Chapter 3 Playing A Dangerous Game

Zara's POV

It was so tense in the air I almost couldn't breathe. Noah's eyes turned black as coal, and he looked down at me, squeezing my waist harder as his lips got closer and closer to mine.

The scorching heat of his body dipped lower, and I could still smell traces of whiskey on his breath.

My pulse raced. I wasn't supposed to feel this way, especially not around him. But I needed to keep my wits about me.

Noah Hale wasn't just a man, he was a tool. A means to an end. I couldn't let my guard down, not now, not ever.

that

Still, my body betrayed me.

His touch sent a shockwave of excitement through me, a fire I hadn't expected to ignite. This was not part of the plan.

"You're playing with fire, Zara," Noah whispered against my ear.

"So are you," I countered, forcing myself to step away from him. I needed to stop this. Not with him. "Let's not waste time, Noah. What's your move?"

He smirked, eyes gleaming as he strolled toward the polished bar and refreshed his glass. It was obvious that he trying to see if I'd put up with him teasing me.

I hadn't come here to mess around. And I'd never have admitted it, but there was something about being in the lion's den that thrilled me.

"You want to destroy Sebastian Knight." It wasn't a question. Noah's voice was low, predatory.

He sipped his whiskey and leaned against the counter, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race.

"Why else would I be here?" I shot back, crossing my arms over my chest. "You hate him just as much as I do."

"Hate? Hate is a weak word for what I feel for Sebastian," Noah said, his eyes hardening. "But you, Zara... What drives you to go against him? Is it just business? Or is there something more?"

I paused, reflecting on the agony, the disloyalty that had left wounds in my life.

This wasn't a business transaction, and he knew that.

But I couldn't show him my cards, not yet.

"It doesn't matter why," I said, my voice steady. "What matters is that we both want the same thing."

He smirked, clearly intrigued by my evasiveness. "You're right. It doesn't matter why. What matters is how. And I think you're underestimating just how dangerous Sebastian can be."

I swallowed, resisting the urge to glance away. I knew how dangerous Sebastian was.

I had felt it in his touch, seen it in his eyes. But Noah didn't need to know that.

"You let me worry about Sebastian," I said, my tone cold. "Tell me what you know."

For a moment, Noah said nothing, just staring at me with those something eyes. Then, slowly, his mouth stretched into a smile. "You are as ruthless as you are pretty." I admire that."

I shrugged off the compliment and kept my expression blank as he moved closer again. He set his empty glass down this time and came to stand beside me after only a couple of strides.

I have access to a certain kind of information." He whispered, his voice like silk. "Information that could ruin Sebastian. But it'll cost you."

I met his gaze, refusing to back down. "I'm not playing your games, Noah. If you want to bring Sebastian down, then do it. If not, I'll find another way."

His eyes sparkled with amusement, and he chuckled, low and dark. "I like you, Zara. You have fire. But be careful. That fire can get you burned."

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my bag. I frowned, stepping away from Noah to retrieve it.

The caller ID made my heart stop. Sebastian. I looked up at Noah, and he regarded me in silence.

"I better get this," I said quietly, moving aside as I took the call.

"Miss Morgan," Sebastian's voice was like velvet on the other end, smooth and dangerous. "I hope you're not too tired from our encounter earlier."

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath. "I'm fine, Mr. Knight. What do you need?"

His laugh made my neck hair stand straight up. "You can begin by telling me where you're at right now."

I froze. How could he possibly know?

I looked at Noah, and he just lifted an eyebrow, waiting, not saying anything. "I'm... home," I finally managed to say, my voice steady but pulse screaming otherwise.

"Are you now?" Sebastian's tone was laced with amusement. "Funny. I was just in the area. Should I drop by?"

My pulse quickened, and panic set in. He couldn't know. He couldn't find out I was with Noah. "I'm just about to head to bed, Mr. Knight," I said quickly. "Perhaps another time."

There was a long pause before he spoke, and I held my breath, hoping he would buy the lie. "Alright," he finally said, but I could hear the doubt in his voice. "We will pick this up tomorrow. Get some rest, Miss Morgan."

The line went dead, and I released a breath I didn't know I had been holding as my heart continued to race inside of my chest. Noah was staring at me knowingly.

"Sebastian?" he guessed, clearly amused. "You're in deep, Zara."

I shot him a glare. "It's none of your concern."

He shrugged, stepping back toward the bar to refill his glass. "Just be careful. Sebastian Knight doesn't play fair. And he doesn't lose."

I already knew that.

But neither of them knew I didn't play fair either.

-------------

The next morning, I sat at my desk outside of Sebastian's office and ran last night over in my mind.

Noah's gaze on me. Sebastian's voice that sent shivers up my spine... I was walking a razor-sharp line between control and chaos.

And I didn't know which way I'd fall.

Suddenly the door to Sebastian's office swung open and he walked out, his blue piercing eyes found mine.

"Miss Morgan." He said in a voice like honey. "Join me in my office. We have much to discuss."

I stood there, my legs a little wobbly as I tentatively stepped inside.

I heard the door close behind me and it was like there was so much tension in the air. "I don't like being lied to," Sebastian's voice came out, low, lethal.

I froze, my heart hammering inside of my chest. Did he know about Noah? Was this it? The moment everything fell apart?

I pulled myself together and answered carefully, "I don't know what you're talking about."

He moved closer to me and pined me against the wall.

His fingers grazed mine as he spoke into my ear. "Oh, but you do," he murmured softly and evenly, causing a shudder to roll down my spine. "I always find out."

My breath caught but I kept that steady eye contact between us. This was about determination; I wasn't going to wither away.

"Are you accusing me of something, Mr. Knight?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

His lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile as he leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin.

"I'm warning you, Zara. You're in my world now.And in my world, no one escapes unscathed."

I swallowed hard. Everything within me told me to turn and run but I couldn't. I had to stay put.

I'm not scared of you," I whispered, but it wasn't true.

He smiled then, a smile promising danger and allure. "We'll see about that."

As he walked away, I realized something terrifying.

This game I had started? It wasn't just about revenge anymore. It was about survival.