Chapter 4 An Invitation to Danger

Morning arrives dressed in steel light. Valoria hums below Adrian's penthouse as if the city itself runs on secrets. He is at his desk reading a report but doesn't absorb them; the words dissolve into the image of Isabella Lane-her calm poise, the flicker of rebellion in her eyes.

He scrolls to a message already written, waiting only for his thumb to send. An invitation to join the Steele Foundation's new outreach team. A respectable reason. Could this be his only excuse to see her again? Or perhaps a risk?

With this in his mind he presses send.

*****

Isabella's phone vibrates across her kitchen table. The message appears like a door she didn't expect to open:

From: Adrian Steele

Subject: A proposal

"What the hell does he want? She mutters under her breathe already annoyed. Yes Adrian makes her go on a roller coastal of emotions. Today, she can be dreamy of him, but the next minute, she wants to put a knife in his throat.

She picks the phone up and decides to open the message anyways.

When she clicks open the message, she's kind of confused what its all about so she .... She reads it twice. Charity work, he calls it-coordination meetings at his estate, involvement in project planning. She knows what it means: access. Exactly what her handler wants.

Her pulse answers before her mind does. You wanted an opening. Here it is. Take it girl.

The phone rings again- this time it's her handler. "Speak of the devil".

She whispers to herself as she go ahead and takes the call.

"I will want you to look for means to get in his circle, that would be easier to operate"

"Yeah I know he just sent me an sms ..."

"Read your messages?" the voice asks.

"Yes."

"What does it say? The voice asks without hesitating.

"Ummm ... it's a proposal, and am con...."

"You'll accept it. This puts you where we need you." The voice echoes even before she could complete her sentence.

"I thought we were keeping distance." She asks looking irritated, which she can't show or voice out.

"Distance doesn't bring down men like Steele. Get inside the walls."

His tone carries no empathy, only purpose. She stares at the city through the window, the horizon blurred by fog. "Understood."

When the call ends, silence presses close. She whispers to herself, Just another assignment. Another mask. But her reflection in the glass doesn't look convinced. "Should I really take this chance?