Gabriel leaned back against his desk, watching Zahra with that cold, calculating gaze that made the room feel smaller. The silence stretched, thick and tense, as he regarded her with unsettling calm. Finally, he spoke, his voice smooth but carrying an underlying threat.
"I've been reviewing your latest project," he began, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The one you're so proud of, the one set to launch in a few months. Quite ambitious."
Zahra stiffened, unsure of where he was leading. "What about it?" she asked, her voice steady, though a flicker of unease crept into her chest.
Gabriel's lips curled into a faint, cruel smile. "Ambition is a good thing when it's in the right hands. But I've noticed some... irregularities. Certain permits, contracts, and land rights that don't seem to be in order. You wouldn't want the authorities to start digging into those, would you?"
Her stomach dropped. Those permits were crucial, and she had worked tirelessly to secure them, but she knew how precarious everything still was. If Gabriel truly intended to sabotage her project, it could unravel everything she had built.
"What are you saying?" Zahra's voice was quieter now, cautious.
Gabriel took a step forward, holding her gaze. "What I'm saying is that with one phone call, I could make sure your entire project is shut down before it even begins. And once the legal issues pile up, your company will be tied up for years. By the time you're done fighting those battles, you'll have nothing left."
Zahra's heart raced. The weight of his words was suffocating, her mind scrambling for a response. "You wouldn't do that," she whispered, trying to sound confident. "It would be too obvious."
"Would it?" he asked, his voice low, almost amused. "Or would it just look like you overreached? The authorities would love to bring down someone of your stature. All it takes is a small nudge in the right direction."
Her blood ran cold as she realized how easily he could make her world crumble.
"However," Gabriel continued, his tone softening in a way that made her even more uneasy, "there is a way for you to avoid all this. I can make sure your project moves forward-smoothly, even. You won't have to worry about a thing."
Zahra swallowed hard, knowing the next words out of his mouth would be a trap.
"All you have to do is agree to one thing." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. The moment stretched into eternity as he flipped it open to reveal an exquisite ring, glittering under the dim light.
"Marry me, Zahra," he said, his voice dripping with false charm. "And all your problems will disappear."
Great! Here's how you might continue from Zahra's perspective after Gabriel's proposal:
Gabriel's expression remained inscrutable, but there was a flicker of something anticipation? "I never joke about business, Zahra. This is simply a strategic alliance. You'll gain stability, and I'll gain your loyalty. It's mutually beneficial."
"Mutually beneficial?" Zahra scoffed, her heart pounding in her chest. "You're using threats against my company as leverage. This isn't a partnership; it's blackmail!"
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "Call it what you want, but it's a smart move for both of us. Or do you prefer to see your hard work crumble into dust?"
The air between them crackled with tension, and Zahra felt trapped. She had worked too hard to let someone like Gabriel ruin everything she had built. But the thought of her project being dismantled, of losing everything, was suffocating.

YOU ARE READING
Whispers Of The Shadows-The UNKNOWN
RomanceZahra Zain, an accomplished architect skilled in shaping other's visions, faces a profound challenge: crafting her own future amidst a web of complex relationships. Torn between a charismatic yet deceitful businessman and a powerful, enigmatic figur...