The red carpet event was toning down, but the tension in Ethan's chest refused to fade. Glasses jingled, laughter echoed, and the last notes of the string quartet lingered in the air, but Ethan felt none of it. All he could think about was Adrian Kane,the man who had appeared like a storm in his life and left lingering heat that unrattles him in ways he couldn't imagine.
He moved through the full crowd, bringing up casual interest in conversations about investments and mergers, but his gaze kept flickering toward the balcony where Adrian had disappeared to. Ethan's instincts screamed at him that the night wasn't over, that Adrian's presence wasn't a coincidence.That is the beginning
Then, a shadow of movement caught him off guard. A waiter carrying a tray of champagne froze mid way, his gaze wandering past Ethan to a shadowed corner of the room. Ethan followed the gaze of the waiter's eyes and he froze.
A figure stood near the grand staircase, partly concealed by darkness. Not Adrian. Someone else. Someone is watching him .
Ethan's mind raced. Is this connected? Was Adrian testing me? Or am I being paranoid?
The figure disappeared before Ethan could come closer, melting into the shadows as if it had never been there. A terror ran down his spine. Whoever,or whatever,it was, that was watching him, it had observed him, studied him.
He tried to shake it off. The red carpet was coming to an ending, and he had to maintain appearances. With a forced smile, he finds his way out through the crowd toward the exit, greeting a few remaining guests, nodding at familiar faces. But the terror in his chest grew heavier with every step.
Outside, the city lights reflect like the mirror of the red carpet chandeliers. Ethan stepped into the terrace, hoping the cool air would wash away his negative thoughts. Instead, it made them them. He could still feel the bind with Adrian,the heat of Adrian's presence in his body, the hint of danger in his eyes.
And then it hit him: a small envelope came through silently under the terrace door. Ethan bent down, heart rate pulsing. The envelope was black, sleek, with no markings except a single word etched in silver:
"Watch."
What does watch mean "said Ethan
Ethan's fingers trembled slightly as he opened it. Inside was a single card, white and heavy, with a message printed in clean, precise letters:
"Tonight was only the beginning."
"More is to come"
A terror ran down his spine. Adrian Kane was no ordinary man, and the game he had just stepped into… was far more dangerous than Ethan could ever imagined.
From somewhere behind the terrace, the faint sound of footsteps echoed, and Ethan instinctively tensed. The shadows had eyes. And he was already in their sights.