Chapter 3 Alina

The silence stretched.

Soren didn't move. He leaned back on the velvet couch, one brow raised, as his eyes shifted between the two men. Luca's smile stayed, but it was thinner now, less polished. Maddox didn't blink.

"I just need a moment," Luca said, this time directly to Soren. "That okay with you?"

Soren gave a lazy shrug. "Sure. Speak."

Maddox didn't sit. His body blocked the path between Luca and the sofa, not aggressively-but with intent. There was no need for words. The message was written in every inch of his posture.

Luca hesitated, clearly debating whether to ignore him or not. Eventually, he took a single step forward, cautious but not backing down. "You looked stunning tonight," he said to Soren, ignoring Maddox completely. "I mean it. Everyone noticed."

Soren smirked faintly, swirling the scotch in his glass. "They were looking at the suit. Not me."

"No," Luca said, leaning a little closer, "they were definitely looking at you."

Maddox didn't move, but the shift in his expression was immediate. His hand twitched once near the bar, then settled. Cold. Composed. Controlled. His voice, when it came, was quiet.

"That's close enough."

Luca froze mid-step. "Excuse me?"

"I said," Maddox repeated, eyes narrowing, "that's close enough."

Soren sighed quietly, setting his drink down. "Here we go."

Luca looked between them, then laughed. "Relax, man. I'm just talking."

"You don't need to get that close to talk."

"Is he your handler or something?" Luca asked, still smiling but now visibly irritated. "You can speak for yourself, right?"

Soren didn't answer. His gaze remained fixed on Maddox, watching him with quiet calculation.

Maddox's tone dropped. "You're in the wrong room."

"You think you can tell me where to stand now?" Luca challenged.

Maddox didn't respond. He simply stepped forward once. Nothing aggressive-just one step. But the tension in the air shifted instantly. Sharp. Icy.

Luca's mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Soren finally stood, brushing his hand down the front of his suit. "Luca, that's enough."

Luca blinked, clearly surprised. "What?"

"I said enough."

Soren didn't sound angry. Just bored. Like he was ending a scene he'd watched too many times before.

Luca scoffed, glanced once more at Maddox, and turned. "Good night," he muttered, before slipping out the door without another word.

The room fell silent again.

Maddox didn't sit. He simply looked toward the door until it shut, then turned his attention back to Soren.

"You didn't have to say anything," Maddox said.

"I know."

"You let him talk too long."

"I was curious how far he'd push."

"And now you know."

Soren's lips curled into a faint smile. "Yeah. I do."

Their eyes locked, neither of them saying what they were thinking.

Then Maddox's phone buzzed again. He reached for it this time, glanced at the screen, and handed it to Soren.

"Read that."

Soren took the phone, brow furrowing slightly as he looked.

His expression changed. Just a little. But Maddox caught it.

"Tell me that's not a problem," Maddox said calmly.

Soren handed the phone back, eyes sharp now. "It is."

Soren's eyes didn't leave the screen. The message was short, but the name attached to it carried enough weight to shift the mood in the room.

"It is," he replied, handing the phone back.

Maddox pocketed it without another word.

Soren straightened his sleeve. "What's she doing back in the picture?"

"No clue. But if she's contacting me now, it's not random."

"Did you answer?"

Maddox gave him a look. "Would I be showing you if I had?"

Soren sat back down, fingers tapping the rim of his glass. "So, what now?"

"I'll handle it," Maddox said, already pouring himself another drink.

"That's not specific."

Maddox sipped. "It's not meant to be."

Soren's brow lifted, but he didn't push further. Maddox always worked in silencce, tight circles, no noise, no trails.

Outside the lounge, the afterparty bass pulsed faintly, dulled by thick walls. Inside, the room was still, the tension now replaced with something colder.

"You think she's trying to stir something?" Soren asked.

"She always does," Maddox muttered.

Soren stood again and walked slowly toward the bar. He took the decanter from Maddox's hand without asking and poured himself another.

"She still doesn't know when to quit."

"She never did."

Soren raised the glass to his lips. "You think it's business?"

"If it was business, she'd go through my office. Not message me directly."

Soren narrowed his eyes. "Then it's personal."

Maddox said nothing. His expression was unreadable again, that usual mask slipping into place.

Soren leaned back against the bar, his voice low. "If she's back, it's not going to be quiet."

"It never is," Maddox replied. "But she's not getting anything this time."

Before Soren could respond, the lounge door cracked open again.

This time it wasn't Luca.

It was a staff member-young, nervous, eyes wide.

"Mr. Sinclair... there's someone asking to see you."

Maddox's expression didn't shift. "Who?"

"She said her name is Alina."

Soren froze.

Maddox set his glass down.

"Where?"

"She's in the east wing. Private terrace."

Maddox nodded once. "I'll be there in five."

The staff member left quickly.

Soren placed his glass on the counter, watching Maddox closely. "That quick?"

"She wants a response? She'll get one."

Soren didn't say anything. He reached for his phone instead, thumb hovering.

Maddox glanced at him. "Stay here."

Soren didn't respond.

Maddox stepped toward the door, straightened his cuffs, then paused.

Without looking back, he spoke.

"Don't let anyone else in."

Then he left.

Soren stared at the closed door.

His phone buzzed in his hand.

A new message.

From Alina.

So, you're still with him. How loyal can you be when he doesn't even see you?

Soren stared at the message, thumb hovering over the screen. No typing bubbles. No follow-up. Just that one, pointed line sitting heavy in his chest.

He didn't reply.

He slid the phone into his inner jacket pocket and walked back to the bar, picking up his glass. It tasted dull now, the edge gone. But his face gave nothing away.

The lounge stayed quiet. Outside, music pulsed faintly from the main hall. Inside, everything felt still.

Exactly four minutes later, the lounge door opened again.

Maddox stepped in, cufflinks sharp, expression sharper.

He didn't say a word. Just walked back to the bar, picked up his drink, and took a long sip.

Soren didn't ask anything. He waited.

"She's here to play games," Maddox said finally, setting the glass down.

"Alina?"

Maddox gave a single nod. "She didn't waste time."

"What did she want?"

"She offered a partnership."

Soren raised a brow. "With you?"

"With both of us."

Soren chuckled once, flat and cold. "Now she's desperate."

Maddox didn't answer. He just looked straight ahead, jaw tight.

"She's not stupid," Soren added. "If she's making offers, she's already making moves somewhere else."

"She's bluffing."

"She's not bluffing," Soren said quietly.

Maddox glanced at him. Soren met the look, calm and even.

"She texted me," Soren said, pulling out his phone. He tapped the screen and held it up.

Maddox read the line once, then again.

He didn't blink. "So now she's targeting you too."

"I'm not surprised."

Maddox folded his arms. "She's trying to divide us."

Soren dropped the phone to the bar. "She won't."

Another pause. Then Maddox asked, "Did you reply?"

"No."

"Good."

The silence stretched again. Tighter this time.

Soren leaned against the counter. "She's not just after the company."

"I know."

"She's still bitter."

"She always is."

"And she doesn't like being replaced."

"She never was," Maddox said, voice flat.

The door opened again.

This time, it was the assistant. Breathless.

"Mr. Sinclair, Mr. Bellefontaine, there's an issue outside. With the press."

Maddox turned sharply. "What kind of issue?"

"They're saying Alina leaked something. Something personal."

Soren stood up, glass forgotten.

The assistant stepped back. "They're asking about your relationship."

"Mine?" Soren asked.

"Ours," Maddox corrected.

The assistant nodded. "They're asking if the two of you are involved."

Neither of them moved.

Not at first.

Then Maddox stepped forward. "Get my car ready."

Soren followed. "What now?"

Maddox didn't answer until they reached the lounge door.

"She wanted attention. She's getting it."

He opened the door, and they both stepped into the light.