street Kate lowered her sunglasses slowly. Her eyes followed my car as it pulled away. Cold. Calculating.

Kate thought, "Rita is different." Not weak. Not broken.. That is dangerous.

Kate's gaze darkened slightly as she replayed the encounter in her mind. Victor's reaction. That brief moment. That crack he tried hard to hide. Kate saw it.. She did not like it.

Kate thought, "Something is not right." Rita is not acting like someone who has lost everything. She is too calm. Too controlled. Too prepared.

Kate hates what she does not understand.

Kate's lips curved slowly. Dangerously.

"You are hiding something " Kate said to herself.. Whatever it is Kate is going to find it. No matter what.