Chapter 4 Unseen Desires

"You think I'm just another ruthless businessman, don't you?" He was speaking to Ayla, but his eyes were fixed on something far away that she couldn't quite see.

Ayla didn't know how to answer right away, so she thought about it. "I've seen what you've done, Lucas. I know what you're willing to do for this business. You don't really seem like you care.

Lucas laughed softly, but there was nothing behind it. "Empathy doesn't help you in my world, Ayla." The cold mask slipped for a moment, and his voice was coarser now. "I didn't come into this power. I was forced to do it. "People have always expected me to be perfect and carry on this legacy that was never mine to begin with."

Ayla could see how tense his jaw was and how tightly his hands were clenched. She had always known that Lucas was a powerful man, but this? This weakness was novel. It felt like he was revealing something very intimate with her for the first time.

"So, you're saying you didn't pick this life?" Ayla asked, her voice quieter now that she wasn't angry anymore.

Lucas shook his head. "I didn't." But I have to do it now. You don't know what it's like, Ayla. "To always be pushed, always be expected to prove yourself, and to live up to a legacy you didn't make."

Ayla swallowed, feeling bad for him but also not trusting him. Was this just a game? Was he telling the truth, though? She didn't know, but her heart started to race.

Lucas said in a quiet, almost sad voice, "I never wanted any of this, Ayla." "But I've been pushed into a corner."

His words remained in the air, making her chest feel heavy. For the first time, Ayla didn't know where her loyalty rested.

The stillness between them went on and on, full of something they both didn't want to talk about. Ayla looked at him, surprised by how honest he was for once. She had never expected Lucas to sound so weak and hurt.

Lucas too seemed to be having trouble deciding what to say next. He cleared his throat and sat up straight in his chair, never taking his eyes off of her. He didn't seem to be in charge this time.

"You're quiet," he remarked, as if he were daring her to say something. "What's going on up there?"

Ayla tried to say something, but nothing came out at first. She was too preoccupied fighting the feelings that were filling her chest. There had always been a strong, electric pull between them, but now it felt even stronger. It's dangerous.

"Why should I trust what you say?" Finally, she said it, but her voice was barely a whisper. "From the start, all you've done is push me away."

Lucas leaned closer, and their faces were only a few inches apart. His breath was warm on her skin. He said, "Because I'm not the man you think I am, Ayla." "I never wanted this... power." I never meant to hurt you.

Ayla's heart raced as she felt the fire between them rise. Everything about this time felt different and more intimate since he was so close and his comments were so strong. For a time, she almost forgot about their work boundaries and everything else. She could only think about how near his lips were to hers.

She took a step back without thinking about it, her body fighting the strong draw she felt towards him.

"I... I can't do this," she muttered, shaking her head and letting her words fade away.

Lucas stayed still. He only stared at her, and the look on his face was impossible to read. His eyes were locked onto hers with such intensity that it made her knees weak.

The moment lasted, heavy and wordless.

Ayla walked towards the door, her head racing with feelings. She had to work hard to get away from the tense mood in the room with each step.

"You should go home, Ayla," Lucas whispered behind her. His voice was lower now, almost kinder.

She stopped at the door, her hand on the knob, but she didn't turn to look at him. "I don't think I can stay here anymore," she said in a tight voice. "This place just doesn't feel right."

Lucas's words trailed behind her. "You can't just leave everything behind, Ayla." "You have things to do here."

She didn't want to hear that. Not right now. There were a million things she wanted to say, but all she could do was groan in frustration. She didn't want to talk about work any longer. Not when their personal lives were so mixed up.

"I'm not talking about work, Lucas," she added, her voice breaking. "I'm talking about everything else." This... stress. This pull we have. "I can't ignore it any longer."

There was a long silence. His face had transformed by the time she turned around. He was no longer acting cold and distant. Instead, he was being real and raw.

"I don't need you to trust me, Ayla," he stated in a quiet but forceful voice. "But you need to know why I'm doing this." Why I'm pressing for control. Why it has to be like this."

When she looked into his eyes, Ayla's heart raced. She had no idea what to say. She didn't know how to feel. She tried to shove him away with all her might, but something kept her in place. There was no doubt about the turmoil inside her.

Ayla's phone rang softly, breaking the silence in her flat. She looked at the screen. There was no name, only an unlisted number. She thought about it. It was late, but she felt like she had to answer because of something in her stomach.

"Hello?" Her voice was careful and exhausted from what had happened that day.

The voice on the other end was low and quiet. "Ayla," it said. "You need to pay attention."

Her heart raced and she froze. She knew the voice, but she couldn't put her finger on it. It pulled at the boundaries of her mind, like a dream that kept slipping away every time she tried to remember it.

"Who is this?" she asked, her voice shaking and a shudder running down her spine.

"You are closer to the truth than you think." But the voice told them not to trust anyone, not even Lucas. "You've gotten into something much deeper than you think." Your family and his family are all tied. "There is a real danger, Ayla."

Ayla's breath stopped. "What do you mean?" Who is this?

The voice paused for a moment before saying, "Ayla, your life is about to change forever."

The queue went dead before she could say anything.

Ayla gazed at the phone. The darkness in her flat felt colder and more oppressive. Her hands shook as she put the tablet down. She couldn't shake the impression that someone was watching and waiting for her. The mysterious message kept coming back to her head, and it felt heavy on her chest.

She attempted to understand what was going on. Who was telling her to be careful? Why? And what did all of this have to do with Lucas? There were a lot of questions in her head, but one thing was clear: things had just gotten a lot more perilous.

Ayla leaned against the kitchen counter and looked at the black screen of her phone. Her heart raced and her mind raced. The call had been upsetting, too secretive, and too important. She looked at the clock and saw that it was after midnight. She was so anxious that her mind was all over the place.

She had learnt to trust Lucas. Even while he seemed tough on the outside, she had seen glimpses of the man underneath: weak and lost in the storm of his father's demands. But what now? Doubt began to creep in. Was the warning in that phone call and the enigmatic message true? Was Lucas really who he looked like?

Someone knocked on the door and broke her thoughts. Her heart raced. She didn't expect anyone to come. "Trust me, Ayla," Lucas's voice rang in her head, bringing back memories of his warmth. Don't worry about it too much.

But now she wasn't sure if she could do it.

She opened the door gently and saw that no one was there. But there was a small envelope on the porch, sealed with dark red wax. She bent down to get it, and her heart raced. There was no name on it, only her address written on the front.

She shook as she put her finger under the flap. It was only a folded piece of paper. She hurriedly opened it up and read the short note: "You are not as safe as you think." Be aware of what's going on. Someone is watching.

Ayla's breath caught in her throat. Her mind was racing as she looked around the corridor.

She soon thought about Lucas. Was he a part of this? The thought of that made her uneasy. Her heart raced in her chest, and the panic that was growing clouded her judgement. Someone had been watching her. She didn't know how high the stakes were.

The door clicked shut behind her. She turned around to look at the vacant flat. The outer world now seemed too big and strange.

She didn't know who to believe anymore.