Chapter two

Chapter two

"You're Veritas," Alexander breathed out.

Isabella's heart hammered against her ribs. She forced a laugh, adjusting her glasses. "Me? Veritas? You must be joking. I'm just an employee here."

Alexander smirked and leaned closer. "An employee who hangs priceless artwork after hours? Try again, sweetheart."

"Don't call me that," Isabella snapped, her fingers tightening on the canvas. "And yes, an employee. The new curator asked me to hang this piece."

"Then let's go ask the curator, shall we?" Alexander's hand shot out and gripped her wrist. "I'm sure they'd love to hear about their after-hours art handler."

Isabella jerked away, her skin burning where he'd touched her. "That won't be necessary.""

Alexander's phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it, his gaze not leaving Isabella's face. "Oh, but I insist." He stepped closer, blocking her path to the stairs

The phone rang again but more insistent this time. With an growl he fished it out. "What?" he barked into the receiver.

Isabella didn't wait to hear more. She ran, her flats slapping against the floor as she raced down the stairs.

Her lungs burned as she sprinted past boutiques and coffee shops, dodging pedestrians. Three blocks later, she finally slowed, ducking into an alley to catch her breath. Her hands shook as she smoothed her hair. Her mind racing. Alexander Elysian. Of course it had to be him.

She'd seen his face plastered across social media countless times. The notorious playboy, always arm-in-arm with a different model or actress. His exploits were trends on twitter.

Isabella laughed bitterly. Five years of carefully guarding her identity as Veritas, nearly blown in one moment by the city's most notorious playboy. At least he'd never visited her work place ---Elysian Grand's Hotel, even though it is owned by his father.The thought of that put her mind at rest.

She touched the locket at her neck, the one her mother had pressed into her palm that final day at the hospital. Elena had been the Eden Gallary curator for twenty years before... before everything.

"Keep fighting, mi amor," she'd whispered. "But keep yourself safe first." those were her last words.

Her phone beeped.Josephine's name flashed on the screen, along with a text: "911. Doctor called. Results are in..."

Isabella's hands shook violently at the sight of the words on her phone screen, her pulse pounding in her ears.

***********************************

Alexander Elysian drummed his fingers on the desk as his reflection distorted in its smooth surface. The rising sun painted the sky in hues of sky-blue and orange.

He couldn't shake the image of her - the woman from the gallery,off his mind. Her defiant eyes, the way she'd slipped through his fingers. No one outsmarted Alexander Elysian. No one.

His jaw clenched. How dare she speak to him like that? Didn't she know who he was?

But there was something about her. Something... intriguing.She was hiding something. And he knew it.

A familiar ache bloomed in his chest.Even after all this years, the wound still felt fresh.Sophia's face flashed before his eyes. The way she'd looked at him that last day, cold and calculating.

Five years had passed, but the memory still burned. He'd even purchased a ring and ready to propose. He'd trusted Sophia with everything - his hopes, his fears, the pressure of being the Elysian heir. And she'd used it all against him.

The day he caught her passing company secrets to their biggest rival still burned in his memory. Her cold laugh when he confronted her and the cruel twist of her lips as she mocked him. "Love is for fools, Alex," she'd sneered. "I thought you were smarter than that."

He'd been that fool once. But never again.

He'd hardened his heart that day.The idealistic dreamer was buried and replaced by the charming playboy the Social media loved to hate .That Alexander died the day Sophia walked away with his company's secrets, leaving him with nothing but lessons written in scar tissue: never trust, never feel, never let anyone close enough to betray you again.

Since then, his exploits had become legendary.The playboy reputation that followed was both shield and sword. A new woman every week, sometimes every night.No woman stayed long enough to pierce his defenses, and that's exactly how he preferred it. No one got close enough to hurt him again.

But now, that lifestyle threatened everything.

A sharp knock interrupted his thoughts. "Come in," he called.

Olivia entered,her heels clicking against the floor. "You look like you're plotting someone's murder,"," she said, a smirk playing on her red lips.

Alexander's eyes narrowed. "What do you want, Olivia?"

She sat on the edge of his desk, crossing her long legs. "I want to know what's going on in that handsome head of yours. You've been distracted all day."

He leaned back, studying her. Olivia had been his secretary for four years now. She was smart, efficient, and completely devoted to him. Maybe a little too devoted.

"I'm fine," he said curtly.

"Really? Because you've been staring out that window for the past couple of hours. This wouldn't have anything to do with your father's ultimatum, would it?"

Alexander's fingers tightened on the armrest. Of course she knew. Olivia always knew everything.

"I'm handling it," he growled.

She leaned closer, her perfume enveloping him. "You know I'm always here if you need... anything. Olivia wasn't just his secretary. She was... complicated.

For a moment, that night six months ago flashed through his mind. The office Christmas party, too much champagne, a moment of weakness in this very office. He'd woken up the next morning filled with regret, knowing he'd crossed a line.

To Olivia, it had meant everything. To Alexander, it was just a mistake he was determined not to repeat. He'd made it clear it was a one-time thing, but the hurt in her eyes told him she still held out hope.

He stood abruptly, putting distance between them. "That's all, Olivia."

She straightened, smoothing her skirt. "Alright, Mr. Elysian.Olivia's heels stabbed the floor as she walked to the door.

Alexander turned back to the window, mind racing. Marriage. The word itself made his skin crawl. Trust took years to build, seconds to shatter. Six months wasn't nearly enough time to...

Wait.

Who said anything about trust?

The gallery woman's face floated before him again. Those secrets in her eyes. That flash of desperation when he'd grabbed her wrist.Her connection to the infamous Veritas artwork ... Everyone had a price. Everyone had secrets they'd do anything to protect.

Trust was for fools. Love was for scars. But marriage... marriage could be a contract.

Olivia." His voice stopped her at the door. "Get me the CCTV footage from yesterday's gallery. And everything you can find on...just get me the CCTV footage

"Alex..." She hesitated. "Is there anything I should be concerned about?"

"No,just do it."

The door clicked shut and he sank into his chair, a smile played on his lips.A contract marriage. Perfect. All the appearance of settling down, none of the risk. And he knew exactly who to propose to.

The woman from the gallery. She was hiding something - something big. He could use that. Leverage her secrets to ensure her cooperation.

"I'll find you," he murmured. "And you'll wish you'd never crossed my path."

"Run all you can, I'll get you," He spoke to his reflection. "And sweetheart? I always get what I want."