Ghosts of the Past

Arabella stared at the city lights from her suite's floor-to-ceiling windows, but all she could see were memories.

Ten years ago.

A courthouse in Chicago.

A girl with nothing but a duffel bag, a ruined reputation… and a woman in red who handed her a way out.

Her name was Miranda Vale.

A power broker. A political fixer. A woman whose whispers could ruin senators and crown billionaires.

Arabella hadn't heard from her since.

Until now.

Her phone buzzed again.

Blocked ID.

Again.

Arabella ignored it.

Then a message appeared.

Room 1103. Four Seasons. One hour. Come alone. Or I start talking.

She didn't hesitate.

One Hour Later – Room 1103, Four Seasons Hotel

Miranda Vale was exactly as Arabella remembered.

Tall. Icy. Ageless.

She wore white now...not red... and her hair was tied into a sleek bun that screamed power and precision.

She sipped from a martini glass without looking up.

"I told you to come alone," Miranda said.

"I did."

Miranda's eyes flicked up. "You didn't bring Lucien Wolfe's guard dogs?"

"I didn't tell him."

"Good. Men like him don't like to share." She gestured to the seat across from her. "Sit."

Arabella obeyed, silently.

Miranda set down her glass and folded her hands. "You've made quite a splash. Red dress. Boardroom ambush. Social media fawning over your glow-up."

Arabella stayed silent.

"But you forgot one thing."

Arabella met her gaze. "What?"

"That the woman you are today only exists because of the deal we made back then."

Arabella's jaw tensed. "And you said I'd never have to pay it back."

Miranda's smile was slow. "Everyone pays eventually, darling. Especially the ones who think they've won."

Flashback – Ten Years Ago

Arabella is in tears.

A body in a lake.

Her fingerprints on a phone.

"If this gets out," Miranda had said, "you don't get to teach. You don't get to marry up. You don't even get to live free. You get prison."

"So what do I do?" Arabella had whispered.

"You disappear. I'll rewrite the story. But you owe me. When I call, you answer."

Arabella had nodded through her tears.

She never thought Miranda would actually call.

Present – Back in Room 1103

Miranda poured herself more vodka.

"You're not the only one with enemies now," she said. "Someone's asking questions. About you. About what happened in Chicago."

Arabella's stomach dropped. "Who?"

Miranda smiled thinly. "Juliette Langston."

Arabella blinked. "How does she even..."

"She's desperate. And dangerous. She hired a fixer to dig into your past. She found the name 'Miranda Vale.' She's close to finding the story I buried for you."

Arabella's voice trembled. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I don't care about Juliette. But I care about my name being dragged through the mud because you couldn't keep your enemies in check."

Arabella swallowed. "So what do you want?"

Miranda leaned forward.

"I want her silenced. Publicly. I want her humiliated. I want leverage. You have five days to find it. Or I do it my way.... and trust me, you won't like it."

Arabella stood slowly. "You're blackmailing me."

Miranda's eyes gleamed.

"I'm reminding you: survival is expensive. And sweetheart… your debt is long overdue."

Later That Night – Wolfe Enterprises Penthouse

Arabella stormed into Lucien's study, breathless.

He was reading on the couch, shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal that annoyingly perfect tattoo she'd never dared ask about.

"You're late," he said without looking up.

"I need your help."

He looked up.

Paused.

"What happened?"

Arabella sat down and didn't even bother hiding the shake in her hands.

"There's someone from my past. She's powerful. And she wants me to destroy Juliette faster than I'm ready to."

Lucien frowned. "Why?"

"She says Juliette's digging into my history. She's getting close to something dangerous."

Lucien set his book down. "How dangerous?"

Arabella's voice dropped.

"Deadly."

Lucien studied her carefully. Then stood.

He walked to his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a file labeled:

"JULIETTE LANGSTON – UNFILTERED"

Arabella blinked. "What is that?"

Lucien smiled darkly.

"Her real secrets."