Chapter 9 Shadows of the Past

Elena's hands tightened around the letter as the weight of its words sank in. "The storm is coming." What did it mean? What had Alexander's grandfather been trying to warn him about?

She glanced toward the door, where Alexander had disappeared moments ago. Her instincts screamed at her—something wasn't right.

She quickly folded the letter and slipped it into her coat pocket.

Taking a steadying breath, she crept toward the study's entrance. The dimly lit hallway stretched before her, the house eerily quiet except for the faint murmur of voices coming from the grand foyer.

She followed the sound, keeping to the shadows.

When she reached the edge of the stairway, she saw Alexander standing at the base of the grand staircase, his posture tense, his expression unreadable.

Opposite him stood a man she had never seen before.

Tall, with slicked-back hair and a dark suit that looked expensive yet subtly intimidating, he exuded an aura of power. But there was something else—something sinister in the way he carried himself.

Elena strained to hear their conversation.

"You're a hard man to track down, Lancaster," the man said, his voice smooth but laced with quiet menace.

Alexander's jaw tightened. "That's because I don't want to be found."

The man chuckled, as if amused. "And yet, here you are—back in the house you swore you'd never return to." His gaze flickered around the foyer. "It's poetic, really."

Elena's pulse quickened.

"Get to the point," Alexander said coldly.

The man took a step closer. "Your grandfather made promises, Lancaster. He made deals. And now that he's gone… someone has to uphold them."

Elena's breath caught. Deals? Promises?

Alexander's expression didn't waver. "I don't owe him anything. Whatever agreements he made, they died with him."

The man tsked. "That's not how this works." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, sealed envelope. "Consider this a friendly warning. There are people who are very interested in what happens to Lancaster Industries. And let's just say… they won't take kindly to being ignored."

He held the envelope out to Alexander, who hesitated before taking it.

"Open it when you have a moment," the man said smoothly. Then, with a smirk, he added, "Oh, and congratulations on the engagement. I hear your fiancée is quite the woman."

Elena's blood turned to ice. How did he know about her?

Alexander's entire body stiffened. The look in his eyes was deadly. "Stay away from her."

The man simply smiled and turned toward the door.

As he stepped outside, Alexander let out a slow breath and clenched his fists.

Elena knew it was time to reveal herself.

She stepped forward. "Alexander."

He turned sharply, his expression momentarily surprised before softening. "Elena."

She descended the stairs, stopping in front of him. "Who was that?"

Alexander's gaze darkened as he glanced at the envelope in his hand. "Someone I thought I'd never have to deal with again."

Elena crossed her arms. "And yet, he knew about me."

Alexander exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. "I was trying to keep you away from all of this."

Elena reached out, touching his arm. "I don't want to be 'kept away,' Alexander. If we're in this together, then I need to know what's going on."

He studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Alright. But you might not like what you hear."

He led her back into the study.

Alexander sat on the leather couch, running a hand through his hair. Elena took a seat beside him, waiting patiently as he gathered his thoughts.

Finally, he spoke.

"My grandfather was more than just a businessman. He operated in… gray areas."

Elena's stomach twisted. "What kind of gray areas?"

Alexander hesitated, then sighed. "Lancaster Industries was built on legitimate business. But behind the scenes, my grandfather had partnerships with powerful people—people who didn't always follow the law."

Elena's grip on her lap tightened. "Like criminals?"

Alexander's jaw tensed. "Yes."

She swallowed hard. "And that man tonight—he's one of them?"

Alexander nodded. "His name is Vincent Morello. He runs an organization that my grandfather had dealings with for years. I don't know the full extent of their relationship, but I do know one thing—Morello doesn't let debts go unpaid."

Elena's pulse quickened. "And he thinks you owe him something."

Alexander clenched his fists. "Exactly."

Silence stretched between them.

Elena reached into her pocket and pulled out the letter she had found earlier. "There's something else," she said hesitantly.

Alexander frowned as she handed it to him. "Where did you get this?"

"In your grandfather's desk."

He unfolded the letter, his expression unreadable as he read his grandfather's words.

By the time he reached the end, his hands were trembling.

"The storm is coming," he murmured.

Elena bit her lip. "What do you think it means?"

Alexander's eyes met hers, and for the first time, she saw something she had never seen in him before.

Fear.

"I don't know," he admitted. "But I think we're about to find out."