Chapter 3 The First Signs of Control

The days that followed felt like a blur to Madia. She threw herself into work, handling the mountain of responsibilities that came with being a billionaire, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Lucas. The deal had been signed, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something about it felt wrong.

Every time she thought about him, a flicker of unease spread through her. She had always been in control. Always. But Lucas wasn't like anyone she had ever dealt with before. He didn't need her money. He didn't need her status.

That unnerved her more than she cared to admit.

She tried to put the thoughts out of her mind. After all, she had done what was necessary. She had a plan. Lucas was merely a means to an end, a tool to get what she needed. Once the baby was born, she would send him on his way with a hefty payout, and that would be the end of it. He would never see her or their child again.

But what if it wasn't that simple?

Madia sat in her office, staring out the window at the sprawling city below. It was late in the evening, and the office was empty except for her. She had sent her staff home early, eager for some time to think, some space to breathe. She didn't have time for distractions, and yet, Lucas was becoming a distraction she couldn't ignore.

Her phone buzzed on her desk, snapping her out of her reverie. She glanced down at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw his name.

Lucas Reed

Her hand hesitated over the phone for a moment before she swiped to answer.

"Hello?" she said, her voice steady but betraying a hint of uncertainty.

"Madia," Lucas's voice came through, low and steady. "I wanted to check in. You haven't mentioned anything about when the procedure will be. I assume you're still going through with it?"

Madia's stomach tightened. She hadn't expected him to call this soon. Her plan had been for him to keep his distance while she prepared everything on her end. But she had made the mistake of underestimating him.

"Of course," she replied quickly, trying to keep her voice neutral. "I just wanted to make sure everything was in place before we proceed. We'll take care of it soon."

"I'm not in a rush," Lucas said, his voice still calm, almost too calm. "But I thought you'd want to get started. It's what you wanted, isn't it?"

Madia's pulse quickened, her control slipping for just a second. "I haven't forgotten," she said, more forcefully than she intended. "I'll arrange it. Don't worry."

A pause. Then, his voice dropped even lower, and it was almost like he was whispering directly in her ear. "Just remember, Madia. Once this starts, there's no turning back. We'll both be trapped in it. You won't be able to control everything."

She froze. His words hit her like a slap, sending a wave of cold fear through her chest. The chill spread through her body, and she quickly turned her face away from the window, as if the darkness outside could shield her from the unease rising in her gut.

"Is that a threat?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, but sharp enough to cut through the silence.

"No. It's just a warning," Lucas replied, his tone so calm, so collected, that it only made the words more chilling. "The game we're playing, Madia, it's not as simple as you think. Be careful what you wish for."

She didn't respond. She couldn't. Instead, she ended the call quickly, her fingers trembling slightly against the phone. She slammed it down on the desk and took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain her composure.

She needed to remember that she was in control. He was just a man with a means to an end. She couldn't let his words, his calm demeanor, unsettle her. Not when everything was at stake.

Madia closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. She would finish what she started. Lucas would give her the child she needed, and then he would be gone. Just like that. She couldn't afford to let him get to her. He was nothing more than a temporary inconvenience.

---

The following week, Lucas moved into her penthouse apartment. It wasn't what she had imagined at first, but it made sense. The doctors would come to her home for the procedure, and she needed to keep things close. But even with all the arrangements in place, there was something about his presence in her life that unsettled her.

Lucas was always around. Always watching. He wasn't like the other men who had passed through her life, he didn't offer his opinion on anything, didn't try to talk to her beyond what was necessary. Yet, there was something in the way he looked at her, something in his eyes that suggested he was always calculating, always waiting for the right moment.

Madia didn't know what he was waiting for, but she was sure of one thing: He was dangerous.

One evening, as she walked through the hallway toward her office, she found him standing by the door, leaning casually against the wall. The dim lighting from the chandelier overhead cast shadows over his face, making his expression even harder to read.

"Lucas," she said, her tone curt as she passed him. She didn't stop, but she could feel his eyes on her, as if he was watching her every move.

"Madia," he replied, his voice low, barely audible. "You know, it's strange. I thought I'd be the one who felt trapped in this arrangement. But it seems like you're the one who's losing control."

She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that?"

He pushed himself off the wall and took a step toward her, his movements slow and deliberate. "You're holding on so tightly to everything, to the deal, to your power. But the more you try to control it, the more it slips through your fingers."

Madia felt her stomach twist. His words were too close to the truth. She had been so focused on making sure everything went according to plan, on controlling the outcome, Lucas wasn't just another person to be manipulated. He was starting to fight back in ways she hadn't anticipated.

"I don't have time for your games," Madia said, her voice rising slightly. "We made a deal. That's it. You get your money. I have a child. End of story."

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady and unwavering. "That's what you think, Madia. But remember, once the baby is born, you won't be able to control me. Or him."

Madia felt her pulse quicken. "You're speaking in riddles."

"I'm speaking the truth," Lucas replied, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "And you'd better prepare yourself for it. You're not the only one with power."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Madia standing there, her heart pounding in her chest. She was losing her grip on everything. She had to stay strong. She had to keep control.

But with every passing day, she could feel the walls she had so carefully built around herself starting to crack.