Chapter 7 - The Mastermind
I stared at the terrifying photographs, my entire body shaking uncontrollably as a cold sweat broke out across my skin.
Nathan had not just overheard my cafeteria confession by some random, incredible stroke of romantic luck.
He had been actively surveilling me for a decade, tracking my every move long before I even applied for the job.
I shoved the photos back into the folder, running out of the penthouse feeling completely violated and deeply betrayed.
The next morning, I used every favor I had left to secure a brief visitor's pass at the federal detention center.
Nathan sat behind the thick, smudged plexiglass, looking exhausted but genuinely relieved when I finally sat down.
"Did you find the financial documents in the safe?" he asked eagerly through the static-filled intercom phone.
I slammed the thick manila folder against the glass, letting the stalker photographs slide out perfectly for him to see.
Nathan's face completely drained of color, his shoulders slumping heavily as the terrible truth was finally exposed.
"You have been watching me for ten years, Nathan, was any of this actually real?" I cried, my voice echoing in the bleak room.
"Maya, please understand, I found out my father stole your dad's patents when I was just eighteen," he pleaded desperately.
"I signed a private contract swearing I would protect you from my family until I could legally return the company to you."
"I fell in love with you from a distance, Maya, and when you got a job at my company, I couldn't stay away anymore."
I looked into his desperate, pleading eyes, desperately wanting to believe the billionaire who had stolen my heart.
Before I could answer him, the heavy metal door behind me opened, and a stern guard ordered me to leave immediately.
I walked out of the prison completely confused, my mind spinning violently as I tried to separate the lies from the truth.
I returned to my apartment building, exhausted and emotionally drained, just wanting to collapse into my own bed.
As I walked down the narrow hallway, I immediately smelled the strong, toxic scent of gasoline and thick smoke.
May you like
I rounded the corner to see my apartment door completely engulfed in towering, aggressive orange flames.
Suddenly, a heavy, gloved hand clamped tightly over my mouth from behind, dragging me aggressively into the dark stairwell.
