Secret Arangements Novels & Stories

I lowered my gaze and whispered, "Sorry." His voice softened as he caught the tremor in mine. "Never mind. By the way, why don't you invite Luke? He's my old college buddy and your professor. You two can come together." He paused, then added, "Oh, and I listed him as the contact for your marriage documents. You can share the news when you pick them up." "He's not coming," I cut him off. Before Mike could reply, a shadow blocked the balcony's cool breeze. A low, magnetic voice boomed, sending a chill through me. "Not coming to what?"

"What?" "You are the first secretary I've hired. I don't like secretaries working for me!" Aryan said. He wasn't lying though. This company is only a cover up for the real business that he did. And he didn't have many people that he trust. In fact besides Dave, the only other person he trusted is Lucas. He can't have someone that he doesn't trust working so closely to him. What if his secretary figures out something and sells the information to one of his enemies? Aryan Seagrave is a man who has a lot of enemies. And one small mistake will cost not just his life but the lives of thousand other people. He definitely can't take that risk.

He answered unsurely, but Aria ignored his strange behaviour. “Great, I look forward to hearing from you.” Aria quickly drafted a meeting agenda which she would send to him when he got back to her before going back to the file that held a thousand secrets. ### Aria moved around her office robotically gathering items she’d need for her meeting, her mind was blank as she went about her tasks, not knowing how to feel about the revelations hidden between the covers of the arch file on her desk. Picking up a folder with important documents along with her tablet and handbag, she walked out with her lips set in a grim line.

Names that appeared for six months, then vanished into a clerk’s shrug. Sean’s pencil was an instrument, not a fidget. He circled dates, drew arrows between initials that repeated across departments. “This one—H.K.—signs off on ammo requisitions and rail clearances. H. Koerner? Kappel? Doesn’t matter yet.” “Geheimhaltungsstufe,” Silvia murmured, tapping a stamp. “Secrecy level. Tier three. You didn’t get that for experimental boots.” Terry mimed a rifle. “Long grey thing—pew pew—”

“Maybe it’s just someone trying to joke with me, but who and at such a time?” “Wait a minute, Scarr,” Vera quickly chipped in. “You don't think it's about…” At that moment, a nurse emerged through the door. “You can see him now,” she said. We all quickly stood up to leave for Ethan's room. As we entered the room, Ethan's gaze fixed on mine and then shifted to his mom. “Mom,” he said quietly, his voice faint. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Vera was suggesting, it couldn’t be. No one besides Vera, Dad, Grandma and I knew about that secret, and it was supposed to remain that way, so that text had to be a harmless joke, right?

Lily turned and walked out. I watched her leave, then pulled out my phone. I opened a secure line and made a call. "Phoenix? This is Aurora Arkin." It was the first time I had ever spoken my true last name inside Thorne Industries. "Yes. I need to consult you on a unilateral breach of secret investment contracts. Evidence? I have it all. Every contract, every wire transfer." I hung up and opened a hidden wall safe in my office. Inside were all the investment contracts signed under the "Arkin Trust."

“I’ve noticed. He kind of likes to annoy you.” “Oh, it’s his life mission.” Mrs. Fisher cleared her throat from the front. “Alright, who can tell me the first step?” Dead silence. I looked at my desk. Eye contact meant certain death and I wasn't prepared for that. Ella leaned closer, whispering, “I don’t get why letters get to hang out with numbers. It just feels wrong.” I smirked. “They call it algebra. I call it identity theft.” Her laugh escaped before she could stop it, and Mrs. Fisher’s gaze snapped to us. “Is something funny?”

"What do you suggest we do, my Lord? How can we ensure our secret remains hidden?" A devious smile crept across Lord Arcturus' face as he formulated a plan. "We must be more discreet than ever before, my dear. No more late-night rendezvous, no more moments of vulnerability. We shall become shadows in the darkness, whispers in the wind. Our act must remain hidden, buried deep within our hearts."

“Yes.” He got out, walked around, and opened my door. When I stepped onto the sidewalk, his hand settled on the small of my back. The touch was light, but it felt like a claim. People near the entrance glanced over. I kept my eyes forward. Inside, the air was cool and expensive. Low music. Soft conversations. The kind of place where deals were made and secrets were traded over drinks that cost more than most people’s rent. A hostess recognized Xavier immediately and led us to a corner table that gave a clear view of the room without putting us on full display.

Vivian My secretary knocked twice before she came in. I didn't look up at first. "We've completed the leak," she said. I kept my eyes on the window. The city block below was in its usual afternoon crawl, cars inching, people small as ants. "The specifics? All of it?" I asked. "As you requested. The marriage arrangement, the clauses tied to the Lancaster financial situation, the timeline. It's out." I finally smiled. I could feel it spreading slowly across my face.