Aria sat in her office, staring at the note from the shadowy figure still resting on her desk. The words echoed in her mind—You're asking the right questions. But the answers will cost you more than you're prepared to pay.
The weight of the warning settled over her, but she pushed the fear aside. If he thought he could intimidate her, he was wrong.
Miles entered, holding a tablet, his face set in a grim expression. "We ran a complete security sweep like you asked. No breaches in your office or penthouse, but your car…" He hesitated.
Aria leaned forward. "What about it?"
"Someone disabled the alarm system for exactly four minutes between 9:42 and 9:46 PM. The only problem? None of our cameras caught the intruder."
Aria's fingers tapped against the desk. "No footage at all?"
"Nothing. It's like whoever did this knew exactly how to avoid detection," Miles admitted. "That level of precision means we're dealing with someone experienced."
Her eyes narrowed. "Or someone with access to inside information."
Before Miles could respond, Connor, her head of security, entered the room. "Ma'am, we have another issue. One of my men found something near your building's parking lot—on the fire escape of the adjacent building." He placed a small USB drive on her desk.
Aria exchanged a glance with Miles before picking it up. "It wasn't there before?"
Connor shook his head. "Checked the footage. Someone dropped it last night after you left the bar. Again, no clear visuals of who it was."
Miles plugged the USB into a secure system, running a scan before opening the only file it contained. A single video played.
The footage was grainy, but the voice was clear. It was Logan, speaking to someone on the phone.
"You think I don't know he's using me? That he plans to get rid of me next?" Logan's voice was sharp, filled with frustration. "I need insurance. Something to hold over him. Aria's downfall should have been secured by now, but if she keeps pushing back, he's going to shift his attention. And if that happens, I'm as good as done."
The call ended abruptly, but it was enough.
Miles exhaled. "Logan's losing control. He's scared of the shadowy figure now."
Aria leaned back, processing the revelation.
"He knows he's being used, but he's too deep in to get out."
Connor crossed his arms. "The question is—who gave us this footage? Logan wouldn't be stupid enough to let this leak. Someone wants us to know he's vulnerable."
Aria stared at the screen, deep in thought.
"And that someone might be closer than we think."
----
Across the city, Logan slammed his phone down, his patience wearing thin.
Damian watched him with mild amusement. "Trouble in paradise?"
"Shut up," Logan snapped, running a hand through his hair. "He's not responding. He always responds."
Damian sighed. "Maybe he's finally tired of babysitting you."
Logan's jaw clenched. "I need leverage. If I don't prove my worth, I'll be next on his list."
Damian's smirk faded slightly. "And what exactly do you plan to do?"
Logan hesitated before exhaling. "If Aria wants to play hardball, I'll give her a reason to regret it."
Damian watched him for a moment before standing. "Careful, Logan. Pushing her too far might not end the way you expect."
Logan didn't reply. He knew that already. But at this point, he had nothing left to lose.
----
Later that night, Aria received another message. This time, it wasn't left in her car—it was slid under her office door.
She unfolded the crisp white paper, her heartbeat steady as she read the words.
You're looking in the wrong direction. Every step closer to the truth pulls you deeper into a game you can't win.
No signature. No sign of who delivered it. But the message was clear.
Miles was the first to react when he saw it.
"He's taunting you."
"Or testing me," Aria murmured. "Either way, I'm done playing by his rules."
As if on cue, her phone buzzed with an incoming call. Damian Cross.
Aria answered, keeping her tone neutral. "This better be important."
"Meet me at the penthouse in an hour. There's something you need to see," Damian said, his voice smooth as ever.
She hesitated, but then nodded. "Fine."
----
At the penthouse, Damian poured himself a drink as Aria entered. He gestured to the couch. "Sit."
"I don't have time for games," she said, crossing her arms.
"Neither do I." He slid a folder across the table. "Logan is spiraling. He knows he's being used, but he doesn't know how to get out. And now, he's desperate."
Aria opened the file. It contained transaction records, encrypted messages, and notes linking Logan to an unknown offshore account.
Damian leaned back. "He's trying to buy himself out of trouble. Or at least, buy himself an escape."
Aria studied him for a long moment. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because Logan isn't your biggest problem. He's a puppet, and when his strings are cut, the real power behind him will move on—to you."
Damian's words should have reassured her. Instead, they only made her more suspicious.
---
The next morning, Julie stormed into Aria's office, eyes blazing.
"You can't trust him," she snapped, slamming a file onto the desk. "Damian isn't who he claims to be."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "That's not news."
Julie exhaled sharply. "No, listen to me. He's manipulating you. I went through his past statements, his so-called 'tips.' There are inconsistencies in his story. He's feeding you just enough truth to make himself look like your strongest ally, but he's keeping you in the dark on the most important parts."
Aria frowned. "What parts?"
Julie leaned in. "He's always one step ahead of your next move. He knows too much, too quickly. That USB drive? That video? What if it wasn't given to you by an unknown source? What if it was placed there by him?"
Aria's stomach tightened, but she didn't let it show.
That evening, she called Damian to her office.
When he arrived, she got straight to the point.
"Who are you really working for?" she asked, her voice cold.
Damian didn't flinch. "What are you talking about?"
"You always have answers before I ask the right questions. You always seem to know exactly when to step in. Tell me the truth, Damian. Are you playing both sides?"
He exhaled slowly, tilting his head. "I expected this, you know. The moment you started trusting me, you'd look for a reason not to."
Aria's fists clenched. "I don't trust anyone. But I trust patterns. And yours don't add up."
Damian studied her for a moment before stepping closer. "You want the truth? Here it is—I don't work for Logan. And I sure as hell don't work for the man using him. But I do work for myself. And right now, my best interest is keeping you alive."
His voice was steady, unwavering, and for the first time, Aria hesitated.
He reached for his drink and smirked. "So, tell me, Aria. Are you really ready to play this game without me?"
She didn't answer. Because deep down, she knew the truth.
Damian was dangerous. But cutting him off might be even more dangerous.