Chapter 5 Chapitre 5

There was nothing smooth or rational about Draven Blackthorn 's business world. It was a wild arena where every word, every gesture, could mean victory or fall. Lyana quickly understood this as she observed him from the shadows. Since their marriage, she had little interaction with him, but she was not blind. The constant comings and goings in the mansion, the muffled conversations that stopped as soon as she entered a room, and the furtive glances of the employees were enough to give her a glimpse of the unforgiving universe in which Draven reigned supreme.

She found him in his office that morning, his phone pressed to his ear, papers scattered across his desk. His voice, low and sharp, sounded like a falling blade. He did not immediately notice her presence, or perhaps he pretended not to see her. She stopped in the doorway, fascinated in spite of herself by the aura he gave off.

"If you don't want to lose your place in this market, I advise you to revise your offer immediately. You know what I'm capable of, right? » he said calmly, before hanging up.

He then looked up at her, his hard features relaxing slightly into an expression that seemed almost amused. "Did you come to check on me, Lyana? »

She crossed her arms, trying to look more confident than she felt. "I want to understand what's going on here. »

Draven rose from his chair, walking around the desk to stand in front of her. He was tall, imposing, and the difference in energy between them was palpable. "What's going on here? It's simple: I win. Always. »

She looked at him, her heart beating faster. "What if you don't win? »

A warm smile touched his lips. "That's not an option. »

Their exchange was interrupted by a knock on the door. A man entered, around fifty, his features marked by worry. He handed Draven a document.

"We have a problem, Mister Blackthorn . Redstone Corporation has launched a counter-offer on the Phoenix project. »

Draven grabbed the papers, his jaw clenching as he quickly flipped through the pages. "Idiots... They think they can outsmart me? Alright. Lyana , come out. »

She frowned, hating being pushed aside like she was just a piece of furniture. "And why should I leave? »

He stared at her, his dark gaze full of tension. "Because it's not your world. »

These words resonated in her more than they should have. Before she could respond, he had already turned away, diving into an urgent conversation with his employee. Lyana left the room, furious. Wasn't this his world? Fine, she was going to prove otherwise.

Later that day, while exploring the grounds of the mansion, she came across a group of men in elegant suits near the fountain. They spoke in terms she didn't fully understand, but a few words caught her attention: " Redstone ", "sabotage", "revenge". She stopped, hiding behind a bush to listen.

"If we strike now, he will be vulnerable," one of the men said, his tone full of condescension.

Another nodded. "He thinks he's invincible, but every man has a weak point. »

Lyana felt a knot forming in her stomach. They were talking about Draven , that was obvious. But who were they? Competitors? Spies? Before she could ask any more questions, one of the men turned in her direction, and she hurriedly backed away, narrowly missing tripping over a root.

She returned to the mansion, her mind racing. If Draven was in danger, should she warn him? No, he probably wouldn't listen to it. But could she just ignore what she had just heard?

That evening, while Lyana was dining alone in the dining room - a habit she hated -, Draven made a dramatic entrance, pushing open the double doors with a brusque gesture. . His face was dark, his eyes glowing with an intensity that rooted her to the spot.

"What did you do?" » he asked, his voice low but vibrating with anger.

She put down her fork, frowning. "What are you talking about? »

He approached her, his presence dominating the room. "I heard that you met some men in the gardens today. What did they tell you? »

She stood up, refusing to be intimidated. "Why should I tell you? This isn't my world, is it? »

His lips tightened, and for a moment she thought he was going to explode. But instead he burst out laughing, a dark, joyless sound.

"You are playing a dangerous game, Lyana . »

She stepped forward, her eyes burning with challenge. "And you, Draven ?" What game are you playing exactly? »

Their confrontation reached a breaking point. He leaned towards her slightly, his breath brushing against her skin. "You think you're standing up to me, but you're only scratching the surface. »

A strange tension settled between them, a mixture of anger, defiance, and something else she didn't want to name. Their proximity made her heart beat faster, and she hated herself for the way her body reacted to him.

He finally pulled back, breaking the moment. "If you want to stay alive, Lyana , stay out of this. »

She watched him leave, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the hallway. But one thing was certain: she wouldn't stay out of this. Not now, not ever.