Chapter 5 - The Trap at Dawn
The clock struck 3:00 AM.
The storm outside had only grown fiercer.
Rain lashed against the reinforced glass of the hidden vault.
Adrien stood by the steel desk, staring at the fraudulent invoice.
“Marcus,” Adrien murmured, tasting the betrayal like poison.
“He has been with me for ten years.”
“Loyalty means nothing when greed enters the room,” Maya said quietly, leaning against the filing cabinet.
Adrien looked at her.
There was a flicker of genuine respect in his dark eyes.
“You are far too smart to be scrubbing floors, Maya.”
“Life happened, Mr. Moretti. Bills piled up. The Moretti estate pays well.”
“It pays exceptionally well,” Adrien agreed softly.
“Tomorrow night, we host a dinner for the inner circle.”
“And Marcus will be there,” Maya stated.
“Marcus will be there,” Adrien confirmed.
“And we are going to trap him.”
“We?” Maya crossed her arms.
“I thought I was just the hired help.”
“You found the discrepancy,” Adrien stepped closer.
“That makes you my investigative partner now.”
“I want a raise,” Maya said deadpan.
Adrien actually laughed.
A deep, rich sound that transformed his cold face into something breathtaking.
“Done,” Adrien said.
“Double your salary.”
“And immunity if your men try to shoot me for holding a mop too aggressively?”
“Granted.”
“Good,” Maya whispered, suddenly realizing how close he was standing.
The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Adrien reached out.
His large, warm hand hovered just inches from her face.
His fingers gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from her forehead.
Maya’s breath hitched in her throat.
His touch was surprisingly gentle for a man whose hands had destroyed empires.
May you like
“Get some rest, Maya,” Adrien murmured, his gaze locked onto her lips.
“Tomorrow night changes everything.”
