Chapter 6

Sienna’s Pov

The afternoon sun hung low outside the glass walls of Calloway Industries, but I barely noticed it because every sound around me had faded beneath the pounding of my own heartbeat.

I was still standing outside the building with my phone pressed tightly against my ear.

The silence on the other end lasted only a few seconds, but it felt endless.

Finally, I forced myself to speak.

“…My daughter?”

“Yes.”

The woman didn’t hesitate.

“I believe we should have a conversation about her.”

Every instinct inside me screamed that I should hang up.

Instead, I swallowed hard.

“I think you’ve made a mistake.”

“I rarely do.”

Her voice was calm, polished, and completely emotionless.

“I know exactly who you are, Miss Vale.”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“I don’t understand.”

“You don’t need to understand over the phone.”

Her tone never changed.

“We will discuss everything tomorrow.”

“No.”

The word escaped before I could stop it.

“I’m not meeting a stranger.”

A soft laugh came through the speaker.

“I’m hardly a stranger. My name is Eleanor Calloway.”

As if I could ever forget it. Everyone knew Eleanor Calloway—the brilliant, untouchable woman who had helped build the Calloway empire and was feared even by billionaires.

Why she wanted anything to do with me was beyond comprehension.

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“You will.”

Her confidence unsettled me.

“Tomorrow. One o’clock.”

“I’m working.”

“I’ve already arranged for you to have the afternoon off.”

My stomach twisted.

“You what?”

“There will be no interruptions.”

A chill ran down my spine.

How could she arrange my schedule without speaking to me?

“I won’t come.”

“You will.”

The certainty in her voice irritated me.

“You seem very confident.”

“I am.”

She paused just long enough for the silence to become uncomfortable.

“And Miss Vale…”

“Yes?”

“Do not mention this meeting to Roman.”

My heart skipped.

“Why?”

“Because this conversation concerns you and me.”

“What if I want to tell him?”

“I strongly advise against it.”

The warning was delivered so politely that it somehow sounded even more threatening.

“Will he be angry?”

“That depends on what happens tomorrow.”

“I hate riddles.”

“Then come tomorrow, and I’ll give you answers.”

“Where?”

“The Grand Monarch.”

“I’ve reserved the private dining room.”

“I hope you’ll make the right decision.”

The call ended.

Just like that.

I stared at my phone before lowering it.

My hands were shaking.

Ava.

She had mentioned Ava.

How?

Questions crashed through my mind until I thought I might be sick. By the time I reached home, I was emotionally exhausted.

June looked up from the couch with a bowl of popcorn balanced on her lap.

“You’re late.”

The smile disappeared almost immediately.

“What happened?”

I closed the door behind me.

“I think I just had the worst phone call of my life.”

She set the popcorn aside.

“What?”

I dropped my handbag onto the chair before collapsing beside her.

“Eleanor Calloway called me.”

June blinked twice.

“The Eleanor Calloway?”

I nodded.

She reached toward my forehead.

“Do you have a fever?”

“I’m serious.”

Her eyes widened.

“Oh my God.”

“Start talking.”

So I did.

I repeated everything Eleanor had said.

I told her about the lunch.

The warning.

The way she’d somehow arranged for me to have time off.

Most importantly…

I told her Eleanor had mentioned Ava.

By the time I finished, June looked just as pale as I felt.

“No.”

She shook her head.

“You’re not going.”

“I don’t know if I have a choice.”

“You absolutely do.”

She stood and began pacing.

“This is exactly how horror movies start.”

I laughed despite myself.

“This isn’t a horror movie.”

“A mysterious billionaire calls a single mother out of nowhere, knows about her secret child, orders her to keep quiet, and summons her to a private meeting.”

She folded her arms.

“That sounds like a horror movie.”

“I still have to go.”

“No.”

“June.”

“She knows about Ava.”

Those words stopped her.

“I know.”

“I need answers.”

“What if she’s dangerous?”

“I think she already proved she is.”

Silence settled between us.

Finally, June sighed.

“I’m coming.”

“You weren’t invited.”

“I don’t care.”

“You can’t come into the meeting.”

“I don’t need to.”

She smiled.

“I’ll follow you.”

“You’ve watched too many detective shows.”

“Maybe.”

She shrugged.

“But if that woman tries anything, I’ll be there.”

“I appreciate the offer.”

“I’m not offering.”

She squeezed my hand.

“You won’t walk into that place alone.”

For the first time since the phone call, I felt slightly less terrified.

I barely slept that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Eleanor’s voice repeating the same sentence. By morning, I looked as exhausted as I felt.

I tried losing myself in spreadsheets, emails, and meetings, but nothing held my attention.

Around noon, Roman appeared outside my office.

He knocked lightly against the open door.

“Do you have a minute?”

“Of course.”

He stepped inside carrying two coffee cups.

“I figured you needed this.”

“Thank you.”

He studied me.

“You don’t look like you slept.”

“I didn’t.”

His expression softened.

“I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“Yesterday?”

“Nate.”

Realization crossed my face.

“I know he has a habit of saying too much.”

So that was what he thought was wrong.

Part of me wanted to tell him everything.

Another part remembered Eleanor’s warning.

Do not mention this meeting to Roman.

“You’ve been distracted ever since.”

“I’m just tired.”

He watched me for another moment before nodding.

“If you say so.”

“I’ve got another meeting.”

He hesitated.

“If something’s bothering you…”

“I know.”

“You can tell me.”

The kindness in his voice made my chest tighten.

If only it were that simple.

He smiled gently before walking away.

I watched him disappear down the hallway, guilt settling heavily inside me.

At twelve-thirty, Human Resources confirmed my afternoon leave had been approved.

Eleanor hadn’t been bluffing.

An hour later, I parked outside the Grand Monarch.

Luxury cars lined the entrance. Everything about the place screamed wealth.

I spotted June’s little hatchback across the street.

My phone buzzed.

“I’m here.”

Another message followed.

“Remember our code word if something goes wrong.”

I smiled.

“You invented a code word?”

Her reply came instantly.

PINEAPPLE.

Only June would choose pineapple during a crisis.

Taking one slow breath after another, I stepped out of the car and walked toward the towering entrance.

The hostess greeted me before I even introduced myself.

“Miss Vale?”

“Yes.”

“This way, please.”

She already knew who I was.

She led me through the elegant dining room until we reached a pair of polished wooden doors.

She opened them without knocking.

“My lady is waiting.”

I stepped inside.

The private dining room overlooked the city skyline, dressed in quiet luxury with fresh white orchids arranged at the center of the table.

At the far end of the room sat Eleanor Calloway.

She didn’t rise to greet me.

She simply lifted her eyes from her teacup with the composed confidence of a woman who had never doubted I would come.

“I knew,” she said smoothly, “that you would make the sensible choice.”

Then she gestured toward the empty chair across from her.

“Please sit. We have a great deal to discuss.”