CHAPTER FIVE — UNEXPECTED DANGER
The morning light felt different in Donovan Tower. Harsh. Precise. A reminder that nothing in Emilia's life was ordinary anymore.
She woke slowly, muscles stiff, her thoughts still tangled with the previous night—the gala, the whispered threat, the way Ares had appeared beside her like a shadow no one could see but her.
Her black folder sat neatly on the desk, the rules staring at her silently. Seven lines, seven warnings. She couldn't stop thinking about the man who had approached her at the gala.
He wasn't just bold. He was dangerous.
And Ares…
He hadn't told her. He hadn't warned her. Yet, the protective intensity in his gaze at that moment had frozen her to the spot.
---
Breakfast in Silence
The butler arrived promptly, offering breakfast without words. Emilia's hands hovered over the coffee cup.
Ares appeared moments later, dark suit impeccable, hair carefully tousled. He moved toward her with that controlled precision she had learned to recognize—the predator who wore a smile for no one, and yet, always one step ahead.
"Morning," he said quietly, voice low, almost intimate.
"Good morning," she replied, feeling her throat dry.
"You look… prepared," he commented, eyes scanning her from head to toe. Not a compliment, not a judgment. Just observation.
"Prepared?" she asked, unsure if she should take it as praise.
"Prepared enough," he said, finally breaking eye contact. He reached for the folder and slid it toward her. "Review the schedule. Today moves quickly. You need to anticipate, react, and remember the rules. Every step matters."
She swallowed, the weight of the rules pressing down harder than any outfit, any gala, any societal expectation.
---
The First Twist
The elevator ride to the lobby was tense. She had barely touched the folder when her phone buzzed—a single message, unfamiliar number.
You were warned. Leave now.
Her stomach lurched. Another threat. Another shadow creeping into her life.
Before she could process, Ares's hand was on hers. Not gripping, not threatening, but grounding. His thumb brushed hers lightly.
"You received a message," he stated.
"Yes," she whispered.
He didn't panic. He didn't flinch. But his eyes darkened, stormy and unreadable.
"Do not respond. Let me handle it."
Her pulse raced. Handle it… how? He wasn't a man who showed fear, ever. But she could feel the tension coiling in his body like a wire ready to snap.
---
The Drive — Tension on the Streets
The black car swept through the city with an urgency she hadn't experienced before. Ares sat silent, jaw tight, eyes forward, fingers drumming lightly against his thigh.
Emilia tried to breathe, tried to focus on anything other than the unknown man, the warning, the sense of danger that seemed to wrap around them like smoke.
Finally, she asked, "Who… who would want to—?"
Ares's hand landed gently on hers again. His touch wasn't comforting. It was possessive.
"Someone from my past. Someone who believes they can take what's mine. Stay close. Remember Rule #1. Do not lie. Do not hide anything. You must be honest—always."
Her chest tightened. Honesty with him wasn't just required. It was survival.
---
The Office Encounter
They arrived at Donovan International, the lobby as imposing as ever. Security glanced at Ares briefly, then allowed them to pass. Every step felt magnified in Emilia's mind.
Sloane Reyes met them in the executive wing, smiling with his usual charm but eyes wary.
"You heard about the message?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," Emilia replied, unable to hide the tremor in her voice.
Sloane's glance flicked to Ares. "It's… serious."
Ares nodded once, curt. "I'll handle it. For now, you follow me, Emilia. Distractions are dangerous."
Emilia's stomach clenched. Distractions. She realized she was learning quickly that even small moments could cost her dearly in this world.
---
The Unexpected Threat Revealed
Ares guided her into a conference room, glass walls overlooking the city. He closed the door, and for the first time, Emilia saw the side of him few ever did—the intensity, the calculated threat assessment that went far beyond a man simply protecting his empire.
"This man," he began, voice low and dangerous, "has tried to hurt me before. He's bold, resourceful… and believes I owe him something. He wants to intimidate you as leverage. He doesn't know yet, but…"
He stepped closer, close enough that the heat of his presence pressed against her back.
"You belong to me now, Emilia. Anyone who tries to use you against me… will regret it."
Her pulse hammered, part fear, part adrenaline, part something else she didn't dare identify.
"You're… scary," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Ares didn't flinch. "No. Protective. Scary comes later if anyone crosses the line."
---
Rule Testing — Rule #1 in Action Again
He handed her a tablet, showing a live surveillance feed of a man moving near the building.
"You will observe. You will report. No assumptions. Only facts. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she said firmly, gripping the tablet like armor.
"Good. Rule #1." His eyes softened just slightly. "Do not lie. Never. If you see something… tell me immediately. No matter how small it seems."
She nodded. A shiver ran through her. The rules weren't just suggestions—they were lifelines.
---
The First Protective Act
Later that day, as she followed Ares into a boardroom meeting, she felt a presence behind her. A shadow. A glance to the side revealed nothing, yet she couldn't shake the sensation.
Ares's hand brushed hers briefly as he leaned close.
"Stay close," he whispered, low and commanding. "Do not separate from me. Not for a second."
She nodded, heart hammering. The thrill of fear mingled with something she didn't dare name.
Minutes later, Sloane intercepted a man trying to enter the secure area. Security quickly removed him.
Ares's stormy gaze lingered on Emilia for a heartbeat too long. She realized he wasn't angry at the intruder. He was angry at the possibility of harm touching her.
---
Emotional Connection Deepens
After the chaos, they returned to the penthouse. The city sprawled endlessly beneath them, beautiful, indifferent, and dangerous.
Emilia sat on the couch, exhausted. Ares didn't approach immediately. He didn't need to. The intensity in the room pressed against her chest like a living thing.
Finally, he spoke. "You did well today. You observed, you reported, you followed the rules. You survived your first test."
She blinked. "Test?"
"Everything in this arrangement is a test, Emilia. Your skill, your composure… your honesty."
Her breath caught. He wasn't just teaching her etiquette. He was teaching her how to survive him—and the world around him.
---
The Cliffhanger
As Emilia tried to process, a soft buzz from her bag interrupted the quiet. Another message.
We know she's yours. Don't get comfortable.
Her stomach dropped.
Ares's eyes snapped to hers. The storm she had learned to recognize—warning, possessive, dangerous—filled his gaze.
"This… isn't over," he said, voice low, teeth barely clenched. "And neither are we."
Emilia's heart pounded. She realized, with chilling clarity:
She hadn't just entered Ares's world.
She had entered his battles, his enemies, his obsession.
And the storm had only just begun.