The elevator doors slid open.
Instantly, Fina felt her breath stop.
A man stood in the center of the lobby... tall, tense, pacing like someone who had been waiting too long. His head snapped up the moment he heard the elevator.
His eyes widened. "Fina?"
Her heart dropped.
No. It couldn't be...
"Evan…?" she whispered.
Madrex's gaze shot to her so quickly she flinched.
Evan did not wait. He rushed toward her, face tight with worry and anger.
"Why weren't you answering my calls? What happened at your house? Your uncle told me..."
Madrex stepped between them like a wall, forcing Evan to stop abruptly.
"Touch her," Madrex said calmly, "and I'll cut off your hands."
Evan blinked, stunned. "Who the hell are you?"
Madrex did not move. "The question is who you are. And why you are shouting my employee's name in my building."
"Employee?".
Fina felt her stomach twist.
He already considered her his.
Evan looked around, confused, then focused on Fina.
"Why are you here with him?"
Fina swallowed. "Evan… it's complicated."
Madrex's tone dropped dangerously.
"Start explaining. Now."
Evan ignored him completely.
He looked only at Fina's eyes, soft with familiarity, worry, and something Madrex clearly did not like.
"I came because your uncle called me last night," Evan said breathlessly.
"He sounded terrified. He told me what happened. He told me the loan sharks came. He told me you were in danger, Fina."
Madrex's jaw tightened.
Evan continued, voice lowering.
"And he told me… something else."
Fina froze.
Madrex shifted slightly, eyes narrowing.
"What other thing?" Fina asked, her voice a thin whisper.
Evan glanced at Madrex, hesitating.
"This isn't something I should say in front of him."
Madrex's smile was slow and cold.
"Then you will say it upstairs," he replied.
"To both of us."
He snapped his fingers.
Two security guards immediately appeared.
"Escort him," Madrex ordered.
Evan tensed. "Fina, wait. Please just hear me out. There is something you..."
"Move," the guard said, pushing him forward.
"Madrex, stop!" Fina grabbed his arm without thinking.
He paused.
She dropped her hand instantly, but it was too late, he had already felt it.
His voice came out low, measured, dangerous.
"You are shaking," he said, almost to himself. "Because of him?"
Fina looked away. "No, I just... he is my friend. I have not seen him in years."
Madrex stepped closer, trapping her in his shadow.
"And he suddenly appears," he murmured, "with information about your parents."
Her breath caught.
"You think that's a coincidence?" he whispered.
Fina did not answer.
Madrex leaned down until his lips were beside her ear.
"We are going upstairs," he said, "and you are going to tell me everything you have been hiding."
She stiffened. "I'm not hiding anything."
Madrex smiled, a slow, knowing, terrifying smile.
"We'll see."
He placed a hand on her back.
Guiding, claiming and possessing.
Fina walked with him toward the elevator, heart racing, mind spinning, Evan's voice echoing down the lobby:
"Fina! Don't let him twist this... YOUR PARENTS... Fina!"
The guards dragged him out of sight.
The elevator doors closed.
Fina's heart dropped.
Madrex turned to her, eyes dark with an emotion she could not name.
"Your parents," he repeated softly. "Interesting."
The elevator chimed.
***
Madrex stared at Evan all suspiciously... "What is it about her parents?" He asked plainly while staring at his fingers
Fina was pissed, she held onto Madrex's hand and dragged him out of the office...
"Can you please stop getting involved in my personal issues" she screamed... Yes you helped me once but that does not give you the gate way guarantee to meddle in my life.
Madrex was amazed for the second time.. he smiled sheepishly... And his obsession grew.
"I'll meddle in your life when ever I want Fina... But for now I'll let your so called friend go" he said with a stern look on his face. "Don't mistake this for mercy."
***
They didn't speak until they were outside.
The glass doors of Madrex's building slid shut behind them with a soft hiss, sealing that world away. The street noise rushed in... cars, horns, voices but Fina still felt like she couldn't breathe.
Evan grabbed her wrist.
"Walk," he said quickly. "Don't stop."
"Evan..."
"Just trust me."
They moved fast, cutting through pedestrians, turning corners without slowing. Fina stumbled once, her heels clicking too loud on the pavement, her heart pounding harder with every step.
"Where are we going?" she whispered.
"Somewhere he won't hear us."
That made her chest tighten.
They ducked into a narrow café two streets away. Evan didn't order anything. He pushed her into a corner booth, sat across from her, and leaned in low.
"You are in trouble," he said immediately.
Fina let out a shaky laugh. "You think I don't know that?"
"No," he said. "You don't."
Her smile faded.
"What did my uncle tell you?" she asked.
Evan hesitated. Just for a second. Then he said, "He told me your parents weren't killed."
Her breath left her body.
"What?"
"They didn't die, Fina," Evan said, voice tight. "They disappeared. And they didn't disappear on their own."
Her fingers dug into the seat. "That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
The words sat between them, heavy and unreal.
"My uncle said… years ago, men came looking for them. Powerful men. Your parents ran. They hid you. And when they couldn't hide anymore…" Evan swallowed. "They sold the story of their deaths."
Fina shook her head. "You're lying."
"I wish I was."
Her vision blurred. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because someone's found you," Evan said quietly.
Her heart skipped.
"Who?"
Evan leaned closer. "I don't know yet. But it started weeks ago. People asking questions. Digging. And then suddenly…" He glanced toward the window. "You end up under his control."
Cold crept up her spine.
"You think Madrex..."
"I don't know," Evan cut in. "But I know this, your parents weren't ordinary and whoever is looking for you now… they're not either."
Fina's phone vibrated on the table.
She flinched. Unknown Number.
Evan's eyes snapped to it. "Don't answer."
The phone stopped then vibrated again.
Unknown Number.
Her chest tightened. "What if it's my uncle?"
Evan shook his head. "No. This feels..."
Her phone lit up with a message.
Unknown: You left my building.
Her blood ran cold.
Another message followed instantly.
Unknown: Where is Evan?
Evan stood abruptly. "We have to go. Now."
"Go where?"
"I don't know," he said. "But not here."
They rushed out the back door of the café, breaking into a run. Fina's lungs burned, panic screaming in her ears.
They turned into an alley.
Empty, too empty.
Evan stopped short.
"Wait," he murmured. "This isn't right..."
A hand grabbed him from behind.
Hard.
Fina screamed.
Another figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking her path.
Evan was dragged backward, struggling, shouting her name.
"FINA RUN!"
Her phone vibrated one last time in her shaking hand.
Unknown: I warned him.
Then the alley went silent.
Evan was gone, and Fina was alone.