Chapter 3: Shadows of the Past
The mansion hummed with tension the morning after the politician's death. Logan had barely spoken, moving through his halls like a ghost, his mind tracing the movements of the Crimson Lotus and the men who had taken him and his twin years ago.
Sofia bounced lightly down the corridor, carrying a tray of tea for the staff. "Morning, Catty!" she whispered, nudging her gently. "You look like you survived last night. Barely."
Catty managed a small smile. "I… I saw a lot."
Sofia gave a soft chuckle. "Yeah, that's an understatement." She glanced toward the study where Logan lingered, dark and still. "Best stay out of his way for now. Eyes like that… they cut deeper than any blade here."
Catty's gaze followed Sofia's. She had seen him yesterday, his amber eyes like fire, silent and commanding. And yet now, something made her stomach tighten.
---
Later, Catty was tasked with organizing the ledgers and files Logan had left from last night's research. The silence of the study pressed around her, heavy and suffocating. She had barely set down the papers when the door clicked behind her.
Logan stood there, tall, silent, his coat falling perfectly around him. The amber glow of his eyes caught the lamplight, making her breath catch.
"You…" he began, voice low, measured. "You've been here less than a week, and yet I see you watching things you shouldn't."
Catty swallowed. "I… I was just organizing the files, sir."
His gaze didn't waver, studying her like he was weighing her very soul. There was danger in his eyes, yes, but also… curiosity. Not approval. Not affection. Just a sharp, calculating attention that made her pulse race.
"You have a sharp eye," he said finally. "But curiosity in this house can be dangerous."
Catty nodded quickly. "I understand."
He stepped closer, stopping just short of her personal space, his presence overwhelming. "Do not let anyone use you," he said quietly, his voice almost a warning. "Not them. Not me. Survive first."
Then, as quickly as he had appeared, he turned and left, the silence settling back like a heavy curtain. Catty's hands shook slightly as she pressed them against the desk. Her heart raced, and yet, amid the fear, a strange spark of awareness lingered — she had been noticed, singled out, and perhaps, just for a moment, counted.
---
The day continued with the mansion's usual rhythm, but tension threaded every interaction. Isabella moved with her usual predatory grace, keeping a close eye on Catty, while whispers circulated among the staff — some subtle, some sharp.
Meanwhile, in the back office, Logan's team reviewed their next target, coordinating carefully. Ethan's protective gaze often drifted toward Catty, though he said nothing, while Mikhail tapped into encrypted feeds, preparing intelligence on the Crimson Lotus.
Valeria's message from the rival group still hung in the air, a shadow over the mansion's movements. Every step they took had to be precise, or someone would pay — and Logan's memory of the past, the kidnapping of him and his twin, sharpened every decision he made.
Catty returned to her quarters that night, the mansion quiet but alive with unseen eyes. She couldn't stop replaying the encounter with Logan. His warning echoed in her mind, mingling with the fear and curiosity that had brought her here.
And somewhere, beyond the walls, the rival group watched, waited, and plotted their next move. The game was far from over.