Beneath the Veil of Deceit

Part 6 : Hidden Agendas

Kimberly's heart stopped as she stared at the woman in the doorway, Rachel, Michael's fiance.

The name hit her like a punch to the gut. She had heard whispers about Rachel but had never thought much of it.

Michael tensed, his eyes flickering with a mix of frustration and something Kimberly couldn't quite place, was it regret?

"What are you doing here, Rachel?"

Michael's voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, as if he hadn't expected her.

Rachel's eyes were cold as she glanced between Kimberly and Michael.

"I could ask you the same thing. Who is she?"

Her gaze landed on Kimberly, filled with venom.

Kimberly swallowed hard.

This was a complication she hadn't prepared for. She had no idea how deep Rachel was in

Michael's world,was she involved in the cartel or just the trophy fiance?

Either way, Kimberly knew she was standing on dangerous ground

"I'm nobody," Kimberly said quickly,

trying to de-escalate the situation. "Just a business associate."

Rachel raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

"Really?
That's an interesting choice of words, given that you're standing in my fiance's living room in the middle of the night."

Michael stepped between them, his body language protective, which only made things worse.

"Rachel, this isn't the time."

Rachel's expression darkened. "Isn't the time?
I leave for a few days and come back to find you with another woman in our home?
I think now is exactly the time, Michael."

Kimberly's heart pounded. This wasn't going well.
She could feel Rachel's suspicion turning into something more dangerous by the second.
And Michael... he was torn, that much was clear.

But Kimberly wasn't sure who he was protecting, her or Rachel.
Rachel's eyes bore into Kimberly's, her voice dripping with icy calm.

"What's your name?"

Kimberly hesitated for a moment too long. Michael jumped in, his voice firm.
"Her name is irrelevant. She's helping me with something."
Rachel crossed her arms, clearly not buying it.

"Something?"
You mean the kind of 'something' that gets people killed? Or is this a more personal kind of help?"
Kimberly's chest tightened.

She had no idea how much Rachel knew about Michael's dealings, and she couldn't afford to slip up.

But as the tension in the room escalated, something inside her clicked.

If Rachel was this involved if she was truly part of Michael's world, then this wasn't just a love triangle. It was something far more dangerous.

Kimberly decided to push back.

"You're right, Rachel. This is personal. Very personal.
"She stepped closer to Michael, ignoring the shocked look on his face.

"I know exactly what kind of man Michael is. I'm here because I'm part of his world now. Whether you like it or not."

Rachel's eyes flashed with fury, and for a moment, Kimberly thought she might lunge at her.
But instead, Rachel turned to Michael, her voice dripping with bitterness.