Chapter 3 The Invitation

Two days after the incident on his private island,there was no new information about Mr David. All the information was still focused on the rumors about his illegal business.

I had briefly considered going back to the island to ask Mr. David about everything, but when I remembered an envelope that had been sent to my house, I thought twice. The message echoed clearly in my mind, turning my curiosity into deep doubt.

With a heart full of confusion and anxiety, I looked ahead, trying to process what I should do next.

After waiting all day outside Mr. David's office, I decided to complete my investigation. As I walked down the dark, seemingly deserted street, suddenly a car stopped right next to me. The door opened, and in the blink of an eye, they forced me into the car.

The car sped off quickly, leaving the empty street behind, and all I could do was remain silent inside. Without any chance to ask questions or protest. I looked at the two figures sitting beside me. They turned out to be Mr. David's bodyguards, escorting me to the speedboat.

One of the bodyguards briefly glanced at me, his eyes sharp and full of warning. I knew, he knew I wanted to ask questions, to voice all the questions that were swirling in my mind, but he just turned his gaze back to the road.

After what felt like hours, the car slowed down. We passed through a large gate that was tightly shut. The surrounding area seemed even quieter.

The car stopped in front of a large and sturdy-looking house. Tall walls appeared to surround it, blocking out the noise of the street outside.

One of the bodyguards opened the car door and gestured for me to get out. I stared at him, unsure of what would happen next. Without saying a word, I got out of the car and followed them toward the entrance of the luxurious house.

As we stepped inside, the door slowly closed behind us. The room inside was neatly arranged with expensive and luxurious items. Large screens were mounted on the walls, displaying various data and graphs that seemed very important, adding to the atmosphere of professionalism and calculation.

I didn't know what to say. Every second I felt more out of place in this place, but I couldn't suppress the growing curiosity.

"Welcome, Miss Harper."

Mr. David's voice made me turn toward him. He was standing on the stairs, wearing the same smile he always had.

"Welcome," he repeated, as if waiting for me to respond.

"What is this place, Mr. David?" I asked. My question seemed to make Mr. David's expression change visibly, as if this wasn't the answer he was hoping for.

He took a step down the stairs. But instead of approaching me, he turned toward a small table at the side of the room, where a bottle of red wine stood with two empty glasses that gleamed under the crystal light.

"Calm down, Miss Harper," he said, picking up one of the glasses and slowly swirling it, letting the light reflect the rich dark red color inside. Then he walked toward me, handing me one of the glasses.

"You're in a safe place," he said casually.

I didn't take the glass. My gaze was fixed on the glass he offered. His strong fingers held the glass lightly, as if there was no weight to his actions.

"Am I supposed to trust that?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though my heart was beginning to feel uneasy. "The last time, in the middle of a party, I was treated like a thief and suddenly exiled from the island with no explanation. And you're telling me this place is safe?" I laughed dismissively. "How am I supposed to believe that?"

He didn't answer immediately, instead raising an eyebrow slightly. "I'm sure you have many questions, Miss Harper," he finally said, his voice low and calm.

I kept looking at him, unmoving, not taking the glass he offered. "You knew that from the start."

The atmosphere between us felt so intense, as if the room had suddenly become smaller. I could feel my own breath, steady but heavier than usual. "Actually... what game are you playing, Mr. David?" I finally asked.

His smile faded slightly, but he didn't seem bothered. "Game?" He raised his eyebrow again. "You never stop impressing me, Miss Harper," he said in a tone that was slightly teasing, yet still cold.

He drank the glass of wine he had initially offered me, finishing it. Then, he placed the glass roughly on the table, producing a sharp clink that was loud enough to make me flinch slightly.

Then, as he returned to me, his gaze became cold and sharp, like someone trying to restrain something difficult to express.

"You need answers," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Ask your question, but know this, the truth will not set you free."

I stared at him, confused but also intrigued. His words were like a riddle, stirring curiosity while creating fear.

"You're scaring me," I said, trying to sound as calm as possible, even though my heart was starting to race.

He stepped closer, his pace slow but heavy with pressure. His fingers slowly reached my hair, gently brushing it. "I don't mean to scare you, Miss Harper," he said with a small, unfriendly smile. "But you have to understand," he continued, his fingers still playing with my hair, "if your questions are still about those rumors, they're old questions, and I won't answer them."

I bit my lip, trying to hold onto my calm despite my rapidly beating heart. "Everything you told me on the island is so confusing, Mr. David."

His gaze radiated a curious, almost deliberate look, as if he was enjoying my confusion.

"What's confusing you, Miss Harper?" he continued, his voice casual, almost like a challenge.

He leaned forward slightly, getting closer to me, until I could feel his presence intensifying.

"You have to understand one thing. This world operates by rules that don't always make sense. And when you start to see what's hidden beneath that layer, you'll never be able to go back."

"Stop speaking in riddles," I said, my tone rising as frustration began to take over. "Give me the truth, whatever it is."

He tilted his head slightly, looking at me like someone sizing up their opponent. "The truth has a price,"

I furrowed my brow. Before I could respond, he pulled me in by my neck and kissed my lips gently. His hand wrapped around my waist, closing the space between us.

I wanted to resist, wanted to speak, but my body froze under the sudden intimacy.

When he finally pulled away, he looked at me, his eyes full of a mix of emotions that were hard to explain. "Now," he said in a quieter voice, almost a whisper, "you've paid part of the price." He didn't smile, but I could feel his fingers brushing my cheek. "One question for one price." He looked at me intently, as if daring me to understand. "Ask your question."

"You said, one question, one price," I said, a little nervous. "What if I have a thousand questions?"

We were so close, with only the tiniest space between us. I could also feel every breath he exhaled, making my heart beat faster than usual. I wanted an answer, but he wanted something else. It seemed fair, yet hard to decide.

"That means you'll have to pay in full."