Chapter 0002: Beneath the Surface
Zara sat in her office, staring at the reports on her desk, but her mind was elsewhere. Ryan Daniel. There was something about him that unsettled her—a familiarity she couldn't place, a weight in his gaze that hinted at a past he wasn't willing to share.
Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts.
Ryan Daniel: Dinner tonight? I have something to discuss.
She hesitated. Was this about the investment, or something else? Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she finally typed a response.
Zara: Time and place?
The reply was instant.
Ryan: 8 PM. La Mer.
Zara exhaled sharply. She wasn't sure what she was walking into, but curiosity overpowered caution.
By the time she arrived, the restaurant was dimly lit, the warm glow of candles casting soft shadows on the walls. Ryan was already there, waiting, his suit impeccable, his expression unreadable.
"You're punctual," he remarked as she took her seat.
"I don't like to waste time," she replied smoothly.
He chuckled, but there was a seriousness in his eyes. "Neither do I."
A waiter arrived with the menus, but Zara barely glanced at hers. "What is it you wanted to discuss, Mr. Daniel?"
Ryan leaned forward, his hands clasped together. "I don't believe in coincidences, Zara. You and I—we were meant to cross paths."
She frowned. "That sounds… cryptic."
Ryan hesitated, then exhaled slowly. "I know who you are."
Zara stiffened. "Excuse me?"
He looked at her, unblinking. "You're not just a businesswoman. You're someone who understands loss. Someone who's had to rebuild herself from the ground up."
A shiver ran down her spine. "How do you—?"
"Because I've been there too." His voice was low, almost vulnerable.
Zara's breath hitched. The weight of his words settled over her like a heavy cloak. For the first time, Ryan Daniel didn't feel like an investor, a businessman, or a mystery to be solved. He felt real.
And that scared her more than anything else.
But before she could respond, her phone vibrated. An unknown number.
She glanced at Ryan, who suddenly looked tense. As if he had been expecting it.
Something was happening. And Zara wasn't sure she was ready for it.
Shadows of the Past
Zara hesitated before answering the call, her fingers gripping the phone tightly. "Hello?"
A distorted voice on the other end sent a chill down her spine. "Be careful who you trust, Zara Khan."
Her heart pounded. "Who is this?"
The call ended abruptly, leaving nothing but silence and an uneasy weight in the air.
Zara looked up at Ryan, who was watching her intently. "Who was it?" he asked, his voice calm but his eyes sharp with concern.
"I don't know," she admitted, placing the phone on the table. "But whoever it was, they knew my name."
Ryan's jaw tightened. He exhaled slowly before leaning closer. "You're not the only one being watched."
Zara's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"
He hesitated for a moment before answering. "There are people who don't want me involved in this investment… and now, they've noticed you too."
A shiver ran down her spine. She wasn't prepared for this—whatever 'this' was. Business deals didn't come with cryptic warnings and shadowy threats.
Ryan pulled out his phone and typed a quick message before looking back at her. "We need to be careful."
The restaurant's dim lighting suddenly felt suffocating, and Zara had the distinct feeling that her life had just taken a turn she wasn't ready for.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to think clearly. "Ryan, are you in danger?"
His lips pressed into a thin line before he nodded slightly. "It's complicated."
Zara exhaled sharply. "And now, I am too?"
Ryan looked at her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. "Yes. But I won't let anything happen to you."
For the first time, Zara saw something else in his expression—fear. Not for himself, but for her.
And that terrified her more than the warning call itself.
Outside, the wind howled against the glass windows. Somewhere in the distance, a car engine revved before fading into the night.
She had a feeling this was just the beginning.
Unraveling the Threads
Zara barely slept that night. The words from the mysterious call echoed in her mind—Be careful who you trust. The weight of the warning sat heavy on her chest, making every shadow in her apartment feel sinister.
By morning, she was running on coffee and determination. If someone thought they could scare her into backing away, they were mistaken.
At her office, she found an envelope waiting on her desk. No sender. No markings. Just her name.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened it. Inside was a single photograph—grainy, black-and-white, taken from a distance. It was her, sitting across from Ryan at La Mer the previous night.
Zara's breath hitched.
There was a note scribbled on the back:
"Some secrets should remain buried."
A chill crawled up her spine.
Just then, her phone rang. Ryan.
"You got a message, didn't you?" His voice was tight.
"Yes." Zara clenched the paper in her hand. "What's going on, Ryan? Who's watching us?"
A pause. Then, "Meet me. I'll explain everything."
She hesitated. The last time she met him, her life had shifted into something unrecognizable. And yet, curiosity—and something deeper—drove her forward.
"Where?"
"The abandoned pier. Sunset."
Zara swallowed hard. This felt like a trap. But she needed answers.
As she ended the call, a realization settled in her gut.
She had already stepped too deep into this mystery. Now, there was no turning back.
The Pier at Dusk
Zara arrived at the abandoned pier just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an eerie orange glow over the water. The place was silent, except for the occasional creak of wooden planks beneath her heels and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Ryan was already there, standing near the railing, his posture tense. He turned when he heard her footsteps, his expression unreadable.
"You came," he said softly.
Zara folded her arms. "I need answers, Ryan. No more half-truths."
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I know. And I owe you the truth."
He pulled out his phone and showed her a series of messages—threats, warnings, cryptic texts from unknown numbers. Some mentioned Zara by name.
"This isn't just about business," Ryan said. "Someone doesn't want me here. And now, they don't want you here either."
Zara clenched her jaw. "But why? What do they want?"
Ryan hesitated, then reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an old, worn-out photograph.
It showed a younger Ryan standing beside an older man with piercing eyes. There was something oddly familiar about him.
"This man," Ryan said, his voice low, "was my father."
Zara frowned. "And?"
Ryan took a deep breath. "He was murdered. Years ago. And I think the people responsible… are the same ones sending these threats."
Zara's heart pounded. "You think they're coming after you now?"
Ryan nodded. "And anyone close to me."
A gust of wind whipped through the pier, making Zara shiver. She had come looking for answers, but now, she was caught in something far more dangerous than she had imagined.
She wasn't just a businesswoman anymore.
She was a target.
A Game of Shadows
The weight of Ryan's revelation settled over Zara like a storm cloud. She gripped the old photograph, studying the man beside Ryan. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn't quite place it.
"Ryan," she said carefully, "who do you think is behind this?"
Ryan exhaled, leaning against the railing. "I don't have proof yet. But my father wasn't just a businessman—he was involved in something deeper, something dangerous."
Zara frowned. "And now, they think you're after them?"
Ryan nodded. "I came back to finish what he started. To expose the people responsible." He looked at her, his gaze intense. "But I didn't expect you to get dragged into this."
Zara crossed her arms. "Well, it's too late for that now."
A sudden rustling noise made them both turn. Footsteps—approaching fast.
Ryan grabbed Zara's wrist and pulled her behind a stack of wooden crates. They crouched low as shadows moved between the pier's lamplights.
"Stay quiet," Ryan whispered.
Zara held her breath as two figures appeared—men dressed in dark suits, their faces obscured by the dim light. One of them held a phone to his ear.
"Yes… they're here," he murmured.
Zara's stomach tightened. They weren't alone.
Ryan's grip on her hand tightened. "We have to move."
"But—"
Before she could finish, Ryan pulled her into the shadows, weaving through the abandoned docks as the footsteps grew closer. The men were searching for them.
Zara's heart pounded. This wasn't just a threat anymore.
This was a hunt.
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(To be Continue...)