Chapter 5 The Gallery's Warning

Lena's heart was racing as she listened to Max's conversation with the gallery. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The gallery was threatening Max, warning him to stay away from Lena and drop his investigation. As Max hung up the phone, his expression was grim. "We need to get out of here," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Now." Lena nodded, her mind racing with questions. But before she could ask any of them, Max grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the café. They walked quickly, weaving through the crowded streets of the city.

Lena's heart was pounding in her chest, and she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. As they turned a corner, Max suddenly stopped and pulled Lena into a nearby alleyway. "Wait," he said, his eyes scanning the street. "I think we're being followed." Lena's heart skipped a beat as she looked around the alleyway. It was narrow and dimly lit, with tall buildings looming on either side. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that they were trapped. Max's eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, Lena felt like she was drowning in their depths. "Don't worry," he said, his voice low and reassuring. "I'll protect you." As he spoke, Max pulled Lena closer, his body shielding hers from the street. Lena felt a surge of adrenaline as she realized that she was relying on Max to keep her safe. As they stood there, frozen in uncertainty, Lena heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the alleyway. They were light and cautious, but Lena's heart was racing with fear. Max's eyes never left hers as he slowly turned to face the street. Lena followed his gaze, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw a figure emerging from the shadows. It was a woman, tall and slender, with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She was dressed in a sleek black suit, and her expression was cold and calculating. "Max," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "I see you're still playing games." Max's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his body shielding Lena's. "What do you want, Sophia?" he growled. Sophia's smile was icy. "I want you to drop your investigation," she said. "I want you to leave the gallery alone." Max's expression was unyielding. "I won't do that," he said. "I won't back down." Sophia's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, Lena thought she saw a glimmer of something else, something almost like desperation. "We'll see about that," Sophia spat, before turning and disappearing into the night. As Lena watched her go, she felt a shiver run down her spine. Who was Sophia, and what did she want with Max? As they emerged from the alleyway, Max's eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, Lena felt like she was drowning in their depths. "We need to get out of here," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We need to find a safe place to hide." Lena nodded, her mind racing with questions. But as they walked, she realized that she was relying on Max to keep her safe, to protect her from the dangers that lurked in the shadows. And as she looked up at him, she felt a surge of adrenaline, a sense of excitement and fear that she couldn't ignore. Who was Max, really? And what secrets was he hiding?