Empires of Lies

Adrian

It has been a week since the party at the club but my thoughts have been captured by that one petite girl who stood out in that crowd of monsters.Celeste Carter. She seemed fragile yet unshaken, scared but yet bold, nervous but yet to composed. she didn't belong in my world. And that's exactly what unsettles me. the past 3 days i have been uncovering every detail about her.Her father's reputation precedes him, but something about her doesn't fit neatly into the mold of a privileged business heiress.

I don't trust coincidences.

Tonight, she's back, and this time, it's not just small talk at a party—it's business

Seated in my private office, overlooking the city, I swirl the amber liquid in my glass, watching the skyline as I wait. I already know how this will end. Whether she realizes it or not, she's playing my game now.

The door opens. She steps in, wearing a red dress that demands attention but refuses vulnerability.

She moves with the same composed confidence, but her gaze flickers—assessing the room, assessing me. Always calculating.

I smirk to myself. This will be interesting.

I lean back in my chair, letting the silence stretch, watching her settle across from me. Her shoulders stay squared, her expression neutral. But I don't miss the way her fingers barely twitch against the fabric of her dress. A tell.

"So, what do you have to offer, Ms. Carter?" I ask, my voice smooth but edged with curiosity.

She meets my gaze without hesitation. Unwavering. Brave. Stupid.

"A deal."

Her voice cuts through the air, pulling me from my not-so-innocent thoughts.

I arch a brow, swirling the liquid in my glass. "A deal?" My tone is amused, but I knew her intentions before she even walked in here.

"Convince me," I say, resting my elbows on the desk and watching her closely. "Why should I even entertain it?

"I knew it wouldn't be easy to convince you, so I came prepared," she says, her voice steady as she slowly opens the file in front of her. She slides it across the desk toward me. "Inside are details of an ongoing operation—one that threatens your business interests. If my sources are correct, you're already aware that someone has been making moves against you. I have the information you need."

I pick up the file but don't open it. Instead, I watch her. "And what do you want in return?"

She leans back, her confidence unwavering. "A partnership. One that benefits us both."

I chuckle, shaking my head slightly. "You're either very brave or very reckless, Ms. Carter. Partnerships require trust. And I don't trust you."

She tilts her head slightly, her smirk matching my own. "Then let's see if I can change that.

I watch her for a long moment, letting the silence stretch between us. She doesn't fidget, doesn't look away. Good. She knows how to play the game.

Slowly, I pick up the file and flip it open, scanning the contents. As expected, she came prepared. Too prepared.

A name jumps out at me—one I wasn't expecting to see.

I close the file and lean back in my chair, fingers tapping against the desk. "Interesting. But tell me, Ms. Carter…" My gaze sharpens, pinning her in place. "What makes you think I need you for this?"

She doesn't flinch. "Because I have something you don't."

I smirk. "And what would that be?"

She leans in slightly, her confidence unwavering. "An inside source."

The amusement in my expression fades.

She's bluffing. She has to be.

But there's no hesitation in her gaze, no crack in her facade. If she's lying, she's damn good at it.

I stand, moving around the desk, closing the space between us. Celeste remains seated, unfazed, watching me with those calm, knowing eyes.

"If you're lying to me, Ms. Carter…" I murmur, reaching for the edge of the file still resting in her hands, my fingers brushing against hers. "It won't end well for you."

She tilts her chin, unfazed by the warning. "Then I guess you'll have to find out."

Bold. Stupid. Dangerous.

I study her for a moment longer before releasing the file. "Fine," I say, stepping back. "You have my attention. Now prove to me that you're not wasting my time."

Her lips curl slightly. "I already did. You just don't want to admit it."

I lean back, studying her. "Fine. Then let's see if you can survive what comes next.

Celeste's smirk doesn't waver, but I catch the slight flicker in her eyes—a fraction of uncertainty, gone as quickly as it appeared. She's good, but I'm better.

I press a button under my desk. The door to my office clicks shut, the lock engaging with an almost ominous finality. Her head tilts slightly, curiosity dancing in her gaze, but she doesn't flinch.

"You want to prove yourself?" I say, stepping closer. "Then let's make this interesting."

I open a drawer and pull out a sleek, black envelope, tossing it onto the desk in front of her. "Inside is the name of someone who's been… problematic. Consider this a test."

She doesn't reach for it immediately. Smart. "And if I refuse?" she asks, her voice smooth, unreadable.

I smirk. "Then our conversation ends here."

For a moment, silence stretches between us like a drawn blade. Then, finally, she picks up the envelope, fingers grazing the surface before sliding it open.

Her expression doesn't change, but I know she recognizes the name.

"Your move, Ms. Carter," I murmur.

She closes the envelope and meets my gaze. "I guess it is."