Chapter 3: A dangerous invitation

Sienna Raye's fingers tightened around the black envelope as she stepped out of Aurelius Tower and into the crisp night air. The city pulsed around her—bright lights, the hum of traffic, the distant wail of a siren—but her mind was focused on only one thing.

Kieran Drax had just handed her a key.

A key to the world he kept hidden.

The Midnight Masquerade at Blackwood Estate wasn't just an exclusive event. It was a place where power and secrecy converged, where deals were made in whispers and threats were delivered behind velvet masks. It was the kind of place where people like Kieran Drax thrived.

And if Echelon was real, if they truly existed… they would be there.

Sienna knew the risks. She had spent years digging into shadows, exposing the corrupt and untouchable. But this was different. This time, she wasn't just an outsider looking in.

This time, she was being invited.

---

Back in her apartment, Sienna placed the invitation on her desk and sank into her chair, her mind whirling.

She had spent months investigating Kieran Drax, trying to untangle the enigma he had built around himself. He was a man with power that extended far beyond the corporate world. A man whose name was whispered in the same breath as government figures and underground syndicates.

And yet… he had given her an opening.

Why?

She traced her finger over the elegant script on the invitation, her thoughts racing.

Did he expect her to be too afraid to go?

Did he want to control the narrative, to make sure she only saw what he allowed?

Or was this his way of toying with her? A slow, deliberate game meant to pull her deeper into his orbit?

A knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts.

Her pulse quickened.

It was late. She wasn't expecting anyone.

She reached for the small knife she kept in the desk drawer—just in case—before cautiously moving toward the door. Peering through the peephole, she saw a familiar face.

Liam Cross.

She let out a slow breath before unlocking the door.

"You shouldn't be here," she said, stepping aside to let him in.

Liam strode in, his usual cocky grin absent. "Neither should you."

Sienna crossed her arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Liam ran a hand through his tousled dark blond hair, his sharp blue eyes scanning her apartment before landing on the invitation still sitting on her desk. His jaw tightened.

"I heard you went to see Drax," he said, his voice low.

Sienna arched a brow. "And?"

Liam exhaled sharply. "Damn it, Sienna. You're playing with fire."

She smirked, though her stomach tightened. "I always do."

"This isn't like your other stories," he said, stepping closer. "This isn't just exposing corrupt CEOs or backdoor deals. Kieran Drax isn't just another billionaire with a few skeletons in his closet."

Sienna's gaze hardened. "Then tell me what you know."

Liam hesitated.

He had been her contact for years—an ex-cop turned private investigator who had fed her leads that most journalists could only dream of. But even he had limits.

"You don't want to do this," he said finally.

She narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't be here if you didn't think I already had."

Liam sighed, running a hand down his face. "Echelon is real, Sienna. And if you think you can just walk into their world and expose them like any other story—" He shook his head. "You won't walk back out."

Her pulse pounded, but she refused to let the fear show. "So you're telling me I should back off?"

Liam met her gaze, his expression serious. "I'm telling you to be smarter about it." He motioned to the invitation. "If you're really going to this thing, you need backup."

Sienna smirked. "Are you offering?"

Liam sighed. "I'm saying you need to be careful." He hesitated before adding, "Drax… he's not just dangerous because of his power. He's dangerous because he wants you in this."

Sienna felt a shiver dance down her spine.

That was the part she couldn't shake.

She had spent years chasing men like Kieran Drax. But this time, it felt different.

This time, the predator wasn't running.

He was waiting.

And the worst part?

Some part of her wanted to know why.

---

The night of the Midnight Masquerade arrived faster than Sienna expected.

Standing before the full-length mirror in her bedroom, she barely recognized herself.

The dress was unlike anything she usually wore—deep crimson, clinging to every curve, with a slit high enough to be dangerous. The mask was black lace, delicate yet mysterious, framing her sharp hazel eyes.

She was stepping into their world now.

And she had no choice but to play by their rules.

Slipping the invitation into her clutch, she took a deep breath and headed out the door.

---

The Blackwood Estate was breathtaking.

The mansion loomed like a shadow against the night sky, its grand entrance lined with torches that flickered in the darkness. Luxury cars lined the long driveway, their owners stepping out in gowns and tailored suits, their faces hidden behind intricate masks.

Sienna walked through the grand entrance, her heart hammering. Inside, the ballroom was drenched in gold and candlelight, the air thick with champagne, whispered conversations, and something else—something darker.

She felt it immediately.

A presence.

Watching.

Waiting.

And then… she saw him.

Kieran Drax.

Standing at the top of the grand staircase, dressed in a black suit and matching mask, his piercing gaze locked onto hers.

The room faded. The music, the voices—all of it disappeared in that moment.

He descended the stairs with slow, measured steps, cutting through the crowd like a shadow.

When he reached her, he didn't speak. He simply extended a hand.

Sienna hesitated.

She knew, deep down, that this was more than just a dance.

This was an unspoken agreement.

A step into the unknown.

And yet…

She placed her hand in his.

Kieran's fingers curled around hers, firm, possessive. A slow smirk played on his lips.

"Welcome to the game, Miss Raye."

Her breath hitched.

Because for the first time, she realized—

She might not be the one in control.

And worse?

She wasn't sure she wanted to be.