11 Shadows

The knock sounded again—louder this time. It echoed through the hallway like a warning.

Gabriel's hand hovered at the handle, and I felt my heart in my throat. My pulse quickened, but I couldn't move. Every part of me froze, eyes fixed on him, waiting.

He opened the door.

Standing there was a man dressed in a black suit—sharp jawline, dark shades still on despite it being nighttime. His gaze moved from Gabriel to me, and then back again.

"Mr. Thorn," the man said calmly. "There's an urgent situation you need to address. It concerns your recent acquisition."

Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "Now?"

"Yes, sir. We've intercepted something."

He stepped into the hallway, pulling the door gently behind him but not closing it fully. I crept closer, ears tuned in, trying to catch the whispers between them. Their voices dropped too low to understand, but Gabriel's face went tight—his jaw clenched, and his shoulders stiffened.

After a few tense seconds, he stepped back inside.

"I need to go down to the security office," he said, grabbing his coat. "Wait here. Please."

"Is it… serious?" I asked.

His gaze softened for a moment. "I'm not sure yet. But don't open the door for anyone unless it's me."

Then he was gone.

I stood alone in the room, every second stretching painfully. What had they intercepted? And what did it have to do with Gabriel—or the company?

I paced the room, unable to sit still. My thoughts spun around Luca, Gabriel, the betrayal, the affair, the shares—my entire life had shifted in the span of a few days. Now there were knocks in the dark and security warnings?

I moved to the window. The hotel grounds below were quiet. Then—something moved.

A figure, dressed in dark clothes, stepped out from behind a parked car. They stood still for a moment, looking up. I took a step back instinctively, hoping I hadn't been seen.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: Are you safe?

I froze. Who was this? I quickly typed:

Me: Who is this?

No reply.

The silence in the room became unbearable. I turned away from the window and jumped—someone was knocking again.

But this knock was softer. Measured.

I moved cautiously to the door, pressing my ear against it.

"Aria?" It was a woman's voice. I recognized it.

"Emily?" I asked.

"Yes, it's me—open up."

Relief washed over me. I opened the door just enough to peek through—and it was her.

She slipped inside quickly. "I came to check on you. I had this weird feeling."

"Gabriel left. Something happened downstairs."

Her expression changed instantly. "What do you mean?"

Before I could explain, the hotel room phone rang. Loud. Sharp.

Gabriel had told me not to open the door for anyone—but he hadn't said anything about the phone.

I hesitated, then picked it up.

"Aria."

It was Luca.

My stomach turned.

"How did you get this number?" I asked.

He laughed bitterly. "I gave it to reception, of course. My name still means something here. Don't hang up."

"What do you want?"

"You and I need to talk. Not about the past. About the future. Your future."

"I'm not interested."

"I know who Gabriel is. And I know what he's planning."

I paused. "What are you talking about?"

"You think he's here for you? You think any of this was coincidence?"

His voice dripped with venom. "He's using you. He always was."

I gripped the receiver tightly. "You cheated on me, Luca. With my best friend. You have no right to speak about Gabriel."

"Look into his past," Luca said coldly. "If you dare."

He hung up.

I slammed the phone down, anger bubbling inside me. Emily looked confused. "What did he say?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I turned to the desk, grabbed my laptop, and began searching.

Gabriel Thorn – background.

Articles popped up—mostly business news. Billionaire. Orphaned young. Built his empire from scratch. Nothing sinister at first glance.

Then I found it.

"Rivalry Turns Personal: Thorn vs. Bennett"

Luca's last name.

My heart sank as I read.

There had been an altercation five years ago. A project gone wrong. Accusations of theft, betrayal, sabotage. Lawsuits were threatened but never filed.

I looked at Emily. "He's not just a rival. They had history."

Her eyes widened. "You don't think—"

The door burst open.

Gabriel stormed in, breathless. "We need to go. Now."

"What's going on?" I demanded.

He grabbed my hand. "I'll explain in the car. It's not safe here."

Emily stood up, alarmed. "Should I come?"

"No," he said firmly. "You'll be safer here."

I let him pull me out of the room, down the hallway, into the elevator. My heart was racing again.

In the car, the moment the doors locked, I turned to him.

"You knew Luca before."

He sighed, starting the engine. "Yes."

"You lied to me."

"I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you everything."

"That's the same thing, Gabriel!"

He hit the gas.

"Luca and I were business partners once," he said, eyes fixed on the road. "He double-crossed me. Cost me everything I had. I rebuilt from scratch. Then I found out he was marrying you—and I thought it was just coincidence. Until I met you."

"And sleeping with me the night before my wedding? Was that revenge?"

He slammed the brakes.

"No!" he shouted, then softened. "No. Aria… I didn't plan any of that. I was hurt. My ex had just left me. I came to that hotel to clear my head. I met you. And everything changed."

I didn't know what to believe.

"I just need you to trust me," he said.

We pulled up to a secluded office building. "Where are we?"

"Safe house. Private security. Come on."

Inside, we were led through a secure door by a guard. Then Gabriel stopped in front of a glass-walled room.

Inside was Emma.

My stomach dropped.

"What the hell is she doing here?"

"She came to me," Gabriel said. "An hour ago. Said she had something to confess."

Emma stood up inside the room and looked at me—eyes red, face pale.

I turned to Gabriel. "What did she say?"

"She said Luca never loved you. That the marriage was a front for a deal he wanted to make. That he never planned to stay faithful. And… that there's a bigger game at play."

I stepped closer to the glass, staring at Emma. "Why tell you?"

Gabriel lowered his voice. "Because she's pregnant."

I gasped.

"She's carrying Luca's child. And he threatened her. She wants out. She wants protection."

I couldn't take it anymore. My head spun.

Gabriel put a hand on my shoulder. "I don't know what happens next. But I promise, I'm on your side."

I looked back at Emma, then at him.

And I whispered, "Then let's end this."

As they left the secure room, the guard handed Gabriel a phone.

"Sir, you need to see this. Just came in from our surveillance team."

Gabriel pressed play.

On the screen: a camera feed of Luca… standing with a man in a dark alley.

That man was Gabriel's father.

But Gabriel's father was supposed to be dead.