Chapter Five :Unwanted Visitors

Leila pressed the button for the lobby as the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

She needed air—space away from Adrian, away from his arrogance, away from the way he believed he could control every part of her life—because the penthouse felt like a gilded jail.

A deep, unamused voice pierced the air before she could even enjoy the triumph of daring him.

"Are you going somewhere?"

Her heart leaped.

Adrian was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and a chilly, disapproving expression on his face when she turned around.

Leila did not flinch. "I had no idea that I needed permission."

The elevator doors closed behind Adrian as he entered. Smoothly, he pressed another button and stated, "You don't."

Mid-floor, the elevator stopped.

She gasped.

She scowled. "Are you serious?"

Adrian's head tilted, his face unreadable. "Now is the time if you have anything to say about last night."

Leila's arms were folded. "All right.

Let's discuss how you chose to hide the fact that someone attempted to break in from me.

As if he was controlling his patience, Adrian let out a slow exhale. "Because it wasn't relevant."

She laughed. "Not relevant?

I presently reside here. If someone is after you, they may be pursuing me as well.

He clenched his jaw.

They were silent for a moment.

Then Adrian stepped forward, too deliberately, too close.

He lowered his voice. "You believe I'm unaware of that?"

Her spine tingled at something in his voice. She swallowed without turning her head.

Adrian's dark gaze was sharper than ever as he watched her.

"Leila, you have no idea what you've stepped into," he whispered. Do you believe this to be a game? That my purpose in keeping you in the dark is to annoy you?

She was not going to give up. "Tell me the truth if you're not."

Adrian made a tiny line with his lips.

He had no intention of telling her anything.

Leila gave a head shake. "You're impossible."

His jaw muscle twitched.

However, he stretched past her and hit the button once again without saying anything else.

The elevator started down again.

Unwanted Visitors

Leila realized there was a problem as soon as she entered the lobby.

The doorman seems uncomfortable. One of the security officers was being whispered to by the receptionist.

Then she heard it—high, piercing, demanding voices.

She walked over to the door.

And then she caught sight of him.

Graham Sterling.

Her stomach dropped.

His sleek blond hair was brushed, and his fancy suit was perfectly ironed as he stood close to the glass doors. But like a predator spotting prey, his eyes—those icy, calculating eyes—locked onto her.

One of the most vicious socialites in the city, Eliza Kingston, was standing next to him.

Before Leila could even process, Graham's voice could be heard.

"Leila." His smile was a mixture of poison and charm. "It has been a while."

Adrian firmly solidifies his presence next to her.

He spoke in an icy tone. "You've got five seconds to leave this building."

Graham grinned more broadly. "Now, now, Blackwell."No need to be hostile. I'm simply here to converse.

Adrian's whole body stiffened.

Leila recognized that expression—the expression of a man who is just managing to avoid violence.

Before Adrian could move forward, she did. "Speak up if you have anything to say." She spoke steadily. Unfazed.

Graham's fake concern was annoying.

"My dear, I simply wanted to see how you were doing. You can only imagine how shocked I was to learn that you and Blackwell were suddenly engaged.

Leila's hands clenched. She was aware of his actions.

Graham wanted a reaction.

He was trying to bring back memories of his previous dominance over her.

Adrian stepped forward. "You're trying to test my patience."

Eventually, Eliza spoke; her voice was as smooth as silk and deadly.

"Calm down, Adrian. We simply wanted to give you our congratulations.

She glanced at Leila.

However, I have to admit that the match is intriguing. Nobody anticipated it.

Leila refused to back down. "I suppose that adds to the fun, doesn't it?" she said sweetly.

Eliza's mouth curled a little.

Graham's smile clouded, though. "I sincerely hope this engagement is genuine," he remarked nonchalantly. "Because secrets tend to surface when things aren't going well."

Leila felt sick to her stomach.

He was threatening her.

Before she could respond, Adrian moved between them, a wall of control and rage.

With a deadly tone, he declared, "You're done here."

Between him and Graham, something dangerous happened.

Graham finally raised his hands in a gesture of simulated submission. "All right, all right. You don't have to be that tense. His eyes glinted as he turned back to Leila. "My dear, we'll see each other soon."

Then, suddenly, he and Eliza were gone.

Leila let out a breath as soon as they were gone.

Adrian faced her. "You ought to have let me deal with that," he remarked darkly.

Leila looked him in the eye. "I am capable of managing myself."

Adrian's mouth clenched. "Leila, he's dangerous."

"So are you," she retorted.

Adrian's eyes became gloomy. His presence was overwhelming as he moved closer.

He remarked, "You don't know what Sterling is capable of."

Leila's throat became tightened. She was fully aware of Graham's potential.

She had been trying to get away from his grip and shadow for years.

And he is back now.

She pushed past the memories that were tearing at her brain and forced herself to breathe.

"We ought to head upstairs," Adrian finally remarked. "We need to talk about something."

Leila gave a stiff nod.

She couldn't get rid of the belief that this was just the beginning as they entered the elevator together.