Chapter 9: All Eyes on Me

*Aryanna*

Nathan’s arrival stopped everything. The room went still like a tight wire, just waiting to snap. I saw it in their faces—the flicker of surprise that didn’t quite hide the confusion underneath. Lisa, always so smug, faltered for a second. Her lips pressed together like she was trying to swallow something bitter.

Even Jim, who just moments ago looked ready to throw me to the wolves, sat straighter as if Nathan’s appearance meant something more than it did. His fingers drummed lightly on the desk, unsure if they should reach for power or retreat.

“Mr. Miller sent me,” Nathan said pointedly. It was a statement, not an invitation for questions. His eyes swept the room before landing on me. There was recognition, which was good. “He wants to speak with you about the collaboration. Personally.”

Lisa’s face froze. There was no way to hide her anger now, the sharp twitch in her jaw giving her away. Darren Miller wanted to speak to me, not her. Nathan was there for me, and that was the wound she couldn’t pretend didn’t sting.

Jim cleared his throat, his voice strained with forced professionalism. “Well, if Darren Miller himself wants to talk to Aryanna–”

“Miss Kyle,” Nathan corrected, cutting him off. “The details are already arranged. There’s no need to keep the rest of you informed, although…” He trailed off, eyes flicking to Jim with a pointed look. “No means to offend, but I just heard your conversation. It seems the current situation with Miss Kyle might not make this meeting necessary.”

The room froze, a small, loaded silence stretching thin. I saw it in Jim’s face—the split-second flash of panic. He hadn’t expected Nathan to say something like that. He didn’t expect Nathan’s words to carry so much weight.

His reaction was immediate. The air in the office shifted as he practically leaped from his seat, his stiff posture melting into a clumsy attempt at damage control. Lisa was left stewing, her face going from smug to stiff as Jim abandoned her without a second thought.

“Oh, Nathan,” he said quickly, his voice straining for some version of warmth and confidence. “I’m not sure what you may have heard, but Miss Kyle is one of our top new hires. She is extremely qualified.”

I watched him stumble over his words, grasping for a way out. He looked at me now with a newfound urgency like I was suddenly the golden ticket he was about to lose.

“We’ve had nothing but praise for her. Aryanna-Miss Kyle has been dedicated from the moment she arrived. If Miller Corporation wants to continue our collaboration, she will, of course, be the one handling the business for Darren personally.”

Nathan didn’t answer right away. He stayed there, calm as a statue like he was in complete control. After a moment, he turned his attention back to Jim. “Mr. Miller wants to meet with Miss Kyle personally,” Nathan said, his voice as cool as ever. “I’m here to take her to Miller Mansion.”

I didn’t miss the way Lisa’s face tightened at the mention of Darren’s mansion. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes flaring with something between annoyance and pure spite. I could practically hear her thoughts boiling over in frustration. If looks could kill, she’d have me buried already.

Jim’s face, on the other hand, lit up like Christmas morning. It was clear that this was exactly what he wanted to hear. “Miller Mansion? Of course, of course.” His tone shifted instantly, oozing false enthusiasm. “This is wonderful news. Aryanna-Miss Kyle, you’ll take care of everything, won’t you?”

I met his eyes, and he was practically begging me to succeed now as if we hadn’t just been discussing my dismissal moments ago. “We’ll be counting on you to make this work,” he added, leaning forward. “If you can convince Mr. Miller to renew our partnership, I’ll see to it personally that your efforts are rewarded.”

Lisa stiffened beside him. I glanced at her just long enough to let her see that I knew. I could feel her rage, thick in the air like static waiting to strike. But I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

Jim droned on. “In fact,” he continued, his voice eager, “if you manage to secure the contract, I’ll be more than happy to promote you. Partner, Aryan-Miss Kyle, you’ll be made a partner in this firm.”

The desperation in his tone was almost laughable. He had instantly gone from being ready to fire me to dangling promotions in front of me like bait.

“I’ll do my best,” I said, my voice calm and neutral.

Behind me, Lisa exhaled sharply like she was holding back a comment that was burning on her tongue. I didn’t need to look at her to know what was going on in her head. She was furious, and I was walking away with exactly what she wanted: Darren’s attention. Nathan’s eyes flicked between us, gauging or curious, perhaps. “Then let’s not waste any more time,” he said, stepping back toward the door. He looked at me, waiting. It was clear he was finished with Jim’s groveling, and so was I.

I nodded once, turning on my heel, and followed Nathan out.

As soon as we stepped out of the office and into the quiet hallway, I took a breath. My head was buzzing, and my heart was beating. It was something else—something that burned like ice pressed against the skin for too long. Anger, maybe. The cold kind that seeped into your bones and lingered, wrapping itself tight around your chest and making it hard to breathe.

Nathan walked beside me, his posture professional, but I could feel him stealing glances. He didn’t say anything, not at first. This was the first time I’d sit down and speak to Darren, after all. I couldn’t tell if it was the anticipation or the raw fury boiling in my gut that was making my heart race.

We stepped outside, the chill in the air snapping me back to the moment. A sleek black company car was waiting at the curb. Nathan opened the door for me, and I slid into the backseat. He followed, settling into the seat beside me as the driver pulled away from the curb.

The silence in the car stretched heavily. I stared out the window, trying to focus on the blur of the city rather than the thoughts swirling inside me. But it wasn’t working. My fingers twitched, and my nails were digging into my palm. If Nathan noticed, he didn’t say anything at first.

After a beat, his voice cut through the quiet. “You seem tense.”

It wasn’t a question, just an observation spoken casually, but I could hear he was concerned or at least trying to be friendly.

“I’m fine.”

He was quiet for a second, probably weighing whether or not to push. I saw him glance at me out of the corner of my eye and then back out the window. “It’s normal to be nervous,” he said after a moment. “First time meeting Darren… He can be… intense.”

I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Intense isn’t the word I’d use.”

Nathan raised an eyebrow, clearly curious, but he didn’t push. Instead, he shifted slightly in his seat, his gaze still fixed out the window. “He’s not as bad as people think,” Nathan said, his voice softer now. “He’s just… particular.”

I nodded, but inside, my thoughts were spinning. Particular? That was one way to describe someone who destroyed everything, betrayed my family, and ruined lives like it was nothing.

“I’m not scared of him,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I just want to get this over with.”

Nathan’s eyebrows lifted in mild surprise, and then there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You’re not like most people who meet Darren for the first time,” he said, his tone almost amused. “Most of them are terrified.”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t tell him that fear wasn’t what was clawing at me right now. It was the urge to do something I’d been planning for years. Something that made my fingers itch.

Nathan glanced over again, his eyes sharper now. He was watching me more carefully, trying to figure me out. I kept myself as unreadable as I could.

“You know,” he said after a beat, “I’m not just Darren’s personal aide. I’ve known him since we were kids. He doesn’t trust many people, but once you’re in his circle, he’ll go to hell and back for you.”

I let that hang in the air, processing it. Nathan was trying to humanize him, painting Darren as someone more than the cold, ruthless CEO everyone saw. But that wasn’t the Darren I knew. The Darren I remembered was the one who ruined everything.

“He sounds… complicated,” I said finally, choosing my words carefully.

Nathan let out a small laugh. “That’s one way to put it.” He paused for a moment and then added, “You don’t have to be on edge. This meeting is just about business.”

Just business… He had no idea. I forced myself to smile like I was taking his advice to heart.

Nathan leaned back against the seat, nodding. The car hummed along, the city blurring past in streaks of headlights as we headed toward the Miller Mansion. I leaned back against the leather seat, forcing my hands to relax in my lap. My fingers had been digging into my palm for too long, leaving faint crescent moons pressed into my skin. The pressure eased as I unclenched, but it didn’t help much.

Every now and then, I caught Nathan’s eyes flick toward me. He wanted to know who I was and where I came from. I could see the question written on his face.

After a long stretch of silence, his voice cut through the quiet. “You haven’t been with the firm long, have you?”

I kept my eyes fixed out the window, watching the glassy surfaces of high-rise buildings give way to sprawling estates. It was a different world yet familiar. I felt a twinge of something, a flicker of memory. I immediately buried it.

“No,” I said. “Not long.”

“And before then?” Nathan asked.

I shifted slightly, my fingers finding the hem of my skirt, tugging at the fabric absently. I felt the car’s smooth glide beneath me, the hum of the engine a low, constant buzz. I focused on that for a second to think.

“I had a lot of part-time jobs,” I finally said. “Enough to support myself. Paid my own way through law school.” I paused, glancing briefly at Nathan. He was watching me closely. “I grew up in foster care. So… it was just me, figuring things out as I went.”

There. That was likely enough—a simple, clean version of the truth. It was enough to satisfy him without giving too much away. The last thing I needed was Nathan—or Darren, for that matter—knowing who I really was. Charline Lambert no longer existed.

Nathan stayed quiet for a moment, brows furrowed. He was trying to read between the lines, but I’d given him just enough to keep him from digging too deep.

“That couldn’t have been easy,” he said finally, more thoughtful now.

I shrugged, my fingers still tracing the hem of my skirt, smoothing out invisible wrinkles. “It wasn’t. But it is what it is. I’m here now.”

He nodded, his eyes flicking back to the road ahead. “Self-made. I respect that.”

I left it at that, not responding. Instead, I focused on the landscape outside, watching the sprawling green lawns and massive iron gates, flowering landscaping, fenced-in estates, and clean, concrete driveways.

Nathan didn’t press me for more, and I was glad. I didn’t want to talk about myself right then, not when we were so close to the mansion—to him. And no sooner than I thought that, the car rolled to a stop in front of the wrought-iron gates.

I looked up at the towering gates of Miller Mansion, the iron bars stretching high above, imposing and cold. My heart tightened a little as I stared at them, the sharp edges of the estate framed by the clean-cut lawns and stone pathways. This place was a fortress. A kingdom in its own right, it was built on everything Darren took from people like me.

Nathan stepped out first. He held the door open for me and then gestured for me to follow. I walked after him as I stepped onto the paved driveway. The mansion was as beautiful as it was daunting, with clear bay windows reflecting the late afternoon light, and the heavy stone walls accented with complimentary trim.

“This way,” Nathan gestured as he led me to a side entrance away from the oak, gold-knobbed front doors. My eyes darted around to catch every detail, and the sound of my heels against the stone felt too loud in the quiet of this place.

When we entered the mansion, the air was cool and smelled of polished wood and faint cologne. Nathan didn’t say much as we made our way to the elevator—the one reserved for the CEO. It was Darren’s personal route through his empire. It was sleek and steel, tucked away in a corner like a secret most people weren’t allowed to know about.

The doors slid open, and we stepped inside. Nathan pressed the button for the top floor without looking at me, his eyes fixed on the panel. While seemingly another day in paradise, for me, it felt like stepping into the lion’s den.

The elevator hummed softly as we ascended. With each passing second, the small knot in my gut grew. The closer we got, the more my muscles tensed. My fingers twitched at my side, and I curled them into fists.

Nathan glanced over at me. “Nervous?”

I shook my head. “Not really,” I said steadily. “Just… ready to get this over with.”

He watched me for a second longer. “It’ll be fine.”

The elevator dinged as we reached the top floor. The doors slid open, revealing a long corridor lined with deep wood panels and gold, muted lighting. Nathan walked ahead, and I followed, my will steeled like an iron trap.

When we reached the double doors at the end of the hall, Nathan paused. He raised his hand and knocked—three solid raps. I squinted and took a small step back.

A voice sounded from behind the door.

“Come in.”

Nathan pushed the door open without a second thought, and we stepped inside.

Darren Miller… He was standing tall, dressed in a tailored black suit that clung to the sharp lines of his body. His eyes were cold and calculating, and he displayed a muted smile above a sharp, sculpted jawline. I could feel it in my chest—years of rage, pain, betrayal—pulsing under my skin like a second heartbeat.

And then he spoke.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Darren Miller.”

He extended his hand calmly like we were two strangers meeting for the first time. It was like he didn’t even remember who I was.

I reached out, my fingers slipping into his, my grip firm. I shook his hand like nothing had happened like this wasn’t the man who shattered my life. My face didn’t flinch, and my eyes stayed steady. I felt his grip tighten slightly.

“Nice to meet you,” I greeted him with casual confidence, which was an odd dichotomy. It was too calm and composed for what I was feeling underneath.

Darren watched me for a beat longer before letting go. A measured quiet followed, and my pulse pounded in my ears.

I bore a carefully curated mask designed to fool even the most insightful, but behind layers of lies, my mind flashed.

The crash…

I could see it like it was happening right in front of me again—my mother’s car spinning out of control. I could hear the screech of metal, and the sound of her scream cut short. Blood pooled around her, staining the road as I stood frozen, helpless. Her eyes were empty and distant. She was gone before I could even say goodbye.