All Chapters of Behind The Mask : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Zara's POV I had no idea how I’d pull this off, but one thing was certain, Cassian was not going to win. Not this time.I hadn’t even gone through my old belongings. All I’d done was dust them off and shove the bag into the hidden drawer under my bed. A precaution. The last thing I needed was Cassian snooping around and stumbling across Zara’s life folded into neat piles.For the first time in weeks, I felt lighter. Seeing Raina had been exactly what I needed, like a hand reaching into the pit and dragging me out long enough to breathe.I threw myself into routine. Work. Training. Pretending. Forgetting Sterling, well, not forgetting, never that, but forcing myself not to linger on him. Not when too much was already at stake.Twice that week, I met Dominic for training. I didn’t even try to run. Instead, I learned. Because I knew Cassian was watching me from afar, cataloguing every move, and the surest way to disarm him was to bore him.A month slipped by quietly, life blurring into

Zara's POV The music pulsed low and seductive through the grand hall, laughter and champagne fizz crackling in the air. I couldn’t even spot Nico or Tessa anymore, they’d melted into the glittering sea of guests. I reached for another glass from a passing tray when suddenly, the space beside me shifted, that alluring scent. Sterling.“You look amazing,” he murmured.“I know,” I replied smoothly, taking a sip of champagne as though he didn’t unravel me from the inside out.That smile. Crooked, deliberate, the kind that could start wars. He lifted his drink, savoring me with his eyes before speaking.“About the proposal,” he said casually, “I’m yet to hear from you.”I tilted my head, my voice clipped. “Good thing this isn’t the office. Maybe check in with my secretary during working hours.”For a fraction of a second, something flickered across his face, maybe amusement. He exhaled through his nose, leaning just slightly closer, close enough for his cologne to stir something I refuse

Zara's POV I forced myself to breathe, steady and controlled. You’re Aria, I reminded myself. This is your life. They’re not looking through you. You’re just paranoid.Still, the weight of their stares lingered, even after the Emerald Group shifted their attention elsewhere.Sterling sat opposite me, every inch composed, his presence somehow louder than anyone else in the room without him even speaking. His Strategic Manager carried the presentation flawlessly, voice smooth and confident. I tried to focus on the slides, on the data, but my eyes kept dragging back to Sterling. By the end of it, the Emerald Group seemed impressed, nodding their approval before one by one gathering their things and gliding out of the hall. Their colognes and perfumes lingered in the air like smoke.Soon, it was just us. Silence stretched across the long table until Sterling finally spoke, his voice low and even.“Are you okay?”My spine stiffened. “Yes. Why?”His gaze didn’t waver. “You seemed… uncomf

Zara’s POVDominic returned not long after. He must’ve canceled his other sessions, because all his focus was locked on me.We got straight to work. My body moved fast, too fast. Mistakes piled on, clumsy and eager. Dominic told me to slow down more than once, his tone steady but firm, and I ignored him every time.By noon we were dripping with sweat. He ordered food, calorie-rich, clean, no junk. “Fuel, not filler,” he’d said, and I didn’t argue.We sat across from each other at the small table, steam rising from our plates. He leaned back, fork in hand, eyes narrowing slightly as if he was studying me beyond the training.“Somethin’ happen?” His voice carried that smooth weight.“What?” I asked, though I knew exactly what he meant.“Somethin’ got you this mad? You fightin’ ghosts out there.”I paused, staring at my plate. “I wish I could talk about it openly.”He nodded slowly, like he understood more than I was willing to say. “I get it. But trust me, best way to learn this, best w

Zara's POV When I returned home, I locked my door and shoved a chair against it, double protection, because trust was a luxury I couldn’t afford.Sleep was what I needed most. And for the first time in days, after my encounter with Sterling and my talk with Raina, I felt the faintest thread of calm. I let white noise hum softly from my phone and let it drown out the echoes until sleep finally claimed me.The next day, I slipped out of the office early and headed home. A short nap steadied my nerves, but my mind was already racing ahead.When I woke, I dressed carefully, choosing something simple, something that still let me straddle my bike with ease but carried the weight of intention.I slipped into a white woven short gown, delicate yet daring. The fabric hugged me lightly, its off-shoulder cut baring my collarbones like an unspoken invitation, while the long sleeves gave it a balance of elegance. The black belt cinched my waist, turning softness into statement.To sharpen the loo