A Game of Shadows

In the car,

Scarlett and Aveline exhaled sharply the moment Damien ended the call. The suffocating weight of his presence still lingered, even through the phone.

Scarlett was the first to react loudly, "F*ck!!" She cursed, slamming her hand on the dashboard.

Aveline flinched, her shoulder jumping as her heartbeat soared. She placed a trembling hand on her chest, trying to calm herself.

Scarlett's voice was laced with fury, her finger gripping the edge of her seat, "How twisted is he? How could he have someone follow you?"

Aveline inhaled slowly, her hands curling into fists in her lap. 'He could.' She thought to herself. 

"Aveline!?" Nathaniel Rousseau's voice came through Scarlet's phone speaker, his tone deliberate and careful.

He noticed the man keeping an eye on the ladies and following them out of the hospital. He immediately called Scarlett, asking if he should take action.

Aveline would have loved for Nate to intervene, but it would have alerted Damien. Thus, thinking in her shoes, she immediately contacted Damien and lied.

But the question remained– why was Damien having her followed?

He already had access to Laurent Industries, then why was he still micromanaging her? 

If Damien was tracking her over something as simple as visiting Scarlett's place and getting a check-up at the hospital, would she ever be able to gain her freedom?

Aveline's thoughts swirled in a dangerous vortex. She had spent two years with Damien, seen how he worked, and yet, despite knowing his nature, she had still slipped before the battle even began. 

The realization made her head throb. If he continued to follow her, how would she ever be able to help her father and brother?

"Linnie!?" Scarlett's voice jolted Aveline out of her endless thoughts.

Aveline's lips parted, her voice slightly hoarse, "Nate… Ah.. Thank you." She didn't know what else to say.

Nate wasn't done. His voice remained firm, testing the waters, "Couldn't you just file divorce?" 

Aveline pressed her fingers into her throbbing temple. It wasn't that simple. Asking for a divorce would further complicate things. More importantly, it would give Damien an excuse to cause more trouble and act more diligently.

Aveline responded, "Not the right time, Nate." Her voice was quiet but certain. She truly hoped the right time would come soon.

Nate didn't push her; instead offered something more solid. "I could send you a female officer. She will protect you disguised as a maid or an assistant, but you will need to find a way to get her into the house and keep her around you."

Aveline appreciated the idea of having someone who would also give her a sense of protection from Damien. But today, she had already triggered Damien enough. 

"I appreciate it, Nate. But please give me some time." She needed to assess the battlefield before making another move.

After a heavy pause, Nate warned her, "Then keep your eyes open, Aveline. Safety over everything."

Aveline took a deep breath and nodded, "I will be careful." She wasn't sure if she was assuring him or herself.

When the call ended, Scarlett let out a breath before shaking her head in disbelief, "He is supposed to be the dream man every girl wishes for." That's how Damien behaved with Aveline from the beginning.

Aveline's fingers twitched at those words.

The devil doesn't come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes as everything you wished for. And that's exactly how Aveline fell into his illusion for two years.

Scarlett glanced over her shoulder at the car that had parked just two spots away. "How about I call the cops? Say I'm being followed?"

"No." Aveline's response came out sharp – Too sharp.

If things escalated and the cops started investigating, Damien would target Scarlett to avoid trouble around him. Just the thought of it turned Aveline's body cold as ice. 

"You won't do anything against Damien. Whatsoever." She wasn't being protective of Damien, but of Scarlett.

Scarlett hesitated. "But…"

Aveline raised her hand, "No, Scarlett." The finality in her tone was unyielding. She would rather face Damien alone than put Scarlett in danger. 

Scarlett clenched her jaw. She knew Aveline well enough - If she pushed, Aveline would cut her off entirely, out of fear of getting her involved.

So instead, she bargained, "Could you at least keep me in the loop?" Otherwise, she will be worried sick.

The silence enveloped them. Aveline closed her eyes, her breath shaky. She was being a hypocrite.

The moment she confided in Scarlett, she had already involved Scarlett in her battle. Yet here she was, asking her worried friend to stay out of danger.

Tears welled in her eyes, rolling down her cheeks before she could stop them. "I'm sorry, Red. I don't know what's happening. I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm so lost right now." Her voice cracked. "I know I need help, but I don't want to put anyone in danger. I-I…"

Scarlett unbuckled her seatbelt and wrapped her arms around Aveline. "It's alright…" She whispered, gently rubbing Aveline's back. 

Turning from a sunshine girl into a ruthless, calculating woman didn't just require time. It required a twisted mind and unbreakable resolve to survive. 

Scarlett's voice was steady, "I and Nate will be there for you, Linnie." She assured her, "We are just a call and message away."

Aveline sniffled, nodding against Scarlett's shoulder. 

Scarlett shifted, checking the mirror, "We should keep moving. That guy will get suspicious."

Wiping her tears, Aveline started the car and headed toward the restaurant Damien had booked. 

….

At a fine-dining restaurant,

When they arrived, Scarlett barely resisted rolling her eyes as the restaurant manager put on a show about how generous and romantic Damien was, presenting them with a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine.

Scarlett grimaced when Aveline had to call Damien to thank him, to nurse his ego.

As they were leaving the restaurant, Scarlett suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her expression lit up like a fangirl spotting a celebrity. "It's her, It's her…" She yammered.

Aveline followed Scarlett's line of sight. A woman in her late thirties, poised and elegant, walked towards them. Her tailored designer suit was flawless, and her chestnut brown hair was neatly pulled into a sleek ponytail. 

There was no hesitation in her steps - only purpose.

Aveline's breath hitched. She recognized that aura. The woman from the Obsidian Clubhouse.

'Giselle.' She had left the card in the glove compartment of the car. But she hadn't seen the face.

"Who is she?" Aveline asked.

Scarlett whispered in awe. "She is a legend."

Aveline was quick to recall Scarlett's idol. "Lawyer Lancaster." She murmured as her eyes barely widened, "From Giselle and associates."

Giselle Lancaster.

Corporate & Criminal Defense Lawyer, and the founder of Giselle and Associates.

Despite being raised with privileges, Giselle worked relentlessly to carve her legacy in the legal world. She was a sharp and calculated legal powerhouse, always five steps ahead in every battle she faced. 

Giselle stopped right in front of them, her calm gaze sweeping over Aveline and Scarlett. 

"Lawyer Lancaster," Scarlett greeted Giselle without noticing frozen Aveline. 

Giselle nodded at Scarlett in response before her eyes settled on Aveline. She reached into her handbag and extended the event invite card to Aveline. "Aveline Laurent," She said smoothly, "Consider this an opportunity."

Aveline looked down at the elegant invite card in Giselle's hand, the embossed gold letters - NexGuard catching the light. Then she looked back at the woman. She does admire the woman in front of her, but she wasn't going to get tricked if Giselle was related to Damien.

"And why would you help me?"

A small curve of lips appeared on Giselle's face, almost impressed at the alertness of Aveline, who was crying her eyes out the previous night.

"I'm a corporate and criminal lawyer, Mrs. Ashford." Her voice was like silk, but her words were razor-sharp. "You won't find anyone better to fight the Ashfords. And I'm thirsting for a fine battle."

Aveline stared at Giselle. She realized Giselle knew a lot more from the night. Unfortunately, they weren't at the right location to speak. 

Meanwhile, Scarlett leaned in, excitement flashing in her eyes. "You should consider, Linnie. Giselle Lancaster isn't just a legend—she's the one who can destroy Damien." – without fearing Ashfords.

Aveline accepted the card, the caution evident in her eyes as she watched Giselle walk into one of the private lounges in the restaurant.

What was Giselle's true motive? 

Were their two encounters merely coincidental? 

Aveline gritted her teeth, her mind racing. She had never met Giselle before, yet their paths had crossed twice now. 

Was her every move altering the course of the future?

…

Inside the private lounge of the restaurant, 

A pair of sharp green eyes welcomed Giselle. Alaric set his drink down, exhaling slowly.

Giselle took the seat across from him, crossing her legs with effortless grace. Her long fingers wrapped around the stem of the wine flute. "She took the bait." 

Alaric's jaw tightened. "It's not bait." His voice was calm but firm. 

Giselle smirked. She swirled the wine in her glass. "Then let's see if you and your little sunshine are really on the same page."