Chapter 4 - The Engagement That Was Never Supposed to Happen
The orchid led them to an old hotel in Connecticut.
According to the hard drive, Lena's father had kept a storage locker there.
Inside was another box.
And inside that box were photographs.
Lena as a child.
Lorenzo as a teenager.
Their parents at different events.
Then one photograph made her stop.
She and Lorenzo stood beside each other.
Both were children.
He was maybe fifteen.
She was nine.
“You remember this?”
Lorenzo stared.
“No.”
Neither did she.
On the back, her father's handwriting said:
They met once.
They will meet again.
Lena sat down.
“This is insane.”
Lorenzo nodded.
“I agree.”
“You knew we'd meet?”
“No.”
“Someone did.”
“Yes.”
She looked at the picture.
“What happened that day?”
The hard drive contained a video.
Her father explained.
Their families had once planned a business alliance.
Graham opposed it.
Adrian and Elena Russo broke away from Graham after discovering his crimes.
The alliance collapsed.
Lena and Lorenzo were children.
Their parents kept them apart.
Then Adrian died.
Elena disappeared.
Lena's father went into hiding.
And Graham began manipulating both families.
Lena listened in silence.
Then came the worst revelation.
Her father had arranged for Lena's trust fund to be linked to Lorenzo's.
Not because he wanted a marriage.
Because he wanted protection.
The trust could only be accessed if both heirs were alive.
“If one dies,” Lorenzo said, “the money disappears.”
“Why?”
“So Graham can't take it.”
“Then why is everyone trying to make us marry?”
“They aren't.”
Lorenzo looked at the screen.
“They're trying to make us choose sides.”
That night, Lena returned to her apartment.
She found the door open.
Her stomach dropped.
Nothing was missing.
Instead, a single white orchid lay on her pillow.
Beside it was a note.
Stop trusting Lorenzo.
She called him.
He answered immediately.
“Are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
She told him.
He arrived in seven minutes.
The first thing he did was check every room.
Then he returned to her.
“You need to leave.”
“No.”
“Lena.”
“No.”
She stared at him.
“I am tired of everyone telling me where to go.”
His expression softened.
“You're right.”
She had begun to realize he said that more than any man she'd ever known.
“I'll stay.”
He looked at her apartment.
“Then I'll stay too.”
She looked at him.
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because I want to.”
The answer silenced her.
That night they sat on opposite ends of her couch.
At 1:00 a.m., Lena whispered, “Are you afraid?”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
She looked down.
“Why?”
“Because I know what it is to lose people.”
Something in his voice made her heart ache.
“Your mother?”
He nodded.
“She disappeared when I was seventeen.”
“Did you love her?”
“More than anything.”
“Do you think she left you?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I think someone took her.”
“Graham?”
“Maybe.”
A long silence.
Lena moved closer.
“Lorenzo.”
“Yes?”
“I'm glad I kissed you.”
His eyes lifted.
“Why?”
“Because I wouldn't have met you otherwise.”
His voice lowered.
“I've been thinking about that.”
“About what?”
“The kiss.”
She smiled.
“It lasted three seconds.”
“I counted.”
She laughed.
“That sounds like you.”
“I've replayed it.”
Her smile disappeared.
“You have?”
“Yes.”
He reached out.
Stopped.
Waited.
Lena closed the distance herself.
Their second kiss lasted longer.
There was no dare.
No audience.
No laughter.
Just choice.
When they separated, his forehead rested against hers.
“I don't want this to be something done to you.”
“It isn't.”
“Then tell me no if you ever mean no.”
She nodded.
“And you?”
“I'll tell you yes when I mean yes.”
She smiled.
“That's a deal.”
The next morning, the news broke.
Lorenzo Russo was engaged.
To Lena Whitmore.
Neither of them had announced it.
The photograph used was the one taken outside The Cinder Room after their first kiss.
Within hours, every major news site had the story.
Lena stared at her phone.
“We're not engaged.”
Lorenzo looked equally shocked.
“No.”
“Then who announced it?”
His phone rang.
He answered.
His lawyer spoke.
“Someone filed a preliminary marriage agreement using both your names.”
Lorenzo's face became expressionless.
“Where?”
“County records.”
Lena's blood chilled.
“Someone forged our signatures.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“We're investigating.”
Lorenzo hung up.
“This was deliberate.”
“Why?”
“To create a paper trail.”
“For what?”
He looked at her.
“If they can make it look like we are legally connected, they can trigger the trust.”
Lena understood.
Someone wanted their inheritance activated.
And someone wanted control.
The person behind it knew they were close.
Too close.
That evening, Graham called.
“I hear congratulations are in order.”
Lena grabbed the phone.
“You did this.”
He laughed.
“I merely accelerated what was inevitable.”
Lorenzo took the phone.
“You're done.”
“Not yet.”
“You hurt her again, and I'll destroy everything you own.”
Graham chuckled.
“You sound like your father.”
Lorenzo went still.
“What did you say?”
Graham hung up.
Lena looked at him.
“Lorenzo.”
He stared at the phone.
“My father.”
“What?”
“I don't think he died.”
Her heart stopped.
May you like
“Why?”
“Because Graham sounded like a man speaking to someone he still expects to answer.”
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