Chapter 4 Lies And Betrayal

Zara's POV

Morning came faster than I expected, but I couldn't afford to show any weakness as I stepped into Knight Enterprises.

I couldn't shake Sebastien's insistence for a meeting replaying itself in my mind over and over again, the knot of anxiety inside me refusing to let go.

Something was wrong. And I could feel it in my bones today.

The second I entered through those marble doors that were glistening so much, literally, every head turned looking at me.

The air was tense, but I ignored it, keeping my chin up.

My little black dress was tight enough to make it known that I wasn't here to play around.

The elevator ride to the top floor had never seemed so long, every soft ding of the passing floors a reminder that my time was slipping away before I'd have to face Sebastian Knight again.

The man was lethal. And far too astute for his own good.

As the doors slid open, my heart pounded against my ribcage. Sebastian's office loomed before me, its heavy glass doors already parted as if he'd actually been expecting me.

I stepped inside, and there he was, Sebastian, his back to me by the floor-to-ceiling window, an early morning light bleeding around him like liquid mercury.

He didn't turn when I came in, but the sharpness of his form let me know that he knew I was there.

"Miss Morgan," he said, his voice smooth but cold like ice cracking across a frozen lake. "You're late."

I swallowed, forcing a smile as I approached his desk. "Traffic."

He finally turned to face me, his blue eyes narrowing as they locked onto mine. "I don't like excuses."

I stiffened. I had to tread carefully here. "I'm here now. What's so urgent?"

Sebastian moved closer, his presence suffocating in the most electrifying way.

He stopped just a breath away from me.

Close enough I could feel his body heat, close enough I could feel the snap of tension in the still air.

"You've been busy," he murmured softly, his voice full of something dark. Something threatening.

"Care to tell me why?"

My heart leaped into my throat.

Had he found out? Did he know about Noah? About the files I'd been digging through? I couldn't let him see my fear. I had to stay in control.

I looked into his eyes and asked him, "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, zara. I don't like playing games," Sebastian said, looking into my eyes, trying to see if there's a flicker of any weakness.

I didn't break his gaze. I wouldn't. "I'm not playing games."

His hand shot out, fingers curling around my wrist in a flash, the same way he had grabbed me in our first encounter.

"Don't you dare lie to me," he growled, low, as the infinitesimal distance between us decreased. "I know you're hiding something."

I bite my lips nervously, this was not going according to plan.

Sebastian was getting too close, too suspicious.

"I'm not-"

The door to Sebastian's office flew open and hit the wall with a loud bang, interrupting me.

I turned around to see Noah Hale himself in the doorway, his face hard as his eyes quickly shifted back and forth between Sebastian and me.

The whole room seemed to change, there was such a feeling of tension you could almost feel the battle going on in between them both.

This was dangerous. I hadn't planned for Noah to be here- especially not like this.

"Noah, what do you think you're doing here?" Sebastian's voice was ice, his body coiled tight with tension.

Noah walked inside like Sebastian's fury wasn't something he should be scared of.

He smiled that arrogant, maddening smile he knew I detested. "I thought I'd drop by. Check on the competition."

"Get out," Sebastian snapped, stepping between us like a wolf guarding its prey. "This is my office."

"Relax, Knight," Noah added, "I'm just here for a chat."

I thought it would come to blows. I could see both of them struggling for dominance, spinning in tight orbits like rival predators.

But it wasn't all about rivalry for Noah. This was about me. About the twisted game we were all playing.

"Talk about what?" I asked, stepping forward and cutting through the dead atmosphere with my voice.

Noah's eyes went to mine, and a glimmer of something like laughter danced inside them. "You."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What the hell is going on here, Zara?"

I went to reply, but Noah beat me to it. "You didn't think you were the only one in control, right, Sebastian? Zara's not as dumb as you think she is."

Sebastian's head whipped around to mine, and I felt the full force of his suspicion crash onto my shoulders.

He didn't know everything. But now, thanks to Noah, he was starting to piece it together.

I needed to take control. Fast.

"I can explain." I rushed the words, stepping between them both before things got ugly.

"Go on." Sebastian's voice was just as dangerous, and he took a step forward.

"Because it looks like you've been playing both sides."

Noah chuckled darkly, pushing off the doorframe and strolling deeper into the room. "Don't be so surprised, Sebastian. You've been sloppy."

"Shut your mouth, Noah," I shouted, glaring at him.

He was pushing this too far. I needed to diffuse the situation, not escalate it.

But Noah wasn't backing down. He was enjoying this far too much.

"Zara and I," Noah continued, his eyes gleaming with mischief, "we have a common goal; you were just too blinded by your ego to see it."

Sebastian's face turned dark, his fists clenching at his side. "Get out," he muttered, almost too low for you to hear him.

For a moment, I thought Noah might actually listen. But then, with one last smirk, he turned and strolled back toward the door. "This isn't over, Knight. Not by a long shot."