. She sat in a quiet corner of the café, her fingers wrapped around a cup of coffee

of business deals gone awry, partners who had vanished without a trace, and a

asn't about to start now. Her laptop lay open before her, the screen glowing with scattered notes and articles s

uence stretching far beyond what the public knew. But Isla wasn't co

nce more. An old article mentioned a business partner, Viktor

sla's instincts screamed at her Viktor knew something. Just as she was about

ia. She had felt it before, the weight of someone's gaze lingering too long. Carefully, she glanced

nd an air of calculated detachment he

p slowly, forcing he

her to find. Good. Let him know she wouldn't be scared away so easily. Isla sto

nched? Or would it be wiser to pretend she hadn't noticed and use it to her advantage?

it her cheeks,

e urge to look over her shoulder. If Adrian

ca leaned back in his leather chair, watch

alist looking for a headline. She was relentless, di

tched as she moved through the crowd with a determined grace, aware but unshaken. A slow smirk curved

exhaled slowly, running a hand thr

sir." He tapped his fingers against t

uth, but she had no idea she had alread

ay untouched. His obsession with h

with the devil, he would oblige. But he would set the rhythm. Isla's s

being screamed at her to run, to slip into the shadows and disappear, but she forced herself to mai

eet vendors shouting, cars honking but she felt isolated i

in the shop windows she passed, catc

Taking a sharp turn down an alleyway, she pressed her

the alley. Closer. Closer. Isla moved swiftly, stepping out of the shadows. "Who are

didn't

ted his sunglas

Miss Romano." "Following someone isn'

d, forcing her to tilt her

re you shouldn't." A chill raced down h

do better than sending one

s about scaring you?" He leaned in slightly, lowering

your night," he said before turning on his heel and walking away, disa

e was toying with her. And that was far

tension in Isla's posture, the way she tried to hide her fear but still s

en." He reached for his p

too close to the truth bring her to me." His lips curled into a slow, satisfied smil