For the first time in weeks, the mansion felt less like a gilded cage and more like a home. The scent of cinnamon lingered from the night before, and there was an unexpected lightness in the air.
Jordan hadn't said much after his rare moment of laughter, but the shift between them was undeniable.
Amira felt it.
It wasn't love—not yet. But it was something. Something warmer than silence, softer than disdain.
And yet, it didn't last.
---
A Stranger's Message
Amira was reading in the sitting room when her phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.
"He's not who you think he is. Be careful. – A friend."
Her stomach twisted.
She read it three times, her thumb hovering over the reply button. Then she deleted it.
Was it a prank? A warning? Or something worse?
That evening, during dinner, Jordan noticed her silence.
"You're quiet," he said, sipping his wine.
"Just tired," she replied, forcing a small smile.
But he was watching her too closely now.
"Did something happen today?"
"No. Nothing at all."
He didn't believe her. She could see it in his eyes. But he didn't press.
Instead, he set down his glass and said, "You should be careful who you trust, Amira. People like to break what they can't control."
The words lingered in her mind long after he left the room.
---
Tension Beneath the Surface
The following day, Amira accompanied Jordan to a corporate event. She wore a sleek black gown, her hair swept up, and for the first time, they looked like a real couple.
But it was all for show.
Their arms linked as they entered the hotel ballroom, photographers snapping away, but behind the smiles were tightly held secrets.
Jordan's hand remained firmly on her waist. He leaned in, murmuring through a smile, "They're watching. Smile like you adore me."
She tilted her head toward him, her lips brushing his ear. "You're lucky I'm a good actress."
He chuckled under his breath. "You're better than good."
But while he chatted with other CEOs and investors, Amira spotted a man across the room—a face she didn't recognize, but one that made her blood run cold.
He nodded at her, as if he knew her. Then disappeared into the crowd.
---
Whispers of the Past
That night, Amira couldn't sleep. She kept turning the mystery text over in her mind. The strange man. The warning.
She slipped out of bed and went to Jordan's study. She knew it was locked, but she had watched him enter the code once. Carefully, she tapped it in.
Inside, everything was neatly organized. But it was the drawer at the bottom of his desk that caught her attention.
Files. Contracts. A USB drive labeled only "Project X."
Before she could think twice, she pocketed it and closed the drawer.
If Jordan had secrets…
She was going to find out what they were.