The moment Daniel Reeves stepped into the room, the atmosphere changed.
Amara felt it immediately.
The soft hum of conversations dimmed. A few guests whispered quietly while others pretended not to notice him at all. But the tension in the air was unmistakable.
Ethan's hand remained at the small of her back, but his posture had stiffened.
"Stay calm," he murmured under his breath.
"I am calm," Amara replied quietly, though her heart was beating much faster now.
Across the room, Daniel finished his drink and set the glass down on a passing waiter's tray.
Then he started walking toward them.
Each step felt deliberate.
Unhurried.
Confident.
Amara resisted the urge to look away.
She hadn't seen him since the day she was escorted out of Blackwood Holdings by security.
Back then, Daniel had stood quietly near the elevators, watching everything unfold.
Watching her humiliation.
Now he looked different.
More polished.
More Dangerous.
When he finally reached them, he smiled politely as though greeting old friends.
"Ethan Blackwood," he said smoothly. "Always the center of attention."
Ethan's expression was unreadable.
"You weren't invited."
Daniel shrugged slightly.
"I'm aware."
"Then why are you here?"
"To congratulate you."
His gaze gaze toward Amara.
"On the engagement."
Amara felt a chill crawl down her spine.
"Thank you," she said evenly.
Daniel studied her carefully, his eyes lingering on the diamond ring.
"That's quite a ring."
"It should be," Ethan replied coldly.
Daniel laughed softly.
"I suppose so."
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Then Daniel leaned slightly closer.
"You know," he said casually, "this whole situation is fascinating."
Ethan's voice dropped.
"Leave."
But Daniel ignored him.
"First she's accused of corporate sabotage," he continued, gesturing lightly toward Amara. "Then suddenly she's engaged to the CEO of the same company."
He tilted his head thoughtfully.
"People might start asking questions."
Amara's patience snapped.
"They already did," she said sharply. "And the investigation cleared me."
Daniel smiled.
"Yes. Eventually."
Something about the way he said it made her stomach twist.
Ethan stepped forward slightly, placing himself between them.
"You've made your point," he said. "Now leave before security escorts you out."
Daniel sighed.
"You're always so serious, Ethan."
His gaze shifted again, this time studying the crowd around them.
"Relax. I'm not here to cause a scene."
"Then why are you here?" Amara demanded.
Daniel's eyes returned to hers.
"To remind you both that some stories don't end the way people expect."
The cryptic words hung in the air.
"What does that mean?" She asked.
But Daniel simply smiled.
"You'll find out."
Then he turned and walked away, disappearing back into the crowd as if nothing had happened.
Amara exhaled slowly.
"Well," she muttered, "that was unsettling."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
"Do you think he knows something?"
"He definitely does."
Amara glanced toward the doorway where Daniel had disappeared.
"He wanted us to see him tonight."
"Yes."
"And he wanted everyone else to see him too."
Ethan nodded slightly.
"That was intentional."
"Why?"
"To make people wonder what connection he still has to Blackwood Holdings."
She folded her arms.
"Which makes you look suspicious."
"Exactly."
Amara groaned quietly.
"So this is a public relations nightmare."
Ethan looked down at her.
"Welcome to my world."
She rolled her eyes.
"Very funny."
Despite the tension, the faintest hint of smile touched his lips.
"Come," he said, "we shouldn't stay here much longer."
They made their way toward the exit.
But as they stepped outside into the cool night air, Amara felt something strange.
Relief.
The city lights glittered below the restaurant terrace, and the noise from inside faded behind them.
For the first time all evening, she could breathe properly.
"That man gives me the creeps," she admitted.
Ethan loosened his tie slightly.
"He's dangerous."
"You sound certain."
"I am."
She leaned against the railing, staring out at the skyline.
"Do you think he framed me?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Finally he said, "I think he's involved."
"That's not the same thing."
"No."
She turned toward him.
"So what are you going to do about it?"
His gaze was steady.
"I'm going to find out what he's hiding."
Amara studied his face.
"You've already started, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Without telling me."
"You're safer that way."
She frowned.
"I'm already involved, Ethan."
"I know."
"Then stop treating me like I'm fragile."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"I don't think you are fragile."
"Then what?"
For a moment, he didn't respond.
Then he stepped closer.
Closer than necessary.
"You're unpredictable," he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
"That sounds like an insult."
"It isn't."
The distance between them had nearly disappeared.
Amara suddenly became very aware of how close they were standing.
The warmth of his body.
The intensity in his eyes.
"You're the one who proposed a contract marriage," she said softly. "Seems like you enjoy unpredictability."
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.
"Not usually."
The air between them felt charged again, the same way it had in his office the night before.
Neither of them moved.
Neither stepped back.
For a brief moment, the world around them seemed to fade away.
Then Ethan's phone rang.
The spell shattered instantly.
He stepped back and answered the call.
"Yes?"
His expression changed almost immediately.
"What?"
Amara's stomach tightened.
"What happened?" She asked once he ended the call.
Ethan's voice was calm again.
Too calm.
"Someone accessed Helix servers twenty minutes ago."
Her heart skipped.
"From where?"
He looked directly at her.
"Inside Blackwood Holdings.
Amara felt the ground shift beneath her feet.
"But that's impossible," she whispered.
Ethan's expression hardened.
"Apparently not."
A terrible thought crept into her mind.
"What if Daniel wasn't here to threaten us?" She said slowly.
"What if he was here…"
"…to distract us."
Ethan didn't answer.
But the look in his eyes confirmed her fears.
And suddenly the night felt far more dangerous than it had a few minutes ago.