CHAPTER 3
Aria's pulse still raced as she left her office building, the city lights reflecting off the glass surfaces around her. Her hands trembled slightly as she held her phone. Jayden's message replayed in her mind:
"Tonight will change everything."
The thrill of working with a billionaire had quickly been replaced by unease. Someone or something was waiting for her at the property. She hadn't seen anything, hadn't met anyone yet, but the words carried weight, the kind that made your stomach twist and your senses sharpen.
She tried to push the fear aside. I've handled difficult situations before, she told herself. This is just… new.
Still, the warning gnawed at her. Someone dangerous, waiting for her. Alone. Jayden had emphasized the word alone in a way that made it impossible to ignore.
The drive to the property was quiet, almost suffocating. Aria had taken a cab, refusing to let Jayden drive her, even though he had offered to. Her mind raced with questions: Who could be waiting? Why would they want me?
By the time she arrived at the gates of the estate, the night had fallen completely. The property was immense, surrounded by high hedges and dim lights that glimmered like distant stars. A cold breeze made her shiver as she stepped out of the cab.
She checked her phone one last time and found no new messages. Only the original warning, heavy in her mind.
The gates opened silently, almost as if they recognized her. Aria took a deep breath and stepped onto the property. The driveway stretched ahead, flanked by manicured gardens that looked too perfect, too controlled. Everything about this place screamed wealth and secrecy.
And danger.
Aria's heels clicked against the stone path as she approached the mansion. The lights inside glowed warmly, but she felt a chill run down her spine. She had been invited here, yes, but by someone she barely knew… someone whose life seemed tangled in power and danger.
A soft voice behind her made her jump.
"Aria."
She spun around. Jayden stood at the entrance, leaning casually against the frame of the door, as if he'd been expecting her all along. He looked impeccable, the faintest shadow of a smile tugging at his lips. But his eyes were different serious, calculating.
"You came," he said simply.
"I… I came," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "But I still don't understand. Why the warning? Who's waiting for me?"
Jayden's smile vanished. "Someone who thinks they can use you to get to me."
Aria's heart skipped. "Use me?"
He nodded. "Yes. They've been waiting for an opportunity. And tonight, they think they've found one."
Her hands tightened around her bag. "And what am I supposed to do?"
"Follow my lead," he said, his tone firm. "Do exactly as I say, and you'll be fine."
He opened the door, and Aria stepped inside, feeling the warmth of the mansion wash over her. The interior was breathtaking: high ceilings, minimalist furnishings, soft lights that glowed like liquid gold. Expensive art lined the walls, but it all felt… sterile. Beautiful, yes, but impersonal.
"Take a seat," Jayden said, gesturing to a sofa in the living room.
Aria hesitated, then sank onto the soft cushions, her eyes never leaving him.
"Do you need a drink?" he asked.
"Water is fine," she replied.
He moved to the bar and poured water for both of them. He handed her a glass, and their fingers brushed for a moment. A spark of electricity shot through her, and she pulled her hand back, almost embarrassed.
Jayden didn't comment. He just studied her, his dark eyes unreadable.
"You know," he said after a moment, "I didn't bring you here just to show you my house."
"I assumed as much," Aria said, her voice tight.
"No," he said, stepping closer. "I brought you here because tonight… is going to test you."
Her pulse quickened. "Test me?"
"Yes," he said. "You're smart, capable, and resourceful. But there's more at stake than your project. More at stake than your career. Tonight, you'll see why I've been careful… why I've been cautious."
Aria swallowed hard. "I don't understand."
"You will," he said softly. "Soon enough."
The sound of a car approaching made them both turn. Jayden's expression hardened.
"They're here," he said.
Aria's stomach dropped. She scanned the driveway and saw a black SUV pulling in slowly, headlights cutting through the night.
"They're close," Jayden said, moving to her side. "And they know you're here."
Fear clawed at her. "How do you know?"
"Because," he said, pulling out his phone, "they just sent me a message."
He handed her the phone. The screen displayed a live feed from one of the cameras outside the mansion. And in the view, Aria could see herself the cab, the stone driveway, the hedges. And there, in the shadow of the SUV, were two figures stepping out.
Her breath caught.
"They're waiting," Jayden said, his voice low, urgent. "And they won't leave without a fight."
Aria's fingers went cold around the glass she held. "A fight? What… what do you mean?"
Jayden didn't answer immediately. He moved to a control panel on the wall and tapped quickly. The lights in the mansion dimmed slightly, and a few hidden security doors clicked shut.
"You have to trust me," he said finally. "Do not move from my side. Do exactly what I tell you. Can you do that?"
Aria nodded, though her heart pounded. "Yes," she whispered.
"Good." He said.
The two of them moved quickly toward a side entrance, a smaller, less obvious door that led into the mansion's secured corridor. The sound of the SUV doors slamming echoed faintly in the distance.
Aria's mind raced. Why am I here? Why is this happening?
Jayden's hand found hers, and the touch was grounding. Warm. Solid. Somehow, it reminded her that even in this moment of fear, she wasn't completely alone.
"You're going to be okay," he murmured, his eyes dark and unreadable. "But you need to remember that tonight, everything changes."
They moved through a series of corridors, each one darker and more secure than the last. Cameras, sensors, locks Aria had never seen security like this in her life. Every step made her feel simultaneously safe and more aware of the danger outside.
Finally, they reached a reinforced door. Jayden tapped a code, and it slid open to reveal a room filled with monitors, radios, and a wall lined with maps and surveillance photos.
Aria's jaw dropped. "This… is like a war room." She said
"In a way, it is," Jayden said. "I don't normally bring anyone here. But you need to see the reality of the situation."
He gestured toward the screens. On each one, Aria saw glimpses of the city: streets, buildings, people she recognized. And then, her stomach dropped as she saw herself at her apartment, walking down familiar streets, even in the café she frequented.
"They've been watching you for weeks," Jayden said. "And now, they think tonight is the night they can get to me… through you."
Fear twisted in her chest. "Why me?"
"Because you're close," he said simply. "Too close to ignore."
Aria took a shaky breath. "And what… what do I do?"
"Follow me," Jayden said, moving toward a window that looked out over the property. Outside, the SUV had stopped near the main gate, the figures moving deliberately.
He handed her a headset. "You'll need this. Keep your eyes and ears open. Trust nothing you see until I tell you to act."
Aria felt panic rising. But beneath it, a small spark of excitement ignited. This is dangerous… but I can handle it.
Jayden placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ready?"
She nodded.
Outside, the night seemed darker than before. The SUV's headlights flickered across the driveway. The figures moved cautiously, but there was no mistaking their intent.
Aria's pulse raced. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to hide. But Jayden's presence beside her, calm, commanding, made her stay.
"They won't wait forever," he murmured. "And once they act… we'll have seconds to respond."
Aria swallowed. Seconds. Seconds to survive.
The SUV doors opened. Figures emerged, tall, imposing, and moving with precision. Aria could see weapons glinting faintly under the moonlight.
Jayden pulled her back slightly. "Remember what i told you, stay close. Don't speak. Don't move unless I tell you to."
Aria's mind was racing. This wasn't part of any plan she had imagined. But the thrill, the terror, and the closeness of Jayden made it impossible to look away.
Then, without warning, the power went out.
Darkness swallowed the room. The monitors went black. The lights outside flickered and vanished. The world became a void of shadows and unknown threats.
Aria's heart hammered in her chest. She could hear the SUV doors slam, footsteps crunching on the gravel, and the faintest metallic clink that made her blood run cold.
Jayden's hand tightened around hers. "Stay close," he whispered.