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4. The Unraveling

last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-20 18:57:46

Amelia sat in the dim glow of her apartment, the only light coming from her laptop screen. The city outside buzzed with life, but inside, there was nothing but silence and the eerie glow reflecting off her wide, unblinking eyes. Her eyes traced over the email thread she had uncovered from Adrian’s flash drive, reading the ominous phrases over and over again.

Cavendish Project: Phase One.

She scrolled through the emails again, each vague phrase more unsettling than the last. “Acquisition strategies.” “Control measures.” “Necessary eliminations.” Her gut twisted. It didn’t sound like corporate restructuring, it sounded like war.

She leaned back against the couch, rubbing her temples. What the hell is Adrian up to? More importantly, why was Ethan’s name all over these exchanges? The logical part of her brain screamed at her to stop, to shut the laptop, forget what she had seen, and disappear from this twisted game before it swallowed her whole. 

But another part, the part that refused to be used and discarded, demanded answers. Logic had nothing to do with this. This wasn’t just about a job anymore. This was personal.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the suffocating silence. Adrian.

“Have you made your decision?”

She stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She should say no. She should run as far as possible from this game Adrian Black was playing.

But instead, she typed: “We need to talk. In person.”

A response came almost immediately. “Rooftop bar. 9 pm.”

The next evening, Amelia stood on the rooftop of an exclusive bar, the city sprawling beneath her like a bed of glittering stars, her heels clicking against the stone floor. The air was crisp, carrying the distant hum of traffic, faint scent of expensive whiskey and burning cigars and the soft clinking of glasses from the bar behind her.

Adrian was already there, a glass in hand, his dark suit blending into the night, exuding the same unshakable composure he always carried. He turned as she approached. His sharp gray eyes flicked over her, reading every shift in her posture.

"Amelia," he greeted smoothly, his voice like silk over steel. "I was starting to think you'd keep me waiting."

She slid into the chair opposite him, forcing a neutral expression. "Wouldn’t want to disappoint you."

A slow smile played on his lips. "Wouldn’t be the first to try."

A waiter approached, but Amelia waved him off. Her appetite had long vanished.

“You wanted to talk. That usually means one of two things: you’re accepting my offer, or you’re about to waste my time.” Adrian leaned back, watching her closely. "So, what’s on your mind?"

“I don’t waste time, Adrian. And I don’t make decisions without understanding exactly what I’m getting into.” Amelia met his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. She kept her voice measured. "I’ve been thinking about your offer. About what it means to work for you."

Adrian smirked, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “That’s a dangerous mindset. It makes people ask too many questions.”

She leaned in slightly. “And what happens to people who ask too many questions?”

He studied her, his expression unreadable. “That depends on the questions.”

She swirled the water in her glass, choosing her words carefully. "You’re a man who doesn’t do anything without a reason. If you wanted me on your team, you’d already have me there. But instead, you’re waiting."

He took a sip of whiskey, his eyes never leaving hers. "Go on."

"You’re waiting to see if I’ll ask the right questions," she said. "To see if I’ll play the game the way you want me to."

His lips quivered in amusement. "And what do you think the right questions are?"

Amelia met his gaze, unwavering. "Cavendish Project: Phase One."

There it was, a flicker, so fast she almost missed it. But it was there.

Adrian tilted his head slightly. "That’s an interesting place to start."

"You didn’t answer me," she noted. “Tell me, Adrian. Why does Black Enterprises have an entire file tracking Cavendish? Why are there mentions of ‘necessary eliminations’ in an internal memo?”

He leaned forward, placing his glass on the table with deliberate ease. "Because I don’t answer to anyone, Amelia. Least of all, someone is still deciding whether they want to be on my team."

"So it’s a test," she said.

His gaze darkened, though his expression remained unreadable. "It’s an opportunity. I get the feeling you don’t trust me, Amelia,” he murmured. “That’s a shame. I never make bad investments.”

“You think I’m an investment?” she asked, arching a brow.

“I think you’re stalling,” he countered, watching her closely. “That’s not like you.”

Amelia sipped her drink, unfazed. “I’m being thorough.”

Adrian leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Or you found something you weren’t supposed to.”

A chill ran down her spine. Did he know? Was this a warning? A test?

Before she could respond, a deep voice cut through the air.

“Interrupting something?”

Amelia turned to see Victor, Adrian’s right-hand man, standing a few feet away. His presence was unsettling, his stance too controlled, too deliberate. His dark eyes flicked between them, lingering on Amelia with an almost amused expression.

“Victor,” Adrian greeted, his voice neutral. “What can I do for you?”

Victor ignored him, focusing solely on Amelia. “Curiosity is a dangerous thing, Ms. Hayes. People who dig too deep tend to find things they wish they hadn’t.”

She held his gaze, refusing to show weakness. “Sounds like a threat. People who underestimate me tend to regret it.”

Victor smirked. “Just a friendly warning.”

Then, Adrian finally spoke, his tone smooth but firm. "Victor, I think that’s enough."

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension.

Adrian exhaled a quiet chuckle, but he didn’t interfere, letting the tension simmer between them. Then, as if deciding the conversation was over, he stood.

“Make your choice, Amelia,” he said smoothly. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

He walked away, Victor trailing behind him.

As Amelia stepped into the parking garage, she barely had a moment to breathe before a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

"We need to talk."

She turned sharply. Ethan. He was leaning against her car, arms crossed, his face shadowed with something that looked too much like concern.

"Seriously? You again?" she snapped. "You’re lurking in parking garages now?"

Ethan ignored the jab, stepping closer. His expression was unlike anything she’d seen before, tense, almost afraid.

"It’s about Adrian," he said.

Amelia let out a bitter laugh. "Save it. You lost the right to warn me about anything."

Ethan grabbed her wrist, not hard, but enough to make her stop.

"You have no idea what you’re getting into," he said, his voice lower, urgent.

Amelia rolled her eyes. “Oh, let me guess. Adrian is the devil. He’s manipulating me. And you, my dear, cheating, lying ex-husband, are suddenly my savior?”

Ethan exhaled sharply. “This isn’t about us, Amelia. This is bigger than you think.”

She yanked her arm free. "Enlighten me." She crossed her arms.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "Years ago, Adrian Black nearly destroyed a corporation the same way he’s circling Cavendish now."

Amelia frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"He doesn’t just take over companies," Ethan said. "He dismantles them. He finds weaknesses, exploits them, and when he’s done, there’s nothing left. And he’s not just coming for Cavendish. He’s coming for you."

Amelia frowned. “And where do I fit into this?”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “You’re the key. I don’t know how, but I know he didn’t choose you randomly. This isn’t about hiring you. It’s about using you.”

A chill crept over her. “You’re lying.”

“Am I?” Ethan shot back. “Ask yourself why Adrian Black, one of the most ruthless businessmen in the country, is suddenly so interested in you.”

A chill crept down her spine. "What do you mean?"

He clenched his jaw. "I can’t say more. Not yet. But I’m telling you, if you stay near Adrian Black, you’ll regret it."

She shook her head. "I don’t need you to protect me, Ethan."

"You do if you want to survive," he said.

For a second, just a second, she saw something real in his eyes. Not arrogance. Not manipulation. Just fear.

Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his expression tightening.

"I have to go," he said. "But Amelia, please. Walk away before it’s too late."

She stared at him, searching for deception in his face. But for the first time in years, she saw something else instead. And that scared her more than anything. Then he was gone, leaving her standing in the dim light of the garage, her heart pounding.

Amelia doesn’t sleep that night. She sits in the darkness, staring at the contract Adrian gave her, the email thread on her laptop, and the unanswered questions swirling in her mind.

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  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   5. The Edge of Control

    The contract sat in front of her, a single sheet of paper that held more power than anything in her life right now, mocking her with its pristine, untouched pages. Next to it, her laptop screen still glowed with the Cavendish Project: Phase One email thread, its cryptic phrases swirling in her mind like a storm she couldn’t escape."Acquisition strategies.""Control measures.""Necessary eliminations."Amelia leaned back into the couch, staring at it. Not signing meant she still had a choice. Signing meant surrendering to Adrian Black’s world. And she had no doubt that once she stepped into his world, there would be no escape.She hadn’t slept. She couldn’t. Ethan’s warning played over and over in her head."He’s not just coming for Cavendish. He’s coming for you."The words should have sent her running. But instead, they pulled her deeper. Because if Adrian was playing a game, then she needed to know what kind of piece she was on his board. A part of her had suspected Adrian was dang

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-20
  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   6. Boundaries That Don’t Exist

    The scent of blood and whiskey still clung to the air. Amelia stared at the blood staining the contract, the deep red seeping into the stark white paper, spreading over the bold letters of her name, the ink smudged beneath the dark crimson stain.The silence stretched between them like a blade, sharp and unyielding. Across the desk, Adrian stood still, too still, his jaw locked, his grip on the shattered glass tightened, his knuckles white. The sharp contrast of his perfectly tailored black shirt against the violent slash of blood sent an uneasy chill down her spine.The tension in the air was suffocating, but he didn’t move. Neither did she.Something about the rage simmering beneath his surface sent a thrill of unease down her spine. Not because she feared him, no, the terrifying part was that she didn’t.Because at this moment, she knew one undeniable truth. Adrian Black would burn the world down before he let anything happen to her.And that should scare her.She should run. But s

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-20
  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   7. The Contract That Changed Everything

    The pen felt heavier than it should.Amelia’s fingers hovered over the contract, her heart pounding in her ears, the words blurred together in her mind. Once she signed, there would be no going back. That’s all it would take. The contract sat between them, untouched, pristine, except for the dried blood staining Amelia’s name.She had spent the night turning over every possibility in her mind. She could walk away. She could ignore Adrian Black and everything he had placed before her. But deep down, she knew she wouldn’t. Because Adrian had been right.She had spent years building something for Ethan, only for him to discard her like she had been nothing. She had watched as men, powerful men took credit for her work. And now, for the first time, someone was handing her power.It didn’t matter that Adrian had his own motives. What mattered was that this time, she wouldn’t be the woman standing in the shadows.One stroke of ink, and she would step into Adrian Black’s world, a world where

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-22
  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   8. The First Move

    The silver bracelet sat heavy in her palm. Amelia turned it over between her fingers, her stomach twisting as she ran her thumb over the engraved word.Mine.Not a gift. Not an accessory. Not a meaningless trinket.A claim.Her jaw clenched.Adrian Black never said the words. He didn’t have to. His actions spoke louder than anything else.She had signed the contract. She had walked into his world. But she had done it on her own terms. And if Adrian thought he could brand her like some pretty little acquisition, he was in for a rude awakening, he was about to learn exactly how wrong he was.She grabbed the bracelet and marched straight to the living room.Adrian sat near the floor-to-ceiling window, his posture unbothered, effortless. A coffee cup rested beside him, his phone in one hand, a document in the other.He didn’t look up as she approached. But she knew he felt her presence.“You’re up early.” His voice was smooth, like a man who was always in control.She tossed the bracelet

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-22
  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   9. Playing with Fire

    The black chess piece sat on Amelia’s desk, its polished surface reflecting the soft glow of her office lamp.The queen.She turned it over in her fingers, her stomach tightening as she reread the note beside it. A message. A warning. A game. But from whom?"Careful where you step, Ms. Hayes. The ground isn’t always stable."Someone was watching. And whoever it was, they knew exactly what they were doing.Amelia wasn’t naïve enough to think this was just another corporate rivalry. This wasn’t just a challenge from an executive who didn’t like a woman in power. This was personal. Someone had been watching her. This was calculated. Testing the waters. And that meant someone believed she was a threat.Her fingers curled around the chess piece, her nails biting into her palm. Fear wasn’t an option. Not now. Not ever. If someone wanted her to back down, they had severely underestimated her. And if Adrian Black had any involvement in this? She was going to find out.…..The elevator ride to

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-22
  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   10. Tempting the Devil

    The words on the document stared back at Amelia like a ghost from the past."We know who she really is."Her blood ran cold. A chill wrapped around her spine, but she masked it well, her fingers tightening around the edge of the paper as she stared at the bold, unforgiving text. The world around her faded, the murmurs of executives, the hum of the city below, even Adrian’s towering presence beside her. None of it mattered.Because someone had dug into her past. Someone had found something. And if they knew, if Adrian knew, what would happen next? She swallowed hard, forcing herself to keep her expression blank.Adrian took the document from Celeste with a slow, deliberate motion, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. Beside her, Adrian’s body tensed. His gray eyes flicked to Amelia. Reading her. Calculating.Celeste stood still, waiting for his reaction, but Amelia already knew. Someone had made a move. A deliberate one.Adrian exhaled slowly before his gaze flicked to Celeste. "Who se

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-23
  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   11. The Fire Between Us

    The air in Adrian’s penthouse was thick with tension, humming like a live wire between them. The skyline stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow over the sleek, modern space. But Amelia barely noticed the city lights.Because Adrian was too close.Because his fingers had just brushed against her skin.Because his voice was low, dangerous, and full of something she couldn’t name."Then you’re playing a dangerous game, Amelia."The words slithered between them like a slow-burning fuse, ready to ignite. Adrian’s presence was a force, his scent - woodsy, dark spice, and something inherently him, wrapping around her like an unshakable grip.Her breath hitched, but she refused to let it show. The heat of his body pressed too close, his presence wrapping around her like an unspoken demand. The air crackled, and she knew if she stepped back, she’d lose. But if she stepped forward?That was a different kind of risk entirely.She tilted her head slightly, meeting his

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-23
  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   12. Shadows of the Past

    The room was silent except for the lingering sounds of their uneven breathing. The city stretched beyond the glass walls, the world continuing as if it hadn’t just shifted beneath them.Amelia lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, her skin still tingling from where he had touched her. Adrian was beside her, one arm draped casually over his stomach, his gaze unreadable as he looked at her.She exhaled, pushing herself up. “Well.”He smirked. “Speechless?”She rolled her eyes. “Hardly.”He reached for her wrist, pulling her back down before she could move off the bed. His fingers traced lazy circles against her skin. “Stay.”It wasn’t a command. It wasn’t a request, either. And maybe that was what made her hesitate.This wasn’t just about control anymore. It wasn’t just about the game. Something was shifting between them, and it terrified her.She swallowed hard, forcing a smirk. “Getting attached already, Black?”Adrian didn’t smile. Instead, he reached out, tucking a strand of hair

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-23

Bab terbaru

  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   46. A Truth Worth Hiding

    The city was alive below them, a sea of shimmering lights stretching beyond the penthouse windows. The skyline was breathtaking, but Amelia barely noticed it. Her mind was consumed by one thought, one truth Adrian refused to share.Adrian had secrets — deep, buried truths that he refused to share. He knew her before they ever met. And now, she was done waiting for answers.She set her wine glass down, turning toward Adrian, who was seated across from her, his storm gray eyes flickering over the rim of his own drink. He was watching her, the way he always did like he was reading her thoughts before she even spoke them.She hated how much he owned her, not just in bed, but in every single way that mattered."Are

  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   45. Stolen Kisses

    Amelia woke to the sensation of warm lips trailing soft kisses along her bare shoulder. Her body was sore but pleasantly so, a reminder of the night before the way Adrian had claimed her over and over again, his name still lingering on her lips. She shifted slightly, feeling the delicious ache between her thighs, and sighed as his arms tightened around her.“You’re awake,” Adrian murmured against her skin, his voice thick with sleep. His breath was warm, his lips tracing lazy circles against her collarbone.Amelia stretched, her muscles still languid from exhaustion, and turned in his embrace to face him. The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a golden hue over his sharp jawline and tousled dark hair. His blue eyes were hooded with satisfaction, but there was something else hidden beneath the

  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   44. Unbuttoned and Unleashed

    Adrian's gaze raked over Amelia’s body, taking in the sight of her glistening skin and swollen lips. "You look good like this," he agreed, his voice rough with satisfaction. "But we're not done yet."He pulled away from her, his hands moving to unclasp her bra. She shrugged out of it, letting it fall to the floor beside the bed. He pushed her down onto the mattress, his weight pressing against her as he kissed a trail down her neck to her collarbone.His fingers dipped between her legs, teasing the sensitive flesh there. She could feel the heat of him, the hard length of him pressing against her entrance.Amelia squirmed beneath him, her hips thrusting up to meet his touch. His fingers were cold and wet, and she could feel herself growing more aroused by the second.Adrian chuckled against her skin, his fingers sliding deeper inside her. "You're so wet for me," he murmured, his voice husky with desire. "I love that you're mine."She arched he

  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   43. Surrender to Sin

    “Tell me,” Adrian murmured, dragging his lips down her neck, “who do you belong to?”The arrogance. The sheer dominance in his voice made her head spin. But she wasn’t one to surrender so easily.She tilted her chin defiantly. “No one.”Adrian stilled. Then, in a swift motion, he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist as he pressed her harder against the mirror.“No one?” His voice was rough now, his control slipping.She smirked against his lips. “That’s what I said.”Something in him snapped. His mouth crashed onto he

  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   42. The Game of Control

    The night was far from over.Amelia had spent the last hour mingling with some of the most powerful people in the business world, yet her mind was tethered to only one, Adrian Black. Every glance, every smirk, every damn moment of tension between them gnawed at her like an unsolved mystery.Standing by the sleek marble bar, Amelia took a slow sip of her champagne, feeling the weight of Adrian’s gaze from across the room. He was speaking with a group of executives, his posture relaxed, but she knew better. Adrian was never just relaxed, he was always watching, always strategizing. And right now?He was focused on her.Her lips curled into a slow smirk. Two could play this game.

  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   41. The Return to Normal

    The world had moved on. Cavendish was gone. Lucas was just a memory. The battle with Elizabeth Cavendish was over. The war had been won. And yet, Amelia felt no relief, only the hum of something unfinished pressing against her chest.The morning air inside the penthouse was crisp, the skyline stretching beyond the glass walls like an untouched painting. The city was waking up, buzzing with life, but inside Adrian’s penthouse, everything was too quiet.Amelia stretched beneath the silk sheets, blinking against the light. The bed beside her was empty, the space where Adrian had slept cool to the touch. Typical.Pushing herself up, she slipped out of bed and pulled on a robe before stepping into the vast living room. There he was, Adrian Black, perfectly composed, dressed

  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   40. Is It The End of Cavendish?

    The black SUVs tore through the winding French countryside, the scent of burning rubber mixing with the crisp night air. The estate was behind them, but the weight of what had just happened clung to the air like smoke after a fire.Lucas sat across from them, small, silent. His little hands were balled into fists in his lap, his blue eyes darting between them, but he wasn’t shaking. He wasn’t crying. He was just watching.Elizabeth had lost Lucas. And that meant she had lost everything.Inside the vehicle, the tension was thick. Adrian drove with precision, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror every few seconds, checking for tails. Amelia sat beside Adrian, her heart still racing, the echoes of gunfire ringing in her ears.

  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   39. The Boy in the Shadows

    The jet cut through the dark sky, slicing across the Atlantic like a blade. Inside the cabin, tension crackled in the air, thick and unrelenting. Adrian sat in his seat, his fingers tapping against the armrest as his mind worked through every possible scenario. The photo of the boy rested on the table before him, its edges slightly curled from being handled too many times. His eyes didn’t leave it.Amelia sat beside him, her arms crossed, her stomach twisted in knots. “Adrian,” she said quietly, watching him with cautious eyes. “What if we’re walking into a trap?”Adrian exhaled slowly, his gaze still locked on the photo. “Then we make sure we’re the ones holding the leash.”Marcus, seated across from them, checked his ta

  • Surrendering to the Billionaire   38. A Queen’s Last Move

    The tension in Adrian’s office was suffocating. The revelation of Ethan’s child, a boy with undeniable Cavendish blood had shifted everything. But the moment Marcus uttered the word missing, the stakes had skyrocketed.Amelia felt an eerie chill settle over her skin. A child. An innocent child was now tangled in the dangerous web Elizabeth Cavendish had spun.Adrian stood motionless, his grip tightening around the folder containing the boy’s photo. The silence was thick, stretching between them like an impending storm. Then, without warning, he slammed the folder onto the desk.“She knows where he is,” Adrian said, his voice low, lethal. “Elizabeth wouldn’t let her greatest weapon vanish without a trace.”

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