Chapter 23: A Game of Deception

The moment Dominic stepped inside Isabella’s penthouse, the atmosphere shifted. A silent battle of wills sparked between them, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air.

Isabella crossed her arms and leaned against the marble counter, keeping her expression cool. “You certainly have a way of dropping in unannounced,” she said, eyeing him cautiously.

Dominic smirked as he surveyed her home, his sharp gaze flicking over the modern decor. “I find that impromptu meetings reveal more than planned ones.”

She arched an eyebrow. “And what exactly do you hope to reveal tonight?”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “The truth.”

Isabella didn’t flinch. She was prepared for this. She had been playing this game far longer than he had.

“What truth?” she asked, feigning confusion.

Dominic tilted his head slightly, as if analyzing her every movement. “I’ve been following your work on the Hathaway case, and I must say, it’s... meticulous.”

“Is that a compliment or an accusation?”

“A little of both.” He set a small file on her coffee table. “There are things that don’t add up, Miss King. For instance, how did you uncover Hathaway’s offshore accounts before our finance team even had a lead?”

She took a slow sip of her wine. “I did my job. I researched.”

Dominic chuckled. “See, that’s the problem. Your research is too perfect. Almost as if you already knew where to look.”

Isabella held his gaze. “Are you suggesting that I fabricated evidence?”

“I’m suggesting that you have a personal stake in this,” he replied smoothly.

For a fraction of a second, her heart pounded against her ribs. But she quickly masked her reaction with an amused laugh.

“You sound paranoid, Dominic. Maybe you should take a break from investigating people who are on your side.”

Dominic’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. He took a step closer, his voice low. “I’m not your enemy, Isabella. But I need to know—why are you really here?”

Isabella tilted her head, mirroring his intensity. “That’s an interesting question. But here’s a better one: Why do you care?”

For the first time, Dominic hesitated. It was brief, but she caught it.

She smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

With a sigh, Dominic leaned back. “You’re good, I’ll give you that. But if you’re hiding something, Isabella, someone will find out.”

Isabella’s expression remained unreadable. “I guess we’ll see.”

Dominic studied her for another moment before nodding. “Goodnight, Miss King.”

As he left, Isabella let out a slow breath. The walls were closing in faster than she anticipated.

She needed to move carefully.

Across the city, Ryan Byrne sat in his dimly lit office, staring at the report Victor had delivered. It was everything he had requested about Isabella King.

Only, there was too little information.

Her records were clean—too clean. No family connections. No past scandals. No inconsistencies in her education or work history. It was as if someone had erased any trace of a past life.

That was impossible.

Ryan tapped his fingers against the desk. He had built his empire by uncovering the secrets of others. But Isabella was an enigma wrapped in a perfect illusion.

And illusions were meant to be broken.

Victor entered the office. “Sir, should I continue digging?”

Ryan’s lips curled into a slow, calculating smirk. “No.”

Victor blinked. “Sir?”

Ryan stood and grabbed his coat. “I’ll handle this personally.”

He had played this game long enough to know when a move needed to be made. And it was time to force Isabella’s hand.

Isabella had just poured herself another glass of wine when a knock echoed through her penthouse.

Her heart clenched. Dominic again?

But when she checked the peephole, a familiar figure stood outside.

Ryan Byrne.

Her fingers tightened around the door handle. She forced a composed expression before opening it.

“Mr. Byrne,” she greeted smoothly. “What an unexpected surprise.”

Ryan stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. His presence filled the room, suffocating and magnetic all at once.

“Cut the formalities, Isabella,” he said, his voice low. “I think it’s time we had a real conversation.”

Isabella shut the door behind him, her pulse quickening. She had played with fire before, but with Ryan standing so close, the flames felt too real.

She smiled, keeping her tone light. “And what, exactly, do you want to talk about?”

Ryan’s eyes darkened.

“You.”