Chapter 5

Mia’s POV

The door sprang open followed by rushed footsteps, but my head never looked up.

It stayed glued to the dead snake in the box. A dark, long one, coiled with its head resting in the middle.

An envelope sat right at the side, but before I could touch it, a hand snatched it away. That finally grabbed my attention.

I glanced up to see an alarmed Four ripping open the envelope and pulling out a white piece of paper. His gaze locked onto it, and his expression instantly turned ice-cold.

I walked over and snatched the paper from his hand. *Come Back Here Tomorrow And This Will Be A Live One.* Written in blood.

A dark, maddening smirk spread across my lips as I read the words over and over again. Now who the fuck is sending me threats on my first day? 

My very first day?

I raised my head to see Four staring down at me with a raised brow. I rolled my eyes, walked over to my desk,and slammed the button for my assistant's line.

“My office. Now.” I cut the line and leaned back against my desk, staring at the box, specifically at the dead snake.

Fuck, I hated snakes. I hated them badly.

Not because they made me weak, it was the exact opposite. Snakes triggered a dark, vicious urge in me.

And right now…?

“Ma’am, you… Oh my godddddd!” My assistant let out a blood-curdling shriek before she could even finish her sentence.

“Who dropped it?” I asked, tossing the blood-stained note onto my desk and tapping my index finger against the wood.

Her panicked gaze snapped to me, eyes wide as excuses tumbled out of her mouth. “I’m so sorry, I—”

“I’m not repeating myself, woman,” I snapped, glaring at her.

She swallowed hard. “A… a little boy. He told me his dad sent it… I initially thought it was just a package… I…” She stammered, scrambling for words.

“Go to the security room. I want the surveillance footage sent to my tablet in five minutes. Out!”

She turned to run, but I called out, “And?” She froze, looking back over her shoulder. “Get the police here. And call the journalists,” I instructed.

“Yes, ma’am,” she squeaked, shooting the dead reptile one last terrified glance before scurrying out.

“What is going on in that head of yours?” Four finally spoke, his deep baritone cutting through the silence.

I turned my eyes toward him. “You’re my number one suspect. How come you knew a snake was delivered to my office before anyone else?” I smirked.

Was my reaction crazy?

Maybe. But there was no way in hell I was going to panic. I already read this novel, I knew this exact plot point. 

But I wasn't going to handle it the weak, pathetic way the real Eliana did. The original Eliana fidgeted, panicked, and handed the case over to Angelo. 

“Is it crazy if I say you don't feel like the Eliana I know?” Four asked, stepping closer. A slow, smug smirk spread across his face.

“Uh?” I raised a brow, holding my ground as he closed the distance between us.

He stopped just inches away, trapping me against the desk by planting his hands on either side of my hips.

He leaned down, bringing his face close. “Eliana was weak. You’re not her,” he murmured, his dark eyes dipping to my lips.

“Why do I get the feeling you like me?” I replied, refusing to back down, my eyes flickering to his mouth.“Falling for your step-sister is forbidden, don't you think?”

“You just got a dead snake delivered to your office along with a threat, and you’re this calm?” He chuckled darkly, pulling back and shoving his hands into his pockets. “Eliana Salvador would be losing her mind right now. But you?”

I rolled my eyes and looked back at the snake. “I know you have information. So, let’s make a deal, shall we?”

Our eyes locked. He still had that arrogant, smug look on his face. “Make a deal? What’s my cut?” he scoffed.

“Your cut? You’re treating my life like business?” I scoffed back, narrowing my eyes. “And how the fuck are you even here anyway? Isn’t your office on the other side of the town?”

It didn't add up. 

In the original book, Angelo was supposed to be the one in the office with me right now, not Four.

A sharp knock came at the door. I exhaled slowly. “Come in.”

My assistant walked in, followed by two uniformed police officers.

“I want a full investigation,” I said, pointing at the box. “Someone brought a dead snake into my company with a threat to send a live one next time.”

The officers didn't waste time. They immediately stepped up to inspect the box and secure the evidence.

I glanced at my assistant. “The footage?”

She rushed over and handed me a tablet. I tapped play, watching the security feed. A sharp smile touched my lips.

I flipped the tablet toward Four. He stared at the screen, his jaw clenching as his eyes darkened.

I turned back to my assistant. “Are the reporters in the main hall?” She nodded. 

I glanced at Four, and he gave me a subtle nod. Perfect. He understood without me having to explain a single word. 

I grabbed the threat note from the desk and walked out. My assistant led the way down to the main press room, which was packed with journalists.

She pulled the double doors open, and I marched straight up the aisle and onto the stage, stopping behind the glass podium.

I dropped the bloody note on the podium and looked out at the room as dozens of camera flashes burst in my face.

“Good day to you all,” I spoke into the microphone, my voice echoing through the speakers. “And bad luck to whoever made me call this press conference.”

The camera flashes doubled.

“I apologize for the sudden notice. But someone decided to send me a little welcome gift on my very first day as the CEO of Salvador Group.”

With a swipe on the podium control, the giant LED screen behind me flickered to life. The security video played, showing the box being opened, the dead snake, Four rushing into the room, and finally, a close-up scan of the note written in blood.

The video froze on the bloody threat, and gasps echoed through the room. I faced the crowd again.

“Any questions?” I asked, suppressing the urge to laugh out loud. Things were about to blow wide open.

A dozen hands shot up instantly. I pointed to a reporter in the front row. “Do you have any idea who sent this?”

“Oh, absolutely,” I said clearly. “It was a family member.” Another wave of shocked murmurs broke out.

“Who?” another journalist shouted out.

A wicked grin spread across my face. “Well, they should be bursting through those doors in about ten seconds. Shall we count down together?”

The hall went dead silent, confusion written on every single face. My grin only widened.

“10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.”

The second 'one' left my lips, the heavy double doors were slammed open, banging violently against the wall.

My smile turned lethal as I looked toward the entrance. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Eliana?!!” a furious voice roared across the room.

Loud gasps erupted from the press, cameras flashing like crazy, and my grin grew wider than ever.