Chapter 3 Whispered Warnings

Ivy stared at her phone screen, the anonymous messages burning into her thoughts like acid.

> "You're in deep, Ivy. Walk away while you can."

"You don't know who you're protecting."

Her fingers hovered above the screen, debating whether to delete the texts or reply. But there was no sender. No ID. Just silence following the threat.

Behind her, Gabriel approached, casual, calm-holding two steaming mugs of coffee like nothing had happened.

"I thought you might need this," he said, handing one over.

She took it with a polite smile, masking the unease twisting in her stomach.

"Thanks."

He leaned on the balcony rail beside her, eyes tracing the curve of the sea. "You've been quiet this morning."

"Didn't sleep much."

"Same."

He turned to face her, studying her for a moment.

"There's something else, isn't there?"

Ivy forced herself to meet his gaze. "Just nerves. Public appearances still make me tense."

It wasn't a lie but it wasn't the truth, either.

Gabriel didn't press. "Today's light. Two strategy meetings and a lunch with the Roth firm's investors. I'd rather not go to that last one, but"

"Wait," Ivy cut in. "Did you say Roth?"

Gabriel's brow furrowed. "Yes. Julian Roth's hedge group has a stake in one of the subsidiaries KnightTech acquired last year. Why?"

Her throat dried.

Julian Roth. The same man who orchestrated the PR scandal that destroyed her. The same man who leaked false documents and let her take the fall.

Her blood ran cold.

"I just... didn't expect him to be involved," she said quietly.

Gabriel noticed the shift in her tone. "You know him personally?"

"You could say that."

"Ivy"

She stood. "I need a moment. I'll meet you downstairs."

In the privacy of the marble-tiled bathroom, Ivy gripped the sink, staring into the mirror as the walls pressed in.

Julian Roth was here.

And someone was texting her warnings about Gabriel. But what if this had nothing to do with Gabriel... and everything to do with Julian?

Was he trying to rattle her? Or worse-was he planning something?

She couldn't think straight.

After splashing her face with cold water, Ivy took a deep breath and checked her phone again. No new messages. Just silence.

Later that morning, Gabriel's private car took them to the business summit at a luxury villa nestled into the cliffs. Ivy wore a tailored white pantsuit and minimalist heels-polished, powerful, untouchable. She had to be.

Inside the villa, champagne was flowing. Investors and executives mingled across multiple rooms, surrounded by modern art and soft Italian jazz.

Gabriel walked beside her like a fortress-tall, composed, unreadable.

As they moved through the crowd, Ivy's eyes scanned for Julian.

She spotted him near the back veranda, wearing his usual smug smirk, surrounded by three men in navy suits. He hadn't changed-still arrogantly handsome, still overconfident. But when he saw her, his smirk froze.

He blinked.

Then smiled like a snake.

"Well, well," he drawled, approaching. "If it isn't Ivy Carson. I thought you'd vanished after your spectacular little meltdown."

Gabriel stiffened, immediately stepping in front of Ivy.

Julian's eyes flicked to him. "Gabriel Knight. You've got quite the guest list this year."

"Watch your tone," Gabriel said quietly.

Julian grinned. "I'm just surprised to see Ms. Carson here. Last I heard, she was off the radar. Or was she hiding from-what was it? Leaked documents? Corporate theft?"

Ivy didn't flinch. "Funny how the man who leaked them has the nerve to bring them up."

Julian's smile faltered for a beat before he turned back toward the balcony. "You always were dramatic. Enjoy the party."

As he walked away, Gabriel turned to her. "What the hell was that?"

"You didn't know?" she asked, jaw tight. "Julian was the reason I lost my career."

"No. But I do now."

"Why didn't you tell me he was involved?"

Gabriel frowned. "Because I didn't think it mattered. I bought out one of his struggling holdings. That was the extent of our business. He's nothing to me."

Ivy wasn't sure whether to believe him. Her phone buzzed again.

> "Tread carefully. They're watching you both."

Her skin went cold.

She showed Gabriel the message.

He read it twice, eyes darkening. "Where did these come from?"

"No idea. No number. They started this morning."

"We'll trace it. I have someone on my cyber team who can backtrack pings-even from encrypted networks."

Ivy hesitated. "Gabriel... I don't know what this is, but something feels wrong."

He looked at her, and for the first time, she saw it-genuine fear. Not for himself.

For her.

That night, security was doubled.

Gabriel made a call in rapid Italian to a man named Luca, who arrived an hour later and swept the suite for bugs. Nothing.

Still, Ivy couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them. Every shadow felt closer. Every phone buzz made her flinch.

Gabriel stood by the window after midnight, his silhouette framed in starlight.

"I should've told you about Roth," he said. "I didn't realize how deep it went."

Ivy walked up beside him. "You didn't owe me that. This was supposed to be temporary, remember?"

His eyes didn't leave the sea. "It stopped being temporary the moment I kissed you."

She blinked. Her heart kicked in her chest.

"You scare me, Ivy," he said softly. "Not because you're dangerous. Because you make me want things I told myself I'd buried."

Ivy swallowed. "Like what?"

"Trust. Peace. Redemption."

A beat passed.

"Love?"

He turned to her fully, eyes vulnerable in a way she hadn't seen before. "Eventually... maybe even that."

Ivy leaned in without thinking. This time, the kiss was slower, deeper-not urgent like the first, but tethered in something real.

But just as their lips parted, her phone vibrated again.

Another message.

> "Stop digging, or she bleeds."

Ivy froze. "Gabriel"

He read the text over her shoulder. Then he reached for his phone. "I'm calling Luca. You're being targeted. This isn't random."

She grabbed his wrist. "Wait. If they're watching... they could be listening. Watching the room."

His jaw clenched. He pocketed the phone.

"We leave first thing in the morning."

They left Capri in silence.

Gabriel chartered a flight back to Marlowe Bay-no press, no digital trails. Ivy stared out the plane window, haunted by the message.

Who was "she"?

Was the warning about Ivy herself? Or someone else?

And why the sudden threats?

Back in Marlowe, the wind howled against the cliffs as they stepped into Gabriel's estate. His security team met them at the door, already briefed.

Inside, Ivy dropped her bag on the floor and turned to him. "Tell me the truth. All of it."

Gabriel didn't hesitate.

"There was a file. A confidential one. Someone accessed it last week. It held information about a hidden acquisition-one Roth tried to sabotage months ago."

Ivy's eyes narrowed. "And you think Roth is trying to finish the job?"

"I think he's working with someone inside KnightTech. And that they're trying to scare you off before you get close to uncovering them."

Her pulse pounded. "And the threats?"

"I don't know who 'she' is. But I intend to find out."

Ivy stepped closer. "You think I'm the target?"

"I think... whoever sent those messages knows you matter to me."

The silence stretched.

Then, the house lights flickered.

And everything went dark.

An alarm began blaring from the east wing.

Gabriel turned toward the door. "Stay here."

"Gabriel-"

But he was already gone.

Ivy grabbed her phone, fingers trembling. The screen lit up with one message:

> "Too late."