Chapter 34: Unraveling the Game
Ella didn't sleep that night.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind an endless loop of Adrian's warning and Liam's invitation.
Adrian wasn't just possessive.
He was afraid.
Not of Liam Carter.
But of what Liam represented.
A past she had buried. A man who once had power over her. And now, somehow, had returned at the exact moment she started working for Adrian.
Coincidence?
She doubted it.
By morning, she was done waiting for answers to come to her.
She would find them herself.
The Devil at the Office
The tension between her and Adrian was palpable when she entered the office.
He was behind his desk, looking perfectly calm, his suit crisp, his posture controlled.
But his eyes—those dark, stormy eyes—watched her like a predator waiting for its prey to make a move.
Ella wasn't in the mood for games.
She dropped her bag on the desk, folding her arms. "Tell me what you know about Liam Carter."
A flicker of something—satisfaction?—crossed Adrian's face. He leaned back in his chair. "You're finally asking the right questions."
Ella clenched her jaw. "I'm serious, Adrian."
"So am I."
He exhaled and then stood, his towering frame making the room feel smaller as he walked toward her.
"Liam isn't here by accident," he said. "Men like him don't just reappear without a reason."
Ella's heart thumped.
"And what reason would that be?"
Adrian hesitated. "He doesn't just want you back, Ella. He wants something else."
Something else.
Her skin prickled.
She wanted to believe Liam's return was a coincidence. That he had changed.
But deep down, she knew better.
No one changed that much.
"Stay away from him," Adrian warned.
Ella narrowed her eyes. "And if I don't?"
His jaw tightened. "Then you'll regret it."
She bristled. "Are you threatening me, Adrian?"
His voice was dangerously soft. "No, Ella. I'm warning you."
For once, she saw something else in his gaze.
Not just anger.
But concern.
And that scared her more than any threat ever could.
Liam's Intentions
Ella needed answers.
She wasn't going to play by Adrian's rules.
That afternoon, she met Liam in a secluded café outside the city.
He looked as smooth as ever—a picture of polished charm.
"Ella," he greeted with a knowing smile. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me."
She sat across from him. "Cut the crap, Liam. Why are you here?"
Liam chuckled. "Straight to the point. I always liked that about you."
She didn't respond.
He sighed, leaning back. "I wanted to see you. I missed you."
She raised a brow. "Try again."
His lips twitched. "Alright. Maybe I came back for a little unfinished business."
There it was.
The mask slipping.
Ella stayed still. "Business with Adrian?"
Liam smirked. "Now, that would be telling, wouldn't it?"
Something was very wrong.
Her fingers curled into fists under the table.
Adrian was right. Liam wasn't just here for her.
This was about something bigger.
And she was caught in the middle of it.
The Storm Waiting to Happen
When she got home that night, Adrian was waiting.
In the dark.
Sitting on the couch, one hand resting against his temple, looking every bit like a king surveying his empire.
Except he wasn't calm.
No—he looked furious.
He stood slowly.
"You met him."
Ella crossed her arms. "And?"
Adrian's eyes flashed. "And I warned you."
"Since when do I take orders from you?"
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Damn it, Ella. Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
"Yes," she snapped. "I'm finding out the truth. Something you refuse to tell me."
A muscle in his jaw ticked.
And then—before she could react—
He was in front of her. Too close.
His scent, his heat—overwhelming.
His voice was low, gravelly. "Liam isn't just your ex, Ella. He's a man who ruins everything he touches."
Her breath caught.
Because for the first time, Adrian didn't look just angry.
He looked… scared.
And that terrified her more than anything else.