Chapter 2 - The Billionaire Who Knew Too Much
Lena didn't call him for six days.
On the seventh day, she received flowers.
Not roses.
White lilies.
She almost sent them back.
Then she saw the card.
No pressure.
Just a reminder that you survived Monday.
L.
She smiled despite herself.
It was irritating.
Completely irritating.
She put the flowers on her desk.
Tessa noticed immediately.
“You like him.”
“I don't.”
“You're smiling.”
“I am appreciating floral arrangements.”
Brooke looked over the top of her monitor.
“You never appreciate floral arrangements.”
Lena threw a pen at her.
That Saturday, she attended another event for work.
It was a fundraiser at the Metropolitan Museum.
She wore a black silk dress and kept her hair loose.
She was talking to a client when she noticed the room subtly changing.
People were making space.
Heads were turning.
A line of private security appeared near the entrance.
Then Lorenzo walked in.
He wasn't alone.
He was accompanied by the same two men Lena had seen at her office.
He found her immediately.
Tessa whispered, “Oh, this is so much better than television.”
“Be quiet.”
Lorenzo approached.
“You look beautiful.”
Lena's heart stumbled.
“Thank you.”
“Did you come alone?”
“With two hundred people.”
He smiled.
“I meant without a date.”
“No.”
“Good.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“That's a little possessive.”
“I'm learning.”
She stared.
“You really do listen.”
“When someone important speaks.”
Her lips parted.
Before she could answer, a man appeared.
Tall.
Silver-haired.
Impeccable suit.
He smiled warmly.
“Lorenzo.”
The two men exchanged a brief look.
Then the stranger turned toward Lena.
“And you must be the woman who caused half of Manhattan to become curious.”
Lena frowned.
“Excuse me?”
Lorenzo's voice became colder.
“Graham.”
The man's smile barely changed.
“I've heard so much.”
“I haven't heard anything.”
Graham laughed.
“Lorenzo keeps his private life private.”
Lena glanced at Lorenzo.
He was watching Graham very carefully.
Graham offered his hand.
“Graham Voss.”
Lena shook it.
The instant their hands touched, Lorenzo stepped forward.
“We're leaving.”
Graham looked amused.
“You've never been good at sharing.”
Lorenzo's eyes hardened.
“She's not something to share.”
Graham smiled.
“There he is.”
Lorenzo took Lena's hand.
The gesture was gentle.
Still, the room noticed.
He led her outside.
When the doors closed behind them, Lena pulled her hand free.
“What was that?”
“Graham is dangerous.”
“He didn't look dangerous.”
“Neither did the man in your office.”
She went quiet.
Lorenzo turned toward her.
“I owe you an explanation.”
“I thought you did.”
He nodded.
“Graham runs private investments.”
“That's legal.”
“Officially.”
Lena's stomach tightened.
“What does he have to do with me?”
“Your father.”
Lena froze.
“My father is dead.”
“I know.”
“What about him?”
“Your father worked with my father.”
“I thought they were accountants for each other.”
“They were business partners.”
Lena laughed nervously.
“My father was an accountant.”
“His public position.”
She stared.
“What does that mean?”
Lorenzo looked away.
“Your father knew things he shouldn't have known.”
“Like what?”
“About my family's business.”
“Your family?”
“My grandfather built Russo Holdings.”
“And?”
“And he made enemies.”
Lena shook her head.
“This has nothing to do with me.”
“I hoped it wouldn't.”
“But?”
“But six months ago, someone started asking questions about you.”
She felt cold.
“Who?”
“Graham.”
“Why?”
“We don't know.”
“What about my father?”
“He left you something.”
Lena stared.
“My father didn't leave me anything.”
“He did.”
“What?”
Lorenzo opened his car door.
“Come with me.”
She hesitated.
“Where?”
“Somewhere private.”
She laughed.
“That sounds exactly like how every murder mystery starts.”
His mouth tilted.
“I won't hurt you.”
“That is what murderers say.”
“Then don't come.”
He closed the door.
Lena stood there.
Ten seconds later, she opened it.
“Move over.”
The car was silent as they drove downtown.
They stopped at a private office.
Lorenzo led her inside.
A safe sat behind a painting.
He entered a code.
The compartment opened.
Inside was a small metal box.
Lena stared at it.
“My father's?”
“Yes.”
Her hands shook.
There was a letter.
Lena unfolded it.
My dearest Lena,
If you're reading this, I failed to keep my promise.
I wanted you to live a normal life.
I wanted you to know me as your father, not as the man who spent his life hiding dangerous truths.
There is a man named Graham Voss.
Never trust him.
And there is a Russo.
Trust the one who doesn't ask you to.
Lena stopped.
She looked at Lorenzo.
“He knew you.”
“Yes.”
“Which Russo?”
“My father.”
The letter continued.
Your father and Adrian Russo once tried to stop Graham.
They failed.
When I realized Graham was coming for me, I made arrangements.
I hid the evidence where he would never think to look.
With my daughter.
Lena's breathing became shallow.
“He put something in my possession?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Lorenzo shook his head.
“We don't know.”
The bottom of the box contained a small key.
Lena stared at it.
“What's that?”
Lorenzo took it.
“There are numbers engraved here.”
He turned it over.
Her birthday.
Lena froze.
Her father had used her birthday as a key.
“For what?”
Lorenzo's phone buzzed.
He read the message.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He looked at her.
“Someone knows you're here.”
“How?”
He didn't answer.
Then the building's fire alarm began screaming.
Lorenzo grabbed her hand.
“Stay close.”
They moved through the corridor.
Security staff rushed in.
Smoke appeared at the far end.
Lena coughed.
“This way.”
They entered a stairwell.
Lorenzo placed his body between her and the smoke.
At the bottom, a steel door opened.
A black SUV waited outside.
They escaped.
Only after driving several blocks did Lena realize Lorenzo was bleeding.
“What happened?”
He looked down.
A small cut crossed his shoulder.
“I'll live.”
“You got hurt because of me.”
“No.”
“Because of the box?”
“Because of who wants it.”
She looked at him.
“What's inside?”
He was silent.
Then he said, “Enough to destroy Graham.”
Lena looked down at the key.
“Then why would my father give it to me?”
“Because he trusted you.”
She looked out the window.
For the first time, she realized her father's quiet life had been an illusion.
And Lorenzo Russo wasn't simply protecting her because of one impulsive kiss.
He had been looking for the missing piece of a war that had begun long before Lena ever walked into The Cinder Room.
That night, Lorenzo brought her to his private residence.
She expected a mansion.
Instead, she found a modern penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows and an almost painfully quiet atmosphere.
“You live here alone?”
“Yes.”
“No family?”
“Not anymore.”
She looked at him.
He didn't explain.
Later, while she was standing near the window, a glass of water appeared beside her.
She turned.
Lorenzo had left it there.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
Then hesitated.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“The man who attacked your office wasn't trying to scare you.”
Lena's stomach dropped.
“What was he trying to do?”
“He was testing your security.”
“For what?”
May you like
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
“To find out whether you're carrying the key.”
