Chapter 8: The Hidden Game

Paulina’s heart pounded as she lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

“Paulina, it’s me,” James’ voice came through, cold and measured. There was no warmth, no hint of affection. It was as if they were already strangers.

“What is it, James?” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. She glanced at Elijah, who was watching her intently, his jaw clenched.

“I think we need to talk,” James said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’m coming by the house later. There’s something we need to discuss, face to face.”

Paulina’s mind raced. She hadn’t been expecting this—James calling her so suddenly, wanting to meet. Was he onto her? Did he suspect that she knew more than she let on?

“What’s this about?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You’ll know soon enough,” James replied. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Before she could respond, the line went dead.

Paulina lowered the phone, her hands shaking slightly as she set it down on the table. Her mind was spinning, panic creeping into the corners of her thoughts. Why did James want to meet so urgently? Was this the moment everything would unravel?

Elijah’s voice cut through the silence. “What did he say?”

Paulina looked up at him, the weight of the situation pressing down on her chest. “He’s coming to the house tonight. He said we need to talk.”

Elijah’s eyes darkened, his expression hardening. “It’s starting. He knows you’re pulling away. He’s going to try and manipulate you, Paulina. You can’t let him.”

Paulina nodded, though her mind was elsewhere. What could James possibly want to discuss? She thought back to the encrypted documents, the secret assets her father had left behind, the offshore account. Was James planning to confront her about those? Or was this about something else—something darker?

“I need to go,” she said suddenly, standing up from the table. Her voice wavered, but she kept her movements deliberate, controlled. “I need to prepare.”

Elijah stood as well, reaching for her arm. His grip was firm but not rough, his eyes filled with concern. “Paulina, listen to me. You need to be careful. James is dangerous when he’s cornered. You can’t face him alone.”

Paulina pulled her arm free gently, forcing a small smile. “I’ll be fine, Elijah. I just need to think. I’ll call you if anything happens.”

Elijah hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on her face as though searching for some sign of weakness. Finally, he nodded, though the tension in his body remained. “Alright. But don’t forget—I’m always here if you need me.”

Paulina nodded and turned to leave, her thoughts racing as she exited the library and made her way back to the car. The drive home felt longer than usual, every second ticking away like a countdown to something inevitable.

By the time Paulina arrived at the house, the sky had darkened, and an eerie quiet had settled over the estate. She stood at the front door, her hand on the doorknob, bracing herself for what was to come. She couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight would be a turning point—a moment where everything could either fall apart or change forever.

Inside, the house was dimly lit, the shadows stretching across the walls as if they too were waiting for James’ arrival. Paulina paced the living room, her mind racing through every possible scenario. What could James want? Was he going to confront her about the company, about Alexis? Or was this about something more personal?

As she waited, her hand instinctively went to the letter in her pocket—the one from her father. *“Trust no one.”* The words felt heavier now, more foreboding. She couldn’t trust James, that much was certain. But could she trust Elijah? Could she even trust herself?

The sound of a car pulling up outside snapped her out of her thoughts. Her heart pounded in her chest as she moved toward the window, peeking through the curtains. James’ sleek black car sat in the driveway, the engine still humming as he stepped out.

Paulina’s breath caught in her throat as she watched him approach the house, his movements slow and deliberate. He looked exactly the same as he had when they first met—handsome, confident, but with an underlying cruelty that she hadn’t seen back then. Now, she knew better.

The front door creaked open, and Paulina forced herself to stand still as James entered. His eyes locked onto hers immediately, a smile playing on his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Paulina,” he said, his voice smooth. “You look surprised.”

“I wasn’t expecting you so soon,” she replied, her voice cold. She didn’t bother with pleasantries. There was no point.

James shrugged, his gaze sweeping over the room before settling back on her. “I like to keep people on their toes.”

He stepped closer, his presence filling the room. Paulina stiffened, her body tense as she watched him. Every step he took made her pulse quicken, the space between them shrinking by the second.

“We need to talk,” James said, his tone dropping. “About the company. About you.”

Paulina swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. “What about it?”

James stopped a few feet in front of her, his eyes narrowing. “I’ve noticed a change in you lately. You’re not the same woman I married. You’re distant. Distracted. And it’s starting to make people talk.”

Paulina’s heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to let him see her fear. “What people?”

“The board,” James said simply, crossing his arms over his chest. “They’re starting to wonder if you’re… fit to manage the company. And I can’t blame them. You’ve been acting strange, Paulina.”

She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, anger bubbling beneath the surface. Of course, this was about control. It was always about control with James.

“I’m perfectly capable of managing the company,” she replied, her voice steady despite the fury building inside her. “Maybe you’re the one who should be worried.”

James’ expression darkened, and for a moment, the room seemed to grow colder. “Don’t play games with me, Paulina. We both know what this is really about.”

Paulina’s pulse quickened. Did he know? Had he figured out that she was aware of his plans? Of his betrayal?

“You’ve been pulling away from me,” James continued, his voice low and dangerous. “And I don’t like it. You need to remember who’s in control here.”

Paulina’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. She wanted to scream, to tell him that she knew everything—that she wasn’t the weak, naïve woman he thought she was. But she held back. She needed to be smart. She couldn’t let him see how much she knew.

“I’m not playing games, James,” she said, her voice cold. “I just want what’s best for the company.”

James smiled, but it was a cruel, twisted smile. “Good. Because what’s best for the company is for you to step aside and let me take over.”

Paulina’s blood ran cold.

This was it. The moment she had been dreading.

James was making his move.

But she wasn’t going to let him win.

Not this time.