Just Once

Chapter 7- Sofia

I hated waiting. Every second felt like an eternity, the weight of Zayden's words pressing down on me. "We're dealing with the same enemy." The idea of aligning with him made my stomach churn, but I couldn't ignore the truth behind his warning. Whoever this shadowy force was, they had been meticulous, and methodical, and now it seemed they were expanding their reach.

As I prepared for the meeting, I couldn't help but replay the phone call in my head. Zayden's voice, smooth and infuriatingly self-assured, had been edged with a seriousness I hadn't expected. It was unnerving. For a man who thrived on games and manipulation, he seemed unusually candid. That alone made me suspicious.

I chose a sharp, tailored outfit-powerful, professional, unshakable. The enemy might be invisible, but I'd be damned if I let Zayden see any weakness in me.

The drive to the meeting place was tense, my fingers drumming against the steering wheel as I tried to piece everything together. Lucian's findings, the list of traitors, the unsigned email-it all pointed to something bigger than just a corporate feud.

When I arrived at the location Zayden had specified, my guard was up. He chose the Valhalla Club. The setting was private, but not secluded enough to make me feel trapped. Zayden wouldn't dare try anything here-not if he valued his reputation.

I spotted him immediately, leaning casually against the sleek black car that was unmistakably his. His posture screamed confidence, but his eyes gave him away. There was a sharpness to them, a hint of unease that he couldn't quite mask.

I stepped out of my car, my heels clicking against the pavement as I approached.

Somehow this devil of a man looked absolutely majestic in the moonlight.

"Enjoying the view, Petal?" He asked a smug grin plastered on his face as he stepped forward.
"Not really. I was thinking how could someone look so...unappealing even in moonlight." I replied sarcastically as we began walking inside the club. We walked inside the private meeting room.

He gestured toward a nearby table, set up as though this were some kind of casual business negotiation. I stayed standing for a moment, letting him feel the weight of my scrutiny before finally taking a seat.

"Talk," I said, folding my arms. "I didn't come here to listen to you gloat."

His smirk turns into a serious frown as he begins to talk. " The same strategy this person played on you, they're playing it on Z as well. The same rumors, the similar contract termination. And I'm a hundred percent sure that this person sees both of us as similar enemies. I did my research and turns out we're the only targets of this person"

I studied him closely as he spoke, my mind racing to connect the dots. His story mirrored mine too perfectly to be a coincidence, and yet I couldn't ignore the possibility that this was all part of some elaborate ploy.

"So let me get this straight. Are you saying this person has the same plans for both of us? Is that what you're suggesting?"
"Yes"
"So what do you suggest?"
"An alliance."

Alliance? With me? Zayden Meadows wanted an alliance with me? "And what sort of alliance do you suggest?" I ask, skepticism wrapping itself in my voice without my consent. He waited a bit before replying. "A fake dating scheme, it would connect our companies in an alliance and we can work together against this enemy of ours."

I thought for a moment before replying "Fine, this proposal of yours seems fine. But it shouldn't affect our image in any negative way."

He nods and we go over our agreement of this whole fake dating shenanigans.

"That should be it, Volkov."

When we're walking out of the meeting room I spot four very similar men drinking a having a chat.

HOLY MOTHER OF GODS.

Dad, Uncle Harper, Uncle Chen and Uncle Rhys?

Dad turns his head a bit sensing my eyes and I grab Zayden's hand making him stand in such a way that seemed like he was pinning me to the wall. "Just act along Meadows, I don't wanna be seen by my father right now."

His eyes widen a bit but he shifts his body to shield mine from their view as we walk out cautiously.

"Your dad's gonna find out eventually."

He says as we walk back to our cars.

I knew this was a bad idea, a shitty idea as it was but I had no option. So I guess I'll be having my enemy as my boyfriend for a while.

Author's note:
Hi Ya'll I'm sorry to say this early in the start of this book but I'll be on a hiatus for the next two weeks cuz I'll have like a thousand things going on for the next two weeks, which include my stupid exams, moving and then my birthday. But I promise I'll come back to you all with a new chapter.

And please tell me how you like the book so far